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2. The Harlot of Babylon Close Up (Revelation 17:3-6)
REVELATION 17:3-6
3 He carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored animal, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of the sexual immorality of the earth. 5 And on her forehead a name was written, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” 6 I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great amazement.
A New Series of Visions in the “Wilderness” (v 3): John was transported away in the Spirit by the majestic angel of judgment. The angel opened to him the eyes of his heart, so that he could recognize certain events in new visions. The portrayals and visions are not intended to represent concrete persons, institutions or states, but are in symbolic and allegorical form, and are primarily meant to be understood indirectly. They direct us to past, present, as well as to coming developments. They admonish us to spiritual wakefulness. To be able to interpret a vision it is first necessary to pray for godly wisdom, humility and caution (Matthew 7:1-5).
The angel of judgment lead the patriarch into a wilderness, similar to the location in which the child-bearing woman of the unique son had fled, who had been carried away to God (Revelation 12:6, 14; 17:3). In bodily presence John was still on the Island of Patmos, in the Aegean Sea. His spirit, however, had been transported to a waterless wasteland. In the Old Testament the wilderness is a place of punishment and judgment (Leviticus 16:10; Isaiah 21:1). This understanding of “wilderness” was later broadened, and encompassed all the lands where unclean and lawless heathen were in the majority. Thus, the “wilderness” in which the prophet found himself was probably not in Israel, but, according to Jewish concept, “foreign”.
The Woman on the Scarlet Beast (v 4): In this uninhabited region John saw a scarlet beast standing, on which a woman sat (Revelation 17:4). The penetrating red of the beast signalized her desire for power, profit and erotic. The rider of the beast confidently led the animal. It seemed to obey the woman at her slightest command or pull of the reigns.
One can ask the question: Did the animal appropriate for itself the same color of dress the rider wore? In chapter 13:1-8 the beast that ascended out of the sea had been described, but without any hint of color. Or had the animal already been “colored” earlier, similar to the way the Koran depicts Christian baptism as the “dye of Allah” (Sura al-Baqara 2:138)? In any case, the color of the old dragon, the father of the beast, was fiery-red from the beginning (Revelation 12:3). Accordingly, the beast from the sea also appeared, displaying his inherited color (Revelation 17:3).
Regarding the importance of this color in the days of John, it need be stated that the color of official attire of the Roman Caesars in the first century was scarlet.
The animal in the dead wilderness embodied the concentrated power of the antichristian spirit. He bore many blasphemous names upon his body. The beast in insolent pride claimed to be the holder and bearer of the names and attributes of God. Perhaps he claimed to be “everlasting Lord and God”, “Almighty Prince of Peace”, “High Priest”, “Righteous Judge” or “source of all power”. The pope, too, calls himself “Holy Father”, and is designated as “Lord of the World”. In his decrees he claims to be infallible, and he understands himself to be the mediator of all gifts of grace.
One of the characteristics of the animal is his self-deification. The beast from the sea glorifies himself. On the other hand, the Holy Spirit glorifies the Son, and the Son glorifies the Father.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we worship You because Your only Son Jesus lived humbly in our world and put on the white garment of the high priest. He delivered us and many of the followers of antichrist from the thirst for authority, power and fame and He clothed us with the humility of Your true Christ. Amen.
QUESTIONS:
- What are the meanings of the colors of the beast and the woman sitting on it?
- What is the purpose of the blasphemous names written on the beast?