The Scarlet Woman and the Divine Call to Faithfulness
"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: 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. 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. 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: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 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. 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. 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. And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 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. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. 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. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. 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. And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 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. 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. And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth." - Revelation 17:1-18
The book of Revelation, penned by John during his exile on the island of Patmos, brings forth a rich tapestry of visions and prophecies that address the early Church and its struggles, and indeed, the ongoing spiritual battle between good and evil throughout the ages. In Revelation 17:1-18, we encounter a vivid and powerful metaphor: the Scarlet Woman who sits atop a beast, representing the seductive allure of false religion and the moral corruption of society.
### A Call to Understand the Vision
In Revelation 17:1, we read, "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." This introduction is crucial. The angel invites John into a deeper understanding of the judgment that awaits the representation of all that is antithetical to Christ. This woman is distinguished by her promiscuity, sitting on many waters, signifying her reach and influence over the nations and peoples of the earth. The "great whore" is symbolic of the ultimate rebellion against God, blurring the lines between truth and deception, holiness and impurity.
### The Allure and the Consequence
The Scarlet Woman is described in verses 3-4: "So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication." What a striking image of luxury and decay! Here, we see the juxtaposition of her opulence with the reality of her moral vileness. The golden cup, though beautiful, is full of abominations that reveal the harsh reality of her seductive practices.
This moment in the scripture is a powerful commentary on how temptation often presents itself: glittering and attractive, yet hiding the destruction it brings. It serves as a warning to believers to stay alert and discerning, lest they become entangled in the comforts and corruptions of the world. Jesus spoke similarly in Matthew 7:15, urging His followers to beware of false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing but are inwardly ravenous wolves.
### The Call to Faithfulness
Verse 6 states, "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." The blood of martyrs symbolizes the cost of faithfulness to God amidst overwhelming opposition from the world. The Scarlet Woman does not merely oppose Christ; she actively seeks to destroy His followers. At this juncture, one must consider: are we willing to remain faithful, even when the world turns against us? The challenge to stand firm in our convictions is echoed throughout scripture and is perhaps never more crucial than in our own lives.
### The Sovereignty of God
As the vision unfolds, verses 10-11 remind us that "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. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition." This heavy imagery points to the transient nature of human power and the deception bred by overstated authority. God is sovereign, and despite the apparent chaos of the world, He remains on His throne, directing history toward His ultimate purpose.
### Conclusion: Embrace Our Identity in Christ
Ultimately, Revelation 17 serves as both a warning and an encouragement. It beckons us to awaken to the realities of spiritual warfare while assuring us that Christ has already secured victory over all darkness. As believers, we need to recognize that our identity is not tied to the transient allure of this world, but rather in our relationship with Christ, faithfully holding onto His truth and proclaiming His Gospel amid a tide that seeks to drown us.
As we meditate on this passage, let us pray for discernment to see beyond the glitter of evil, the courage to stand firm in the face of temptation, and the commitment to our identity as sons and daughters of the Most High. May we remain steadfast in our faith, encouraging one another as we navigate the challenges of this life, looking forward to the day we see our Savior face to face.
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Revelation 17:1-18 Artwork
Revelation 17:1-18 - "Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition. “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”"
"Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition. “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”" - Revelation 17:1-18
Revelation 17:18 - "And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth."
Revelation 18:17 - "For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,"
"And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth." - Revelation 17:18
Revelation 1:18 - "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."
Ephesians 1:17 - "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:"
Revelation 17:14
Revelation 17:14
Revelation 17:14
Revelation 17:14
1 Esdras 1:17-18 (KJVA) 17 Thus were the things that belonged to the sacrifices of the Lord accomplished in that day, that they might hold the passover, 18 And offer sacrifices upon the altar of the Lord, according to the commandment of king Josias.
Revelation 18:1 - "And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory."
1 Esdras 1:17-18 (KJVA) 17 Thus were the things that belonged to the sacrifices of the Lord accomplished in that day, that they might hold the passover, 18 And offer sacrifices upon the altar of the Lord, according to the commandment of king Josias.
Revelation 17:14
Revelation 22:18
Ephesians 1:18
Revelation 17:3-4
Revelation 17:3-6
Revelation 17:3-6
Revelation 17:3-6
Revelation 17:3-6
Revelation 17:3-4
Revelation 13:16-17
Revelation 17:3-6
Revelation 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:"
Revelation 18:18 - "And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!"
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 - "Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Chronicles 18:17 - "And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king."
Revelation 1:17 - "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:"