[:en]SCRIPTURE: REVELATION 17
“For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God’s words are fulfilled” (Revelation 17:17)
THE WOMAN ON THE BEAST (vs. 1-18)
One of the 7 angels with 7 bowls showed John the punishment of a great prostitute, who sits with the kings of the earth. She intoxicated the earth with the wine of her adulteries.
Then the angel carried John away in the Spirit into a desert. John saw a woman was sitting on a scarlet beast who has 7 heads and 10 horns with blasphemous name. She was dressed in purple and scarlet, glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup on her hand with this title written in her forehead: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND THE ABOMINATION OF THE EARTH”
Then the angel explained to John the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has 7 heads and 10 horns. The beast come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The beast is considered to be “once was, now is not, and yet will come.
The 7 heads are 7 hills where the woman sits. They are also the 7 kings. The beast is an eight king. The five fallen kingdoms were Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia and Greece (www.biblestudytools.com). The “one that is” is Rome and the “One yet to come” (the 7th) would be the kingdom of the Beast. The 5 fallen Roman rulers would be Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius/Nero. The one that is would be Domitian and the one yet to come – the Beast – the king of the revived Roman Empire.
The 10 horns are the 10 kings who will receive authority as kings and give power to the beast. They will make war against the Lamb. The Lamb is the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings. He and his chosen faithful followers will overcome them.
Then the angel explained to John. The water where the prostitute sits are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. The beast and the 10 horns will hate the prostitute. They will destroy her and burn her with fire. The woman is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.
SUMMARY:
The woman is a city, who reigns over the kings of the earth. It is situated on 7 hills. When Revelation was written, Rome was reigning over the kings of the earth. The beast is the Antichrist linked with dragon, Satan. It resembles the kingdom of Antichrist who will be the 7th world kingdom that “has not yet come”.
The 7 heads represent 7 mountains (v. 9) and 7 kings (v. 10). The kingdom “that is” would be Rome in John’s day. The “one yet to come” – the seventh would be the kingdom of the Beast.
The 10 horns are 10 more kings which parallel to the 10 toes of Daniel’s image in Daniel 2:36-45. In John’s time, these kings had not received the power until the last days when the Federation of Europe headed by the Beast comes to power. These 10 kings will give support to the Beast in his battle against Christ and the saints.
The waters are the people of the world where the harlot is seated. She will influence over the world in all aspect. In the last days, one World Church will be formed called the “harlot”. With the help of the Beast (Satan and the Federation of Europe nations), the World Church will come to power politically, economically and religiously.
A union will exist between nations of Europe, the beast and the World Church. However, during the middle of the Tribulation, the Beast want to get rid of the “harlot” to gain absolute power. The Federation of Europe nations will turn against the World Church and destroy her. (Rev. 2:20-23). Then the Beast will declare himself god and demand worship of the nations.
We are now in a period with the presence of the “harlot” – the apostate church. True Christian must separate themselves from Satanic false church. The false church may appear to be successful and progressive. Therefore, we must be alert to distinguish them. We must base our foundation on the Word of God and remain true to Christ.[:]