The Destruction of Religious Babylon
(Rev. 17:1–18)

I. The Harlot Described (17:1-7)
A. John identifies the harlot (1-5)
a. The harlot is a metaphor for false world religions and apostasy.
b. This false religion originated at Babel and spread throughout the world, thus the Babylonian connection.[cf., Jer. 44:15-19]
B. The harlot’s agenda is to kill Christ’s saints and advance Satan’s plan (v.6-7)

II. The Harlot Deciphered (17:8-14)
A. World Religions’ Relationship to Antichrist – The Antichrist will replace false world religions with the worship of himself. [cf., Rev. 13:3,14] (v.8)
B. World Religions’ Relationship to World Empires – All of the successive past world empires have been associated with the false world religions. [cf., Rev. 13:2-3] (v.9-10)
C. World Religions’ Relationship to the Final World Empire – Both will be short-lived. (v.11-14)

III. The Harlot Destroyed (17:15-18)
A. The Antichrist will turn on the harlot (false religion) and destroy her. [cf., Mt. 24:15-17; Dan. 9:27] (v.15-16)
B. God destroys both the harlot and the antichrist. (v.17-18)

Points to Ponder:
1. Be aware that Babylon is a symbol of false religion and humanism.
2. Be aware that both will be destroyed in the Tribulation period, according to God’s purpose and His plan.
3. Be sure you are on the winning side.



John F. MacArthur Jr., Revelation 12–22, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 2000), 166–67.
Ibid., 168.
Ibid., 169-70.
Ibid., 170.
Ibid., 170-71.
John F. Walvoord, “Revelation,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1985), 972.
MacArthur, MNTC, 172.