Revelation
17:7-18The Unveiling of the Beast
American Journal of Biblical Theology
Copyright © 2008, J.W. Carter Scripture quotes from KJV
Revelation
17:7-18American Journal of Biblical Theology
Then the angel said to me: "Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.
The remaining verses in chapter 17 describe an extended interpretation of the vision of the first six verses, an explanation that is consistent with the method and content of Zechariah 1:8, Revelation 7:9, the dragon of Revelation 12:3, the beast of Revelation 12 and 13, and other metaphoric descriptions of the beast. As we approach this interpretation it may be instructive to be reminded of the context and understanding of the woman and the beast from the scriptures that lead up to this point. These scriptures reveal that the beast represents satan himself, and the woman represents the sin of idolatry that satan uses to draw people to their destruction. The imagery that John uses is an adaptation of the seven-headed chaos monster, a character common to ancient pagan tradition and literature. With this framework of understanding, it is easier to follow the continuing metaphors that John uses.
The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction.
The description of satan that we see here is a parallel to the apocalyptic metaphors used to describe God in Revelation 1:4 as the One “which is, and which was, and which is to come.” Apocalyptic style of literature uses metaphors to describe the attributes of the one described. From this passage John is referring to God by describing His eternal nature. Unlike our eternal, unchanging God, satan is far from eternal. We see that the beast “once was.” Without faith in God, people were attracted to and brought under the power of satan. However, the beast “now is not,” that is, satan has no power to destroy those who have found faith in God. The power of satan was defeated by Christ on the Cross of Calvary. However, we find several references in the Revelation where Satan will be loosed again for a short period before his destruction. In this passage, John refers to that loosing as he “will come up out of the Abyss.” The capitalization of the word, Abyss is added because it refers to the specific place where satan resides during this period of grace, a deep and dark place where he is in hiding, held in that darkness by the light of the Holy Spirit that shines during this age. We also see evidence of the period of defeat in Chapter 13 as the beast is described as carrying a mortal wound.
The influence that satan has during the age of grace is subtle. As the “incarnation of idolatrous power” (Johnson, Alan F. p. 557), he uses the woman of the first six verses of this chapter who represents the sin of idolatry to allure people to his domain, convincing them to reject God’s offer of grace. People are attracted to the self-gratifying nature of idolatry, seeing nothing wrong with it. To them the woman is beautiful, valuable, and something to be greatly desired. However, a moment of astonishment will come when they see the beast for who he really is: the ugly beast whose purpose for all of those who enter his domain is only their destruction.
The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come.
Those whose names have not been written in the book of life refer to those who have rejected God for all ages, from the creation of mankind to the end of the age. Until the beast is revealed for who he really is, the lost world does not see him in the form of the chaos monster. Instead they see him in the form of the woman, dressed in finery and riches. Satan has deceived the world to the point that the lost see the world as a contradictory set of opposites: evil is good; darkness is light. The lost simply do not see the ugly demonic activity that is the foundation of godlessness. However, satan does not share the eternal attributes of God, nor can he stand up to the power of the Holy Spirit. At the end of the age, when the saints are all called to the throne of grace, satan finds himself pitched in a battle he cannot win. Satan will reveal himself for the seven-headed monster that he really is and the world will be astonished. What they always considered to be an angel of light will be shown to all as a defeated demon as he raises up his ugly head for all to see in a last-pitch effort to hold on to his evil influence over creation.
Repeating the metaphor, “once was, now is not, and yet will come,” John states that those in the world who have been deceived will be so no longer. They will now see satan for who he really is. Astonishment is probably too tame a word to describe how those who have rejected God in favor of the attractiveness of idolatry will understand the gravity of their error.
"This calls for a mind with wisdom.
Over the centuries interpreters have struggled with understanding the meaning of this chapter. A predominant historical issue arises in view of the simple fact that during both the pre- and post-reformation periods, western interpreters had no knowledge of the ancient apocalyptic literary genre that was common during the time of John’s writing. Without this understanding, they were left to think that John was referring to literal beasts and objects. As a result, the predominant interpretation methodology was to simply ascribe each property of the beasts and other characters in the drama to actual historical people and events. It was not until a more developed analysis of the many ancient apocalyptic documents have since been discovered, that an alternative method of understanding came to light. When we read apocalyptic literature and its use of metaphor and imagery it is not sufficient to simply look at the objects. It is necessary to apply Godly wisdom in the process of interpretation because John is describing something far deeper than literal beasts. John is describing the nature of the beast, satan, and the theological context of God’s plan for the beast and for His redeemed people.
To approach the revelation without wisdom is to simply come away with a confusing narrative that describes beasts and battles, doom and destruction, similar to what we might read in a fantasy novel. However, wisdom calls upon us to dig deeper into the true meaning of the metaphors as we seek the true message of the Revelation: God’s plan and purpose for mankind.
"The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits.
First, the angel reveals to John a greater understanding of what is meant by the seven heads of the beast. We were introduced to these seven heads in Daniel 7, Revelation 12, and Revelation 13. The angel’s description is consistent with Daniel’s interpretation of the seven heads. Remembering that the beast is the incarnation of Satan himself, we might ask ourselves, “how is satan so successful in leading people away from God.” As an incarnation, he is here, and he has influence. The first metaphor that is used is that of seven hills. The word that is translated “hills” is commonly used in the New Testament, and in all other applications of the word, it is translated “mountains.” The early translations that used the word, “hills” may have been influenced by those who hold that this is a reference to the hills upon which Rome is built since a common metaphor for Rome was the “City built on seven hills,” a term used by Roman soldiers (Caird). If we go back to the mountain motif, we come away with a better understanding of the meaning.
The woman sits on the seven mountains. This is her home, the place from which she exercises her idolatrous power. To the ancients, mountains were holy places, those that were closer to the gods who they thought resided in the heavens above. Seven refers to completeness of application. When we put these thoughts together we find that satan exercises his power through the entire set of pagan world religions, not a surprising idea when we recognize that all pagan religion, or any religion that rejects God, is idolatrous. Placing others before God is the very definition of idolatry. The seven mountains are one of the primary ways that Satan is incarnated on this earth.
They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while.
Attempts for literal interpretation tend to fall apart at this point when the seven heads are assigned to a second entity. Traditional interpretation attributes the seven mountains to the seven hills of Rome, and the seven kings to seven of the Caesars. Given the descriptions of the kings, it is a simple effort to select the five Caesars who have fallen, the one who is currently in power, and one who is yet to come. However, such a subjective assignment does not fit either the context of the Revelation, nor the call for wisdom that precedes the passage. Furthermore, Revelation 18:9 describes those kings mourning over the fall of the beast, also contradicting any effort to assign these kings to individual world leaders. Also, the heads are part of the Beast, not part of the Woman (Babylon) whom historicists attempt to identify as Rome.
We find these inconsistencies resolved when we keep our interpretation within the context of scripture. Daniel and Ezekiel, as well as John each use the metaphor of the seven-headed beast in representing the incarnation of satan, and each uses the metaphors of both the heads and horns. Furthermore, they each attribute the meaning of the heads and horns to worldly influences. Just as satan is incarnated in the idolatry of world religions, he is also incarnated in the domain of godless kings. Again, the number seven is used, so our search is not for seven individual world governments …our search includes virtually all world governments. Idolatry characterizes the governments in the same way that idolatry characterizes world religions, making very little distinction between the two. Hence, the heads are the seven mountains, and the seven kings. These are the predominant worldly influences that touch the lives of every person on earth, and they are all immersed in the godlessness of satan’s idolatry.
Is there any wonder that first-century Christians are struggling with their new-found faith when every other influence around them is contrary to it? Christians today are still aware of the godlessness of this world system of religions and governments and the influence it has to draw people away from the One true God.
The nature of the seven kings, or heads, is also described in a five – one – one sequence. We may recall that John is describing a seven-headed beast that is very much parallel to the chaos monster of ancient literature. One of the very significant characteristics of the ancient chaos monster is the state of its heads. The ancient image of the chaos monster is one where several of the heads are dead, having been mortally wounded by divine intervention, yet one or more heads remain as the battle to defeat it continues. John is describing a scenario where satan may still be in power, demonstrating it through the world religions and world governments, but he was mortally wounded. Wisdom tells us that satan was mortally wounded by God’s act of grace that took place when Jesus died on the cross.
Most ancient graphic and literary images of the chaos monster illustrate it with four dead heads, with three remaining to be defeated. John modifies this image a little bit to describe what has transpired, and what remains for satan. The age of grace will come to an end. John describes the defeat of satan at the cross as the five dead heads, and leaves two heads alive: the sixth is, and the seventh is yet to come. We might focus on these two heads, which are the current and future world religions and governments through which satan is incarnated. As much as we might wish for satan to be completely defeated today, God has a plan of grace for mankind that is not fully completed. God is providing an opportunity for us to come to Him in faith. As long as God tarries, our children, and our children’s children will continue to be given that opportunity. Consequently, there is still the sixth head of the present, and the seventh head of the future with which satan exercises his evil. For John, the future is a “little while,” a difficult period to quantify in the timeframe of God’s ultimate purpose. Jesus warns us not to attempt to count the days until the end of the age, for though the signs are evident everywhere, nobody has been or ever will be given the day and hour of His return.
Though satan is mortally wounded, his influence still remains. However, it will not remain forever. We are called upon to be faithful, and to be patient.
The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
One may observe the temptation to apply the kingdom succession hypothesis to this passage. Where historicists have attempted to tie this to Rome, some have selected a later Caesar, or even the Vatican itself. There is little doubt that the institution of the Vatican fits well into the historicist viewpoint since the influence of the seven hills of Rome, the ancient metaphor for the Roman city, fell to the greater influence of the Vatican as it wielded both political and religious power for centuries.
Some who hold to a futurist viewpoint and who insist on a worldly kingdom are drawn to assign this eighth king to the Antichrist. This is consistent with the understanding of the influence of a future Antichrist who unites the world against God. However, this passage does not identify this king with another entity, whether it be a worldly king or a future dictator. The passage states clearly that the 8th king is none other than the beast himself. The intimate relationship of the beast to the seven hills, or seven heads, is indicated. The word for “belong” refers to a familial relationship. That is, the world religions and world governments are in a blood-kinship to the beast. Though the religions and governments are the apparent power, the real power behind them is satan. The real power behind governments and religions is the sin of idolatry … putting others before God. The entire world is governed under this 8th king. The entire world is governed by idolatry.
Left at this point, the future seems hopeless. How can the church endure in a world that will always be immersed in sin? The encouraging news is that the beast is going to his destruction. There is coming a time when God will end the age and bring satan to a final account, an account that will bring about a final and complete termination of his influence. The ability of satan to steal, kill, and destroy will be ended when God judges him for his acts and forever removes him from His Holy presence.
"The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.
Drawing again from Daniel’s prophesy, John continues to describe the nature of the beast, the nature of satan and his influence on earth. The seven heads fit nicely into the image of the ancient chaos monster, and spoke mostly to the past, present, and future state of religious and government influence that is under satan’s control. The heads represent the religious and governmental authority itself. For a beast to have influence it must have some tools with which to exercise it. A lion is powerless without teeth and claws. An eagle is harmless if its beak and claws are covered. The power of a bull to destroy is demonstrated in its horns, and this seven-headed monster (both in Daniel and the Revelation) has horns.
The horns are numbered as ten, which in John’s numerology refers to a qualitative rather than a quantitative identification. Those who disagree tend to try to assign the ten to rulers of Roman provinces. Others identify the kings as a future 10-nation world power that will form a new Roman Empire.
The power of the world religions and the world governments is exercised through the acts of its leaders, like the power of the bull is exercised through its horns. One could argue that, every time we observe the violent and ungodly act of a dictator, whether one like James Warren (Jim) Jones of the People’s Temple, Marshall Applewhite of Heaven’s Gate, Adolf Hitler of the Third Reich, Joseph Stalin, Idi Amin, Pol Pot, or others, we are observing one of the ten horns.
They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."
What is God’s purpose for the church? One can effectively determine that purpose that God has for the community of those who have placed their faith in Him. However, the mountains upon which the woman sits are not those communities of faith, but rather the vast community of those who practice pagan, cult, and world religions that deny the Lordship of Christ. What is their purpose, and to whom do they give authority if not Christ? A few will deny Christ but claim to worship the same God that Christian’s worship. However, to deny Christ is to deny God’s very plan for the salvation of mankind, leaving them lost and searching for some other form of righteousness. Consequently, their purpose and their power does not come from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Their power comes from the beast who uses the mountain of world religions to keep people away from God and under his occult influence.
Likewise, because they are under the influence and authority of the beast, and because of their denial of who Jesus truly is, they oppose the faith. Many persecute those of the faith, and some to the point of open battle. This is an important message for the first-century church that sees the evidence of religion all around them. Most of the people whom they encounter outside the church fellowship are very religious. How does one understand the conflict that they experience when those religions claim to be true as do the apostles who encourage them in the faith? How can they resolve the persecution they receive? John encourages them as he teaches that these pagan and faithless religions are not part of God’s church. God does not accept every person’s practices simply because they label it as a religion. God accepts people based on their faith and trust in Him, a trust that is demonstrated in obedience to Him and to His Son.
This message is equally true today, as this world of billions of people is caught up in hundreds of different religious beliefs. More Christians have been martyred for the faith in the last 100 years than were martyred in the previous 1900. Faced with a world and a culture that is anti-Christian, it is encouraging to know that the Lamb will overcome simply because He is the one True Lord. Furthermore, as He overcomes he brings with him all of those who were faithful to God during this time of persecution and tribulation.
Some understand John’s words as the prophesy of a future great battle with the world and its peoples confronting Christ and his followers. Even before the description of this war which is to take place on the Mountain of Megiddo, we see that Christ will be the victor, and his victory will be witnessed by his called, chosen and faithful followers. Yet we can see that this battle has been waged since man first sinned, and the resolution of this conflict will not be found in the deployment of the armaments of men, but rather through the unilateral dispensation of God’s judgment. Certainly, the armaments of men have been and will continue to be deployed against God’s chosen and faithful, but this is not the nature of Armageddon.
Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.
The angel then continues to explain to John, as he had promised, the meaning behind the metaphors in this vision. The waters are mentioned in the first verse of the chapter as the location where the woman sits. We have just been told that the woman sits on the mountains. The woman represents the tremendous scope of the sin of idolatry and how it is empowered throughout the age by satan, himself. Since the woman sits on the mountains, her foundation is the mountains, it is from here that she broadcasts her message, and we have seen that the mountain includes the religions and governments of this world. Not only does she sit on these mountains, she also sits on the many waters of Revelation 17:1. Those waters are the many peoples of the world.
Religions and governments only speak from the culture and desires of its people. It is only through the hearts of people that satan is able to impact this physical world, and it is through those people that sin is fully expressed. Consequently, a godless people are going to create godless government and godless religion. The scourge of sin is common to all people of all nations and languages. It is through all people, all nations, and all languages that the woman broadcasts her message of sin. Idolatry is practiced by all who reject God’s offer of grace.
The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
John describes the woman who sits on the mountains as beautiful to those who behold her. The sea of peoples who reject God see their world apart from faith in God as being attractive and desirable. Idolatry offers all of the gratification of the flesh. To those who live in sin, satan does not appear as the ugly beast that he really is. In reality, satan hates mankind just as much as he hates God, and he is able to maintain his dominance only because his hatred is not openly exposed: it is part of that mystery that defines Babylon, the woman. The mystery is completely revealed, but most still do not see it. However, John describes a change that will take place at the end of the age, a time when satan will be exposed for who he is. As his hatred and sin are exposed, sin will turn on sin. It will not be necessary for the faithful to be engaged in the exposition of this world’s sin any longer.
For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God's words are fulfilled.
Some have argued against the sovereignty of God, claiming that God would not will satan’s dominion of sin or allow its ravaging of the people whom God loves. They see satan and God as bipolar agencies, locked in a battle for the soul. However, those who understand God’s sovereignty also understand that, as we saw in the narrative of the experience of Job, even the dominion of satan falls under God’s sovereignty. Satan’s ability is entirely limited by God’s purpose and God’s grace. Satan is loosed only as God allows. Satan serves God’s purpose by giving people a choice of faith. God has given people the free choice to reject him and follow the path of sin. God has given to people the ability and choice to allow satan to rule in their hearts. This free choice is an important part of God’s purpose. Without free choice there would be no need for faith. Without free choice there would be no call to serve God. Without free choice there would be no need for people to join with God in His purpose to spread the good news of the gospel to the world. Without free choice there would be no gospel, no good news that there is a way for people to rise above the sin of this world and be saved from sharing in satan’s ultimate defeat.
The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth."
We will soon see a contrast between two great cities, the first of which is introduced here. The woman, the mother of all idolatry, the source of all sin, governs over all of the issues of godless people. She is so much a part of the community of the lost, she is that community, sharing in their sin and idolatry. She is that great city of the lost, the entire influence over all of the kings of the earth. In stark contrast, we will soon be introduced to the new city, the New Jerusalem, a metaphor for the community of the saints. It is these of the New Jerusalem who have “washed their robes” in the blood of the Lamb.
John paints a picture of stark contrast between these two cities, these two communities of people. He writes a message of encouragement for those who maintain their faith in confidence as they are faced with immersion in this dark and sinful world. John seeks to explain to Christians, through all generations, that God does love those who are faithful to Him, and God has a plan for their redemption and their vindication as His plan also includes an ultimate judgment for sin. God clearly recognizes the existence of the two great cities, the Revelation cities of Babylon and Jerusalem. John also communicates to us that this world is indeed saturated with the sickness of sin, idolatry that permeates its governments and their leaders, as well as its religions and their leaders. Sin saturates the heart of all of those people throughout the world who have rejected God’s offer of grace. As long as this situation continues, there will be great conflict between the two cities, a conflict that necessitates an effort upon the faithful to maintain that faith and minister with the Holy Spirit to save as many souls from the consequence of their lost state as possible. God promises to continue to bless those who remain faithful to the end, an end that will bring a ultimate, final and proper termination to this conflict when satan and his minions are fully and completely removed from the community of the faithful. The reward for faithfulness is more than worth the effort. This is a message of encouragement, not only for the persecuted church of the first-century, but also for the persecuted church that still thrives today.