Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 17:15

"And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." — Revelation 17:15 (ASV)

On first reading, this verse seems out of place. However, closer examination shows that v.16 also refers to the prostitute and the horns. Verse 15 teaches that the influence of the idolatrous satanic system of Babylon is universal (cf. vv.1– 2) and embraces all peoples, from the humblest to the kings of the earth. 16–17 On these verses the Roman hypothesis (empire and city) breaks down, for in that view the emperors (the beast and its heads) turn against the city or empire and destroy her. What is being taught by the attack on the prostitute is that in the final judgment the kingdom of Satan will be divided against itself. The references to the prostitute being hated by her former lovers, stripped naked, and burned with fire are reminiscent of the OT prophets’ descriptions of the divine judgment falling on the harlot cities of Jerusalem and Tyre (e.g., Ezekiel 16:39–40; 23:25–27; 28:18). The description of the punishment of convicted prostitutes who are priests’ daughters (cf. Leviticus 21:9) is combined with the picture of judgment against rebellious cities (18:8). In the declaration “God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose,” there is another indication of God’s use of the forces of evil as instruments of his own purposes of judgment (Jeremiah 25:9–14; cf. Lk 20:18). Nothing will distract them from their united effort to destroy the prostitute until God’s purposes given through the prophets are fulfilled (cf. 10:7; 11:18).