Revelation 17:5

And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. UPON HER FOREHEAD ... NAME - as harlots had. What's contrast to "HOLINESS TO THE LORD," inscribed on the mitre on the high priest's forehead. MYSTERY - a spiritual fact heretofore hidden, incapable of discovery by reason, but now revealed. As the union of Christ and the Church is a 'great mystery' (a momentous spiritual truth, once hidden, now revealed, Ephesians 5:31), so the Church, by conformity to the world, becoming a harlot, is a counter "mystery." As iniquity in the harlot is a leaven working in "mystery" - i:e., latently ('the mystery of iniquity') - so, when she is destroyed, the iniquity shall be revealed in the man of iniquity, the open embodiment o...

1-6 Rome clearly appears to be meant in this chapter. Pagan Rome subdued and ruled with military power, not by art and flatteries. She left the nations in general to their ancient usages and worship. But it is well known that by crafty and politic management, with all kinds of deceit of unrighteousness, papal Rome has obtained and kept her rule over kings and nations. Here were allurements of worldly honour and riches, pomp and pride, suited to sensual and worldly minds. Prosperity, pomp, and splendour, feed the pride and lusts of the human heart, but are no security against the 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. Sh...

Verse Revelation 17:5. _AND UPON HER FOREHEAD WAS A NAME WRITTEN, MYSTERY,_ _BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS, AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE_ _EARTH__._] This inscription being written upon her forehead is intended to show that she is not ashamed of her doctrines, but publicly professes and glories in them before the nations: she has indeed _a whore's forehead, she has refused to be ashamed_. The inscription upon her forehead is exactly the portraiture of the Latin Church. This Church is, as Bishop Newton well expresses it, _A MYSTERY of iniquity_. This woman is also called _Babylon the_ _Great_; she is the exact antitype of the ancient Babylon in her idolatry and cruelty, but the ancient city called Babylon is only a drawing of her in miniature. This is indeed _Babylon THE GREAT_. "She affects the style and tit...

AND UPON HER FOREHEAD - In a circlet around her forehead. That is, it was made prominent and public, as if written on the forehead in blazing capitals. In Revelation 13:1 it is said that “the name of blasphemy” was written on the “heads” of the beast. The meaning in both places is substantially the same, that it was prominent, and unmistakable. See the notes on that verse. Compare the note on Revelation 14:1. WAS A NAME WRITTEN - A title, or something that would properly indicate her character. MYSTERY - It is proper to remark that there is nothing in the original as written by John, so far as now known, that corresponded with what is implied in placing this inscription in capital

EXPOSITION REVELATION 17:1 AND THERE CAME ONE OF THE SEVEN ANGELS WHICH HAD THE SEVEN VIALS, AND TALKED WITH ME, SAYING UNTO ME; _and spake with me, saying. _Omit "unto me." This and the following chapters (to Revelation 19:21) consist of visions which are really included under the seventh vial, but which, on account of their length and elaboration, may be considered apart from the other judgments of that vial. In the preceding chapters we have had placed before us a conspectus of three classes of ungodly people, and the three principles of evil in their abstract form, as represented by the world (the first beast), the flesh (the second beast), and the devil (the dragon). The personal final overthrow of the devil is described in...

AND UPON HER FOREHEAD WAS A NAME WRITTEN,.... As the high priest had on his mitre upon his forehead written, holiness to the Lord, Exodus 28:36 only a different inscription from that; the allusion is thought to be to harlots, who not only used to put their names over their doors, but some of them upon their foreheads, that all might know who they were; of which Mr. Daubuz has given proofs out of Seneca, Martial, Juvenal, and Petronius; and such might be said to have an whore's forehead indeed: and this is expressive of the openness and impudence of the church of Rome, in her idolatrous worship; she openly declares it, and pleads for it, and invites and ensnares persons to join with her in it: the name follows, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH; her name is "mystery"; not the mystery of godliness, that she dislikes and opposes,

MYSTERY (_ See Scofield) - (Matthew 13:11). _ BABYLON See note 2, (_ See Scofield) - (Isaiah 13:1). _...

CHAPTER S 17-18 Babylon, the Harlot, and Her judgment _ 1. The description of the woman (Revelation 17:1)_ 2. The angel's interpretation (Revelation 17:7) 3. The desolation of the whore (Revelation 17:16) 4. The angelic announcement (Revelation 18:1) 5. The call to separation (Revelation 18:4) 6. Her pride and destruction (Revelation 18:6) 7. Lamentation and jubilation ...

REVELATION 17:1. HARLOT. WATERS: the description of Babylon in Jeremiah 51:13, thou that dwellest upon many waters, is here transferred to Rome. [Ultimately it goes back probably still further. The many waters refer to the watery chaos, the chaos monster, so that the beast on which the woman sits is really identical with the many waters on which she is said to sit in this verse. A. S. P.] Revelation 17:2. kings. fornication: the imagery is that of OT (_cf._ Isaiah 23:17). The sin of which these kings were guilty consisted in purchasing the favour of Rome by accepting her suzerainty and with it her vices and

THE GREAT HARLOT. The sixteenth chapter presents the series of historical events that lead to the overthrow of spiritual Babylon. Our interpretation of these has been for the most part determined by the facts of history which have already transpired. The sixth vial brings to the present date. Concerning what follows the seventh vial. speak with diffidence, as it is yet future, but of this we can be certain, that it foreshadows the final overthrow of the anti-Christian powers. In Chapter s XVII., XVIII. and XIX., the downfall of these powers, the overthrow of Rome, the triumph of the Word of God, and the victory of Armageddon, are described with greater detail. The limits to which. am confined will only permit me to outline these Chapter s. Chap. 17:1-6 describes spiritual Rome under the figure of. great harlot. The true Church is described throughout Revelation as. pure woman, the Bride...