Revelation 17:1

The fact that this chapter describes the judgment of Babylon referred to in Revelation 14:8 and Revelation 16:19 seems clear. It was one of the angels who poured out the bowl judgments who served as John’s guide as he viewed these events in his vision. The "great harlot" (Gr. pornes tes megales) is Babylon (Revelation 17:5). The connection between Babylon and immorality (Gr. porneia) was evident as early as Revelation 14:8. She is the personification of spiritual fornication or idolatry (cf. Isaiah 23:15-17; Jeremiah 2:20-31; Jeremiah 13:27; Ezekiel 16:17-19; Hosea 2:5; Nahum 3:4). [Note: Ford, Revelation, p. 277; Wall, p. 205.]

"In OT prophetic discourse the imagery of the harlot is commonly used to denote religious apostasy." [Note: Mounce, p. 307.]

It is probably better to translate epi as "beside" rather than "on" many waters since the harlot sits astride the beast (Revelation 17:3). Evidently the beast and she were on the shore in John’s vision (cf. John 21:1). The "many waters" represent humankind (Revelation 17:15), not a specific geographical site. This fact indicates that it is Babylon as a symbol that is in view here rather than the physical city. Babylon dominates humankind. It is also true, however, that literal Babylon stood beside many waters; it was built on a network of canals (Jeremiah 51:13). This description helps make the identification more certain.

"She leads the world in the pursuit of false religion whether it be paganism or perverted revealed religion. She is the symbol for a system that reaches back to the tower of Babel (Genesis 10:9-10; Genesis 11:1-9) and extends into the future when it will peak under the regime of the beast." [Note: Thomas, Revelation 8-22, pp. 282-83. Cf. Seiss, pp. 387-90.]

There is similarity between this angel’s invitation to John and the one in Revelation 21:9. This is the first of many clues that the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:9 to Revelation 22:5) is the divine counterpart of humanistic Babylon. [Note: Lee, 4:735; Wall, p. 205.]