Questions/Comments
Verse 2: Became drunk
Within the view of sexual immorality as a blanket category for all unfaithfulness to God, to get drunk on the prostitute’s sexual immorality means that people have greatly, deeply, and repeatedly sinned against God. They have given themselves over to sin.
Verse 3: In the Spirit
This is an act of the Holy Spirit to take John in a spiritual way to a place as if he were actually there.
Verse 3: To a wilderness
The wilderness in the Bible is often where something significant happens, a vision is given, or a preparation takes place.
In this circumstance, a major revelation about the end of the woman is taking place.
Verse 3 – Scarlet beast
Scarlet often communicates sin or guilt.
This is surely the same beast as described in Revelation 13. The similarities are striking, including having seven heads and ten horns.
Verse 4 – Purple and scarlet
Purple often communicates royalty, and scarlet communicates sin.
Perhaps these two colors demonstrate that the woman was regal and powerful, yet sinful.
Verse 4 – Golden cup
There are similarities with the golden cup imagery with other parts of the Bible.
Most recently, we have the golden bowls of God’s wrath. As the woman filled up sins in the golden cup, God was also filling up wrath in the golden bowls.
Further, this reminds me of the cup language that Jesus uses in Luke 22:42: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
As the woman filled up with sin, Jesus emptied the cup by drinking God’s wrath.
Verse 7 – Astonished
Astonished here can also be “to marvel” or “wonder.”
I think that John is likely wondering what is going on.
Of course, the angel explains to him (somewhat).
Verse 8 – Was, and is not, and is about to come up
This may refer to the fatal wound of the beast, which we learned about in Revelation 13:3.
The beast, who is the antichrist, likely mimicked Jesus in some way by being alive, dying, and coming back to life.
Remember, the antichrist is a cheap imitation of the real Christ. The Lamb is better than the beast.
Verse 9 – From the foundation of the world
Notice that those whose names are not included will be astonished, or express wonder, at the beast.
However, the implication is that those who are in the book of life will not be astonished at the beast. What do you think this means? What do you think it means that their names are written from the foundation of the world?
This phrase could mean since before the foundation of the world, or it could mean since the beginning of the foundation of the world until the end of the world.
Verses 9-12 – mountains, kings
Though mountains and kings sound quite different, they in fact could refer to kingdoms (such as on or near a mountain) as well as the kings who rule those kingdoms.
These kings and kingdoms likely refer to a huge stretch of time, which could include the past, present, and future.
Evil rulers and kingdoms have existed for quite some time, right? They existed in the past, they exist now, and they will exist in the future.
Verses 13-14 – one purpose, make war against the Lamb
The beast and his powers will seek to destroy the Lamb, but they will fail.
Verse 14 – those with him
Apparently, Jesus will have others with Him when the beast and his armies make war against Him.
When Jesus returns to wage war against evil, He will be accompanied by both angels and glorified Christians. We’ll get to this more in Chapter 19.
The Christians with Jesus have been called by God, chosen by God, and are faithful to God.
Verse 15 – waters
We’re told specifically what the waters represent: peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.
Notice the parallelism here as well: The woman has a representation from different types of people from all over the world. Who else has this? (Jesus)
Jesus will be worshiped by people from all over the world. The beast and evil powers are trying to mimic what God does. However, they will fail, and the Lamb will stand victorious and receive glory, honor, and power.
Verse 17 – Carry out his plan
Part of God’s plan is that the evil forces will turn against themselves. The hope that people sought in the beast will turn to horror as he turns against them and destroys them.
Verse 18 – the great city
Possibly Rome; possibly Babylon; possibly another empire; possibly the general empire of evil.
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