Rev 17:3-5 | PNT | STEP | He carried me away in the spirit into a wilderness . It is not explained why she is seen in a wilderness. Perhaps the thought is that her development was in obscurity and almost unnoticed until she had reached supreme power. I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-coloured beast . Supported by this beast. In chapter 13 I have discussed at length the meaning of this beast and of its seven heads. See notes on . And ten horns . The significance of these will be considered under .

Revelation of John 17:3-5

He carried me away in the spirit into a wilderness. It is not explained why she is seen in a wilderness. Perhaps the thought is that her development was in obscurity and almost unnoticed until she had reached supreme power.

I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-coloured beast. Supported by this beast. In chapter 13 I have discussed at length the meaning of this beast and of its seven heads. See notes on Re 13:1-10.

And ten horns. The significance of these will be considered under Re 17:12. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour. The color of royalty.

And decked with gold and precious stones and pearls. Her jewels and gold indicate enormous wealth.

Having a golden cup in her hand. A golden censer in the hands of an angel represents by its incense the prayers of those who belong to the true church (Re 8:4). This symbol of the false church has a cup full of abominations instead. See Jer 51:7. Upon her forehead [was] a name written. A title which told who she was and explained her character.

MYSTERY. Making pretensions that the world cannot understand. See 2Th 2:7.

BABYLON THE GREAT. Another name is given. She is the wicked city that carried the true Israel into bondage and persecuted them.

See PNT Re 14:8.

THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS. Not only a harlot, but the mother of harlots. In connection with Babylon, the two-horned beast, and the scarlet woman, Revelation points out fornication, or harlotry, as one of their most prominent characteristics. In order that there may be no mistake about what is meant, it is well to determine the use of these terms in the Bible. ``Harlotry symbolizes uniformly the apostasy of God's church.''--Auberlen. ``The word harlot is used at least fifty times to describe spiritual fornication; that is, the corrupt doctrine and practices of the churches of Israel and Judah.''--Bishop Wordsworth. ``In eighteen out of twenty places where the figure occurs its import is that God's church and people had forsaken him.'' --Alford. ``There are only three places in the whole Bible where the figure is applied to heathen cities or nations; twice to Tyre, and once to Nineveh.''--Williams. The fact that uniform use (with the rarest exceptions) is to describe a falling away from God shows that the Scarlet Harlot is the symbol of a faithless, apostate church. One is signified, too, that is the mother of other false churches which have followed her ways.