Revelation 17:1-18 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 17:1-6

Here we have a new vision, not as to the matter of it, for that is contemporary with what came under the three last vials; but as to the manner of description, etc. Observe, 1. The invitation given to the apostle to take a view of what was here to be represented: Come hither, and I will show thee the judgment of the great whore, etc., Rev. 17:1. This is a name of great infamy. A whore [in this passage] is one that is married, and has been false to her husband's bed, has forsaken the guide of... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 17:7-13

Here we have the mystery of this vision explained. The apostle wonders at the sight of this woman: the angel undertakes to open this vision to him, it being the key of the former visions; and he tells the apostle what was meant by the beast on which the woman sat; but it is so explained as still to need further explanation. 1. This beast was, and is not, and yet is; that is, it was a seat of idolatry and persecution; and is not, that is, not in the ancient form, which was pagan; and yet it is,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 17:14-18

Here we have some account of the downfall of Babylon, to be more fully described in the following chapter. I. Here is a war begun between the beast and his followers, and the Lamb and his followers. The beast and his army, to an eye of sense, appear much stronger than the Lamb and his army: one would think an army with a lamb at the head of them could not stand before the great red dragon. But, II. Here is a victory gained by the Lamb: The Lamb shall overcome. Christ must reign till all... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 17:1-18

17:1-18 1 One of the seven angels, who had the seven bowls, came and spoke with me. "Come here," he said, "and I will show you the judgment of the great harlot, who sits upon many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication and with the wine of whose adultery those who inhabit the earth have become drunken." 3 He carried me away in the Spirit to a desert place, and I saw a woman, seated upon a scarlet beast, which was full of names which were insults to God, and which had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 17:1

And there came one of the seven angels that had the seven vials ,.... It may be the first of them, since one of the four beasts designs the first of them, in Revelation 6:1 though Brightman thinks the fifth angel is meant, because he poured out his vial on the seat of the beast, who is by this angel described; but rather this is the seventh and last angel, concerned in the utter destruction of antichrist: and therefore proposes to John to show him the judgment of the great whore: and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 17:2

With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication ,.... These are the ten kings, who being of the same mind, and of one religion, the Popish religion, gave their power, strength, and kingdom to the beast, Revelation 17:12 and have been enticed by the whore of Rome to commit spiritual fornication with her; that is, idolatry, to worship, as that church enjoins, idols of gold, silver, brass, and wood, the images of the virgin Mary, and other saints; hence this whore appears to be no... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 17:3

So he carried me away in the spirit ,.... Not in body, as if he was removed from the isle of Patmos to some other place; but in a visionary way, just as Ezekiel was carried between earth and heaven, in the visions of God, to Jerusalem, Ezekiel 8:3 . It was represented to the mind of John, to his spirit, or soul, as if he had been taken up by the angel and carried through the air: into the wilderness ; by which may be meant either the wilderness of the people, the world, the church... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 17:4

And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour ,.... Which may be expressive of her grandeur, authority, and power, sitting as a queen, and sovereign in the empire, ruling over kingdoms and nations in it; and also of her bloody disposition to the saints, with whose blood she is afterwards said to be drunk; and decked with gold and precious stones, and pearls ; which may denote her hypocrisy, she being gilded with these things, as the word signifies, when she was inwardly rotten,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 17:5

And upon her forehead was a name written ,.... As the high priest had on his mitre upon his forehead written, holiness to the Lord, Exodus 28:36 only a different inscription from that; the allusion is thought to be to harlots, who not only used to put their names over their doors, but some of them upon their foreheads, that all might know who they were; of which Mr. Daubuz has given proofs out of Seneca, Martial, Juvenal, and Petronius; and such might be said to have an whore's forehead... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 17:6

And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints ,.... To see a woman drunk is a shameful sight; but to see one drunk, not with wine, but with blood, is monstrous, cruel, and shocking; the sword, when it devours, and is satiate, is said to be drunk with blood, Jeremiah 46:10 but for a woman to be so is unexampled; and not with her own blood, as she will be, Isaiah 49:26 but with the blood of others; and not with the blood of wicked men, but with the blood of saints; such as God... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 17:1-6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 17:7-13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 17:14-18

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 17:1-18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 17:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 17:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 17:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 17:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 17:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 17:6

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