What does Revelation 17:1 mean?

"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 17:1

Revelation 17:1-5 - "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."

Revelation 17:1-5 - "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."

Revelation 17:1 in the King James Version (KJV) reads: "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 verse is part of the book of Revelation, the final book of the New Testament, which was written by the apostle John while he was exiled on the island of Patmos. The book of Revelation is a highly symbolic and apocalyptic work that describes a series of visions depicting the end times and the ultimate victory of God over evil.

The specific verse in question describes the angel inviting John to witness and understand the judgment of the great whore who sits on many waters. Throughout the book of Revelation, the figure of the great whore is used symbolically to represent a powerful and seductive force that leads people away from God. The phrase "sitteth upon many waters" further symbolizes the widespread influence and reach of this force.

One of the key themes in this verse and throughout the book of Revelation is the contrast between good and evil, and the ultimate triumph of God's judgment over the forces of darkness. The great whore is a symbol of the seductive power of sin and temptation, which threatens to lead people away from the path of righteousness. By showing John the judgment of the great whore, the angel is highlighting the consequences of succumbing to these temptations and turning away from God.

Another important theme in this verse is the idea of divine judgment. Throughout the book of Revelation, there are numerous visions of God's judgment being carried out against those who have opposed him and led others astray. The invitation for John to witness this judgment serves as a reminder of the inevitable consequences for those who choose to follow the path of the great whore.

The use of symbolism in this verse is particularly striking. The image of the great whore sitting on many waters is a powerful and evocative symbol that represents the all-encompassing influence and reach of sin and temptation. This imagery is reminiscent of other passages in the Bible that use water as a symbol of chaos and instability, such as the primordial waters in the creation story in Genesis.

In a broader sense, the invitation for John to witness the judgment of the great whore can also be seen as a message of hope and assurance for believers. By showing the ultimate defeat of the great whore and the triumph of God's judgment, the verse emphasizes the ultimate victory of God's kingdom over the forces of evil. This serves as a source of encouragement and strength for believers who may be struggling against the temptations and challenges of the world.

Overall, Revelation 17:1 is a powerful and evocative verse that uses vivid symbolism to convey deep spiritual truths about the nature of sin, temptation, and divine judgment. It serves as a reminder of the ultimate victory of God's kingdom and the consequences of straying from the path of righteousness. As with the rest of the book of Revelation, this verse offers a message of hope and assurance for believers, reminding them of the ultimate triumph of God over the forces of darkness.

Revelation 17:1 Artwork

Revelation 17:1-5 - "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."

Revelation 17:1-5 - "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."

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 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 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.”"

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.”"

Revelation 17:14

Revelation 17:14

Revelation 17:14

Revelation 17:14

Revelation 17:14

Revelation 17:14

Revelation 17:14

Revelation 17:14

Revelation 17:3-4

Revelation 17:3-4

Revelation 17:3-6

Revelation 17:3-6

Revelation 17:3-6

Revelation 17:3-6

Revelation 17:3-6

Revelation 17:3-6

Revelation 17:3-4

Revelation 17:3-4

Revelation 17:3-6

Revelation 17:3-6

Revelation 13:16-17

Revelation 13:16-17

Revelation 17:3-6

Revelation 17:3-6

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:"

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 1:1

Revelation 1:1

Revelation 1:1

Revelation 1:1

Revelation 1:1

Revelation 1:1

Revelation 1:1

Revelation 1:1

Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Revelation 1:16

Revelation 1:16

Revelation 1:16

Revelation 1:16

Revelation 1:12,20

Revelation 1:12,20

Revelation 1:16

Revelation 1:16

Revelation 1:16

Revelation 1:16

revelation 1:13

revelation 1:13

Revelation 21: 1

Revelation 21: 1

Revelation 21:1

Revelation 21:1