Illustrations

Commentary

And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

Playing the whore in symbolic language always refers to religious fornication and idolatry (Rev. 17:1-4; Isa. 23:17; 57:3-7; Jer. 3:2-9; Ezek. 16:1-63; 20:30-32; 23:7-49; Hos. 4:12-19; Nah. 3:4; (literal fornication must also be understood in some of these)..

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With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

Her causing the many nations to commit fornication with her proves that idolatrous religious practices are being referred to, as in other passages.
She is not a political power for she is not classed as one with "the kings of the earth." She only causes the kings and inhabitants of the earth to be drunk with the wine of her fornication (Rev. 17:2,4). Since fornication here refers to religious harlotry then her influence over the nations is through religion!

So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit 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 color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

The purple, scarlet, precious stones, pearls, and golden vessels indicate the great wealth of this (Religious) system (Ezek. 23:40-41).
The golden cup in her hand, full of her uncleanness, spiritual fornication and abominations by which she dupes political powers, proves her to be a religious power (Ezek. 23:29-31).

And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

This could be probably an apostate organized 'Christian' religion immerging with probably the Islam religion! Their belief is to beheaded 'unbelievers' or 'infidels' which is described in Revelation

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Her name, "MYSTERY BABYLON," indicates that she is not literal Babylon. The word "mystery" identifies her with the religious rites and mysteries of ancient Babylon. The two Babylon's" the ancient Babylonian cult, started by Nimrod and his queen, Semiramis, spread among all nations. The objects of worship were the "Supreme Father", "the Incarnate Female, or Queen of Heaven", and her "Son". This cult claimed the highest wisdom and the most 'divine' secrets. Besides confession to priests there were many mysterious rites. Julius Caesar became head of the Roman branch of the Babylonian Cult in 63 B.C. Other emperors held the office until 376 A.D. when the emperor Gratian, for 'Christian' reasons, refused it because he saw that Babylonianism was idolatrous. Demasus, bishop of the Christian church at Rome, was elected to the headship in 378 A.D. and from here on Babylonianism and organized Christianity became "one"! The rites of Babylon were soon introduced into the Christian church. Heathen temples were restored, beautified, and their rituals encouraged. worship and veneration of images, saints, relics, private confessions, penances, scourgings, pilgrimages, sign of the cross, Christmas, Lady Day, Easter, Lent, and other pagan rites and festivals, little by little, became a part of "Christian" (apostate) worship!

The name, "MOTHER OF HARLOTS," identifies the whore as a religious system  The harlots refer to many branches which have sprung from her and have become as apostate as the great whore herself. She is a symbol of apostate religions being linked together after the rapture of the church (of the righteous saints) to dominate the 10 kings of the Revised Roman Empire until Antichrist comes to full power over the 10 kingdoms by the middle of Daniel's 70th week (Rev. 17:1,3,9-17).

The name, "MOTHER OF ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH," identifies her to be a 'religious system' fostering and tolerating all the abominations that go with idolatry and spiritual fornication. The word abominations is used many times of idolatry and whoredoms associated with pagan worship (Dt. 18:9-12; 29:17-18; 32:16-17; 1Ki. 14:24; 2Ki. 16:3-4; 21:2-11; Ezek. 16:22-58; etc.). The great whore of the future tribulation will be the mother of abominations in God's sight because she will exceed all others in wickedness.

We must recognize in the symbol two things: a great organized religious system and a great city where she has headquarters. The great whore will hold power over her loyal subjects, not through superior military forces, but by the deceptions of her spiritual harlotry and abominations!

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 great admiration.

Her drunkenness -- being drunken with blood of the martyrs of Yeshua/Jesus -- proves beyond doubt that she is a religious institution. Only religion has killed the martyrs of Yeshua/Jesus in all ages. Governments have carried out the dictates of leaders in religion, doing the actual killing of saints because of religion. Although this prophecy speaks of the future drunkenness of mystical Babylon after the rapture of the church (the righteous saints), who among us does not know of the martyrdom of 200 million people in the past because they would not conform to organized religion?

And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

The beast carries her, so she must be something separate from the beast itself. One is political; the other religious.

The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the Book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Media This means, if you own it, you control the distribution of information (Basically the Television-media) Breaking news stories.
Money That who is get or not get money; Who get or is not get loans. (Bailed out...)
Transportation You control the type of vehicles people can use. (Taking over the auto industry etc...)(Transport for the food-supplies)
Medical This means, the control who lives and dies! Government Healthcare. They going to force people to take it
Education This means, you can control the textbook what the student hear and they belief and be toughed! You need to go to the Government (not to the bank) for  your college-education.
Communication This will be Newspapers, magazines & Internet than you can control what people will hear and learn. Include 'hate-crime-legislation' for saying certain things. To control the internet. They can lock off who they want or hack you off, whatever they want to do in a legally sense!
Food-supply You can live without oil, but you cannot live without food. Whoever controls the Food supply (including transportation) - can literally control the entire world!

And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

Revelation 17 describes the downfall of Babylon (14:8; 16:19) in greater detail. Babylon probably refers to the religious, political, and commercial aspects (controls over...) of the Antichrist’s empire. Revelation 17 focuses on the “prostitute,” the false religious system controlled by the beast of 13:1. Whoever controls these seven mountains in a nation will determine whether that nation will be.

Constantinople in Turkey; former Capitol of the divided Roman Empire, was build on 7 mountains. What is Istanbul today! Rome in Italy had 7 hills around it. Many people apply that these had reference to it! But if you look at the "7 mountains" that the woman sits on there are actually 7 mountains that control the Nations. Mountains of influence on culture!
The former are what the latter are not, “mountains,” great seats of the world-power. Rome was indeed a preview of that final thrust of evil and hatred of all who love G-D. It is important to realize that, even as the power of evil gains control of the whole world, ... God is still in charge! 

7 Mountains of influence on Culture
Arts & Entertainment
Business (money)
Education
Family (Medical -Health-care)(Family structures)
Government (Under Government control: Food-supply; Transportation: Health-care
Media (including Communication)
Religion (great organized religious system in the Tribulation period)
See for more at: 7 Mountains of influence on Culture

And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

The beast which the woman rides is the 8th kingdom, made up of the many waters or peoples inside the old Roman Empire territory (Rev. 17:1,3,11,15). Since the beast itself is the kingdom, the woman must be religion dominating the kingdom until she is destroyed by it (Rev. 17:12-17).

And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

The waters here refers here to the nations.

And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

 A great organized religious, apostate; prejudice 'system'!  

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Dictionary

Commentary

Symbolic language e always refers to religious fornication and idolatry. The attire of the great whore identifies her as a religious system or as a whore committing spiritual fornication, duping political powers by her whoredoms and idolatries!