Rev 17:7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and the ten horns.
Rev 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss, and to go into perdition. And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, they whose name hath not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast, how that he was, and is not, and shall come.
Jaimeson Faucett and Brown, has one opinion while Gill, Clarke and the Geneva Bible commentaries have another. They see this beast as the Extended Roman Empire under the Papacy. Jaimeson Faucett and Brown may see it the same way but their commentary places a different spin on the whole “was is not and is” thought. They show that the Beast WAS in that he has become a player on the global stage but that he received a “fatal wound” to one of his “heads”. During this “downtime” of Fatal Injury the Beast “is not” or “is not active” we don’t see it in the world running the world. But then it is miraculously “healed” and “reappears” to “be” again or rather to be seen and have a dynamic impact on the world.
Now the other commentaries have the same concept of being a major player in the world and then all but disappearing and then reappearing again. They say it is the Roman Empire or the Latin Kingdom. I ask, what was a religious force that Christendom has fatally wounded and so has been “quiet” even “non-existent” but …. will return and that with a vengeance and be seen as having miraculously survived a horrific “HEAD WOUND”. This would have to have been something from the era of John the Apostle. But this is a religio political thing. Catholicism and Gnosticism are religious but I will say that old Catholicism had popes who were considered “King Makers”. Others cite that Rome as a political power was broken by Christendom in the rule of Constantine who outlawed the persecution of Christians and made Christendom the “state religion”. In this also the Harlot is seen to be sitting over SEVEN HILLS. They cite this as the Roman Empire and yet the two beasts are working together, as deity and devotee.
Also please note who the devotees are. They are all whose names are NOT written in the Lamb’s book of life or are NOT Believers in Jesus the Christ the Nazarene the Word made flesh.
Rev 17:9 Here is the mind that hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth:
In this kind of writing mountains that are not specified but general, like “waters” usually means government. There have been many opinions on just who this is talking about. Some say Rome the ancient government reborn, others point out the Vatican, which is its own government, situated on the seven supposed hills of Rome is the so called “Beast” Also these are Headships like as to INDIVIDUAL Governmental bodies, so some say it’s the European Union. Others point to clandestine groups such as Bilderbergers and Trilateralists and such as the heads/ mountains. Now to know more about those things you can go to osol.zxq.net. While I seriously doubt these are those titular heads I do believe that such organizations and groups have been major players in the fomentation of the Antichrist reign and may indeed have their place facilitating the rule thereof. The next verse builds on this one and goes from general to more specific.
Rev 17:10 and they are seven kings; the five are fallen, the one is, the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a little while.
So I am correct in the assessment of these being individual sovereigntys and it is very much like the great statue of Nebuchadnezzar where the head represented Babylon the arms and chest the Medes and Persians and the legs Alexander’s two generals and feet the Roman era. Because there have been so many theories I am not going to add to them. But there are some clues. At the time of this writing five may have fallen and they might be the ones of the statue. One is and that one prevalent in John’s day was Rome itself. However one is “not yet to come” but when “he or it” comes “he or it” has to continue for a “little while”. So many theories from Hitler to the United Nations all with their own paper trails have flooded the internet that you are welcome to take your pick. The next line makes things even more specific.
Rev 17:11 And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goeth into perdition.
The Beast himself who was and is not… now we go back to the beginning. The scarlet beast who as Jaimeson, Faucett and Brown may have been that which was religiously prevalent and then “conquered” by Christianity. It is the Religions of Rome and the Emperor/Deity worship that Constantine ended when he had his revelation of Jesus Christ or so we are told; that “wounds” this Head. This is the Eighth and is of the seventh and he winds up in hell basically. So we are reading the rewording of the idea of one who existed then was out of commission for a season and reemerges.
Rev 17:12 And the ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour.
Now we are getting specific still because the ten horns or ten RULERS don’t exist in John’s day and may not even now but are there for one purpose, to serve the beast. Now I think about the second beast whose job it is to advertise for the first Beast may be peopled by these Rulers. Who they are is up for grabs.
Rev 17:13 These have one mind, and they give their power and authority unto the beast.
Remember that this beast is SCARLET. And scarlet which isn’t blood but is meant to convey Christ but is not Christ. So it is possible that the Harlot rides the second beast as it were. Yet both Beasts work together to break the power of the Holy Ones… (Dan 8:24) The final clue is in that they do come together to wage war on the Real Christ, thinking they can defeat Him.
Rev 17:14 These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they also shall overcome that are with him, called and chosen and faithful.
Rev 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
Isn’t it nice when God gives the explanation to His own mysteries? This is how we know that waters and hills are symbolic. The waters are the populace of the world as they are in this time. This time is not going on right now.
Rev 17:16 And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire.
Now here is the irony. She rides it as in she is in control of it and IT HATES HER! In fact both the rulers who serve the “beast” will destroy her… this is how the “Babylon” “falls”.
Rev 17:17 For God did put in their hearts to do his mind, and to come to one mind, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished.
This is why they do this. To fulfill God’s Word written all over the Old Testament, but having a real home in Daniel. God forever does have the last word.
Rev 17:18 And the woman whom thou sawest is the great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
This is the reality. Babylon is a place that manipulates one thing, the money flow. So then we have the place that moves the money that funds the work of the Beast and controls the advertising spin to the masses, giving them the “desire of nations”, opulence and wealth. Right now the American church is preaching a “prosperity now” teaching. This so plays into the work of the harlot and the beast.
Rev 18:1 After these things I saw another angel coming down out of heaven, having great authority; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
It is not much the angel as the message.
Rev 18:2 And he cried with a mighty voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird.
Rev 18:3 For by the wine of the wrath of her fornication all the nations are fallen; and the kings of the earth committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth waxed rich by the power of her wantonness.
Remember that this is she whom the Kings and the beast of scarlet wanted “ruined”. The “wine” of the “wrath of her fornication or intercourse of opulence and wealth with the Nations as the money trail for the work of the beast; tells me she had no love for what she rode or controlled. By this wine the nations and their rulers who were intimate with her and her wares have fallen, in intoxication and death and of course the money made the purveyors really rich. Unbridled wealth without the love of God to temper its allure is wanton.
Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues:
Now this is an important verse. That God is calling His people out of “her”, the great city that He has or is destroy (ed) (ing)
Tells us that there is still a portion of the “invisible church” or the “saints” alive on Earth and well yes there must be for this one reason. 1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first;
1Th 4:17 then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
This is the “rapture” the “hapedzo” the Catching away. But the Lord descends with a shout with a archangel’s voice with the Trump of God… the last trump the seventh trump. But when we saw it in chapter eleven did He descend? I didn’t see it. Yet there is much goings on and drama and the pouring out of the wrath and this whole harlot and beast and kings and the panorama of the world as it is arraying itself to battle the “Great King of Kings”. When He comes does He not DESCEND? So where is everybody? Those for whom He has decided they are to be true witnesses or martyrs to the cause of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are gone but then there are the ones remaining. Here they are. You see the prophecy is clear there is to be a “remnant” remaining. But He is YET TO COME. By no means is all this drama quite done. Please realize that whilst John is getting this whole view and understanding it is coming almost in a play. The characters of the harlot and beast and kings are part of the next chapter and in reality whatever we see as in the effect of the outpouring of the bowls/ vials etc; is still possibly happening. You see the eighteenth chapter is one to disclose the system in play at this time. It is an aside as it were. But why call them out? Well look down at the next verse.
Rev 18:5 for her sins have reached even unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Rev 18:6 Render unto her even as she rendered, and double unto her the double according to her works: in the cup which she mingled, mingle unto her double.
Rev 18:7 How much soever she glorified herself, and waxed wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning.
Rev 18:8 Therefore in one day shall her plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judged her.
Rev 18:9 And the kings of the earth, who committed fornication and lived wantonly with her, shall weep and wail over her, when they look upon the smoke of her burning,
Remember what we previously said about the intercourse of the nations of this time with the opulence and wealth generated by this “lady” who is controlling the “beast” who hates the control she has on him/it. This is that desire of the nations the thing the Gentiles or un-covenanted pagans as it were are seeking after. With what to be fed or clothed or the means by which to live and that IN EASE and SPLENDOR even.
Rev 18:10 standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
The great the strong city, plundered as a stronger than strong who would be The LAMB. Notice where the people who she made rich are in her hour of destruction, they are at a distance… she makes the rich but they are not going down with her. Yet they do lose. Noone will be buying the merchandise anymore.
Rev 18:11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no man buyeth their merchandise any more;
Rev 18:12 merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stone, and pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet; and all thyine wood, and every vessel of ivory, and every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble;
Rev 18:13 and cinnamon, and spice, and incense, and ointment, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and cattle, and sheep; and merchandise of horses and chariots and slaves; and souls of men.
Look at this list. Gold, Silver, Brass, Iron all the metals for “chariots” or “cars” or machines or what have you not to mention… jewelry. Precious Stone Pearls, again all the fineries and jewelry. Fine Linen and “purple” or really high quality fabrics with silks and scarlet, also represent something. Purple or The Purple in John’s day meant status and wealth and opulence along with place, power and prestige. If you wore The Purple you were somebody. Scarlet is the color of the beast that looks like The Lamb and speaks like The Dragon. It is NOT the color of blood it is the color of sins; fornication and adultery. The list continues. Thyine wood, now this is an interesting wood. It is also called citrus wood or sacrificial wood as it was aromatic and often used is sacrificial fires. But there is a resin that is used or has been used in mounting for microscopy. This wood was also used in furniture, in fact according to Wikipedia, workers of this wood and gold had their own guild in Grecian times. Now we are going from Jewelry, textiles, and what not into furniture and whatever else you might nowadays use that wood for. Moreover we are dealing in Ivory, looks like animals are being freely slaughtered again from elephants to walruses and anything else with ivory tusks. Precious woods, like perhaps fine grained varieties like rose wood ebony teak mahogany red oak tropical oak, these are actually the wood being logged right now by a company called … Precious Woods. But it doesn’t stop there. She is also dealing in wine oil (now is this cooking as in olive or fossil fuels or shale or hybrid oils for industry or even for cooking. But it is oil and can even include essential oils as it also talks about ointment. Yes she is into the marble industry which means mining. Then there is cinnamon and spice and incense frankincense and these have to do with worship. But she also into the wheat and out of it the fine flour or sifted flours used in pastry industries who make “dainties”. She is also into the foods as in cow and sheep. The cattlemen and shepherds are making fat profit off her. Moreover the horse breeders or thoroughbreds are making a “killing” in profits. But when you get to chariots you have two streams of industry. One is regular transportation or sport and the other is military. All those cars and tanks and troop transport are being supplied by her. But finally we see slaves. Human trafficking is what it is called today, and it is a booming business. But then you see “souls of men” and the explanation of what she has done hits home. Jesus said…Mat 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? In the ASV the word is “life”. Under her influence the merchant has sought and sold the world to the masses and they in turn have bought it all and in so doing they have taken …. The mark…. And lost their…. Souls. Remember in chapter thirteen…Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Rev 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
So anyone who profited by her has done … this. Now they have lost their souls and “the world”. You see at the end of it all our Harlot best represents the world system of sin and Satan that is prevalent in that era of time. Is it now? One might have great cause to wonder with all the available “stuff” and yet…. Is antichrist around right now? Is the mark out there excluding the Believer? I don’t see it yet do you?
Rev 18:14 And the fruits which thy soul lusted after are gone from thee, and all things that were dainty and sumptuous are perished from thee, and men shall find them no more at all.
The fruits that the soul lusted after, like flesh lust and pride of life and the eye candy that the flesh lusts after. All of the industry of it is in one hour… destroyed.
Rev 18:15 The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning;
Rev 18:16 saying, Woe, woe, the great city, she that was arrayed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearl!
Rev 18:17 for in an hour so great riches is made desolate. And every shipmaster, and every one that saileth any wither, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood afar off,
Rev 18:18 and cried out as they looked upon the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like the great city?
Rev 18:19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, wherein all that had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
How in one hour is she or rather her industry made desolate I will not hazard a guess, but look at what is affected. The merchants the shipmasters sailors mariners and “as many as gain their living by the sea” are in ruins.
She was that place decked out in all the glitter and glamour of the fine linen purple scarlet gold precious stone and pearl. It is that opulent place that, quite possibly, like New York… never sleeps. Every industry generated by her is stopped in its tracks the moment she is destroyed. In one hour everyone of them is ruined.
Rev 18:20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye saints, and ye apostles, and ye prophets; for God hath judged your judgment on her.
Rev 18:21 And a strong angel took up a stone as it were a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with a mighty fall shall Babylon, the great city, be cast down, and shall be found no more at all.
Rev 18:22 And the voice of harpers and minstrels and flute-players and trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft, shall be found any more at all in thee; and the voice of a mill shall be heard no more at all in thee;
Rev 18:23 and the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the princes of the earth; for with thy sorcery were all the nations deceived.
Rev 18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that have been slain upon the earth.
Because she rides and controls the Beast of scarlet, the first beast as perhaps an image of the second, for the church is also prefigured as a she, she is co-persecuting the prophet and the saint. Her merchants were the “princes of the Earth” or the Kings confederate. She has been around a long time…. and was at one time considered to be Jerusalem. Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
This is the harlot the Mystery Babylon.
