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| 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 show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: |
And there came – The 17th chapter, by its synchronical connection with almost all the other predictions of the Apocalypse, furnishes a most valuable clue to the meaning and application of the whole series of visions. R471:3
The vision of the 17th chapter is from the time perspective of the "judgment," AD 1870; while the explanation is given from the time perspective of the prophecy, AD 96. Without recognizing these two standpoints, all is confusion. HG22:3
The visions of the 17th and 12th chapters of Revelation are not disconnected, but a pair--a pair associated, not by likeness, but by contrast. R472:2
In Rev. 12 Rome is characterized as a purely civil power; in chapter 13 as a compound of "church and state" and in chapter 17 as a dual power, with church and state kept distinct. HG20:4
When Luther discovered how fully Papacy filled the picture given by Paul in 2 Thes. 2:3-8, and in the symbols of Rev. 17, he felt justified by that knowledge in publicly denouncing that system. R402:1, 310:2;
The various prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and the Apocalypse concerning Babylon are all in full accord, and manifestly refer to the same city. D22
Compare Jer. 51:13. R1371:6
Compare Isa. 13:1-15 with this chapter, the latter part of Isa. 13 evidently referring only to literal Babylon. R2372:5
Compare the first five verses of chapter 17 with Rev. 21:9-11. Q842:5
The judgment – During the existence of the sixth head, or from 1800 to 1870, the "judgment" has been executed on the "woman." HG21:1
The judgment of Babylon, Christendom, social and ecclesiastical, is another sign that the Judge has come, and is reckoning first of all with those to whom as stewards he has committed his goods. D599
"But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away its dominion, to consume, and to destroy it unto the end." (Dan. 7:26) HG21:1
The great whore – She neglected her heavenly Bridegroom. R5478:1
Disloyal to her engagement, and therefore no longer worthy to be the Bride of Messiah. R5092:1
In contrast, the Bride is represented as a chaste virgin, espoused to Christ. R472:2; SM406:2
A detailed comparison with "the Bride, the Lamb's wife" drawn from contrasting texts in Rev. 12 and 21. R471:6
Sitteth upon – Representing an established reign, or kingdom, or dominion, extending over "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." (Verse 15) R283:5*
Many waters – Literal Babylon was built upon the river Euphrates, which materially contributed to its wealth and resources. Its overthrow was accomplished by the turning aside of those waters. B209; R45:1; CR165:1; 520:5
Compare Jer. 51:13. R436:5, 2498:3
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| 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. |
Kings of the earth – It is claimed that the kingdoms of Europe were transferred from Satan to Christ, and became "Christian nations." A270
Committed fornication – The union of church and state. The fall of Babylon is the dissolution of that union--"the woman" being thrown from "the beast." HG90:3
Seems to imply as its symbolical significance any illicit fellowship with the world on the part of those who have betrothed themselves to be God's consecrated people. R2300:1
The inhabitants of the earth – Non-professors being rather less intoxicated than professing Christians. R3049:3
Have been made drunk – With her erroneous doctrines, intimidating them by teaching that eternal torment awaited all who resisted their claims. A268; R507:3
The stimulating power is not the power of a sound mind, but the delusion of a false doctrine; as the Prophet declares, they are "drunken," but not with wine. (Isa. 29:9-13) R2904:5
A man having delirium tremens sees snakes and lizards. In our bewildered, intoxicated condition we have seen visions of flames, and of devils with tails and pitchforks. OV416:2
So that they "err in vision, they stumble in judgment." NS506:6
So strong is the power of this intoxication that the inconsistencies of such theories are not discerned by those intoxicated. SM408:2
The teachers of Christendom are represented as being confused, confounded, and disposed to vomit forth the various creeds and theories of the Dark Ages which have produced their intoxication. SM107:2
As error spread and the spirit of ambition gradually superseded the spirit of humility, the church, as conditions favored her advancement, organized itself as the Papal hierarchy. R5910:6, 5374:2
She succeeded in convincing, for the time, the whole world of the truthfulness of her false claims. R507:5
The drunken stupor of error which led us to think of the our Creator as a great devil, who from the beginning has plotted for the creation to spend an eternity in torture. SM551:1
The nations are still drunk today. Very few know how to reason on religious matters even yet. OV416:2; R5340:5
But the nations are gradually sobering up. SM407:1
Wine of her fornication – Wine of false doctrine. R5474:5, 5092:1, 4925:2, 3247:2, 3112:6, 3104:2, 3049:3; SM407:1, 409:3
Her incontinency and unfaithfulness to him. R2904:5
Not necessarily that every doctrine presented by Papacy was false and intoxicating; rather, that a stupefying potion was put into the wine already in the cup. SM407:2
The stupefying potion may be some of the doctrines--that God's Kingdom has already been set up, that the papal throne is the throne of Christ, etc. SM407:2
The belief that the promised Millennial reign of Christ had come, and that Christ the King was represented by her popes, who reigned over the kings of the earth as his vicegerents. A268
It is claimed that the kingdoms of Europe were transferred from Satan to Christ, and became "Christian nations." A270
Thus it comes that the kingdoms of Europe today claim to be Christian kingdoms, and announce that sovereigns reign "by the grace of God," i.e., through appointment of either Papacy or some of the Protestant sects. A268
God never approved of calling these kingdoms by the name of Christ. Deceived by the church nominal, these nations are sailing under false colors, claiming to be what they are not. A269
The church systems of today are thoroughly permeated with all manner of pagan doctrines--immortality of the soul, a trinity of Gods, torment after death, reincarnation, communion of the living with the dead. R5911:6
Not literal alcoholic intoxication, but the intoxication of error, of false doctrine, of human schemes and plans, the spirit of man and of the Adversary in contradistinction to the spirit, the teaching of the Lord. R3104:2, 4287:3, 5474:5
Producing an intoxication along religious lines, hindering people from discerning and comprehending the divine Word, character and plan. R2904:5
The intoxication produced by imbibing the spirit of the world, the wine of Babylon. R1896:2
Churchianity's social revelry, intoxication with the spirit of this world and of false doctrine. R3247:2
It is this false doctrine which will constitute the frog spirit that soon will croak, preparatory to Armageddon. SM239:T
Ecumenicism is a proof of the decline of vital godliness and love of the truth; and an evidence that the spirit of that noble movement, The Great Reformation, is dead. D266
The wine of Churchianity confuses those who use it, beclouds their minds, addles their judgment and brings the people into captivity to false doctrine and false teachers. R2904:5
As prosperity led the way to the intoxication of pride, so the prosperity of Christendom during the past century has led up to great boasting, pride and self-consciousness. R4287:3
The Church are scattered here and there throughout the sects, whose Babylonish, worldly, fleshly spirit troubles them, but whose wine of false doctrine deceives them. R3112:6
The drink mixed by the apostate woman, the Mother of Harlots. OV416:2
The basis of the alliance of Papacy with civil power was the doctrine that the second coming of Christ as the Messiah to rule the world for a thousand years was thus fulfilled. PD79/91
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| 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. |
Carried me away – From AD 96 down to where "the judgment" was to be executed, between 1800 and 1870, during the existence of the sixth head. HG21:2
Into the wilderness – One must get out of Babylon into the separate or wilderness condition before they can get a good view of the harlot or her daughters. R307:3; D27
In contrast, the Bride sojourns in solitude in the wilderness, while this woman "reigns in the wilderness" over peoples, and nations, and kindreds, and tongues. R472:2
A woman – A false woman--an apostate church. R5092:1, 472:6
The papal church. R206:6*
Sit upon – A symbolic statement of her control of the power of Rome. R5092:1
That is, supported by and controlling the world. R45:2; HG64:4
The people of Rome and Italy submitted to the supremacy of the papal church from AD 538 to 1798. Prior to 538 the Roman church never held supremacy, since the Goths, who were Arians, and opposed to Catholicism, occupied the peninsula of Italy. HG65:1
When the civil power in Italy embraced the party of the emperor, who was fighting for the Catholic church, they renounced Arianism, and supported the church of Rome. HG65:2
Some thought to improve on God's plan, and, instead of suffering, to get the church into a position of favor with the world. By a combination with earthly powers they succeeded. A268
Prior to the year 800, Papacy was rising, supported by the Roman "Beast" (people) and by its "horns" (powers). B354
No other church was ever carried by the great Roman empire. HG64:3
The papal church could not have been placed in power, set up on the Beast, before she had an existence, before she was prepared for that step by the completeness of the falling away, or apostasy from Christ. R206:6*
When the civil power refuses any longer to carry the church, Babylon will have fallen. HG90:3
A scarlet coloured beast – The Roman empire, or civil power, while under the dominion of Papacy, although held in abeyance by the church, had a separate existence. The dragon element is maintained in the symbol to the end. HG20:5
The International, or republican, element represents "the body of the beast," or "the peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues," on which the woman sat. HG20:5
In contrast, the Bride belongs to the Lamb, who loves her as a Bridegroom. R472:1
The dragon of Rev. 12. R306:6, 55:4
Of blasphemy – The Bishop of Rome claimed to represent our Lord Jesus to the church and to the world. R5911:1
Seven heads – Governments. HG64:3
First, Consular, starting with Anthony in BC 30; Second, Imperial, from August Caesar in BC 27; Third, Gothic, from the Gothic occupation of Rome in AD 476; Fourth, Papacy, from 538 to 1798--1260 years; Fifth, the Republic in 1798; Sixth, Restored Papacy as the "Image" of the Beast from 1800; Seventh, Victor Emanuel, from September 1870. HG20:3
The fifth head is Papacy. R306:6, 55:4
Ten horns – Divisions. HG64:3
Divided into ten parts. HG22:5
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| 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: |
And the woman – The mother system of Babylon; the ecclesiastical systems. SM407:1, 408:3
Compare Jer. 51:7-9. C156; R1371:6, 436:5
Compare Jer. 51:1, 6, 8, 9, 45. D43
Arrayed in purple – In contrast, the Bride is clothed with fine linen--righteousness. R472:1
Scarlet colour – Protestants, willing to conciliate Rome in almost every way, retract the statements of the past, that the church of Rome is the scarlet woman, or the Antichrist. They even apologize for their name Protestant and are ashamed of it. R1775:3, 1488:2
Decked with gold – The policy of the church of Rome is thoroughly selfish. She squeezes large sums from the rich, but craftily remembers that pennies from the poorest amount in the aggregate to more than the larger sums from the fewer wealthy. R1765:2
Having a golden cup – The golden cup represents the Bible, the divine standard, or authority. It was misused when the wine of false doctrine was put into it--when the Bible was claimed as authority for various erroneous teachings. SM407:1; R472:6
The cup suggests that the unfaithful church had once been the receptacle of divine truth--"Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord's hands." (Jer. 51:7) R5092:1, 5910:6
In the type, the golden vessels of the Temple were carried away and profaned by literal Babylon. In the antitype, the precious, divine (golden) truths, pertaining to the service of the true Temple, the Church, were far removed from their proper places, perverted and misapplied by mystic Babylon. B208; CR165:3
She mingled in her "cup" a stupefying potion that has intoxicated the world; even the Lord's saints were bewildered. R5478:1
We are gradually emerging from its intoxicating effects. The hobgoblins that we saw when we were under its influence are disappearing, and sanity is returning to us. R5099:5
Compare Jer. 51:7. R436:5
Full of abominations – A cup of false doctrines, misrepresentations and misunderstandings of the divine teaching. Q664:T; R5633:2, 5099:5, 4287:3; SM107:1
The poisonous draught was mixed which was poured into the "golden cup" of truth, and held out to the world by the apostate "woman," the professed church of God. R5910:6
And filthiness – Greek, kai; full of abomination "for" the filthiness of their fornication. R472:6
Her fornication – Without a blush for their shame, and, in fact ignorance of the fact that it condemns them. R472:6
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| 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. |
Upon her forehead – Prominently marked. D23
MYSTERY – The Apocalypse is a book of mysteries; things are represented by signs; realities are veiled. It would have been inconsistent with this style to have written Rome on the harlot's brow. R472:5
The symbol seen by John was suggestive of something widely different from itself; so the name with which the symbol was stamped was also widely different, though mysteriously similar. R472:5
BABYLON THE GREAT – Babylon is the religious element of the fourth empire--Papal Rome. HG90:2
Her influence as a sacerdotal empire, full of inconsistency and confusion, is symbolically represented under the name Babylon. D26
The great confusion. R718:2
The name is applied not only to the typical woman, Papacy, and her mystical daughters, the Protestant denominations, but also to the great city, Mystic Babylon--the governmental features--the religious authority to govern and control the kingdoms of the earth. SM408:4, 121:2; R510:1; Q720:4
In its widest sense, as symbolized by the Babylonian empire, representing Christendom. In its more restricted sense, as symbolized by the ancient city of Babylon, picturing the nominal Christian church. D26
Since the kingdoms of the civilized world are dominated by the great ecclesiastical systems, they link themselves in with great Babylon, and become part of it. Typically, the name applied not only to the city, but also to the whole empire. D27
Which now proudly calls itself Christendom, Christ's kingdom. R1357:3
The term Babylon seems to signify a concentration of the various errors in apostate church systems, personified in Revelation as mother and daughters. R5478:1
The name Babylon is emblazoned on the brow of every sectarian system the world over. R472:6
A system which should last long, exert a subtle and extensive influence, and be guilty of exceeding iniquity and cruelty. R471:3; SM124:3
The harlot and Babylon are one; as the Bride and the heavenly Jerusalem are one. R472:1
THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS – A harlot, in Bible language, means a church, the bride of Christ, married to the world, or a union of church and state. HG64:3; R143:3
Harlotry, confusion--the mixing of world systems with that which should be true, pure to the Lord alone. NS294:5
The true Church is symbolized by a woman, a virgin; and the false systems by harlots, unfaithful to their espousals, and associating with the world. HG413:2; NS294:5; SM406:3
Suggesting a mother church, and daughter churches which are said to closely resemble the mother, and bear the family name. R5092:1; D35; CR165:5; SM405:1
Thus intimating that the whole brood is illegitimate in every sense of the word. R5478:1
The union of the woman (church) with the beast (empire) constitutes the spiritual harlotry of which she is guilty. R472:6; CR165:5
Though in a great measure the world has withdrawn from the churches, the union still exists, and the Scriptures seem to point out that, in the time of trouble, the nominal churches will be on the side of the kings of the earth, and united to them. B261
A fallen woman, prostituting her virgin purity, both of doctrine and character, to suit the world ideas. In return she received a present dominion. D26
The church lost her virginity and became united to an earthly husband, the Roman Empire. OV271:5
A famous picture in Italy shows the Pope and Emperor side by side. On one side are cardinals, bishops, etc., in order of rank; on the other side generals, soldiers, down to common people. Thus the union of church and state was recognized. PD79/91
Some claim this as a public acknowledgment of the marriage of the professed Virgin of Christ to civil power. PD79/91
Following the example of the mother's unlawful union with the world, the Protestant sects were also termed harlots. R507:5
Protestant churches have left the mother's house to set up on their own account. NS294:5
Some of her daughters have followed very closely in her footsteps, in mixing church and state. Such are "The Church of England" and other state churches. Such would other daughters be also, if they could find empires willing to support them. R472:6
Her daughters, the ecclesiastical systems that are the offspring of the parent system, are likewise represented as being babes, both embryonic and new-born. Q842:5
While they separated from the Mother system and denounced her, nevertheless they held doctrinally to many of her intoxicating errors. SM407:3
It was their lust for power, name and influence, to do a great work, and have many children, that led these daughters of Rome to follow the example of their mother. R319:6
Protestants of every name and order are doing homage to what they are pleased to call the mother church. Union is the watchword today throughout the length and breadth of Christendom. R1488:2
Protestantism, as it exists today, is not the result of the Great Reformation, but of its decline; and it now partakes to a large degree of the disposition and character of the Church of Rome. D28; SM406:1
Papacy was "Babylon the Great," but in the time of "harvest" the Lord calls the entire system Babylon. R323:5
God has measurably confined his prophetic utterances which apply to religious systems to that system which was given the seat of the Beast (Rev. 13:2)--the church of Rome and her daughters. R366:2
Both Romanists and Protestants now freely own the relationship of mother and daughters. D28
In Pittsburgh a Presbyterian minister said, "Wince as you will, you must admit that this [the Catholic church] is the Mother church." R5092:1, 743:6
The daughter recognizes the mother, and the mother the daughter, and the whole world is witness to the family resemblance; but the mother dare not acknowledge the daughter for fear of incriminating herself; for she and all the other daughters are illegitimate. R2046:6
False churches or anti-Christian religious systems are symbolized by wicked women. Q851:2
Papacy, in claiming the title, Holy Mother Church never seems to consider its incompatibility with her profession to be the only true church --a virgin, espoused to Christ. D29; R743:6; SM406:2
From the mother the daughter got the idea of eternal hell--eternal torment, trinity, human immortality; all that is bad, not excepting the putting of the decrees of their sects instead of the Bible. R743:6, 4731:6
In the time of trouble approaching, the churches, professedly virgins of Christ, will be united to the kings of the earth; and the true church, like John the Baptist, will be unpopular and restrained of liberty for opposing and condemning this error. R968:6
We may expect that Protestants, carried away with admiration for the head of Antichrist, may surely come into fuller harmony with the "mother system" than has ever before existed between them. R3228:4
They will not return to her, however, but will unite themselves and more independently follow her deceitful policy. R1764:4
The true Church is a virgin, and the church of Rome poses as the true, virgin church of Christ. Compare Rev. 17:5 with 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:27. R2047:1
In Scriptural symbolism, the word does not mean an immoral person. OV271:5
A title with 18 letters--6+6+6. R323:2
Compare 1 Cor. 6:15, 16. R721:5
AND ABOMINATIONS – She was not only an abomination, but "the abomination that maketh desolate," and when the woman took her seat "on the beast," the abomination was "set up." (Dan. 12:11) HG64:4
The entire abomination system being one, and of the same spirit, is referred to by Jesus, Daniel and Paul as "Babylon the Great," "The Mystery of Iniquity," and the "Abomination of the earth." (2 Thes. 2:7; Dan. 12:11) R711:1
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| 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 marveled with great wonder. |
Drunken with – The great organized false church persecuted the dissenters, who protested against her errors, until she was intoxicated with her success, and deceived all nations, and gained their support. R984:3
Intoxicated with its phenomenal success and continuing to intoxicate and deceive the nations. C104
Not that those who have upheld and are upholding the various sections of Babylon have an evil intention; they are thoroughly "drunk" with their own erroneous theories. CR165:6
Blood of the saints – The early Church was persecuted by civil Rome. When papal Rome got control, all who refused to approve her abominations were persecuted by her (Jezebel) directly, or indirectly by the civil powers to which she was wedded (Ahab). D584
Papacy, as the antitypical Jezebel, accomplished her desires in propagating her system and destroying the prophets of the Lord. R3408:3
Thousands, yes, millions were put to death by Papacy. R307:2
In contrast, the Bride is persecuted, pressed hard by the dragon, driven into the wilderness, and well-nigh overwhelmed. R472:2
This long persecution ended, practically, in 1776, and actually, in 1799, when the pope and his authority were humiliated before the world. D584
In the Notes of the Rhemish [Catholic] translation it reads: "But the blood of Protestants is not called the blood of saints, no more than the blood of thieves or man-killers." B320
Blood of the martyrs – As Israel and Judah went into captivity to literal Babylon, so spiritual Israel would have drastic experiences in a captivity to mystic or symbolic Babylon. CR164:3
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| 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. |
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| 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 – The fourth empire. HG21:3
The beast that ascended out of the bottomless pit and made war on "my two witnesses"--the Old and the New Testament--during the French Revolution was the infancy of the same Commune now to be fully organized. HG22:1
The Commune came to the surface in only one of the ten divisions of the empire at that time, and was soon driven back; while now it is to become a universal scourge. HG22:2
Was – As a civil power, or beast. HG21:3
And is not – For under the Papacy it had become an ecclesiastical organization. HG21:3
Shall ascend – That is, throw off the control of the church. HG76:2
Meaning only a freedom from religious restraint. HG22:2
Out of – Just as the "dragon" or nations now controlled by the Devil are to throw off, or be let loose from the control of Christ at the end of the thousand years. HG76:2
The bottomless pit – When the church element got the power, and the "woman" was seated on the "Beast," that beast was said to be "in the bottomless pit." HG76:2
As the dragon, the civil power of the nations, has been in the "bottomless pit" under the antichrist, so the nations are to be subdued under the real Christ. HG76:4
Shall wonder – At the partial development of this headless monster, when the streets of Paris ran with gore; the blood of her rich, her noble, and her beautiful; men looked on with wonder. How much shall they wonder at the full reality? HG22:6
Not written – Other records speak of blotting out the names of such as prove unfaithful to their consecration. (Rev. 3:5) R2540:2
Book of life – Reads as though it had been intended as a reiteration of Rev. 13:8 with the portion "of the Lamb slain" inadvertently omitted. R2540:4
The book would represent the original divine purpose--God's intention to have a Church. R2540:5
From the foundation – The book covenanting life to an elect number was prepared from the foundation of the world. The names in it have been written as the individuals have made consecration of themselves. R2540:4
God's plans have from the very first recognized the corrupting and degrading tendency of sin, and provided for them. Q781:2, 801:2
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| 9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. |
Seven mountains – Rome was seated on seven hills. Her common name with the classic writers of St. John's age is "the seven-hilled city. The medals and coins of the day represent Rome as a woman sitting on seven hills. R472:4
The "seven-hilled" city, thus fixing the locality of the seat of the woman as being the same as the seat of the dragon. (Rev. 13:2) HG21:3
Symbolizing governments, or heads of the empire. HG21:4
The woman sitteth – The woman is in some way identified with Rome. She must represent a church--the church of Rome. R472:5
If the woman is identified with Rome, why is her name Babylon? The name Babylon, applied by the Spirit to the church of Rome, expresses her character, for Babylon means mixture, confusion. (See Lev. 18:23) R472:6, 45:2
Literally true. She is also said, in symbol, to sit upon many waters (verse 1) and upon the Beast (verse 3) which, in verse 15, is explained to be "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." HG21:4
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| 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. |
Five are fallen – The Consular, Imperial, Gothic, Papal and Republic. HG21:5
One is – The sixth. HG21:3
Restored Papacy, or the "Image of the Beast." HG21:5
The other – The seventh. HG21:3
The present [1896] Italian government is the seventh head of the "beast" which has continued a "short space," represented in the present monarch and his father Victor Immanuel. R2062:6
A short space – Today more that 150 million Catholics wait and long for the overthrow of Victor Emanuel's empire, vainly hoping for the restoration to Rome of papal sovereignty. HG21:5
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| 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 – The nations on which the woman sat compose the body of the beast, and are already taking on a separate existence as the Internations, or peoples of all nations. HG21:6
The eighth – The eighth condition will be the Beast without a head--either a republic or anarchy. If a republic, we shall shortly expect anarchy, "perdition." R2062:6; HG21:6
The republican third of the empire, when fully developed, is to be a headless monster, or the "Beast," after its last "head" is fallen. HG20:5
The state of chaos and reign of terror which deluged France in blood under the Commune and Dupont, Robespierre and their class, is only a faint picture of the fully developed commune, or headless monster. HG22:1
Perdition – Anarchy. R2062:6
The end is reached. HG22:2
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| 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. |
Ten kings – Babylon is represented as being divided into ten different wards, each representing a kingdom of Christendom. SM405:4
Babylon with her ten wards includes practically all of Europe. SM406:1
Which thou sawest – From when he saw the vision, looking back from 1870, hence in the past. HG22:3
Are – Looking to the future from AD 96 when the explanation was given. HG22:3
As yet – In the year 96 AD, the empire had not been divided. HG22:3
One hour – Greek, hora; a little season. Thus rendered in Philemon 15: "He therefore departed for a season." HG22:4
It was but a very short time after the empire was fully divided into its parts, before the "ten kings" did become of one mind. HG22:4
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| 13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. |
Have one mind – That is, they all became Catholic. HG22:4
Give their power – Papacy, for many centuries, had no power, only what was delegated to her by the "ten kings," the divisions of the empire. HG65:3
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| 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. |
These – Ten kings. HG80:1
Shall make war – Christian people feel bound to champion the present falling kingdoms of so-called Christendom. Thus their sympathies are often forced to the side of oppression, rather than to the side of right and freedom. A270
The kingdoms of this world become our Lord's only by conquest. HG80:1
Whatever the nature of this "war," it is certainly opposition by the kings of the earth towards Christ. In no way can such language be construed so as to mean gospel conversion. 80:1
Shall overcome them – Thus the nations will be "bound for a thousand years" under the real Christ, as the dragon has been, in a very limited sense, under the antichrist. HG23:4
Lord of lords – Attesting that the one referred to by the same title in 1 Tim. 4:14-16, "who only hath immortality" is our Lord Jesus. R2747:6
Comparisons which show dignity and honor pertaining to Christ are never understood to be comparisons with Jehovah. (See 1 Cor. 15:27, 28) R2747:6
King of kings – To the Jewish house Jesus presented himself in three characters--as Bridegroom (John 3:29), Reaper (John 4:35) and King (Matt. 21:5, 9, 4). To the Christian house he presents himself in the same three characters. (2 Cor. 11:2; Rev. 14:14, 15) B238
They – The very elect. R4253:2
That are with him – Christ, like Gideon, is called of God to lead a Little Flock of "called and faithful and chosen" ones forth to the conquest of the hosts of sin. R4083:2, 1876:4
And share his glory; and with him judge the world--granting trial to every member of Adam's race to return to full harmony with God. R3587:3, 1669:3, 1170:4
Joint-heirs with Christ, to reign with him over the earth for a thousand years. R1493:5
The new heavens--Christ and his elect Church. OV27:3
These will, with Christ their Lord and Head, be God's agents, missionaries, kings and priests to instruct and uplift humanity during the Millennial age. NS582:6
Those close to him, his "regular army" are few--a Little Flock, all rich in faith. But he has an immense army of "irregulars"--Communists, Infidels, Socialists, Anarchists, Nihilists. R817:3
Their part in the fray is to oppose false doctrines, and to slay with the sword of the truth. R774:6
Are called – Invited to share the Kingdom with their Redeemer. NS627:2
Consequently their aspiration was not an unlawful one, but grateful acceptance of the grandest favor of God. R875:2*, 613:4
While sinners are called to repentance, only justified believers are called of God to the high calling. R4078:2
Those called through the gospel message, through the Bible and tracts and hymns and Christian lives everyway, are many. NS654:5
Although "many are called, few are chosen." (Matt. 22:14) HG83:4
Called and faithful and chosen according to his purpose. (Rom. 8:28) C232
And chosen – Elect--the same word in Greek. R3587:3
Accepted. C210; R1142:1
Through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. R442:6
The call is true; the determination of God to select and exalt a Church is unchangeable; but who will be of this chosen class is conditional. A195
All who receive the call do not appreciate it. Some fail to make their calling and election sure, and therefore of the many called only a few are chosen. R613:4
Only such called ones as accept the call by making a full consecration of themselves belong to this "chosen" class. R4078:3
If our hearts have responded and if, subsequently, we have been begotten of the holy Spirit, we have a mark of being not only called, but chosen. NS654:6
Being faithful to the call insures our position among the chosen. R270:5, 134:6
And faithful – Even unto death. C210
To the conditions of the call. A195; R875:2*
"Called, chosen, faithful." These are our Lord's words and in his own order. NS446:4
Not only "called" but "faithful and chosen." NS371:1
Even of those who hear and come, all are not worthy. A195
It is not sufficient that we have been called of the Lord; it is not sufficient that we have accepted that call and been accepted of the Lord as his chosen ones. It is necessary that beyond this we shall develop character. NS446:4
Only such as are developed and tested, and by the test proved faithful, will ever be owned and recognized as the Bride and joint-heir of the Lamb. C210; R5048:1
Not all who reach this chosen place will prove faithful and win the crown. R4078:3
"Called, chosen, faithful" describes the attitude of those pupils in the school of Christ who graduate with the highest honors. NS372:4
The branches of the true olive tree are the truly and fully consecrated and faithful ones of this Gospel age, whose names are "written in heaven"--the Bride of the Lamb. C187
Let us be very ambitious to increase our capacity that we may thereby increase our service and sacrifice. R672:4
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| 15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. |
And he saith – Compare Jer. 51:13. R1371:6, 436:5; HG520:5
The waters – Water is a symbol of truth, but also symbolizes revenues from outside peoples and kingdoms--the peoples and nations supporting Mystic Babylon by contributions and offerings. SM409:3; R510:1
Thus defining the "great river" of the sixth plague. (Rev. 16:12) R510:1
As the drying up of the literal Euphrates was the immediate cause of the fall of ancient Babylon, so the drying up of the waters of mystic Euphrates is the prelude to the fall of "Mystery, Babylon the Great." ; HG89:3; 520:5; PD51/62; OV720:4
The river represents people and wealth. PD51/62
The whore – See comments on Rev. 17:5. Are -- Are a symbol of. R3568:2
Peoples – In Bible symbolic language, water represents truth, and it also represents peoples. R5846:2
As the agitated waters, in the case of Jonah, find a parallel in the lawless mob, which clamored for Christ's death. R3568:3*
And nations – Not over one people or nation alone; her rule is catholic, or general. SM409:3
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| 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. |
Horns – Kingdoms. R319:2
Hate the whore – Who is so blind so as not to see its present fulfillment. HG22:4
Make her desolate – In 1798 the delusion that none could successfully war or contend with Papacy was shown, when Napoleon in defiance of the curse, took Pope Pius VI a prisoner to Paris where he died. R319:2
They have taken away her dominion and confiscated her property. HG21:1; R319:2
In contrast, the Bride goes in with the Lamb to the marriage supper, amid the glad hallelujahs of heaven. R472:2
Eat her flesh – Since 1800 Papacy has been cast off from temporal authority over kings and peoples, and has been torn and pillaged by those who formerly gave it support. B355
One result of the French Revolution was the confiscation of the immense wealth of the Roman Catholic Church; a lesser revolution in Italy similarly degraded papal power and confiscated much of the Papacy's property; now Spain seems to be headed to do the same. R2307:1
Still she says, "I sit a queen, and am no widow" (Rev. 18:7), loudly boasting of her right to rule the nations, and claims that her former power will soon be regained. D38
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| 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. |
The words of God – The 1260 years. HG22:5
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| 18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. |
That great city – Mystic Babylon. R5628:3
Represented for 1260 years by papal Rome, the city is the fourth empire. HG90:1
That great organization, or rather, union of diverse organizations, which the Scriptures term "Babylon"--the great development of the "Mystery of Iniquity." R634:2*
It embraces all the church-state organizations of the Christian nations. HG90:2
Which reigneth – There was but one great city which, in John's day, reigned over the kings of the earth--Rome. R472:4
Papacy is noted as "The Man of Sin" who seduced many of Jesus' virgin church with the delusion that the kingdoms of this world had become the kingdom of God, and that the time to suffer with Christ was over, and the time to reign begun. R143:3; A268
Her titles show how thoroughly she reigned. She was styled "the royal Rome;" "the mistress of the world;" "the queen of nations." R472:4
How great is Papacy's triumph at the present hour, as she seems to see what she considers the little season of Satan's power drawing to a close, and herself rising again to glory and power. R1002:2
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