1. In the fourth chapter of Revelation, John the apostle in vision is taken up to heaven and shown many things. In chapter 17 he is given a vision of a woman seated on a scarlet beast.
2. One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters."
3. The many waters are identified as "peoples, multitudes, nations and languages."
4. The woman I saw had a name written on her forehead:
   

   BABYLON THE GREAT
   THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES
   AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

5. Some traslations add the word 'Mystery' to her name. Others imply her name is a mystery.
6. She is arrayed in purple and scarlet, gold and sparkling gems, and she claims to be a queen.
7. She holds a golden cup in her hand "filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries."
8. The inhabitants of earth are made drunk with the wine. She herself is drunk with the blood of the saints.
9. She is called "the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth", with whom she has illicit relations with.

1. She is called "the great prostitute who sits by many waters." Many waters is a reference to the nations of the middle east and the Mediterranean. _{Psalm 65:7, Revelation 17:15}
2. She is not a prostitute in the literal sense, but similarly she offers something of an illicit nature in exchange for payment.
3. The woman is shown seated on a scarlet beast. The implication here is that she exercises dominion over it.
4. Her identification is also synonymous with "the great city that rules over the kings of the earth." This directly links these kings (kingdoms) being symbolized as the scarlet beast.
5. The mystery about her name may be that Babylon represents a global religious system of beliefs and practices that are opposed to the law of God.
6. These are some of the indictments brought against Babylon by the Old Testament prophets: Blasphemy, idolatry, immorality, oppression and sorcery. _{Isaiah 47, Jeremiah 51}
7. She claims to be a queen since purple is the color of royalty. _{Lamentations 4:5, Revelation 18:7}
8. She is also dressed in scarlet, a color associated with immorality. _{Isaiah 1:18, Jeremiah 4:30}
9. The wine in the golden cup she holds is a mix of false doctrines that make drunk the people of earth.
10. She is a persecuter of God's holy people.

The physical description of the scarlet beast is very similar to the beast that arises from the sea. (Revelation chapter 13)

1. The scarlet beast is covered with blasphemous names and has seven heads and ten horns.
2. The beast once was, now is not, and will arise again out of the Abyss and go to its destruction.
3. The unsaved people of earth will be astonished upon witnessing the return of the beast.
4. This reaction is identical to that of the sea beast upon witnessing the fatal wound having been healed. (Revelation 13:3)
5. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits.
6. They are also seven kings: Five have fallen, one is, and the seventh has not yet come.
7. The beast, upon its return, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven but is destined for destruction.
8. The ten horns are ten kings that have not yet received their kingdom but will reign along with the beast to whom they become subordinate.
9. The ten horns and the beast hate the prostitute and utterly destroy her. In this they unwittingly accomplish God's judgement.
10. They wage war against the Lamb of God but the Lamb will be victorious.

1. A beast symbolically represents nations that are, have been or will be enemies of God's people Israel.
   _{Deuteronomy 28:49, Jeremiah 4:7}
2. The color scarlet is indicative of an immoral, sinful state. _{Isaiah 1:18, Jeremiah 4:30}
3. Blasphemy is the offense of speaking sacrilegiously against God. _{Isaiah 37:23}
4. Three historical states of the beast:
   • It once was (before John's time). Possibly refers to the five kings (heads on the beast) that have fallen.
   • Now is not (not present in John's time). The beast is in the Abyss from which it is released.
     _{Revelation 11:7}
   • This corresponds with the sea beast of chapter 13. One of its heads received a fatal wound which had healed. _{Revelation 13:3}
   • Yet will come. This caused the whole world to be astonished insomuch that they worshiped the beast. _{Revelation 17:8}
5. The Abyss (Sheol in Hebrew) from which the beast returns: _{Revelation 20:1-3}
   • Figuratively, a boundless, bottomless pit.
   • The underworld abode of the dead. _{Job 26:6}
   • In spiritual terms, a prison for demonic beings so they can no longer act. _{Luke 8:31, Revelation 20:3}

1. The seven heads:
   • Seven hills. Perhaps refers to the city of Rome which is built on seven hills. _{Wiki Link}
   • And they are seven kings. Seven historical occurences of the beast.
   • Five have fallen (existed before John's time): Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Medo-Persia and Greece.
   • One is (present in John's time) and that was the Roman empire.
   • I base these assignments on the great statue and four beasts prophecies of Daniel chapters 2 and 7, and Johns vision of the beast that arises from the sea of Revelation chapter 13.
   • The seventh has not yet come (exists in the future relative to John's time.
   • The beast is an eighth... he belongs to the seven. Refers to the end time, astonishing reappearance of the beast.
2. The ten horns are the ten kings who coexist in union with the beast during the end time events. By all accounts these are the antichrist.
   • The beast exalts himself to be great.
   • He speaks arrogantly.
   • Practices deceit deceiving many.
   • Persecutes God's people.
3. In the future end time the beast along with the ten kings throw off the yoke of the prostitute.
4. The conclusion of the vision has the ten kings and the beast making war with the Lamb upon his return but the Lamb will be victorious. _{Revelation 17:14}