1Tu přišel jeden ze sedmi andělů, kteří měli těch sedm misek, a promluvil se mnou: „Pojď, ukážu ti soud nad tou velikou smilnicí, která sedí na mnohých vodách, 2se kterou smilnili králové země a vínem jejího smilstva se opili obyvatelé země.“ 3A odnesl mne v Duchu do pustiny. Tu jsem uviděl ženu, sedící na šelmě šarlatové barvy, plné rouhavých jmen, mající sedm hlav a deset rohů. 4Ta žena byla oděna purpurem a šarlatem a ozdobena zlatem, drahými kameny a perlami; ve své ruce měla zlatou číši plnou ohavností a nečistot svého smilstva 5a na svém čele měla napsané jméno: ‚Tajemství, Babylon, ten veliký, matka smilnic a ohavností země.‘ 6Uviděl jsem tu ženu zpitou krví svatých a krví Ježíšových svědků. Velice jsem užasl, když jsem ji uviděl. 7Anděl mi řekl: „Proč jsi užasl? Já ti řeknu tajemství té ženy a šelmy, která ji nese a má sedm hlav a deset rohů. 8Šelma, kterou jsi viděl, byla a není; má vystoupit z bezedné propasti a jít do záhuby; a ti, kdo bydlí na zemi a jejich jméno není zapsáno od založení světa v knize života, užasnou, až uvidí, že ta šelma byla a není, a opět přijde. 9Zde je třeba mysli, která má moudrost: Těch sedm hlav je sedm hor, na nichž ta žena sedí. A je sedm králů: 10pět jich padlo, jeden je, další ještě nepřišel; a až přijde, musí zůstat jen nakrátko. 11A šelma, která byla a není, je tím osmým; je z těch sedmi a jde do záhuby. 12Těch deset rohů, které jsi viděl, je deset králů, kteří královskou moc ještě nepřijali, ale pravomoc jako králové mají přijmout na jednu hodinu spolu s šelmou. 13Ti budou mít stejný úmysl a svou sílu a moc dají šelmě. 14Ti budou válčit s Beránkem, ale Beránek je přemůže, protože je Pán pánů a Král králů, a ti, kteří jsou s ním, jsou povolaní, vyvolení a věrní.“ 15Ještě mi řekl: „Vody, které jsi viděl, kde ta smilnice sedí, jsou lidé a zástupy, národy a jazyky. 16Těch deset rohů, které jsi viděl, i ta šelma budou nenávidět smilnici a učiní ji zpustlou a nahou, budou jíst její maso a spálí ji v ohni. 17Neboť Bůh dal do jejich srdcí, aby uskutečnili jeho úmysl, jednali jednomyslně a dali šelmě svou královskou moc, dokud nebudou dokonána Boží slova. 18A ta žena, kterou jsi viděl, je veliké město, které má královskou moc nad králi země.“
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 Here we have a new vision, not as to the matter of it, for that is contemporary with what came under the three last vials; but as to the manner of description, etc. Observe, 1. The invitation given to the apostle to take a view of what was here to be represented:
Come hither, and I will show thee the judgment of the great whore, etc.,
Revel 17:1. This is a name of great infamy. A whore [in this passage] is one that is married, and has been false to her husband's bed, has forsaken the guide of her youth, and broken the covenant of God. She had been a prostitute to the kings of the earth, whom she had intoxicated
with the wine of her fornication. 2. The appearance she made: it was gay and gaudy, like such sort of creatures:
She was arrayed in purple, and scarlet colour, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls, Revel 17:4. Here were all the allurements of worldly honour and riches, pomp and pride, suited to sensual and worldly minds. 3. Her principal seat and residence -
upon the beast that had seven heads and ten horns; that is to say, Rome, the city on seven hills, infamous for idolatry, tyranny, and blasphemy. 4. Her name, which
was written on her forehead. It was the custom of impudent harlots to hang out signs, with their names, that all might know what they were. Now in this observe, (1.) She is named from her place of residence -
Babylon the great. But, that we might not take it for the old Babylon literally so called, we are told there is a mystery in the name; it is some other great city resembling the old Babylon. (2.) She is named from her infamous way and practice; not only a harlot, but a mother of harlots, breeding up harlots, and nursing and training them up to idolatry, and all sorts of lewdness and wickedness - the parent and nurse of all false religion and filthy conversation. 5. Her diet: she satiated herself with
the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus. She drank their blood with such greediness that she intoxicated herself with it; it was so pleasant to her that she could not tell when she had had enough of it: she was satiated, but never satisfied.
7 Here we have the mystery of this vision explained. The apostle wonders at the sight of this woman: the angel undertakes to open this vision to him, it being the key of the former visions; and he tells the apostle what was meant by the beast on which the woman sat; but it is so explained as still to need further explanation. 1. This beast
was, and is not, and yet is; that is, it
was a seat of idolatry and persecution;
and is not, that is, not in the ancient form, which was pagan;
and yet it is, it is truly the seat of idolatry and tyranny, though of another sort and form.
It ascends out of the bottomless pit (idolatry and cruelty are the issue and product of hell), and it shall return thither and go into perdition. 2.
This beast has seven heads, which have a double signification. (1.)
Seven mountains - the seven hills on which Rome stands; and (2.)
Seven kings - seven sorts of government. Rome was governed by kings, consuls, tribunes, decemviri, dictators, emperors who were pagan, and emperors who were Christian. Five of these were extinct when this prophecy was written; one was then in being, that is, the pagan emperor; and the other, that is, the Christian emperor, was yet to come,
Revel 17:10. This beast, the papacy, makes an eighth governor, and sets up idolatry again. 3. This beast had ten horns; which are said to be
ten kings which have as yet received no kingdoms; as yet, that is, as some, shall not rise up till the Roman empire be broken in pieces; or, as others, shall not rise up till near the end of antichrist's reign, and so shall reign but as it were
one hour with her, but shall for that time be very unanimous and very zealous in that interest, and entirely devoted to it, divesting themselves of their prerogatives and revenues (things so dear to princes), out of an unaccountable fondness for the papacy.
14 Here we have some account of the downfall of Babylon, to be more fully described in the following chapter.
I. Here is a war begun between the beast and his followers, and the Lamb and his followers. The beast and his army, to an eye of sense, appear much stronger than the Lamb and his army: one would think an army with a lamb at the head of them could not stand before
the great red dragon. But,
II. Here is a victory gained by the Lamb:
The Lamb shall overcome. Christ must reign till all enemies
be put under his feet; he will be sure to meet with many enemies, and much opposition, but he will also be sure to gain the victory.
III. Here is the ground or reason of the victory assigned; and this is taken, 1. From the character of the Lamb:
He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He has, both by nature and by office, supreme dominion and power over all things; all the powers of earth and hell are subject to his check and control. 2. From the character of his followers:
They are called, and chosen, and faithful. They are called out by commission to this warfare; they are chosen and fitted for it, and they will be faithful in it. Such an army, under such a commander, will at length carry all the world before them.
IV. The victory is justly aggrandized. 1. By the vast multitude who paid obedience and subjection to the beast and to the whore. She sat upon (that is, presided over) many waters; and these waters were so many multitudes of people, and nations, of all languages; yea, she reigned not only over kingdoms, but over the kings, and they were her tributaries and vassals,
Revel 17:15,
Revel 17:18. 2. By the powerful influence which God hereby showed he had over the minds of great men. Their hearts were in his hand, and he turned them as he pleased; for, (1.) It was of God, and to fulfil his will, that these kings
agreed to give their kingdom unto the beast; they were judicially blinded and hardened to do so. And, (2.) It was of God that afterwards their hearts were turned against the whore, to hate her, and to
make her desolate and naked, and to eat her flesh, and burn her with fire; they shall at length see their folly, and how they have been bewitched and enslaved by the papacy, and, out of a just resentment, shall not only fall off from Rome, but shall be made the instruments of God's providence in her destruction.
