The harlot and the beast: (17:7-14, 18): the Apostle John was confused at the sight of the beastly woman, the angel asked him “why do you wonder?” There was no need to get puzzled. The ghostly woman is the great city which reigns over the kings of the earth. The modern Babylon is strategically located at the crossroads of Asia, Europe and Africa with world’s richest oil fields and unlimited water supply from Euphrates.
Now the angel gives the relationship between the beast and woman whom he is carrying.
- The beast: The beast is the Antichrist, the satanic ruler of the last and most powerful empire in human history, and will serve as Satan’s instrument to attack Christ. He is described as one “one who was, and is not, and is about to come” again. This phrase refers to Antichrist’s faked death and resurrection (13:3, 12, 14). Up to this time, Antichrist’s economic system co-exist with the false religious system headed by the false prophet. But after his staged (fake) “resurrection, ” Antichrist will turn on the false religious system and destroy it. He will tolerate only one religion i.e. the worship of Antichrist. Antichrist’s fake resurrection and swift destruction of the false religious system will shock the entire world (13:8) but at the same time the world will be amazed at the fake resurrection of the one who was, is not and will come.
- Angel’s explanation and encouragement: The angel states that “here is the mind which has wisdom” invites the Apostle John and his readers to pay more attention to what follows.
In the vision, 7-heads of the beast are 7-mountains on which the woman sits. The mountains nothing but the kings. The angel further says: “five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come.” The 5-Gentile world empires that had fallen were Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece. The one that existed at that time was obviously Rome. The other one that has not yet come is Antichrist’s final world empire.
The angel further explains that when Antichrist comes, he must remain a little while. His empire will be short-lived and will be given the authority act for only 3 ½ years (42 months). The beast which was and is not, is himself one of the seven and he goes out to destruction. So Antichrist is one of the seven kings before his supposed demise of his rule. He will be eventually be destroyed and put into eternal damnation in the lake of fire (19:20; 20:20). Unlike the first six empires, his empire too would be destroyed by the direct act of God.
The angel further explains that 10-horns are the 10-kings who have not yet received the kingdom. They are a part of the Antichrist’s future empires. The Antichrist’s kingdom will be divided into 10-administrative regions, which these 10 kings will rule under them. The reference to 1-hour is literally not one hour but a very short time which is given in the figure of speech. During their brief period they will be devoted to Antichrist. Their agenda will be to wage war against Israel and the all believers who were there at that time. They will come to a place called Armageddon. The Lord will completely defeat them in the battle and destroy all the opposing forces gathered at Armageddon and the Lamb will be once again established as “King of kings and Lord of lords.” He will effortlessly crush the greatest armed force every assembled in history.
The final destruction of the harlot: (false religion) (17:16-17):
Antichrist’s alliance with the harlot (false religion) will eventually end. The 10-kings and the beast (Antichrist) will hate the harlot. They have used the false religion (harlot) to gain control of the world. Once they became dominant, they removed the false religion and started the world of Antichrist. He will make the harlot desolate and naked and will eat her flesh and burn her up which is a symbolic form of the complete destruction of the harlot. God allows the destruction of false religion by giving short duration for the beast (Antichrist) to rule. The one-world unification government sought by many humanists would arrive. But God has the last laugh and His purposes are clearly portrayed. The Antichrist and all his followers will be judged and cast into the lake of fire once and for all. The prophecy of the 2nd Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ will be fulfilled by this great act of God.
- Destruction of Babylon (commercial Babylon) (Chap.18)
Babylon was not only an ancient city and a powerful empire, but also the symbol of mankind’s rebellion against God. In this chapter 18, Babylon represents the world system of “the beast,” particularly in its economic and political aspects. Throughout the history, kingdoms and empires were built by proud, arrogant, God rejecting rebels who have come and gone. People are looking for scientific progress a sort of utopia. But unless the humanity comes to God for their salvation, they are of no use to anyone. God has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed (Acts. 17:31). So the final empire is commercial Babylon which is a symbol of rebellion which is pending for destruction.