Revelation 17-18

The last judgments have been poured out; it’s
almost time for the revelation of Christ’s return
to earth! But first, a mystery is revealed to
John – a woman riding on a beast – with a
warning for Christians living today!

The Woman and the Beast (17)
· The Setting: First half of the tribulation

· The Beast: Satan-empowered antichrist in the tribulation

· The Woman “Babylon”: Idolatrous ‘religion’ of the world

· The Surprise: The Beast Defeats the Woman! (16-18)

Idolatrous ‘religion’ embraces the world ruler of the tribulation, and is in turn embraced by the nations. It kills those who witness for Jesus Christ, but then is crushed by the world ruler!

The Fall of ‘Babylon the Great’ (18)
· Announcement of ‘Babylon’s’ fall (1-3)

· Warning: Don’t fall to her enticing lures! (4)

· God remembers…and God will judge! (5-8)

· The world mourns the demise of its idolatrous love (9-19)


And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, that you may not participate in her sins.”
Revelation 18:4

For Further Study

1. To avoid falling into an endless and hopeless labyrinth of doubt and confusion, it is critical to focus on what we can know, and remain open on those things we cannot. Let’s get our bearings! Rev.17:1-2 tell us what is coming. What is it that the angel is going to show John the Apostle?

2. John is shown a vision in Rev.17:3-6 that he can’t understand, so the angel offers to explain (7). Read Rev.17:8-15. What four features in the vision does the angel explain? What do we learn? Some descriptions match others earlier in Revelation, so use your cross reference!

3. Since this is all in the context of the future time of tribulation, plug in all the component parts. What “beast” will rule during this time, and captivate all the nations and people of the world?

4. The ‘missing actor’ in this explanation is the prostitute woman who rides the beast, called “Babylon the Great” (17:3-6). What are the characteristics of this “woman”? To get a more detailed description, see 18:7,9,11-19. How does this characterization fit with our world today? What does the woman represent? As an aside, how does the description of this woman contrast with the description of another ‘woman’ in 19:7-8?

5. The ‘surprise’ in the vision which John sees is when the beast, on which the woman rides (the beast supports her), suddenly turns on her and obliterates her (17:16-18)! Who really causes this to happen (v17)?

6. While Rev.17-18 announce events to come in the tribulation, they carry a warning for people living in every age, since the ‘spirit of Babylon’ has always enamored fallen mankind. Compare the warning of the heavenly voice in Rev.18:4 with other warnings, such as 2 Cor.6:14-17 and 1 John 2:15-17. What message is there here for us as we seek to live godly lives?

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