The Revelation- Re.17:1 “The Great City”

“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” (v.1)

The Ch.15 began with ‘Another Sign in Heaven, Great and Marvelous’ in which the seven angels made their appearance. We already pointed the curious feature these last plagues signified was the term ‘temple’ in place of the throne of God in preceding chapters. “And, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.”(15:5) The wrath of God that these angels mete out to the ungodly nation must begin with the temple of God. It is in this sense St Peter writes, “For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?:(1 Pe.4:17-NIV). Jeremiah also writes of it. “See, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears my Name, and will you indeed go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword on all who live on the earth, declares the LORD Almighty.’”(Je.25:29-NIV).

By Law of Gradation judgment of Israel would go on beyond what Assyria, Babylon or Rome inflicted on the great city. They stand cheek by jowl with other cities. (11:8)

Here we are looking at what was introduced in the previous chapter. “And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.” (16:19)

Before we get down to the text we have an unfinished task of explaining the significance in vv.20-21

“And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found,” in 16:20 refers to the inauguration of new heaven and new earth which we shall come across in Ch.21 and v.21, “And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.” The judgment of Babylon an euphemism for the heathen, the Gentiles and the Jews alike who deny the truth and their obligation to follow the word of God. This we shall take up in Ch.18.