Rev 17 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Rev 17:1-18:24: 17:1–19:10 The great drama in this section focuses on the powers that are hostile to God and responsible for the persecution and suffering of God’s people. Rome’s power was captivating to many (17:6 ); John purposely defines Rome’s sins and provides God’s assessment (17:3-18 ) before outlining its fall (18:1-24 ) and heaven’s response (19:1-10 ). 17:1 One of the ... angels of judgment addresses John and summons him to a new scene in which he sees the coming judgment of the great prostitute, who rules over many waters . Rome, located on the Tiber River, controlled the seats of power and water trade routes throughout the Mediterranean, from the British Isles to the Euphrates River.

Summary for Rev 17:1-18:24: 17:1–19:10 ^a The great drama in this section focuses on the powers that are hostile to God and responsible for the persecution and suffering of God’s people. Rome’s power was captivating to many (17:6 ^b); John purposely defines Rome’s sins and provides God’s assessment (17:3-18 ^c) before outlining its fall (18:1-24 ^d) and heaven’s response (19:1-10 ^e). 17:1 ^f One of the ... angels of judgment addresses John and summons him to a new scene in which he sees the coming judgment of the great prostitute, who rules over many waters. Rome, located on the Tiber River, controlled the seats of power and water trade routes throughout the Mediterranean, from the British Isles to the Euphrates River.
17:2 ^g Adultery with her is a biblical image for serving other gods (see, e.g., Exod 34:12-16 ^h; Judg 2:17 ⁱ; Hos 2 ^j).

• drunk by ... her immorality: Drunkenness in Scripture often depicts nations that indulge in wanton and immoral behavior (see Rev 18:3 ^k, 9 ^l; Jer 25:27 ^m; 51:7 ⁿ; Lam 4:21 ^o; Ezek 23:33 ^p).
Summary for Rev 17:3-4: 17:3-4 ^q John is carried in the Spirit into the wilderness, his way of describing a visionary experience (see 1:10 ^r; 4:2 ^s). He sees a depiction of Rome’s moral corruption and excessive luxury (see 18:12-13 ^t, 16 ^u) that illustrates how such wealth can become an abomination to God.

• The beast here is like the second figure in the evil trinity (see 13:1-4 ^v).

• blasphemies against God: See 13:5-6 ^w.

• purple and scarlet: Clothing in these two colors indicated royalty and carnality, respectively.

• a gold goblet: See Jer 51:7 ^x.
17:5 ^y Using code language, John was probably referring to Rome (see 17:9 ^z) as Babylon the Great, Mother of All Prostitutes. Babylon was a symbol of the idolatries and demonic obscenities of the world. As Mother, she had produced offspring who copied her character. Rome, like Babylon, prostituted herself to false gods and led other nations into adultery and idolatry.
17:6 ^aa God’s holy people ... were witnesses for Jesus to the point of shedding their blood (see 16:6 ^ab; Heb 12:4 ^ac). In John’s time, Rome was responsible for this persecution.
17:7 ^ad In response to John’s amazement, the angel prepares him to understand the mystery (17:8-14 ^ae).
Summary for Rev 17:8-11: 17:8-11 ^af The destruction within this vision contrasts with the destiny of the people of God in the new heaven and earth (see 21:1-4 ^ag). 17:8 ^ah The beast ... was once alive but isn’t now ... will soon come up: When Domitian became emperor (AD 81–96), he was as evil as Nero (both were fierce persecutors of the church), and many thought he was the embodiment of Nero’s spirit, if not Nero himself (perhaps similar to the way that John the Baptist was considered to embody Elijah’s spirit; see Mal 4:5 ^ai; Matt 11:14 ^aj; Luke 1:17 ^ak; John 1:21 ^al).

• you saw: The past tense indicates that the angel’s interpretation took place after John’s vision.

• was once alive but isn’t now: This contrasts with God, “who is, who always was, and who is still to come” (Rev 1:4 ^am, 8 ^an).

• the bottomless pit: See study note on 9:1-12.

• In contrast to God’s people, the people of this world are not written in the Book of Life (see 20:11-15 ^ao). They will be amazed by the apparent resurrection of the beast (see study note on 17:10-11; see also 13:13-17 ^ap).
17:9 ^aq The seven heads of the beast represent the seven hills on which Rome was built (see study note on 16:10-11).

• the woman: see 17:3-6 ^ar.
Summary for Rev 17:10-11: 17:10-11 ^as Five kings have already fallen: If these kings represent Roman emperors, and the starting point for numbering them is the switch from a republic to an empire with Augustus (29 BC–AD 14), then the fifth in line would be Nero (AD 54–68), the sixth would be Vespasian, and the seventh would be Titus. The eighth king would then be Domitian.

• that was, but is no longer: Early commentators argued that Domitian was an embodiment of Nero’s spirit (see study note on 17:8).

• like the other seven: This apparently invincible ruler was also headed for destruction.
Summary for Rev 17:12-13: 17:12-13 ^at The ten horns, symbolic of the world kingdoms that follow the beast, rule simultaneously under his direction. While these verses have caused speculation concerning a ten-nation confederacy (from the client kingdoms of Rome, to the states opposed to the Holy Roman Empire, to the European Union), these conjectures are beside the point, which is that all nations opposed to God will be defeated (17:14 ^au).
17:14 ^av Whatever power they amass, the beast and ten kings (17:11-12 ^aw) have no hope of winning because Jesus is Lord of all lords (see 19:11-16 ^ax). Those God has called and chosen and who remain faithful to him will stand with him as victors.
Summary for Rev 17:15-16: 17:15-16 ^ay While the prostitute rules over the masses, it does not bring her victory. Instead, the beast hates and kills the great prostitute. Satan strikes even those he uses for his evil purposes.
17:17 ^az John provides another reminder that God is in control; God puts a plan into the minds of the enemy that will fulfill the Lord’s divine purposes (e.g., Exod 7:3 ^ba; 35:31-35 ^bb; Ezra 7:27 ^bc; Rom 9:18 ^bd, 21 ^be).