Revelation 17:15-18:8,Revelation 18:1

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Revelation 17:15

And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth ... We must not lose sight of who this beast is; she is that gorgeously dressed whore riding the scarlet beast!Peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues ... The domain of the harlot-beast is the whole earth. The commentators who reject the Apostate Church interpretation of this, on the basis that it is... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Revelation 17:15-18

Revelation 17:15-18. The waters which thou sawest, &c.— In the former part of this description, (Revelation 17:1.) the whore is represented like ancient Babylon, sitting upon many waters, and these waters are here said expressly to signify peoples, and multitudes, &c. So many words in the plural number, fitly denote the great extensiveness of her power and jurisdiction; and it is a remarkable peculiarity of Rome, different from all other governments in the world, that her authority is... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Revelation 17:15

15. (Revelation 17:1; Isaiah 8:7.) An impious parody of Jehovah who "sitteth upon the flood" [ALFORD]. Also, contrast the "many waters" Isaiah 8:7- :, "Alleluia." peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues—The "peoples," c., here mark the universality of the spiritual fornication of the Church. The "tongues" remind us of the original Babel, the confusion of tongues, the beginning of Babylon, and the first commencement of idolatrous apostasy after the flood, as the tower was doubtless... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 17:15

The angel next helped John understand the identity of the waters (Revelation 17:1). Water is a common symbol for people in the Old Testament (e.g., Psalms 18:4; Psalms 18:16; Psalms 124:4; Isaiah 8:7; Jeremiah 47:2). The harlot exercises a controlling influence over the population of the world, both the faithful (cf. Revelation 5:9; Revelation 7:9) and the rebellious (cf. Revelation 10:11; Revelation 11:9; Revelation 13:7; Revelation 14:6). There will be one religious system that will encompass... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 17:15-18

The judgment of the harlot 17:15-18 read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 17:1-18

Babylon the great HarlotThe judgment on Rome, which had been announced before, is now shown in detail. The identification of ’Babylon’ with Rome, here and elsewhere in Rev., is supported (HDB.) by the following considerations:—The name Babylon in Revelation 17:5; ’is described as mystery, i.e. a name to be allegorically interpreted... B. is described (1) as “the harlot” the supreme antithesis of “the bride,” “the holy city,” “the new Jerus.” (2) as the centre and ruler of the nations,... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Revelation 17:15

(15) And he said unto me . . .—Better, And he (i.e., the angel mentioned in Revelation 17:1) saith, &c. The waters on which the harlot sits are explained as “multitudes.” We have thus a key to the imagery employed here and elsewhere (Revelation 13:1). The wild beast and the harlot both draw much of their power from the people. The easily-moved passions or the fickle crowd, its generous, unreasoning impulses, are used by subtle and seductive enemies. “Men never so much need to be theocratic... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Revelation 17:1-18

Revelation 17:6 Mercy and love are sins in Rome and hell. Beaumont and Fletcher, 'Bonduca,' Act iv. Scene 4. The Lamb's War with the Beast Revelation 17:14 It is strange that the most mysterious book of the Bible should be especially singled out as the Revelation. Yet though no book is less patient of a detailed and pedantic exposition, none is more full of the triumph and the tears of God's Word, none is richer in lessons to guide us in the stern and fluctuating conflict of our Lord with... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Revelation 17:1-18

CHAPTER XIIITHE BEAST AND BABYLOST.Revelation 17:1-18AT the close of chap. 16, we reached the end of the three great series of judgments which constitute the chief contents of the Revelation of St. John, - the series of the Seals, the Trumpets, and the Bowls. It cannot surprise us, however, that at this point other visions of judgment are to follow. Already we had reached the end at Revelation 6:17, and again at Revelation 11:18; yet on both occasions the same general subject was immediately... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Revelation 17:1-18

CHAPTERS 17-18 Babylon, the Harlot, and Her judgment 1. The description of the woman (Revelation 17:1-6 ) 2. The angel’s interpretation (Revelation 17:7-15 ) 3. The desolation of the whore (Revelation 17:16-18 ) 4. The angelic announcement (Revelation 18:1-3 ) 5. The call to separation (Revelation 18:4-5 ) 6. Her pride and destruction (Revelation 18:6-8 ) 7. Lamentation and jubilation (Revelation 18:9-20 ) 8. Her utter and eternal destruction (Revelation 18:21-24 ) Revelation 17:1-6... read more