Revelation 17

Revelation 17 – The Judgment of Religious Adultery

The woman, Mystery Babylon, rides the beast, a symbol of religious systems that look spiritual but are drunk on control, manipulation, and partnership with political powers.

She sits on many waters, meaning she influences many nations. She’s is the nation of God that rejected Him, saying "I have now husband.." She is the Old Temple Synagogue that crucified Jesus. She wears scarlet, not purity. She rules by seduction, not by Spirit.

This is not about a single institution but a spiritual condition: a system that claims to represent God while rejecting the Lamb. And she will fall, because truth will not coexist with lies forever. The victory of the cross is not a memory, it is our present reality. In Jesus, the Church has already regained Adam’s lost dominion, called to rule as kings and priests and crush deception underfoot by the power of His finished work. Revelation is not a countdown to disaster; it is the unveiling of the Gospel’s triumph. Futurism blinds the Church, chaining believers to fear and passivity, when Jesus has already won and calls us to reign with Him now. 

Chapter 17 — Jesus and Bride

Revelation 17 unveils the mystery of Babylon the Great, the “mother of harlots” riding the scarlet beast, a picture of false religion intertwined with worldly power. The finished work of Jesus stands in contrast to Babylon’s mixture and compromise; at the cross, Jesus judged the old covenant system and exposed all counterfeit spirituality. The Bride’s identity is defined by separation from Babylon: called out of spiritual adultery and into exclusive union with Jesus. The defeat of false religion is seen as Babylon is unveiled, condemned, and destined for destruction, while the true Church stands as the faithful Bride of the Lamb.

Revelation 17:1

1. Judgement of The Old Temple!

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:

The angel (Holy Spirit) now reveals the spiritual judgment of the great whore ,a symbol of false religion, corrupted worship, and spiritual unfaithfulness (Jer. 3:6; Hosea 2:5). The “many waters” represent the multitude of people deceived (Rev. 17:15).The cross exposes this false system and judges it!

"Great whore"
= Spiritually unfaithful Israel, once called the "faithful city," but now turned to spiritual harlotry by rejecting Jesus and mixing religion with power (Isaiah 1:21, Ezekiel 16, Hosea 2). She prostituted herself with Rome (the beast) and killed the prophets, including Jesus. Israel in apostasy, renouncing Jesus as Messiah.

"Judgment of the great whore"
God's judgment on the apostate religious system centered in the temple, the Old Covenant structure that rejected Jesus and crucified Him (Matthew 23:35–38).

"That sitteth upon many waters"
Her influence over many peoples and nations. The Jewish religious leaders had sway "plots and plans" through the temple system, but also compromised with Rome, aligning with political powers to retain control (John 11:48–50).

Matthew 23:37–38  “O Jerusalem… behold, your house is left unto you desolate.”
Jesus declares judgment on the temple and those who killed the prophets.

Revelation 11:8  Jerusalem spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where the Lord was crucified.
Shows the symbolic identity of Jerusalem as corrupt and judged.

Ezekiel 16:30–35  God calls Jerusalem a harlot who played the whore with many lovers.
Direct OT parallel for Revelation 17.

Hebrews 8:13  “...that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.”
The old covenant system was nearing its final judgment (fulfilled in AD 70).

The “great whore” in Revelation 17:1 symbolically represents apostate Israel "God's nation" and the Old Temple System, once betrothed to God, but now unfaithful. Her judgment is God's final rejection of the Old Covenant order, which crucified His Son and shed the blood of the prophets. This prepares the way for the new Bride, the Church, founded on Jesus and His finished work.

Revelation 17:2

2. Win Win for Temple System!

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.

Earthly rulers (kings) joined with false religion for power and control. The people are intoxicated with lies, spiritually blind and deceived. Isa. 29:9-10, 2 Thess. 2:10-12, those who reject truth become deluded. Jesus’ death ends the need for religious manipulation, He offers truth, not spiritual intoxication (John 8:32).

Revelation 17:3

3. Allegiance of the Two!

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.

The wilderness symbolizes spiritual dryness, Israel wandered there when disobedient. The woman (false church/religion/apostate Israel) rides the beast (worldly empire/political power working with religion), showing she is supported by and controls political systems. Seven heads & ten horns indicate completeness of human government and authority working with the religious institution opposing God.(see Rev. 13).

See Addendum- Heads Crowns Horns

Blasphemy

She takes God’s place, rejecting Jesus the Messiah, she  operate under false gods and man-centered salvation with financial gain. Take note that Jesus was crucified outside the city, not identifying with the rejected and political-religious system.

Let's connect this profound symbolic moment in Revelation 17:3 to Jesus' own wilderness experience in Matthew 4:1 and Luke 4:1 in a redemptive way: Revelation 17:3 “So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness.” In Matthew 4:1 we see “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.”

The Wilderness Parallel: Spirit-led Revelation

In both cases, John in Revelation and Jesus in the Gospels, the Spirit leads into the wilderness. But in Jesus' temptation, the purpose is to expose and confront the spiritual forces and systems that oppose God's Kingdom. In Revelation 17, the wilderness is where John sees the unveiled nature of Babylon, a seductive, religious-economic-political system (symbolized by the woman riding the beast) that opposes God. Likewise, when Jesus is tempted, Satan shows Him “all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them” (Matthew 4:8) the same worldly systems the harlot represents. 

The Harlot = Apostate Israel and Worldly Religion

The woman in Revelation 17 represents apostate religion, especially reference to the unfaithfulness of Israel in aligning itself with worldly power (Rome) and rejecting her true Husband (God). This connects directly to: Hosea 2:5  “I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water...” and  Ezekiel 16 & 23 Israel is portrayed as an unfaithful woman committing spiritual adultery with foreign nations and idols (Baal, Mammon, etc.). When Satan offers Jesus “all the kingdoms,” he is offering Him Babylon, the very beast the woman rides. It is mammon, religious power, and political dominance. But Jesus rejects it.

The Woman and the Beast = What Jesus Refused

In Revelation 17, the woman rides the beast, religious idolatry in union with state power, just as Israel once trusted in Egypt, Assyria, and Rome rather than God. This is what Jesus came to expose. Jesus, in the wilderness, is shown the seduction of this system by Satan, but He resists. He chooses the cross instead of the throne of worldly power. “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” (Matthew 4:10) 

Jesus in the Wilderness - John in the Wilderness (Rev 17)

Led by the Spirit - Carried in the Spirit

Confronts Satan - Sees the woman (harlot) on the beast

Shown the kingdoms of the world - Sees the woman ruling over kings

Offered power, glory, and wealth - Woman clothed in riches and scarlet

Rejects mammon and false worship - Exposes spiritual harlotry

Declares loyalty to God alone-Reveals judgment on Babylon

The Spirit leads both Jesus and John into the wilderness to unmask the seduction of Babylon, be it religious Israel turned harlot or world systems built on mammon and idolatry. Jesus, unlike the woman, remains faithful, choosing the will of the Father over all worldly kingdoms. The cross becomes the judgment seat where Babylon is overthrown, not by violence, but by truth and sacrifice. The kingdoms Satan offered to Jesus were already His, but had become a spiritual harlot by their unfaithfulness.

“All This Power Will I Give Thee…”

Luke 4:5-6  “And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.” Satan offers Jesus the nations, their power, their people, their worship. But this offer is tragic, because:

Jesus is being offered what was already His:

Jesus new that what was offer to Him by Satan will belong to Him when He stay faithful and drink the cup the Father will give Him to drink in the very short future. Jesus looks at the city, and His heart was probably broken. Jesus knew what was the answer, "The Cross."

John 1:10-11  “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”

Psalm 2:7-8  “Thou art my Son… Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance.”

Yet now, the inheritance has become a harlot, seduced by power, idolatry, and mammon. 

The Harlot: Once Betrothed, Now Betrayed

Jesus saw what was meant to be His bride, Israel, Jerusalem offered back to Him as a prostitute. Jerusalem, the city of the King, had rejected her true Husband. She made alliances with Rome, with wealth, with religious hypocrisy. Just as Hosea’s wife turned away from love and pursued other lovers, so had Jerusalem turned from God. Jesus would not take her by force, through Satan’s offer. He would take her through the cross, by laying down His life.

woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beasts:

The Woman = The Old Covenant system (centered in apostate Jerusalem)

Once the bride of God, now turned spiritual harlot (Ezekiel 16, Hosea 1–3). She represents religious Israel, which broke covenant with God and fornicated with political powers (Rome). Her external glory (purple and scarlet) masks internal corruption, she glorifies herself (Revelation 18:7).

Sitting upon the Beast = In alliance with political Rome

The scarlet beast represents the Roman imperial power, civil authority and persecution. “Sitting upon” = riding, controlling, or depending upon Rome to maintain her influence. The Jewish leaders declared to Pilate: “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:15) forsaking their divine King.

Scarlet and Purple = Royalty, Wealth, and Priesthood (Exodus 28:5–6)

These are Temple garments worn by priests. This woman outwardly wears religious authority, pointing to the Old Covenant system and its corrupted priesthood. Her garments are external religion, but no longer righteous before God (Isaiah 1:18, Matthew 23:27).

Isaiah 1:21  “How is the faithful city become an harlot!”
Jerusalem turned from righteousness to murder and idolatry.

Ezekiel 16:15–19 “Thou didst trust in thine own beauty... and playedst the harlot because of thy renown.”
Her “whoredom” includes trusting wealth, status, and foreign alliances — just like the woman on the beast.

Matthew 23:29–36  Jesus condemns the religious system that kills the prophets.

John 19:2,5  Jesus was mocked in purple robe and crown of thorns.
Ironic: The true Priest-King was rejected by the false religious system that dressed like royalty.

Revelation 18:16  “Clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet...”
Outward splendor, inward judgment.

The woman = apostate Jerusalem, the unfaithful Old Covenant system.

She is clothed in purple and scarlet = outward royal/religious beauty, but inwardly corrupt.

She rides the beast = aligned with Rome, using its power to persecute truth and protect her status.

This is not just an immoral woman,  it’s a religious system that crucified Jesus, rejected the New Covenant, and is now judged.

Verse-Horns On-Meaning

Rev 12:3-Red Dragon-God powerful with Church

Rev 13:1-Sea Beast-Blasphemous empire

Rev 17:3-Scarlet Beast-Foundation of Babylon’s power

Rev 17:7-Scarlet Beast-Angel to explain spiritual meaning

Rev 17:12-Beast-Ten future kings given short power

Rev 17:16-Beast-Ten kings destroy Babylon (whore system)

Revelation 17:4

4. Lucrative Temple got Rich!

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

She appears wealthy and glorious outwardly, false religion often mimics holiness but is inwardly corrupt. Compare with Jesus true bride (Rev. 19:8 clothed in righteousness). Compare Riches of deception vs. true spiritual riches in Jesus (Col. 2:3).

Decked with gold, precious stones, and pearls:

This is a counterfeit appearance of glory, mimicking the true temple of God. These elements mirror the temple furnishings and priestly garments (Exodus 28:17–21, 1 Kings 6:20–22). But here, they are worn by a harlot "the old temple system that did not want God as their husband, not a holy bride, outward splendor with inward corruption. The Old City (Jerusalem) still had the temple's outer glory, but the presence of God had departed (as prophesied in Ezekiel 10). In contrast Jesus made a The New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:18–21) is genuinely adorned with gold and precious stones, built on Jesus and filled with God’s glory. This woman represents the former system, already judged and left desolate (Matthew 23:38).

Golden cup in her hand:

Religious authority and appearance of holiness, but it’s full of abominations. The golden cup symbolizes the religious rituals, sacrifices, and teachings of the Old Covenant priesthood, now made empty and corrupt. The cup they drink is not the cup of dedication and love towards God as Father, Jesus was willing to drink the cup the Father would give Him. She still holds the outward appearance of God's service, but inside it's filled with spiritual adultery, self-righteousness, and bloodshed. No commitment and faithfulness to God at all. This echoes Jeremiah 51:7  “Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, that made all the earth drunken.” Lucrative cup and everyone is obsessed with it, man live for self gain and no willingness to lay their lives down for God.

Drink the cup that Jesus will drink:

A false imitation of true suffering and sacrifice. Jesus said in Matthew 20:22 “Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of?”
Referring to His suffering, the cup of God’s wrath and redemptive judgment. The harlot Jerusalem thinks she holds power and religious legitimacy,  but the cup she drinks is not the cup of salvation, but of wrath and destruction. Isaiah 51:17 “Thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling...” and  Revelation 18:6 “In the cup which she hath filled fill to her double...” What she thought was her glory, will become her judgment.

The Old City (Jerusalem) is portrayed as a woman once holy, now corrupted, still adorned with temple-like beauty, but it is a shell. Her golden cup, once a symbol of worship and blessing, is now filled with abominations. She attempts to mirror the role of Jesus, but unlike Him, they have no authority and she cannot drink His cup and overcome. Instead, she will be made to drink her own judgment.

Revelation 17:5

5. Dumbfounded by Disloyalty!

5 And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth.

Babylon = man’s attempt to reach God without Jesus (Gen. 11). This is the climax of false worship and idolatry. Her forehead (mindset, identity) is rebellion and deception. She is the opposite of the sealed saints (Rev. 7:3) who have the name of God on their foreheads. Babylon falls when the veil tears, man can now know God personally, not through corrupted systems.

Upon her forehead 

Revealed devotion and fixed identity

In Scripture, the forehead represents the place of allegiance, devotion, and marking, either to God or to false gods. In the Old Covenant: The High Priest wore a golden plate on his forehead that read “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” (Exodus 28:36–38) Signifying his dedication to Yahweh. In the New Covenant: God’s people are sealed in their foreheads with His Name (Revelation 14:1, 22:4). A mark of spiritual ownership and faithfulness. So in contrast we see this woman’s forehead is marked with Babylon, showing she has devoted herself to another, becoming unfaithful and ripe for judgment.

"Already made her choice" 

= Her name is public, her heart is revealed

She is not accidentally deceived. She is willingly committed to this path. Her identity is no longer hidden, it is written openly, just like God writes His name on His people. Jeremiah 3:3 “Thou hadst a whore’s forehead, thou refused to be ashamed.” A powerful parallel, Israel/Jerusalem had hardened her identity in rebellion.

"Indicates her judgment is imminent"

She has passed the point of repentance, like the fig tree with leaves but no fruit. The name written is like a heavenly indictment, God’s judgment is final and public. Revelation 18:5  “Her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.”

Ezekiel 9:4–6  Those who do not have the mark of God on their foreheads are slain in judgment. The woman’s forehead reveals her inner devotion, not to God, but to the system of spiritual Babylon. She has consciously aligned herself with corruption, power, and false worship. This public mark is not a mystery to God,  it declares that her judgment is deserved and imminent. She is the direct opposite of the Bride of Jesus, who bears the name of God on her forehead.

Meaning of "Mystery" (especially in Scripture)

The word "mystery" (Greek: mystērion) does not mean something spooky or unknowable, but rather: A hidden truth that can only be revealed by God. In the Bible, a mystery is a divine truth that was previously hidden or veiled, but is now revealed through Jesus and the Gospel. Something that cannot be discovered by human wisdom alone, it must be revealed by the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 3:3–5
“By revelation he made known unto me the mystery… which in other ages was not made known… but now revealed unto his holy apostles…” The mystery is the inclusion of the Gentiles in salvation through Jesus.

Colossians 1:26–27
“The mystery which hath been hid from ages… which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” The mystery is Jesus dwelling in believers, the true inner temple.

1 Timothy 3:16
“Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh…” God in the flesh Jesus is a revealed mystery.

Revelation 17:5
“Mystery, Babylon the Great…” A symbolic name, referring to a hidden spiritual system of corruption and false religion. Mystery = A spiritual truth hidden for a time, now unveiled through Jesus. Not a riddle, but a sacred secret revealed by divine light. It contrasts with perdition, which is the end of those who reject the revealed mystery.

Revelation 17:6

6. Murder in the House!

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.

The contradiction:

 A system claiming to represent God was drunk on the blood of His saints. This paradox is so grotesque it caused John to marvel.

The scale:

 Her influence was vast “peoples, multitudes, nations, tongues” (Rev. 17:15). The sheer reach of deception amazed him.

The disguise:

 She looked clothed in purple and scarlet, with golden cup in hand (Rev. 17:4)  outward beauty masking inward abomination. John’s astonishment came from how convincing and powerful the harlot appeared, yet she was completely opposed to Jesus.

The revelation:

 The angel immediately corrects John (Rev. 17:7), saying “Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery…”  meaning, don’t be swept away by what you see; God will uncover the truth behind her glamour. John admired not because he approved, but because he was shocked and stunned, amazed at the deceptive power of the harlot system. Outward beauty, inward corruption; outward power, inward death.

False religion persecutes true believers. This is not Rome alone, it’s any system that kills faith, silences truth, and opposes grace. Jesus' said "They shall put you out of the synagogues...thinking they do God a service" (John 16:2). We have victory in Jesus now, the saints overcome by the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 12:11). “Licentiousness” in Scripture often goes hand-in-hand with “debauchery,” or “immorality”, and this pairing is frequently symbolic, especially in prophetic or apocalyptic literature like Revelation.

“I saw the woman” 

The “woman” is the first covenant bride, Israel, called to be God’s wife (Jeremiah 3:14; Hosea 2:19–20), yet now rejecting Him. She boasts, “I am no widow” (Revelation 18:7), blind to the fact that she has forsaken her true Husband.

“Drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus” 

 This shows the shocking fall: the very people whom God saved out of Egypt, who received His covenant, became persecutors of the prophets and, ultimately, of Jesus Himself (Matthew 23:34–35; Acts 7:52). Instead of being a vessel of life, they became intoxicated with violence against God’s witnesses.

“I wondered with great admiration” 

 John’s admiration is not praise but astonishment. He can hardly fathom how far God’s covenant people have fallen, from chosen bride to blood-drunk persecutor. The vision leaves him shocked that the once-beloved city has turned into a harlot opposed to her own Messiah.

John’s “admiration” is his stunned grief at seeing the first bride fall so low. The covenant people who should have welcomed Messiah instead killed the prophets, crucified the Lord, and persecuted His saints. It is the mystery of iniquity in its most tragic form. Lamentations 1:8–9 “Jerusalem hath grievously sinned… all that honoured her despise her”

drunken with the blood of the saints

Drunkenness and Immorality

In Revelation 17:2, it says: "...the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication."

This isn't literal drunkenness, it’s spiritual intoxication, being seduced, misled, and numbed by worldly desires, false religion, or corrupt systems. The harlot (Babylon mix with Old Temple Religion) represents a system of seductive religious and worldly influence that pulls hearts away from the truth of Jesus. Lasciviousness captures this perfectly, it refers to a moral looseness, an unfaithfulness, especially spiritually. It's not just about sex or alcohol, but about unrestrained living without submission to God. Paul uses this same idea in: Galatians 5:19-21  "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness..." This is the world system that the harlot represents, unfaithful, indulgent, attractive but deadly.

The Harlot and the Valued Souls Jesus Died For

This statement is profound, "This is the way the harlot deals with the valued souls Jesus knew He had to die for." The harlot doesn't care for them; she uses, abuses, seduces, and discards them. The imagery shows how the world’s religious and moral systems blind people from the truth and enslave them, even the precious souls Jesus came to redeem. Compare this with:

Ezekiel 16  God speaks of Jerusalem playing the harlot, despite His love.

Hosea  God asks Hosea to marry a harlot to show how Israel strays, but He still seeks her.

Luke 15  The Prodigal Son is in a far-off land, in the filth of reckless and wasteful living, yet the Father runs to meet him. And so, Jesus knew these souls were trapped in deception, sin, and systems that pretended to offer truth but could not save. That’s why He said: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)

Drunkenness = spiritual confusion, false teaching, deception.

Immorality = unfaithful living, following desires rather than truth ,Sexual promiscuity/Sinful freedom / recklessness, a complete unfaithfulness to God.

The Harlot = false religion of the Old temple synagogue, the religious elite, Israel-God's nation Pre-New-Covenant, seductive systems that oppose the Gospel.

Jesus = the Bridegroom who came to rescue His Bride from the harlot’s grip.

Jerusalem and its religious leaders became so corrupted that they were intoxicated, even satisfied with the shedding of righteous blood. This isn't just symbolic violence, it's religious murder, cloaked in “holy” robes and temple rituals. “Drunken” implies pleasure, addiction, or blindness, they no longer saw good from evil.

Matthew 23:34–35 “Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets… and some of them ye shall kill… That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth…” Jesus directly blames Jerusalem, not Rome or Babylon, for killing God's messengers.

Luke 13:34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee…” The blood is on the hands of religious Jerusalem, not secular empires.

And with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus:

This system continued to persecute those who followed Jesus, even after the resurrection. The early Church was violently persecuted by the Jewish authorities, especially in Jerusalem (Acts 7–8, Acts 12). The blood of Stephen, James, and many others was shed by those who still upheld the Old Covenant temple system, rejecting the New.

Acts 7:52 “Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One…” Stephen speaks directly to the Sanhedrin, those upholding the Old Temple system.

Old Temple System = Killer of God’s Voice

The temple was meant to be the place where God's voice dwelt, but over time, it became the place where His voice was rejected and silenced. Jeremiah 7:11 “Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes?” Jesus quoted this in Matthew 21:13, just before He cleansed the temple, showing that God’s house had become a place of blood and betrayal.

The woman is Jerusalem, the Old Temple system that should have been a vessel of God's Word, but instead killed the prophets, rejected Jesus, and persecuted the Church. She is now seen drunk with their blood, meaning she is held fully responsible, and her judgment is just. This confirms Jesus' warnings that the blood of all the righteous would be required of that generation (Matthew 23:36).

Revelation 17:7

7. Drunk with Power Since Long Time Ago!

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.

The woman 

The Old Covenant Temple System - Israel-God's nation Pre-New-Covenant

She represents apostate Israel, once the holy city, but now a spiritual harlot. She has rejected the prophets, killed the Messiah, and still claims divine authority without obedience to God. She is the same system that said; “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:15) Choosing Rome over Messiah, thus sealing her spiritual adultery.

The beast that carrieth her 

The Roman Empire

The beast gives her power and support, not spiritual, but political and military backing. The woman rides the beast, which implies: Alliance, Dependency, Compromise for survival and power. John 11:48 “If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.” The Jewish leaders were afraid of losing their position, so they chose to ally with Rome, rather than believe in Jesus.

“Let His blood be on us and on our children” (Matthew 27:25)

 A self-pronounced curse spoken by the religious leaders and people, not Rome.

The temple leaders didn’t have legal power to execute Jesus (John 18:31), so they used Roman authority to do it. This reflects the unholy union between the beast (Rome) and the whore (Jerusalem) both are guilty, but the religious system led the charge. Acts 4:27 “For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus… both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together.” Both Rome and Israel’s leaders worked together to crucify Jesus.

Selah

The woman (Old Temple system) and the beast (Rome) are in spiritual fornication, religion and politics united to reject the Son of God. The Jewish leaders used Rome to perform their own judgment, crying, “Crucify Him!” (Mark 15:13–14) And claiming responsibility:
“His blood be on us and on our children” (Matthew 27:25). Revelation 17 exposes this alliance as part of God’s judgment, the woman will fall, and the beast that carried her will turn on her (verse 16), just as Rome destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70.

Revelation 17:8

8. The System is Doomed- No More!

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.

The beast... was, and is not

The beast represents the Roman Empire’s power, the dominant worldly system opposing God’s kingdom at Jesus’ time. “Was” refers to its past dominion and authority. “Is not” indicates its apparent loss of power or weakening, especially during the moment of Jesus’ crucifixion when human powers seemed to fail or when John had his vision (reflecting Rome’s transition or spiritual “absence”). This does not mean the beast ceases to exist absolutely but reflects a spiritual “death” or hiddenness in the divine timeline. This is where the "Church-Bride-Children" comes in God's plan, He has signed the contract of ownership and His kids must show there birth rights and authority as kings and priests to the world. Adam and Eve sin did not only effect their lives but I believe that it must  have been very disruptive to God, he lost His friends. The connection was lost and the access to express His love towards them. 

So what do we see? This apparent “absence” of the beast’s power in Revelation 17:8 points to a spiritual shift. At the cross, the authority that Adam and Eve surrendered in Eden was bought back by the blood of Jesus. This was not only the defeat of the beastly systems but the restoration of humanity’s original calling, to rule the earth under God’s authority. God wants us to live in the command He gave at the beginning of creation: "rule the earth!"  Genesis 1:26–28 reminds us of that divine mandate 

Genesis 1:26–28 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Created in God’s image - Humanity was made to reflect God’s character, not just to exist on the earth but to represent His reign (Psalm 8:4–6).

Dominion = Stewardship:  

“Rule the earth” (have dominion) is not domination for selfish gain, but caring for creation under God’s authority. Adam was placed in the garden “to dress it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15).

Fruitfulness flows from blessing:  

God’s command to “be fruitful and multiply” comes after He blesses them. We rule best when living in His blessing, not in our own strength.

Subdue = Bring into order:  

The Hebrew word for subdue (kavash) means to bring under control. Humanity was to bring God’s order to the earth, just as He brought order to chaos in creation (Genesis 1:2–3).

Jesus restores the mandate:  

Adam’s sin fractured man’s ability to rule righteously (Romans 5:12). Jesus, the “last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45), restores dominion to those in Him (Matthew 28:18; Revelation 5:10).

Psalm 8:6  “Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.”

Romans 5:17  “…they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”
Matthew 28:18–19  “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore…”
Revelation 5:10  “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

From the beginning, God’s plan was for humanity to “rule the earth” as His image-bearers, reflecting His love, justice, and order. This was never about selfish control but about partnership with God in stewarding creation. Sin broke that fellowship, but in Jesus, the mandate is restored. Now, through the cross, believers rule and reign in life (Romans 5:17), not by force but by the Spirit, extending God’s kingdom wherever they go. Jesus did the finish work and God is at rest again!

Shall ascend out of the bottomless pit:

This prophetically points to the resurgence or temporary revival of the beast’s power. In Scripture, the bottomless pit symbolizes the realm of spiritual darkness, chaos, and restraint (Luke 8:31; Revelation 9:1–2). The beast’s rising is not a resurrection of literal empire, but a renewed spiritual influence, deception, lies, and rebellion against God’s truth.

This “power” works only on those who embrace the lie, those marked by the mind of 666, the self-centered mindset of man apart from God (Romans 8:6–7). For these, the beast’s deception is persuasive and destructive. But for the believer who continually renews their mind in God’s Word (Romans 12:2), the beast’s influence has no true authority.

This aligns with how, in the days leading to the crucifixion, spiritual darkness rose in full force, energizing both political and religious systems to condemn Jesus (Luke 22:53). That same darkness continued in the persecution of the early Church, a brief but intense season in which deception sought to crush the truth. Yet, in God’s sovereignty, this “ascending” was only temporary,  it could never overturn the victory of the cross (Colossians 2:15).

And go into perdition:

Perdition- Eternal destruction "Doom"

Despite its resurgence, the beast’s end is certain: destruction and eternal ruin. Perdition speaks of final separation from God, the irreversible judgment prepared for every system, spirit, and soul that rejects Jesus (2 Thessalonians 1:9). The beast’s apparent victories are momentary; its destiny was sealed at the cross when Jesus disarmed principalities and powers, making a public spectacle of them (Colossians 2:15). Though the beast rises to oppose the Lamb, it cannot escape God’s decree. Every work of deception, every alliance against the truth, is headed toward the same end, total defeat in the presence of the King of kings. For the believer, this is a reminder that evil’s power is temporary and Jesus has given you authority to reign over evil works of the enemy, Jesus kingdom is everlasting (Daniel 7:14).

They that dwell on the earth... wonder... when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is:

“Earth-dwellers” represent those rooted in this world’s system, living outside God’s kingdom and blind to His truth (Philippians 3:19). They are easily impressed, astonished, or deceived by the beast’s apparent power. Spiritually unaware, they cannot see that its authority is already broken. This “wonder” mirrors the confusion during the crucifixion and the persecutions that followed. To the natural eye, the beast seemed defeated (“is not”), yet its influence lingered (“and yet is”). Those without the Spirit could not discern that what looked like the Lamb’s defeat was in fact His greatest victory. At the cross, the power of sin, death, and the beast system was judged, yet to the unbelieving, it appeared that Rome and religion had won.

Names not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world:

Indicates those who reject God’s salvation, those outside God’s covenant and protection. Their awe of the beast’s apparent power contrasts with their spiritual condemnation. This speaks of those who have rejected God’s salvation in Jesus, choosing to remain outside His covenant and protection (John 3:18). From eternity, God’s redemptive plan was established in the Lamb slain “from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8; 1 Peter 1:19–20). Yet those who refuse Him find no place in the book of life. Their awe and wonder at the beast’s temporary power stand in tragic contrast to the security and eternal life given to those in Jesus. While the beast’s followers marvel at its influence, they are blind to its doom and to the fact that the Lamb has already overcome. Their names remain absent from the book because they reject the only source of life, the finished work of Jesus at the cross.

Selah

The beast’s “was, and is not” reveals both its past dominance and the momentary collapse of its power at the cross, when the kingdoms of this world were disarmed through Jesus sacrifice (Colossians 2:14–15). Its “ascending out of the bottomless pit” speaks of a brief resurgence of deceptive power, seen in the crucifixion hour and the persecution of the early Church. Yet its end is certain: perdition, eternal destruction under God’s judgment.

Those whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life marvel at the beast’s false strength, deceived by appearances and blind to its fate. But in truth, this verse unveils the paradox of the Gospel: what looked like defeat at Calvary was the decisive victory of the Lamb. The beast’s rule is temporary; Jesus reign is eternal.

Revelation 17:9

9. System of Power Opposed to Jesus!

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

System of Power Opposed to Jesus!
O destroying mountain=destroying kingdom

Mountains = Kingdoms or united authorities opposing Jesus
These “seven mountains” symbolize a complete system of human and spiritual power that stood in rebellion against Jesus. At the time of His ministry, the lucrative temple trade was threatened by His growing following. The temple leaders, eager to preserve their power and profit, found common cause with Rome, the political authority that also benefited from this corrupt partnership. They became two peas in a pod, working together to silence Him (Psalm 2:2; Daniel 2:35). This is more than just Rome and Jerusalem; it reflects the pattern of human government and religion throughout history that aligns against the Kingdom of God. The fight is spiritual (Ephesians 6:12). These empires and systems are temporary, but the Kingdom of Jesus is eternal (Daniel 2:44).

"Seven mountains" = A complete (perfected) power structure
In prophetic language, “seven” speaks of completeness or fullness, not necessarily holiness, but a full and perfected manifestation of something. Here, it points to the total unity of worldly and spiritual forces against the Lord. These mountains are not literal hills but symbolic of the combined political, religious, cultural, and demonic powers working in harmony against Jesus. The woman (false religion/old covenant temple system) sits upon them, meaning she is supported, empowered, and carried by these powers.

The unholy union included:

Political power – Rome (John 19:12)
Religious manipulation – Temple leadership (John 11:50)
Legal injustice – Sanhedrin’s false trial (Matthew 26:59–60)
Cultural pressure – The crowds shouting “Crucify Him” (Mark 15:11)
Prophetic rejection – Refusing the Living Word (John 5:39–40)
Spiritual blindness – Blind guides leading others astray (Matthew 23:16)
Satanic influence – Satan entering Judas (John 13:27; Luke 22:53)

False unity to destroy Jesus:
Luke 23:12 records that Pilate and Herod, once enemies, became friends on the day of Jesus’ trial, united by a shared rejection of Him. This fulfills Psalm 2:2: “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed.”

It was a coordinated strike:

Pilate — Reluctant but swayed by political pressure
Herod — Mocking and dismissive
High Priest — Cloaking political murder in religious language
People — Deceived into choosing Barabbas
Judas — Betrayal from within
Scribes & Pharisees — Plotting in the shadows

Satan — Orchestrating behind the scenes

Together, these “mountains” formed a counterfeit perfection, a complete unity of rebellion against the Son of God.

Selah
The seven mountains represent the fullness of the world’s power aligned against Jesus. Religion, politics, culture, and demonic influence converged in a perfect storm to crucify Him. Yet the irony remains: their united rebellion only fulfilled the very plan they sought to prevent. As Peter preached in Acts 2:23, “Him… ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain” but all “by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God.” What they meant for evil, God meant for good (Genesis 50:20), bringing salvation through the cross.

Revelation 17:10

10. You can try but it’s to Late!

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.

Seven kings 

= Seven manifestations of rebellious power
These “kings” are not just individual monarchs but symbolic of the complete system of authority represented by the seven mountains in verse 9. They are phases of the ruling spirit that has empowered false religion, corrupt politics, and worldly rebellion against God’s Kingdom.

"Five are fallen" 

The majority have already lost their power. Their authority has been broken and their plans to preserve control or destroy Jesus Kingdom have failed. This pictures the progressive collapse of pagan and apostate systems throughout redemptive history,  from ancient empires to corrupt religious orders, as the light of Jesus Gospel advances.

"One is" 

 At the time of John’s vision, one power is still active. This aligns with Rome under Domitian, representing a present but already weakening manifestation of beast power. Its influence remains, but it is temporary and under God’s sovereign limits.

"The other is not yet come" 

One more power will rise briefly. His reign will be short-lived (“must continue a short space”), showing that even the final surge of opposition to God is tightly measured by Heaven’s timetable. This points prophetically to the last expression of beast authority before its final removal, a season of intensified opposition met by the Church’s authority in Jesus to overcome.

The short space & the Lamb’s victory
Verse 14 ties directly to this:
"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." The “short space” reflects the closing moments of the old world order, fulfilled historically in the Roman Empire’s destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD. The old covenant religious-political system fell, marking the end of its power to oppose God’s Kingdom. Spiritually, it also points to the limited duration God allows any system of rebellion to exist before Jesus final triumph.

"These shall make war with the Lamb" – The united front of religion, politics, and demonic influence opposing Jesus.
"The Lamb shall overcome them" – Jesus’ victory is absolute, secured through the cross and displayed in history.
"Lord of lords, and King of kings" – Every ruler, power, and system is subject to Him.
"Called, chosen, and faithful" – His Bride shares in His authority and reign.

Selah
The seven kings show a timeline of rebellion steadily collapsing under the power of the Lamb. Five have already fallen, one remains but is fading, and one more will appear briefly before being destroyed. This “short space” reminds us that every earthly power opposed to Jesus is on borrowed time. In 70 AD, the Roman Empire’s role in this rebellion reached its end, sealing the fall of the old system. The Lamb reigns now, and His Kingdom is eternal.

Revelation 17:11

11. Little Power Left is also Done With!

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

"The beast that was, and is not" 

This is the Roman beast system in alliance with the old temple order. It “was” ruling in power before the cross, and then “is not” in the vision, because its fate is sealed by Jesus Kingdom. This destruction was made certain at Calvary and manifested in 70 AD when both Rome’s hold over Jerusalem and the temple system fell.

The cross as the breaking point 

At Calvary, Jesus disarmed and exposed the spiritual forces behind every beastly system (Colossians 2:15). Though Rome still appeared politically strong after the resurrection, its spiritual dominion was broken. “What ‘was’ lost its eternal grip; what ‘is not’ survives only through lies and deception, already condemned at the cross, where the Church was commissioned to live out its full authority as God’s children, kings, and priests in His Kingdom.” 

When I speak of “the victory of the cross,” I do not mean it as a historical event to simply admire from a distance. It is the living, ongoing reality that God intended for His Church to walk in now, reclaiming the dominion Adam lost, exercising our kingship and priesthood in Jesus, and pushing back every deception with the authority of His finished work. Revelation is not a book of doom for some distant future; it is the celebration of the Gospel’s triumph, the unveiling of the New Covenant reality that the old synagogue system rejected. To see it through the lens of futurism is not only wrong but deeply damaging, for it keeps believers passive, fearful, and waiting for an end that already came at the cross, instead of active, reigning, and advancing the Kingdom here and now. The victory of the cross is the Gospel of good news, that is why John wrote "Blessed are those that hear and believe this prophecy." The futurist lens is keeping believers passive instead of active and reigning with Jesus!

Daniel 7:23 speaks of the fourth beast as the final kingdom upon the earth, but Revelation shows us it does not endure. The eighth is not a brand-new power, but the last, concentrated expression of the rebellion seen in the seven before it. It is the same spirit of opposition in a final surge. The eighth is the combined evil of the seven before it, a final onslaught aimed at those Jesus has redeemed. They cannot touch Him, so they turn their fury toward His beloved, humanity itself. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16). The cross sealed their defeat, but their last desperate weapon is deception against those whom God loves. 

Judgement Day!

The Bible’s “Day of Judgment” is not an event hanging over our heads in some unknown future. Jesus Himself declared when it would happen:

John 12:31  “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.”
John 5:24  “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
Hebrews 9:26  “But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
Colossians 2:14–15  “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us… having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

At Calvary, the verdict was given:

Sin judged – The full penalty was poured out on Jesus (Isaiah 53:5–6).
The world judged – The old system was condemned and made obsolete (Hebrews 8:13).
Satan judged – His authority was stripped and his power reduced to lies and deception (Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 12:10). Anything claiming to be a “future judgment day” for the world ignores the clear timing Jesus gave: “Now is the judgment…” That “now” was His cross.

What remains? Not fear, but victory:

We have eternal life now (1 John 5:11–12).
We are seated with Jesus now (Ephesians 2:6).
We reign in life now (Romans 5:17).

The Bible does not unveil some secret, terrifying end beyond the cross. Instead, it proclaims what was (the beast system’s reign) has lost its eternal grip, and what is not (its power) survives only through lies and deception until its final vanishing in God’s presence. The “Omega” reality,  the unending ages of God’s completed kingdom, is intentionally left unrevealed (1 Corinthians 2:9), because the focus is not on guessing the future, but on living the victory of the finished work.

The Church’s True Authority

Jesus didn’t just defeat the beast systems; He raised His Bride to reign with Him:

1 Corinthians 6:2  “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?”
Luke 10:19  “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions…”
Ephesians 6:12  “We wrestle not against flesh and blood…”
Romans 16:20  “The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly…”
Revelation 12:11  “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb…”

We are not waiting for authority,we already walk in resurrection power (Ephesians 1:19–23). Our weapons are not carnal; our victory is rooted in the Word, the Spirit, and our testimony.

"Even he is the eighth"

The eighth beast is simply the final manifestation of the earlier corrupt powers, the same rebellion wearing a different mask. It is “of the seven,” showing its continuity with all previous systems that resisted God. This last form is spiritually the weakest, stripped of real dominion, surviving only through deception and intimidation.

The Beast and the Woman Fall Together

The woman (apostate temple system) and the beast (Roman political power) were united in crucifying Jesus. Their alliance sealed their shared doom. When the temple fell in 70 AD, the Roman beast’s role in enforcing the old order fell with it. Both go “into perdition.”

"And goeth into perdition"

Perdition is not just political ruin but ultimate, eternal separation from God. It applies to both systems and individuals who reject Jesus: 

2 Thessalonians 1:9  “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord…” If Jesus is not at the center, the system is out. Perdition is the end of all false thrones.

Selah
The eighth beast is not a new enemy, but the last gasp of a rebellion already defeated at the cross. The woman and the beast, religion and political force united against Jesus, fell together. Their destruction is final, their fate eternal. God has ended the old order and established the New Temple, built not with stones but with living people joined to Jesus:

Ephesians 2:20–22  “Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone…”
Hebrews 8:13  “A new covenant… the first old… ready to vanish away.”
Matthew 21:43  “The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.”

Jesus’ finished work has judged the old system and enthroned His eternal Kingdom. The beast’s “eighth” expression cannot undo what the cross has accomplished.

Revelation 17:12

12.You are Working Right into My Plan!

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.

The Ten Horns 

= Ten Kings
The ten horns symbolize authority and ruling power (Daniel 7:7; Revelation 13:1). In prophetic context, these ten kings represent the ten tribes of Israel who, after the kingdom split (1 Kings 11:31), never regained a lasting kingdom. Hosea 8:4 shows they set up kings without God’s approval, furthering their rebellion. These “kings” have no sovereign thrones of their own, their authority is delegated and temporary, operating under the influence of the beast. Though the ten tribes were not directly responsible for Jesus’ crucifixion in the same way Judah and Levi were, they were still part of the larger spiritual nation of Israel. This means they were included in the collective spiritual crisis that surrounded Jesus death.

Received No Kingdom as Yet
At the time of John’s vision, these tribes had no independent kingdom or political authority (Daniel 2:43). In the first century, all of Israel was under Roman control. Yet, John 19:15–16 shows how the Jewish leaders openly aligned with Rome: “We have no king but Caesar.” The ten tribes, though scattered and politically powerless, were still part of God’s covenant nation. They initially seemed insignificant, but spiritually, they still played a role in the unfolding redemptive plan, especially during the “hour” of Jesus’ crucifixion.

Receive Power as Kings, One Hour
“One hour” speaks of a short, appointed season (Luke 23:12; Acts 4:27). This is the prophetic hour of judgment at the cross, the moment when the forces of political power, corrupt religion, and unseen spiritual rebellion united to destroy Jesus. John 19:11 reminds us that their authority was “given… from above” allowed by God to fulfill His plan. Revelation 17:17 confirms: “For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will…” This was irony at its highest: while these kings aligned with the beast for a brief moment of apparent triumph, Jesus’ “hour” was the very hour of His glorification (John 12:23; John 17:1). Their “victory” in crucifying Him was, in reality, the foundation of His eternal dominion (Matthew 28:18; Revelation 1:18).

Spiritual Meaning of Their Unity
The “one mind” of these kings (Revelation 17:13) is not the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). It is a counterfeit unity, driven by pride, deception, and rebellion against God. This same spirit worked against Jesus 2,000 years ago and continues in today’s world systems.

2 Thessalonians 2:9–10  “…after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders…”
Daniel 7:25  “…shall wear out the saints of the most High…”
1 John 4:3  “…this is that spirit of antichrist…”
Revelation 13:4  “…they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast…”
Isaiah 5:20  “…call evil good, and good evil…”

Just as Rome and the apostate temple system worked together to kill Jesus, so do political and spiritual powers unite today to oppose God’s kingdom.

The Scattered Tribes and Future Hope
Historically, the Northern Kingdom (ten tribes) was scattered by Assyria. By Jesus’ time, they were dispersed and without power. Yet Hosea 1:10 and Romans 11:25–26 promise a future restoration through repentance and faith in the Messiah. Ezekiel 37:21–22 paints the same hope, one united people under one King. Their “one hour” of alliance with the beast was not their final state. Though they shared in the guilt and consequences of the crucifixion, God’s mercy leaves the door open for restoration.

Selah, The Hour of Darkness Became the Hour of Light
The “one hour” in Revelation 17:12 is the same prophetic hour Jesus spoke of when He said, “The hour is come” (John 12:23). It was the turning point of all history. The ten kings, representing scattered tribes and temporary powers, united with Rome and the temple system to crucify the Lamb.

But the Lamb triumphed. What they meant for evil, God turned into salvation (Acts 2:23). The hour of judgment became the hour of glory. From that cross came an unshakable Kingdom (Hebrews 12:28), and though worldly powers still unite in rebellion, their authority is temporary, His reign is eternal.

See Addendum- 10 Tribes of Israel Pending!

Revelation 17:13

13. What I Loved Work with Evil!

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

“One mind” 

This mirrors the crowd at the crucifixion shouting with one voice: “Crucify Him!” (Luke 23:21). It is the uniting of religion, empire, and mob spirit against Christ. Instead of being of one mind in Christ (Philippians 2:2), they were of one mind in rebellion.

“Give their power and strength unto the beast” 

The religious rulers gave their influence, and the people gave their voices, to the Roman system. Together, they handed over authority to the beastly empire to condemn the Son of God. This is the same spirit Paul warned of: “The mystery of iniquity doth already work” (2 Thessalonians 2:7).

The “one mind” of Revelation 17:13 is the collective rebellion against Jesus, where temple leaders, Rome, and the crowd joined as one voice against the Lamb. It is the counterfeit unity of rebellion in contrast to the true unity of the Spirit. “These have one mind” This speaks of complete unity of purpose. The ten kings (tribes or powers) are fully aligned in heart and mind, sharing a single goal: to support the beast. This is not accidental agreement but deliberate coordination among political and religious forces in open rebellion against Jesus.

One Mind in Rebellion vs. One Mind in Jesus

One Mind in Rebellion

Revelation 17:13  “These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.” At the Cross, rulers and people united in one voice: “Crucify him, crucify him” (Luke 23:21; John 19:6). This false unity was rebellion, where temple leaders, Rome, and the crowd surrendered their power to the beastly system instead of to God.

One Mind in Jesus

Acts 4:32  “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.” The true Church formed around the Spirit, not rebellion. Instead of blaspheming, they glorified Jesus. Instead of giving strength to the beast, they gave their lives to the Lamb. Paul calls us to “be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Philippians 2:2). This is unity in Jesus, birthed out of the Cross and Spirit baptism.

Rebellion also has unity,“one mind” against Jesus. But the Spirit births a greater unity, “one mind in Jesus.” One destroys, the other brings life.

“Shall give their power and strength unto the beast”

 Their unity produces action. They willingly hand over their authority, influence, and resources to the beast system. This is active cooperation, not passive compliance. They strengthen its rule, endorse its cause, and carry out its agenda.

In first-century context 

The Roman Empire (the beast) was the dominant power, but it relied on the support of local leaders, including elements within Israel, to enforce its control. These kings (tribes or powers) aligned with Rome to protect their own positions, even if it meant opposing God’s Kingdom. Their collaboration was key in both crucifying Jesus and persecuting the early Church. The “one mind” is a counterfeit unity, a unity against the Lord and His Anointed (Psalm 2:2). It looks strong, but it is doomed. This perfect alliance of political might, religious manipulation, and cultural pressure is temporary, permitted only under God’s sovereign hand to fulfill His redemptive plan.

Selah
The unity of these kings with the beast gave the illusion of unstoppable power. Yet their united rebellion was already under judgment, and their combined strength would fall before the Lamb. What they meant for evil, God used to accomplish salvation.

Revelation 17:14

14. Kill Me- I will Rise!

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.

“Make war with the Lamb” 

 The war was not an earthly battlefield but Calvary itself. The temple system, Rome, and the mob all joined in crucifying Him. That was their “war” against the Lamb (Acts 4:27  “Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel gathered together”).

“The Lamb shall overcome them” 

 The Cross was not defeat, but victory. By laying down His life, Jesus broke the power of sin, death, and Satan (Colossians 2:15  “having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it”).

“For he is Lord of lords, and King of kings” 

 Through the Cross and Resurrection, Jesus was enthroned. He is the supreme King, and in Him, His people share that kingship.

“They that are with him” 

 We, the redeemed, are not spectators but participants. By His blood, He made us a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9) and kings and priests unto God (Revelation 1:6). We are the “other kings and lords” who reign with Him, not by worldly power, but by His Spirit.

The war of Revelation 17:14 is the Cross. They thought they defeated Him, but the Lamb overcame by dying and rising. He is now King of kings — and we are those kings and priests, reigning with Him in His finished work. Psalm 2 “the kings of the earth set themselves… yet I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion” 

“Shall make war with the Lamb” 

This points directly to the crucifixion of Jesus, the moment when political, religious, and spiritual powers united in rebellion against the Son of God. The Lamb represents Jesus, the perfect and willing sacrifice. The “war” was not fought with swords and armies but with betrayal, false accusations, unjust trials, and the nails of the cross. Rome’s political authority, Israel’s corrupt religious leadership, and the unseen spiritual forces of darkness all converged to destroy Him, yet all they did was fulfill God’s plan of redemption.

“The Lamb shall overcome them” 

This is the heart of Revelation’s message. Jesus’ victory came through the very act that looked like defeat.

Death: He laid down His life as the perfect sacrifice (John 10:18).
Resurrection: He rose in power, breaking the chains of sin and death forever.
Victory: His triumph is eternal, cosmic, and final.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57 “Death is swallowed up in victory… thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus.”
Romans 8:37 “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

“Called, and chosen, and faithful” 

These three words describe the identity of the Lamb’s people.

Called: God’s gracious invitation through the Gospel.
Chosen: Those who respond in faith, set apart as His own possession.
Faithful: Those who endure, walking in obedience and loyalty to Jesus.

Through the cross and resurrection, believers are made kings and priests (Revelation 1:6; 1 Peter 2:9). This kingship is not political control but spiritual authority, ruling over sin, darkness, and every lie of the enemy. We reign with Jesus now because His finished work secured our position.

Revelation 1:6 “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father…”
2 Timothy 2:12 “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him…”

Selah
The cross was the battlefield, the resurrection was the victory parade, and the Church now walks in the spoils of His triumph. Those who are called, chosen, and faithful live out that victory daily, carrying the authority of the Lamb into every corner of a world that once warred against Him.

Revelation 17:15

15. Jesus

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

 Scripture, waters often symbolize nations and restless humanity (Isaiah 17:12–13, “the rushing of many waters”). Here it shows the global scope of the system’s influence.

“Where the whore sitteth” 

The false religious system didn’t only exist locally in Jerusalem or Rome, but spiritually sat over nations. Her seat was wide-reaching, clothed in influence.

“Peoples, multitudes, nations, tongues”

 Fourfold description = universality. This was not a small deception but one that stretched across boundaries, affecting every language and nation. It mirrors how Pentecost was for “every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:5–6)  except here it’s a counterfeit flood of influence instead of the true Spirit.

Revelation 17:15 reveals that the harlot system is not confined, her deception reached all peoples, nations, and tongues. This is the universal counterfeit kingdom, in contrast to the true universal Bride who reigns with Jesus. Daniel 7:23 “the fourth beast shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down”

“The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth” 

 In prophetic symbolism, waters often represent peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues (Isaiah 17:12–13; Revelation 17:15). Here, the “waters” show the vast human reach of the system, the nations and cultures influenced and controlled by the old covenant religious power. Her “sitting” on these waters signifies not just presence, but active dominion and systemic control. In the Bible, to “sit” is to rule or exercise authority (1 Kings 1:46; Psalm 29:10). The whore sitting upon the waters means she held sway over nations, shaping culture, influencing law, controlling worship, and directing the flow of political and spiritual life. She represents the corrupted old covenant system, which should have prepared the world for the Messiah, but instead became intoxicated with power, idolatry, and greed. Her influence was not only political but spiritual, binding people in deception and false worship.

Daniel 7:9–10  Thrones signify judgment and authority.
Psalm 9:7  “But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.”

“These shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate” 

Here is the shocking twist: the very beast she rides, the worldly political power she used, will eventually turn on her. History shows this in 70 A.D., when the Roman empire destroyed Jerusalem and the temple system. The alliance of religion and politics is temporary; once the beast no longer finds her useful, it devours her. This is the irony of evil: it destroys itself. God allows corrupt systems to unravel from within. What once seemed an unbreakable alliance between Rome and the temple became mutual destruction. Political power will expose and discard false religion when it no longer serves its purpose.

Psalm 76:10  “Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.”

Selah
The whore’s “sitting” shows her oppressive rule over nations; the beast’s hatred shows the instability of alliances built on rebellion against God. Her fall is not just the judgment of God from heaven, but also the turning of earthly powers against her. Evil consumes evil, and in the end, Jesus Kingdom stands unshaken. Mark 3:26  And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.

Revelation 17:16

16. The Lot Turning on Each Other!

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.

“Shall hate the whore” 

The very rulers and powers that once supported the harlot system eventually turned against her. Once exposed by Jesus, the old covenant structure became despised even by those who upheld it.

“Desolate and naked” 

 Without Jesus, she was stripped of her covering. Her sacrifices ended, her temple destroyed, and her rituals left empty. What she prided herself on became shame (Lamentations 1:8).

“Eat her flesh” 

Symbol of total consumption. Just as false systems devour their own, the temple system destroyed itself from within by rejecting Jesus, leaving nothing but ruin.

“Burn her with fire” 

Fire = judgment. In AD 70 Jerusalem literally burned, but spiritually this shows that the harlot system was consumed in God’s judgment, making way for the Bride, clothed in righteousness, to stand revealed.

Revelation 17:16 shows the impact of Jesus’ finished work. The system that opposed Him was left hated, stripped, consumed, and burned, no longer covering man, no longer standing before God. Only Jesus and His Bride remain. Ezekiel 16:37–41 God speaks of stripping and burning Jerusalem for her harlotries

“The ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast”
The ten horns, once united with the beast, a fusion of Rome’s authority and the old covenant religious order, now turn against the very system they once upheld. In prophetic symbolism, horns represent kings or powers (Daniel 7:7; Revelation 13:1). Here, they picture the ten tribes of Israel, more connected to the temple side than to the Roman political machine. Their loyalty was first to the religious establishment, yet they tolerated the Roman partnership that allowed it to function. The “system” here is not merely the secular world, it is the world mixed with religion, two peas in a pod, forming one united but corrupt power. This unholy alliance crucified the Messiah, yet the same ten tribes would later reject the old temple order when the Gospel opened their eyes to Jesus. God, in His sovereignty, uses their turning to bring judgment on the whore, the corrupted, Jerusalem-centered religious system, stripping it of power and influence forever. For some, this “turning” reflects spiritual transformation: those once under the grip of the old system come to Jesus and reject legalism (Romans 11:11–17; Galatians 4:21–31). For others, it shows political betrayal, the breaking of a fragile alliance between Rome and the Jewish temple leadership.

“Shall hate the whore”
This is not carnal hatred, but spiritual rejection of the system that opposed Jesus (Hebrews 13:12–14). The temple leaders once found protection under Rome’s shadow, but by 70 A.D., that same power turned violently against them. This fulfilled Jesus’ prophecy that the temple would be left “desolate” (Matthew 23:38). Alliances built on rebellion against God are always unstable and self-destructive.

“Make her desolate and naked”
“Desolate” speaks of utter ruin, Jerusalem and the temple system left in devastation (Matthew 23:38; Luke 21:20–24). “Naked” pictures shame and exposure, the removal of her religious mask (Revelation 3:17–18; Isaiah 47:3). The destruction of 70 A.D. exposed the hypocrisy and emptiness of the religious establishment.

“Shall eat her flesh”
This vivid image represents consuming and destroying the very structure that sustained the old system. Spiritually, it means stripping away reliance on the law, ritual, and self-righteousness, replacing it with the true spiritual food of Jesus (John 6:53–56; Hebrews 10:9). Historically, Rome plundered Jerusalem, tearing apart both city and people.

“And burn her with fire”
Fire represents both divine judgment and purification. In 70 A.D., the temple and much of Jerusalem were burned to the ground (Matthew 22:7; Jeremiah 7:20; 2 Kings 25:9). This was God’s final verdict on the old covenant temple order, the outward system was removed so the New Covenant could stand alone, clothed in the righteousness of Jesus.

Selah
This verse captures the collapse of the unholy alliance between Rome and the Jewish religious leadership. Together they crucified Jesus, but the cross exposed their corruption, and in time they turned on each other. Evil consumes evil. Yet out of the ashes rises the Bride of Jesus,  purified, clothed in His righteousness, and empowered by His Spirit. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (Hebrews 12:27–29).

Revelation 17:17

17. It’s Ok - Forsaken your First Love!

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.

“God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will” 

Even in rebellion, they unknowingly fulfilled God’s plan. Just as Peter preached: “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain” (Acts 2:23).

“To agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast” 

 The rulers, priests, and Rome agreed together (Luke 23:12  Pilate and Herod became friends that day). They surrendered their power into one cause: condemning Jesus.

“Until the words of God shall be fulfilled” 

 Here the Cross comes into focus. Jesus declared: “It is finished” (John 19:30). His own words in John 10:17–18 seal this: no one took His life; He laid it down freely, exactly when the Scriptures were fulfilled.

Revelation 17:17 shows how even the rebellion of men bowed to God’s will. They gave their strength to the beast, but in doing so, fulfilled the eternal plan. The words of God were completed at Calvary, when Jesus cried, “It is finished!”

The Fulfillment at the Cross

Charge: Did the rulers, the beastly empire, and the temple system truly take Jesus’ life, or did He freely give it according to God’s will?

God’s Sovereign Will
Revelation 17:17
“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.” Even their rebellion was under God’s hand. Their actions moved the plan forward, not backward.

The Apostles’ Testimony
Acts 2:23
“Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.” Peter declares: Yes, you crucified Him, but it was God’s predetermined counsel, His plan from the beginning.

Jesus’ Own Words
John 10:17–18
“Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” Jesus testifies that no man took His life. He surrendered it freely.

The Final Declaration
John 19:30
“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” The words of God were fulfilled. The sacrifice was complete. The beastly systems thought they seized Him, but Heaven testifies: “No man took His life.” They fulfilled God’s will without knowing it, proving that the Cross was not man’s triumph, but God’s. At Calvary, the Word was completed: “It is finished!”

“For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil His will” 

 Even rebellion operates under God’s sovereign hand. The leaders who plotted Jesus’ death, the Roman rulers who carried it out, and the spiritual forces behind them were not outside His control. Just as Joseph told his brothers, “Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good” (Genesis 50:20), the crucifixion, the worst act of human history was turned into the greatest victory of redemption.

“And to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast” 

This “kingdom” represents the combined authority of religion and empire. The Jewish leaders surrendered their covenant calling, crying, “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:15). Rome, in turn, lent its political power to enforce the will of the temple authorities. Yet Jesus made it clear to Pilate: “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above” (John 19:11). This was not evil overpowering God, it was God allowing temporary cooperation between worldly and religious powers so His Son could willingly lay down His life (John 10:18). The cross was not their victory; it was His surrender. He drank the cup the Father gave Him (John 18:11), laying down His life for His friends, the greatest love (John 15:13).

“Until the words of God shall be fulfilled” 

This transfer of authority was never permanent. It lasted only until prophecy reached its climax, the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. At that moment, the Old Covenant system met its end, and the New Covenant was established in His blood. What seemed like a transfer of power away from God was, in reality, the enthronement of His Son and the inauguration of His eternal Kingdom.

Selah
The kingdoms of men, the old temple order and the Roman Empire, gave their power to the beast as part of God’s predetermined plan. This apparent triumph of darkness was the very means by which the Light of the world overcame. What they meant for destruction became the coronation of the Lamb, who now reigns with His Bride forever (Revelation 11:15; Hebrews 12:28).

Revelation 17:18

18. Your Reign in Power not For Long!

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

“That great city” 

Spiritually, this points to the old covenant Jerusalem, the city that rejected her King (Matthew 23:37). Outwardly glorious, inwardly corrupt, she became “Babylon” by turning covenant into control.

“Reigneth over the kings of the earth”

 These “kings” are not the redeemed royal priesthood (Revelation 1:6), but the natural rulers, the earthly-minded men bound to fleshly systems. She exercised sway over them through religion, politics, and tradition, ruling by fear and law rather than by Spirit and grace.

The contras

The Bride reigns with Jesus in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6), but the harlot reigns over natural kings in the earth. One reigns in life through grace (Romans 5:17); the other reigns in death through law and sin (Romans 7:9–11).

Revelation 17:18 shows the false bride reigning over natural kings, not the true kings and priests of Jesus. Her dominion was of the earth, temporary, fleshly, and doomed. Jesus kings reign with Him in Spirit, eternal and heavenly. 1 Corinthians 2:6–8 “the princes of this world… had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory”

The “great city” is first-century Jerusalem under the Old Covenant system, the political-religious center that held sway over the Jewish nation and influenced even foreign rulers through Rome. This is not a prophecy of some future geopolitical empire, but a present-tense spiritual description of its authority before the cross. In God’s eyes, it still “reigned” over the kings of the earth, not merely through military might but through religious and covenantal influence. Its temple leadership could stir governors, kings, and empires to act on its behalf (as in the trial of Jesus). Yet its days were numbered. Jesus’ death and resurrection marked the irreversible end of that reign.

Great City 

Old Covenant Jerusalem
Jerusalem and its temple system embodied man-centered religion, a works-based order built on pride, self-salvation, and rejection of the promised Messiah. Before “It is finished,” it stood as the central seat of authority for Israel, indirectly swaying rulers under Rome’s dominance.

“Reigneth over the kings of the earth”
This “reigning” describes its influence over leaders and people bound to the Old Covenant system. It is descriptive, not predictive, showing how things stood immediately before the veil was torn. In contrast, the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2) rules by grace, not law. This city, in God’s prophetic sight, still held a throne of influence,  just as He saw a king in David while men saw only a shepherd boy. But the throne was already marked for judgment.

The Whore vs. the Bride

The Whore (Babylon) — False religion, corrupted worship, man-centered control. Judged at the cross.
The Beast — Political and religious powers united in rebellion against Jesus, exposed and stripped of ultimate power.
The Bride — The Church, washed in His blood (Ephesians 5:25–27), reigning with the Lamb now in an unshakable Kingdom.

“The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord” (Revelation 11:15).
The Rock reigns. The mountain is growing. The Bride is not waiting for victory, she is walking in it now.

Daniel 2:31–35 — The Dream
Nebuchadnezzar’s statue symbolized the succession of man-made kingdoms, political, religious, and legalistic powers opposed to God. Its head, chest, thighs, legs, and feet depicted a composite of human empire. But then: A stone cut out without hands, Jesus, not of man’s making but sent from the Father, struck the image at its feet. The entire statue collapsed into dust, swept away without a trace. The Stone became a great mountain, filling the whole earth (Isaiah 2:2–3; Hebrews 12:22–28).

Daniel 2 and Revelation 17 — One Vision
Daniel’s statue and Revelation’s beast systems are the same spiritual entity: man’s rebellion against God expressed through empire and religion. The Rock in Daniel 2 is the Lamb in Revelation 17:14. At Calvary, the Stone struck. The cross shattered the foundation of every beastly system (Colossians 2:14–15). The “great city” of Revelation 17:18  Jerusalem’s old covenant order, fell under that same blow. The harlot (Babylon) was judged, her authority stripped, her alliances turned against her. The mountain, God’s Kingdom is already here, already filling the earth through the Gospel. Babylon’s fall is not a pending future apocalypse; it was sealed at “It is finished” (John 19:30) and is unfolding through the advance of Jesus reign.

Selah
The Rock reigns. The mountain grows. The kingdoms of men, whether in Daniel’s day or John’s vision, have already been given over to the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. This is not a someday victory, it is the reality of the cross.

To My Bride

The Church is called to discernment and purity, refusing any alliance with the spirit of Babylon. As the Bride, we overcome by embracing our covenant identity, separating from mixture, and walking in wholehearted devotion to Jesus. Our calling is to expose the lies and allure of false religion, to shine with the light of the true Gospel, and to live as those who belong to Jesus alone, set apart, undefiled, and awaiting the ultimate vindication of the Lamb’s victory.