# Revelation 17 đź“–: The Prostitute and the Beast
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### The Great Prostitute and the Beast
**Principle**:
[[#Verse 01.]] Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke to me.“Come,” he said, “I will show you the condemnation and punishment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters,Â
[[#Verse 02.]] with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality and the earth’s inhabitants got drunk with the wine of her immorality.”Â
[[#Verse 03.]] So he carried me away in the Spirit to a wilderness, and there I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.Â
[[#Verse 04.]] Now the woman was dressed in purple and scarlet clothing, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup filled with detestable things and unclean things from her sexual immorality.Â
[[#Verse 05.]] On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: “Babylon the Great, the Mother of prostitutes and of the detestable things of the earth.”Â
[[#Verse 06.]] I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of those who testified to Jesus. Iwas greatly astounded when I saw her.Â
[[#Verse 07.]] But the angel said to me, “Why are you astounded? I will interpret for you the mystery of the woman and of the beast with the seven heads and ten horns that carries her.Â
[[#Verse 08.]] The beast you saw was, and is not, but is about to come up from the abyss and then go to destruction. The inhabitants of the earth—all those whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world—will be astounded when they see that the beast was, and is not, but is to come.Â
[[#Verse 09.]] (This requires a mind that has wisdom.) The seven heads are seven mountains the woman sits on. They are also seven kings:Â
[[#Verse 10.]] five have fallen; one is, and the other has not yet come, but whenever he does come, he must remain for only a brief time.Â
[[#Verse 11.]] The beast that was, and is not, is himself an eighth king and yet is one of the seven, and is going to destruction.Â
[[#Verse 12.]] The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive ruling authority as kings with the beast for one hour.Â
[[#Verse 13.]] These kings have a single intent, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.Â
[[#Verse 14.]] They will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those accompanying the Lamb are the called, chosen, and faithful.”
[[#Verse 15.]] Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw (where the prostitute is seated) are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.Â
[[#Verse 16.]] The ten horns that you saw, and the beast—these will hate the prostitute and make her desolate and naked. They will consume her flesh and burn her up with fire.Â
[[#Verse 17.]] For God has put into their minds to carry out his purpose by making a decision to give their royal power to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled.Â
[[#Verse 18.]] As for the woman you saw, she is the great city that has sovereignty over the kings of the earth.”
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. The woman sits on many waters (17:1), which the angel explains are peoples, nations, and languages (17:15).
2. Ancient Babylon sat on the Euphrates with many canals, and Jeremiah described her as living by many waters (Jeremiah 51:13).
3. Purple and scarlet (17:4) were expensive dyes worn by the wealthy and powerful.
4. The golden cup (17:4) echoes Jeremiah 51:7, where Babylon is a golden cup that made the nations drunk.
5. The seven heads are seven mountains (17:9). Rome was famous as the city on seven hills.
6. The beast who "was, and is not, and is about to come" (17:8) parodies God, who was, is, and is to come (4:8).
7. Scholars have tried many ways to match the seven kings (17:10) to Roman emperors, and no single counting has won agreement.
8. The ten kings reign with the beast for "one hour" (17:12), stressing how brief their power is.
9. "Lord of lords and King of kings" (17:14) appears in reverse order in 19:16.
10. In the end, the beast and the ten kings turn on the prostitute and destroy her (17:16), showing that evil devours itself.
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the Lamb who conquers because He is Lord of lords and King of kings (17:14). Those with Him are called, chosen, and faithful, sharing His victory over every proud power (1 Corinthians 15:24-25).
## 🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. Babylon is pictured as a seductive woman dressed in luxury (17:4). What makes worldly power and wealth so attractive?
2. The beast "was, and is not, and is about to come up" (17:8), a mockery of God who was, is, and is to come. How does evil try to imitate God?
3. The Lamb conquers, and those with Him are called, chosen, and faithful (17:14). Which of those three words encourages you most?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verses 4-5: The woman is dressed in purple and scarlet, with the name Babylon the Great on her forehead.
- đź“– verse 6: She is drunk with the blood of the saints and the witnesses of Jesus.
- đź“– verse 14: The Lamb will conquer them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings.
- đź“– verse 17: God put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose.
## đź”— Related Passages
- 🔗 17:1 → Jeremiah 51:13 – Babylon, you who live by many waters.
- 🔗 17:2 → Isaiah 23:17 and Nahum 3:4 – Cities pictured as prostitutes seducing the nations.
- 🔗 17:3, 7 → Daniel 7:7 – The beast with ten horns.
- 🔗 17:4 → Jeremiah 51:7 – Babylon a golden cup in the Lord's hand.
- 🔗 17:8 → Daniel 7:3 – Beasts rising from the sea.
- 🔗 17:12 → Daniel 7:24 – The ten horns are ten kings.
- 🔗 17:14 → Deuteronomy 10:17 and 1 Timothy 6:15 – God of gods and Lord of lords.
- 🔗 17:16 → Ezekiel 16:37-41 – The unfaithful city stripped and burned by her lovers.
- đź”— [[Jeremiah 51#Verse 07.|Jeremiah 51:7-8]] - Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord's hand.
- đź”— [[Daniel 07#Verse 23.|Daniel 7:23-27]] - The ten horns and the everlasting kingdom.
- đź”— [[Deuteronomy 10#Verse 17.|Deuteronomy 10:17]] - The Lord is God of gods and Lord of lords.
- đź”— [[1 Timothy 06#Verse 15.|1 Timothy 6:15]] - The blessed and only Sovereign, King of kings.
- đź”— [[James 04#Verse 04.|James 4:4]] - Friendship with the world is hostility toward God.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[Revelation 17 - SOAP|Evil Loses]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes