Revelation 17 (NIV)

Summary:

The Woman on the Beast
Verses 1-18

One of the 7 angels with the 7 bowls told John to come with him to see the punishment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters.  The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.

The angel carried John away in the Spirit into a desert.  John saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast covered with blasphemous names, with 7 heads and 10 horns.  The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet.  She was adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls.  She held a golden cup filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.  This was the title on her forehead:  "Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Prostitutes and of the Abominations of the Earth."  (Verse 5b)  She was drunk with the blood of the saints and of those who testify of Jesus.

John was greatly astonished when he saw her.  The angel asked him why, then said he'd explain the mystery of the woman and the beast:
- The beast once was, now is not, and will come again.  He will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction.  Those whose names are not written in the book of life will be astonished at the beast.
- "This calls for a mind with wisdom." (Verse 9a)
- The 7 heads are the 7 hills on which she sits.  They are also 7 kings.  5 have fallen, 1 is, and the other will come.  When the last one comes, he must remain for a little while.
- The beast is the 8th king.  He belongs to the 7 and is going to his destruction.
- The 10 horns are 10 kings who have not yet received a kingdom.  They will have authority, as kings, along with the beast for one hour.  They have one purpose.  They will give their power and authority to the beast.  They will make war against the Lamb.  The Lamb will overcome them, because He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.  With Him will be the called, chosen, and faithful followers.
- The waters upon which she sits are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.  The beast and the 10 horns will hate and ruin her.  They will leave her naked, eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.  God put it in their hearts to accomplish this by agreeing to give their power to the beast, until God's words are fulfilled.
- The woman is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.

Lori's Thoughts:

An adulterer is someone who is unfaithful to their spouse.  In this case, I believe that the prostitute Babylon is the unfaithful one against God.  She is a city lavishly adorned.  I believe she and those drunk with her wine worship money and power.  These are their gods.  She will persecute and kill some of God's people, but no one will overcome the Lamb, that is Jesus Christ.

I do not know who the beast is.  I thought it was Satan, but the angel said that he was, was not, then came again.  This beast is the 8th king.  Maybe he was one of the fallen 5 that came to power again.  So, this leader will rise, fall, then rise again and bewilder non-believers.  That's as far as I got with that one.  God will clarify according to His will.

So, Babylon (the woman) will rule over 7 nations or rulers.  People of all nationalities will follow her.  5 of the rulers fell, 1 is in power, and another will come and rule for a short time.  However, 10 rulers will come and support the beast that she rides on.  They will destroy Babylon and make war against the Lamb.  But the Lamb and His faithful ones will overcome.

I don't fully understand this chapter.  But, I know that we need to be strong in our faith to not be deceived and not lose faith when we are persecuted.  Christ will be with us and fight for us at every step.