Matthew Henry Commentary Revelation 17
Matthew Henry Commentary
Revelation 17
Matthew Henry Commentary
Revelation 17
"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; with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and they that dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her fornication. And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness: and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations, even the unclean things of her fornication, and upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 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 wondered with a great wonder." — Revelation 17:1-6 (ASV)
Rome clearly appears to be meant in this chapter. Pagan Rome subdued and ruled with military power, not by artifice and flatteries. She generally left the nations to their ancient customs and worship. But it is well known that by crafty and politic management, with all kinds of unrighteous deceit, papal Rome has obtained and kept her rule over kings and nations. Here were allurements of worldly honor and riches, pomp and pride, suited to sensual and worldly minds.
Prosperity, pomp, and splendor feed the pride and lusts of the human heart but are no security against Divine vengeance. The golden cup represents the allurements and delusions by which this mystical Babylon has obtained and kept her influence, and seduced others to join her abominations. She is named, from her infamous practices, a mother of harlots, training them up to idolatry and all sorts of wickedness.
She filled herself with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus. She intoxicated herself with it; it was so pleasant to her that she was never satisfied. We cannot help but wonder at the oceans of Christian blood shed by men called Christians; yet, when we consider these prophecies, these awful deeds testify to the truth of the gospel. And let all beware of a splendid, gainful, or fashionable religion.
Let us avoid the mysteries of iniquity and diligently study the great mystery of godliness, so that we may learn humility and gratitude from the example of Christ. The more we seek to resemble him, the less we will be liable to be deceived by Antichrist.
"And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and the ten horns. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss, and to go into perdition. And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, [they] whose name hath not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast, how that he was, and is not, and shall come. Here is the mind that hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth: and they are seven kings; the five are fallen, the one is, the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a little while. And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goeth into perdition. And the ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour. These have one mind, and they give their power and authority unto the beast. These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they [also shall overcome] that are with him, called and chosen and faithful." — Revelation 17:7-14 (ASV)
The beast on which the woman sat was, and is not, and yet is. It was a seat of idolatry and persecution, and is not; not in the ancient form, which was pagan. Yet it is; it is truly the seat of idolatry and tyranny, though of another sort and form. It would deceive into stupid and blind submission all the inhabitants of the earth within its influence, except the remnant of the elect.
This beast had seven heads: seven mountains (the seven hills on which Rome stands); and seven kings (seven sorts of government). Five had passed by when this prophecy was written; one was then in existence; the other had not yet come. This beast, directed by the papacy, becomes an eighth governor and sets up idolatry again.
It had ten horns, which are said to be ten kings who did not yet have kingdoms; they would not rise up until the Roman empire was broken, but would for a time be very zealous in her interest.
Christ must reign till all enemies be put under his feet. The reason for the victory is that he is the King of kings, and Lord of lords. He has supreme dominion and power over all things; all the powers of earth and hell are subject to his control.
His followers are called to this warfare, are fitted for it, and will be faithful in it.
"And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire. For God did put in their hearts to do his mind, and to come to one mind, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished. And the woman whom thou sawest is the great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth." — Revelation 17:15-18 (ASV)
God so ruled the hearts of these kings, by his power over them, and by his providence, that they did those things, without intending it, which he purposed and foretold. They shall see their folly, and how they have been bewitched and enslaved by the harlot, and be made instruments in her destruction.
She was that great city which reigned over the kings of the earth, when John had this vision; and everyone knows Rome to be that city.
Believers will be received to the glory of the Lord, when wicked men will be destroyed in a most awful manner; their joining together in sin will be turned to hatred and rage, and they will eagerly assist in tormenting each other.
But the Lord's portion is his people; his counsel shall stand, and he will do all his pleasure, to his glory, and the happiness of all his servants.
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