Just to keep things from being wrongly conflated...
Revelation chapter 17
[1] And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
[2] With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
[3] So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
[4] And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
[5] And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
[6] And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
[7] And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
[8] The 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.
[9] And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
[10] And 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.
[11] And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
[12] And 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.
[13] These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
[14] These 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.
[15] And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
[16] And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
[17] For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
[18] And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
In this 17th chapter of the book of Revelation, there are two primary and different entities being described:
1. “The great whore” (vs. 1), who is not only a “whore” (vss. 15-16), but also “THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (vs. 5).
In other words, in the same way a natural mother is the progenitor or the person from which her children originate or descend, whoever this “whore” is, she is the spiritual “MOTHER” or progenitor of the “HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” which have descended from her.
This is a very significant point, and we simply must not overlook it.
This “great whore,” or “whore,” or “MOTHER OF HARLOTS” is also described as being a “woman” (vss. 3-4, 6-7, 9), and we are told exactly what she represents:
Revelation 17:18
“And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.”
This “great whore,” or “whore,” or “MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH,” or “woman” is “that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.”
Let me pause here for just a moment to make the following very important point:
Revelation 1:19
“Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;”
When John received his revelation from Jesus Christ, he was shown “things which are, and things which shall be hereafter.”
Why is this significant?
It is significant because when we read how “the woman” is “that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth,” this does not necessarily mean that this “great city” was then reigning. In other words, it could also easily mean that this “great city” would be reigning “hereafter.”
Please keep this in mind, and I will address this further momentarily.
2. “A scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns” that the “woman sits upon” (vs. 3), or “the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and the ten horns” (vs. 7).
Again, there are two different entities being described here, and we must not conflate the two or somehow erroneously combine the two into being one and the same entity. In other words, there is “a beast,” and there is also a “woman” who “sits upon” it or who is being “carried” by it.
Before we briefly look at some other descriptors that we are given in relation to this “beast,” let us first determine what a “beast” actually represents in Bible prophecy.
Like John, the prophet Daniel had visions concerning “beasts,” and here is what they represent:
Daniel 7:17
“These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.”
Daniel 7:23
“Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.”
In Bible prophecy, a “beast” is representative of a “king” and his “kingdom.”
Whoever this “beast/king/kingdom” is, it has “seven heads and ten horns” (Revelation 17:3, 7), so what do “heads” and “horns” represent in Bible prophecy?
Regarding the “seven heads,” we read:
Revelation 17:9
“And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.”
These “seven heads” represent “seven mountains” or “seven hills.”
Please also note that these “seven heads,” or “seven mountains,” or "seven hills" are part of the beast (Revelation 17:3, 7).
In other words, these “seven mountains” or “seven hills” pertain to “the beast,” and not to the “woman” who is sitting upon “the beast” and its “seven mountains” or “seven hills.”
Again, there are clearly two different entities being spoken of here, and we simply must not erroneously conflate the two.
Having determined what these “seven heads” represent, what do the “ten horns” represent?
Revelation chapter 17
[12] And 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.
[13] These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
[14] These 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.
[15] And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
[16] And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
[17] For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
[18] And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
These “ten horns” upon “the beast” represent “ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast” (vs. 12).
Please notice that these “ten horns” or “ten kings” had not yet received their kingdoms at the time of John’s writing, so, again, when we read about how they “shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire” (vs. 16), we are reading of a FUTURE time frame or of that which shall occur "hereafter" (Revelation 1:19).
With such being the case, it is beyond plausible that “the whore,” or “woman,” or "that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth" that these ten kings will hate is referring to a FUTURE reign as well.
To summarize, here is what the Bible foretold:
That there would be a “beast” or “kingdom” which would have “seven heads,” or “seven mountains,” or “seven hills.”
Furthermore, the Bible foretold of a time when “ten horns” would be upon this “beast” or when “ten kings” would give their power to this "beast/kingdom" to burn “the woman” or “that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.”
“The beast” is the Vatican, and “the woman” or “the whore” is Jerusalem which will enter into a last days agreement with the Vatican, and this is why she is depicted as sitting atop the beast.
This really is not that complicated.
Revelation chapter 17
[1] And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
[2] With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
[3] So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
[4] And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
[5] And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
[6] And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
[7] And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
[8] The 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.
[9] And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
[10] And 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.
[11] And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
[12] And 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.
[13] These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
[14] These 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.
[15] And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
[16] And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
[17] For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
[18] And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
In this 17th chapter of the book of Revelation, there are two primary and different entities being described:
1. “The great whore” (vs. 1), who is not only a “whore” (vss. 15-16), but also “THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (vs. 5).
In other words, in the same way a natural mother is the progenitor or the person from which her children originate or descend, whoever this “whore” is, she is the spiritual “MOTHER” or progenitor of the “HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” which have descended from her.
This is a very significant point, and we simply must not overlook it.
This “great whore,” or “whore,” or “MOTHER OF HARLOTS” is also described as being a “woman” (vss. 3-4, 6-7, 9), and we are told exactly what she represents:
Revelation 17:18
“And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.”
This “great whore,” or “whore,” or “MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH,” or “woman” is “that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.”
Let me pause here for just a moment to make the following very important point:
Revelation 1:19
“Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;”
When John received his revelation from Jesus Christ, he was shown “things which are, and things which shall be hereafter.”
Why is this significant?
It is significant because when we read how “the woman” is “that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth,” this does not necessarily mean that this “great city” was then reigning. In other words, it could also easily mean that this “great city” would be reigning “hereafter.”
Please keep this in mind, and I will address this further momentarily.
2. “A scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns” that the “woman sits upon” (vs. 3), or “the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and the ten horns” (vs. 7).
Again, there are two different entities being described here, and we must not conflate the two or somehow erroneously combine the two into being one and the same entity. In other words, there is “a beast,” and there is also a “woman” who “sits upon” it or who is being “carried” by it.
Before we briefly look at some other descriptors that we are given in relation to this “beast,” let us first determine what a “beast” actually represents in Bible prophecy.
Like John, the prophet Daniel had visions concerning “beasts,” and here is what they represent:
Daniel 7:17
“These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.”
Daniel 7:23
“Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.”
In Bible prophecy, a “beast” is representative of a “king” and his “kingdom.”
Whoever this “beast/king/kingdom” is, it has “seven heads and ten horns” (Revelation 17:3, 7), so what do “heads” and “horns” represent in Bible prophecy?
Regarding the “seven heads,” we read:
Revelation 17:9
“And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.”
These “seven heads” represent “seven mountains” or “seven hills.”
Please also note that these “seven heads,” or “seven mountains,” or "seven hills" are part of the beast (Revelation 17:3, 7).
In other words, these “seven mountains” or “seven hills” pertain to “the beast,” and not to the “woman” who is sitting upon “the beast” and its “seven mountains” or “seven hills.”
Again, there are clearly two different entities being spoken of here, and we simply must not erroneously conflate the two.
Having determined what these “seven heads” represent, what do the “ten horns” represent?
Revelation chapter 17
[12] And 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.
[13] These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
[14] These 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.
[15] And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
[16] And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
[17] For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
[18] And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
These “ten horns” upon “the beast” represent “ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast” (vs. 12).
Please notice that these “ten horns” or “ten kings” had not yet received their kingdoms at the time of John’s writing, so, again, when we read about how they “shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire” (vs. 16), we are reading of a FUTURE time frame or of that which shall occur "hereafter" (Revelation 1:19).
With such being the case, it is beyond plausible that “the whore,” or “woman,” or "that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth" that these ten kings will hate is referring to a FUTURE reign as well.
To summarize, here is what the Bible foretold:
That there would be a “beast” or “kingdom” which would have “seven heads,” or “seven mountains,” or “seven hills.”
Furthermore, the Bible foretold of a time when “ten horns” would be upon this “beast” or when “ten kings” would give their power to this "beast/kingdom" to burn “the woman” or “that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.”
“The beast” is the Vatican, and “the woman” or “the whore” is Jerusalem which will enter into a last days agreement with the Vatican, and this is why she is depicted as sitting atop the beast.
This really is not that complicated.
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