17:3 The angel carried John away in the Spirit to a wilderness area (cf. 1:10; 4:1; 21:10). This wilderness may refer to the desert near literal Babylon,558or it may anticipate the desolate condition of the harlot.559There he saw a woman, the harlot of verse 1, sitting on a beast.560The description of this animal is exactly the same as Antichrist in 13:1 except that it is scarlet here, probably symbolizing luxury and splendor ( cf. 14:8-11; Isa. 1:18; Matt. 27:28-29). She sat in a position of control over Antichrist, and he supported her.
17:4 The woman's clothing was purple, symbolic of royalty, and scarlet, representing luxury (v. 3; cf. Matt. 27:28; Mark 15:17, 20; John 19:2, 5). Her ornaments included gold, precious stones, and pearls, jewelry that made her look like a queen.561The cup in her hand added to her royal appearance, but it contained idolatrous abominations (cf. Deut. 18:9; 29:17; 32:16; Jer. 51:7; et al.), namely, unclean things connected with her spiritual immorality. The harlot wore expensive, attractive garments and accessories that made her externally appealing, but she is a counterfeit beauty. What is inside her is unclean.
17:5 It was customary in John's day for Roman prostitutes to wear their names on their headbands.562However, it is not clear whether this woman's name was on a headband or on her forehead (cf. 7:3; 9:4; 13:16-18; 14:1; Jer. 3:3). Her name was a "mystery,"namely, something not previously revealed but now made clear. A name in Scripture represents everything about the person who bears it, often the person's reputation. The content of the mystery about this Babylonian system is what John revealed here, especially the new revelation about its evil character and judgment (vv. 17-18).563The harlot represents Babylon that is a "mother of harlots,"not just one herself but the fountainhead of many other evil religious systems and everything anti-Christian (cf. Gen. 10:9-10; 11:1-9).564God attributed all kinds of abominations to her.
"In our day the ecumenical church has faced a lot of problems. It seems that they have recognized psychological differences in people and that it is impossible to water down theologies and practices to suit everyone. So each group will come into this great world ecumenical system but retain some of its peculiarities. For example, those who want to immerse will immerse. Those who want to sprinkle will sprinkle. Those who want elaborate ritual will have it, and those who want no ritual will have that. You see,there is going to be more than the mother harlot--there will be a whole lot of harlots, a regular brothel."565
Many writers have traced the religiously apostate system of worship begun in Babylon and carried on through history through Roman Catholicism and the modern Christian ecumenical movement.566However, this description of Babylonianism encompasses all forms of paganism including perversions of Christianity and non-Christian religions.
17:6 She had drunk the blood of believers, the saints generally and witnesses to Jesus Christ specifically (cf. 11:10; 13:7, 15). This system had destroyed true believers and rejoiced in their deaths. This revelation amazed John. A system purporting to honor God was killing His faithful followers!567In his day the Roman Empire was the great manifestation of Babylonianism.
