Albert Barnes Commentary Revelation 17:1

"And there came one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls, and spake with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the judgment of the great harlot that sitteth upon many waters;" — Revelation 17:1 (ASV)

And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials. See Barnes on Revelation 15:1, 7.

Reference is again made to these angels in the same manner in Revelation 21:9, where one of them says that he would show to John the bride, the Lamb's wife. No particular one is specified. The general idea seems to be that to those seven angels was entrusted the execution of the last things, or the winding up of affairs introductory to the reign of God, and that the communications respecting those last events were properly made through them.

It is clearly quite immaterial by which of these it is done. The expression "which had the seven vials" would seem to imply that though they had emptied the vials in the manner stated in the previous chapter, they still retained them in their hands.

And talked with me. He spoke to me. The word talk would imply a more protracted conversation than occurred here.

Come hither. Greek, deuro—“here, hither.” This is a word merely calling attention, as we would say now, “here.” It does not imply that John was to leave the place where he was.

I will show you. Partly by symbols and partly by express statements: for this is the way in which, in fact, he showed him.

The judgment. The condemnation and calamity that will come upon her.

Of the great whore. It is not uncommon in the Scriptures to represent a city under the image of a woman—a pure and holy city under the image of a virgin or chaste female; a corrupt, idolatrous, and wicked city under the image of an abandoned or lewd woman. See Barnes on Isaiah 1:21.

How is the faithful city become an harlot. Compare Barnes on Isaiah 1:8.

In Revelation 16:18 it is expressly said that this woman is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth—that is, as I suppose, Papal Rome; and the design here is to represent it as resembling an abandoned female—a fit representative of an apostate, corrupt, unfaithful church. Compare Barnes on Revelation 9:21.

That sitteth upon many waters. An image drawn either from Babylon, situated on the Euphrates and encompassed by the many artificial rivers which had been made to irrigate the country, or Rome, situated on the Tiber. In Revelation 16:15, these waters are said to represent peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues over which the government symbolized by the woman ruled. See Barnes on Revelation 16:15.

Waters are often used to symbolize nations.