Babylon the Great #2

June 25, 2020 (Thursday)

In Revelation 17 the two images of the beast and the woman are explained by an angel. Let’s look closer at them. In previous chapters, it appears as if government controls religion. In this chapter, the dynamics are flipped.

The woman holds influence over the beast (described as nations/rulers). In verse two we read, “The kings of the world have committed adultery with her, and the people who belong to this world have been made drunk by the wine of her immorality.” [Revelation 17:2 NLT] The image of being drunk shows up again in, “I saw that the woman was drunk on the blood of the saints and the blood of Jesus’ witnesses. I was completely stunned when I saw her.” [Revelation 17:6 CEB]

“Immorality” is generally used as a word picture for God’s people being unfaithful. It was used by the Old Testament Prophets. Here it is used as an image of a church that has defected. “Drunk” carries with it the idea of “out of control.” We tend to link this to alcohol but theologically it can be any influence that controls us. Eventually influence becomes irresistible.

The beast bears a resemblance to the Antichrist in chapter 13, minus the crowns. The angel explains the beast in detail. “The beast you saw was once alive but isn’t now. And yet he will soon come up out of the bottomless pit and go to eternal destruction. And the people who belong to this world, whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made, will be amazed at the reappearance of this beast who had died.” [Revelation 17:8 NLT] So, this part of the beast was dead. This may be the reason some people have looked for the resurrection of the Roman Empire (or another ancient empire).

One important theological note. "Foreknowledge" is different then "predestination." Just because God KNOWS something ahead of when it happens does not mean God CAUSES (wills, determines, etc) it to happen. Paul was very careful to separate the two ideas (see Romans 8:29).

The explanation continues, “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits.” [Revelation 17:9 NIV] One rule of interpretation requires us to see the perspective of the original reader. Most likely, they would have read this place as being Rome. Incidentally, this description would also fit ancient Constantinople (also called Nova Roma/New Rome), covering the two major religions that have influenced Israel since the time of Jesus.

The angel explains the death of one of the beat’s heads, “They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.” [Revelation 17:10 NIV] Some have suggested these are the seven emperors in Julius Creaser’s line. Others have suggested them to mean ancient kingdoms. Another proposed idea comes from the waves of “barbarians” that invaded and eventually destroyed Rome. This may fit “The scarlet beast and his ten horns all hate the prostitute. They will strip her naked, eat her flesh, and burn her remains with fire.” [Revelation 17:16 NLT]

The most likely explanation for the woman comes from, “The woman whom you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.” [Revelation 17:18 CEB] The original readers would have understood this to be Rome. If the woman is Rome, who or what is the beast?