The Living Word

KING JAMES VERSION

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."

— Isaiah 40:8

Revelation 17

Listen to the Word

Initializing audio...

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

1

And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

WhatsApp Copy

2

With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

WhatsApp Copy

3

So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

WhatsApp Copy

4

And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

WhatsApp Copy

5

And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

WhatsApp Copy

6

And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

WhatsApp Copy

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.

WhatsApp Copy

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.

WhatsApp Copy

9

And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

WhatsApp Copy

10

And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

WhatsApp Copy

11

And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

WhatsApp Copy

12

And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

WhatsApp Copy

13

These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

WhatsApp Copy

14

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

WhatsApp Copy

15

And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

WhatsApp Copy

16

And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

WhatsApp Copy

17

For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

WhatsApp Copy

18

And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

WhatsApp Copy

Previous Next

Chapter Study & Analysis

Overview

Revelation 17 explains the mystery of the "Great Whore" and the "Beast with seven heads." It depicts the corrupt religious and political alliance that persecutes the saints, only for the Beast to eventually turn on the woman and destroy her.

CONTEMPORARY APPLICATIONS

1. The Lamb Overcomes: The kings of the earth make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb shall overcome them (v. 14). We belong to the winning side of history, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings.
2. Spiritual Adultery: The harlot represents the seduction of worldliness and false religion (v. 1-5). We must guard our hearts against compromising the Truth for the sake of worldly power or influence.
3. God’s Purpose in History: God puts it into the hearts of the kings to fulfill His will (v. 17). Even the actions of the wicked are ultimately governed by God’s sovereign purposes.

Practical Lessons

FORMAL PRAYER

Almighty God, King of kings and Lord of lords: grant us to be among those who are with Thee—the called, and chosen, and faithful. Deliver us from the seductions of the world and keep us pure in our devotion to Christ. Amen.

Copied to clipboard!