The angel speaking with John in chapter 17 is one of the 7 angels who holds one of the vials of God’s wrath. He provides details regarding the “great whore” and shows the representation in heaven of Babylon and the beast who have had power on earth. Some descriptors from the opening verses include: sitting on many waters, fornicates with kings of the earth, and makes inhabitants of the earth drunk with her fornication. Babylon itself is drunk on the blood of saints and the martyrs of Jesus.
These verses crystalize the fact that throughout all the warnings and destruction, seals, trumpets and vials, there will continue to be rebellion against God. There will be people drunk with temporary power, taking part in the abominations of which scripture speaks. This group will be an increasing percentage of the remaining population as the last days come to fruition.
The other element that stands out from this and other scripture is the Jezebel spirit that manipulates through seduction and fornication. The kings of the earth will participate in her schemes, gaining wealth from her ways. They will revel in the abominations and earthly lusts, believing they have more than earthly power.
Upon seeing the image, John has a moment when he, “wondered with great admiration.” There are times in our lives when we do look at the rewards of this world with ah. Beautiful houses, fancy cars, we each have moments of being enamored. In the last days, we must continuously remember the lack of real value in these things and again set our hearts solely on the Lord, repenting for our unchecked admiration. We can trust God for all our earthly needs in any circumstance. The angel immediately redirects John back to what is important for him to see, to carry the prophesy of Revelation back to earth.
8The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. 9And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. – Revelation 17:8-10 KJV
The bottomless pit is opened with the blowing of the 5th trumpet. According to the verses above, the beast then will, “go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder”. Reread Revelation 13:1-7 KJV. It too speaks of the beast: having 7 heads, 10 horns and 10 crowns, rising out of the sea, blaspheming God, receiving power, a seat and authority from the dragon, receiving a deadly wound that is miraculously healed causing those on earth to worship him and the dragon, and receiving power to war against and overcome the saints for 42 months.
The 7 heads are 7 mountains on earth. Other Christian studies have identified these earthly mountains as being ones of: government, finance, education, media, culture, religion and arts/entertainment. Considering modern day headlines, we can see the spiritual divide that has developed on each of these earthly mountains through a Babylonian culture and a jezebel spirit.
10And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. 11And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. 12And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 13These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. – Revelation 17:10-13 KJV
Verses 10-11 give an overview of a group kings, with the 8th final king being indwelled by the spirit of the dragon, spoken of previously as warring against the woman in heaven. This 8th king will become indwelled by the evil spirit that rises out of the bottomless pit. Scripture speaks of the spirit “going into perdition”. This is why some refer to the antichrist as the “man of perdition.”
The 10 horns represent 10 kings who are given power on the earth for “one hour with the beast.” They give their power over to the beast, antichrist, man of perdition, whatever label you choose. Recognize the power given to these 10 is brief and only at the very end, for the final battle against Christ at Armageddon.
They will operate with “one mind”. Current news stories of technologies that use brainwaves to trigger functions of the body make it easy to see computer chips manipulated in a manner to control a group, resulting in them operating together with a single focus or “mind”. Again, we do not need to fear! This group will wage war against Christ, but Christ is the ultimate victor!! And those who continue standing for Him will be rewarded!
14These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. – Revelation 17:14 KJV
Christ is the “Lord of lords, and King of kings” and we who are with Him “are called, and chosen, and faithful.”!! To God be the glory!!!
The closing verses of this chapter tell us more about the fate of Babylon, the whore who sits on the beast and on many waters. Her impact has been over many “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” She is referred to as a “great city” and is hated by the 10 kings with whom she fornicated. This group of 10 will ultimately destroy the “great city” on earth and the merchants of the world will mourn.
Chapter 18 opens with another angel that
cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. – Revelation 18:2 KJV
This verse tells us that Babylon, the great city spoken of earlier, at this point is now infested with evil. There is a final warning for the followers of Christ to leave the “city” that is to be destroyed, that “ye receive not of her plagues.” – Revelation 18:4 KJV. God and Christ want their people to avoid drinking from the cup of Babylon’s abominations. But in that moment, we will need to be listening, hearing and acting according to the direction of God through the Holy Spirit. We must choose to listen and obey! Choosing the salvation of Christ secures our eternity, but our actions on earth will be judged to determine our eternal standing. Personally, I pray to be one of those blessed to be in the temple with God!
The spirit of Babylon, the woman on the beast, is deluded.
7How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. – Revelation 18:7 KJV
She is arrogant. She has been unaccountable for her actions. She has been drunk on power and willing to sacrifice anything and anyone to feed her lusts of every sort. She has been a tyrant, controlling all 7 of the mountains of the earth, pushing her sick agenda to serve her master, satan, by stealing, killing and destroying. She will be held to account for her treatment of the saints.
“The great city” will be destroyed and left desolate, as the end of chapter 17 tells us. God has put in the hearts of the kings to decimate the whore they have fornicated with and grown to despise. The “kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning.” – Revelation 18:9 KJV. There has been great wealth amassed by the kings using the whore, yet they hate her for it. The moment she is destroyed, they will mourn the loss.
Remember, her destruction comes from the 10 kings who hate her. They have thrived following her ways, but ultimately will seek her destruction. The kings and merchants of the earth will mourn the destruction of Babylon, but heaven will rejoice!
20Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. – Revelation 18:20 KJV
Glory be to God in the highest!!
The evil propagated through Babylon comes from a single root.
24And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. – Revelation 18:24 KJV
The final verse of this chapter ties the death of all slain on earth to a single source, satan, who sought to murder Adam and Eve repeatedly and ultimately convinced Cain to be the first to slay another man on earth by killing his brother Abel. Similarly, satan is the root of all sin and evil on earth. That is why we each need to seek righteousness in our lives in any way possible. Allowing ourselves to fall into sin creates opportunities for satan, his fallen angels and his demons to impact our lives. This is why God calls us continuously to seek righteousness!
Revelation 17-18 – Elements to Remember
- The beast rising out of the bottomless pit goes into perdition, indwelling the human king and establishing the rule of the one known as the antichrist or the man of perdition.
- The 10 kings gain great wealth and feed their abominable lusts with Babylon.
- God puts it in the kings hearts to destroy Babylon.
- Babylon the “great city” will be destroyed.
- There will be a moment when the remaining saints on earth will be called to come out of her just before her hour of complete and final destruction.
- Kings and merchants will mourn the destruction of Babylon.
- The group of 10 kings only receives power for “one hour at the end” with the beast.
- Mighty angel takes “great millstone” and casts it into the sea (18:16).
- God’s vengeance is poured out on those who shed the blood of the saints (18:20 & 18:24)
- HEAVEN REJOICES!