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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

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Revelation 17:9

17:9 {16} And here [is] the mind which hath wisdom. The {c} seven heads {17} are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.(16) An exhortation preparing for the readers in the same argument, as that of Christ "He that hath ears to hear let him hear". I would rather read in this passage "Let there be here a mind, etc". So the angel passes to the second place of this description.(c) Children know what the seven hilled city is, which is so much spoken of, and where of Virgil thus reports, "And... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Revelation 17:10

17:10 {18} And there are seven kings: {19} five are fallen, {20} and one is, {21} [and] the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.(18) The beginning of these kings or emperors is almost the same as the beginning of the Church of Christ, which I showed before in see Geneva (2) "Revelation 11:1". Namely from the 25th year after the passion of Christ, at which time the temple and church of the Jews was overthrown. In this year it came to pass by the providence... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 17:1-18

Great Babylon Exposed in View of Judgment The next two chapters (17 and 18) deal with great Babylon, her character, her self-exaltation and her judgment. This emphasizes the solemnity of God's view of the corruption of Christianity. One of the seven angels of Revelation 16:1-21 bids John to come and see the judgment of this great harlot who sits on many waters-who has strong influence over many nations (v. 1). This is the final form of Roman Catholicism, yet then including many others who had... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Revelation 17:1-18

THE SEVEN DOOMS The seven dooms are those of Babylon, the beast, the false prophet, the kings, the dragon, gog, and the dead. This lesson will be limited to chapters 17-18, both of which speak of Babylon but in different ways, and to understand which, it is necessary to keep in mind that every city may be conceived of from two points of view, material and moral. The streets and parks, the buildings, the docks and market places, these are Chicago; but her politics and government, her commerce... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Revelation 17:7-13

(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. (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. (9) And... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Revelation 17:9

Seven mountains . We have already observed that ancient Rome stood upon seven mountains. The same cannot be said of modern Rome, as some of the hills are not inhabited. --- The seven heads....are seven kings, or seven Roman emperors, who were particularly distinguished as the chief supporters of idolatry, and the most virulent persecutors of the Christian religion. Their names were Nero, Domitian, Severus, Decius, Valerian, Dioclesian and Antichrist. --- Five of them are fallen or gone, viz.... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Revelation 17:10

Five are fallen, one is, and the other is not yet. The meaning of this is obscure. And perhaps it were better to own with St. Augustine that we do not know the meaning, than to advance suspicions and conjectures. But it is not improbable that by these seven kings may be understood the collection of kings, in what are called the seven ages of the world, from its creations to its consummation. The first age, is reckoned from Adam to Noe [Noah], and the deluge: the second age, from Noe to Abraham;... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 17:7-14

7-14 The beast on which the woman sat was, and is not, and yet is. It was a seat of idolatry and persecution, and is not; not in the ancient form, which was pagan: yet it is; it is truly the seat of idolatry and tyranny, though of another sort and form. It would deceive into stupid and blind submission all the inhabitants of the earth within its influence, except the remnant of the elect. This beast was seven heads, seven mountains, the seven hills on which Rome stands; and seven kings, seven... read more

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