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:
seven angels . . . vials. See Revelation 15:7 .
talked. App-121 .
unto me. The texts omit.
unto = to.
judgment. App-177 .
waters. See Revelation 17:15 .
2.
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.
earth. App-129 .
have. Omit.
the inhabiters, &c. The texts rend "they that inhabit the earth were made drunken", &c.
3.
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.
So = And.
Spirit. App-101 . See Revelation 1:10 .
the. No art., but this is often omitted after a preposition.
saw. App-133 .
a woman. i.e. "that great city" of Revelation 17:18 .
sit = sitting; as supported by that being described in verses: Revelation 17:8-11 .
upon. App-104 .
heads. These are the kings of Revelation 17:10 .
4.
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:
decked. Literally "gilded".
stones = stone.
golden cup. Compare Jeremiah 51:7 .
abominations. Greek. bdelugma, used in Septuagint of an idol (2 Kings 23:13 , &c.); in plural, of idolatry (Deuteronomy 18:9 , &c). Called "abominations" because of the uncleanness practiced in the worship.
and filthiness = and having the unclean things; as the texts.
5.
And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
MYSTERY. See App-193 and App-1 :20. The verse should be read, "And upon her forehead (she had) a name written, a secret symbol ( musterion ), BABYLON THE GREAT, the mother of the harlots and of the abominations of the earth". The name of the woman is therefore a secret sign or symbol of "that great city" which she personifies (Revelation 17:18 ).
HARLOTS = the harlots.
OF THE EARTH. Babylon is the fountain-head of all idolatry and systems of false worship. This is the "mystery of iniquity" (2 Thessalonians 2:7 ) seen in all the great "religions" of the world. All alike substitute another god for the God of the Bible; a god made either with the hands or with the imagination, but equally made; a religion consisting of human merit and endeavor. The "Reunion of the Churches" of Christendom and the "League of Nations" are two of the most arresting signs of the times.
6.
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.
saints. See Acts 9:13 .
martyrs. See p. 1511.
Jesus. App-98 .
admiration = wonder. In this phrase is the Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 .
7.
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.
marvel. As "wonder", verses: Revelation 17:6 , Revelation 17:8 .
8.
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.
was, &c. Implying a time between Revelation 12 and Revelation 13 .
shall = is about to.
perdition. See John 17:12 .
names. The texts read "name".
were not = hath not been.
book. &c. See Philippians 1:4 , Philippians 1:3 .
life. App-170 .
foundation, &c. See App-146 .
behold. App-133 .
that. The texts read "because it".
and yet is = and shall be present; as the texts.
9.
And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
And. Omit.
mind. Same as "understanding" in Revelation 13:18 .
wisdom. Compare App-132 .
The . . . sitteth. This belongs to Revelation 17:10 .
are. i.e. represent.
on. App-104 .
10.
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.
there. Greek. they.
are fallen = fell.
and. Omit.
one = the one is. i.e. at this stage of the vision.
and. Omit.
other. The seventh. App-124 .
not yet. Greek. oupo.
cometh = shall have come.
continue. See p. 1511 (abide).
11.
And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
he = he himself (emph.)
the = an.
is. Omit. This being is described as an eighth head, not king.
12.
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.
no . . . as yet. As "not yet" above.
power. App-172 .
one hour, i.e. at one and the same hour. Confusion results from substituting "kingdoms" for "kings" in the connection. The Holy Spirit says kings ; who and what they are will be known at the time of their association with the beast.
13.
These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
mind. App-177 .
shall give. The texts read "they give", i.e. of their own free will.
power. App-172 .1 and Rev 176:1 .
strength. App-172 .
14.
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.
overcome. As in Rev 2 and Revelation 3 . See App-197 .
Lord. App-98 .
lords. App-98 .
called. Greek. kletos. Only here in Rev. First occurance. Matthew 20:16 .
chosen. Greek. eklektos. Only here in Rev. See Matthew 20:16 (first occ).
faithful. See App-150 and App-175 .
15.
And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
16.
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.
upon. Greek. epi ; but the texts read "and".
shall = will.
her. i.e. the city. Compare Jeremiah 50:32 .
17.
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.
hath put = put. Literally "gave".
fulfil. Literally "do".
will. App-177 .
agree = carry out (literally "do") one purpose ( App-177 .)
kingdom. Singular. Compare Revelation 17:12 .
words. Greek. rhema, but the texts read App-121 .
fulfilled. Compare App-125 .
18.
And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
that = the.
reigneth. Literally having a kingdom, or sovereignty.
kings . . . earth. Those who are so called in Revelation 16:14 . See also Revelation 17:2 .