Who is the “great whore” that sits on many waters in this passage?

The “great whore” is a picture of a corrupt, unfaithful power that once claimed to belong to God but has turned away from him. She is not a single woman, but a symbol. The passage itself calls her a woman and links her with a name on her forehead: Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth. She is called a harlot because she has joined herself to earthly rulers instead of being faithful to God, drawing kings and nations into spiritual adultery and idolatry.

What does it mean that the kings of the earth commit fornication with this woman?

The language of fornication here is spiritual, not physical. It shows how rulers and governments join themselves to a false religious system instead of worshiping God in truth. By making alliances with this corrupt power, they share in her idol worship and sins. The picture is that they let her lead them away from God by her wealth, ceremony, and promises of power. Their relationship with her is called adultery because it breaks the kind of faithfulness God deserves from all people and nations.

What are the “many waters” that the woman sits upon?

Later in this vision the angel explains that the many waters stand for peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. So the woman sitting on many waters shows that this corrupt religious power rules over and influences large groups of people across different lands. She is not limited to one small place but reaches far and wide. The passage itself focuses on her spiritual influence and the way she affects kings and inhabitants of the earth.

Why is the woman riding a scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns?

The scarlet beast points to worldly empire and power. It is full of names of blasphemy, showing open opposition to God. The seven heads and ten horns are later explained in the chapter, where the angel unfolds more of the meaning of this picture. The woman riding the beast shows a close link between this religious power and political power. She is carried and upheld by the beast, sharing in its strength and honour, while both are set against God.

Why is the woman dressed in purple and scarlet and covered with gold and jewels?

Her rich clothing and jewels show how outwardly impressive and wealthy this spiritual power is. Purple and scarlet are colours linked with royalty and high rank. Gold, precious stones, and pearls point to great riches. On the surface she looks honourable and attractive, which explains why kings and nations are drawn to her. But this fancy appearance hides deep sin. Inside, her golden cup is full of abominations and filthiness. The contrast warns that religious show and splendour can cover over serious corruption and idolatry.

What is the meaning of the golden cup full of abominations in her hand?

The golden cup looks precious from the outside, but it is filled with filthy and hateful things. This picture shows how a false religious body can offer worship, ceremonies, and promises that look holy and beautiful but are actually full of idolatry and sin. People drink from this cup when they accept her teachings and practices. The language of abominations fits how God views idol worship and false religion. The cup in her hand shows that she actively offers these things to the world, inviting others to share in her sins.

What does the name “Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots” mean?

The word “Mystery” shows that the name is symbolic. This is not simply the old city of Babylon on a map but a great power that acts like Babylon did, especially in its pride, idolatry, and cruelty. She is called “the mother of harlots” because she not only commits spiritual adultery herself but also produces and supports other false religions and corrupt practices. She spreads idolatry and unclean living, so that many other groups follow her pattern of turning from God.

How does this picture of Babylon the great apply to churches and believers today?

This passage warns that a religious body can look rich, powerful, and impressive yet be deeply unfaithful to God. It speaks of a large, organized power joined to political authority, but it also carries a wider lesson. Any church or group that loves wealth, honour, and influence more than faithfulness to Christ is walking the same path. For believers, this calls for watchfulness. We should test teachings by Scripture, avoid idolizing leaders or rituals, and resist being drawn into a faith that pleases the world but cheats God of our whole-hearted loyalty.

Why is this woman later judged so severely by God?

Although these verses focus on her appearance, the wider vision shows why judgment comes. She leads kings and nations into idolatry, spreads false worship, and is later described as drunk with the blood of saints and martyrs. She uses her power to persecute those who stay true to Jesus. God’s judgment shows that he does not ignore spiritual adultery or the suffering of his people. In time he brings down proud systems that misuse his name, comforts those who have been oppressed, and shows that no religious power is above his rule.

Why can this passage be difficult to understand and have more than one reading?

The language here is highly symbolic, full of pictures like beasts, heads, horns, and a woman with a mysterious name. Faithful readers agree that it speaks of a corrupt religious power tied to a great city and to empire, but some details are understood differently. Some see a closer link to past or present world powers, while others apply it more broadly to any system that mixes false religion with political power. Because of this, it helps to read the whole chapter, notice what the angel explains, and keep the main message in view: God will judge spiritual corruption.

Rev.17.1

Revelation 17:1

KJV GOD

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 Woman on the Beast

The Doom of Babylon

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:

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.

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.

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 upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.