COMMENTARY ON REVELATION 17:3
REVELATION 17:3
And he took me away in spirit into the desert. And I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. (Rev. 17:3, DRCB)
At ako’y kaniyang dinalang nasa Espiritu sa isang ilang: at nakita ko ang isang babae na nakasakay sa isang hayop na pula, na puno ng mga pangalang pamumusong, na may pitong ulo at sangpung sungay. (Rev. 17:3, TCB)
So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. (Rev. 17:3, KJB)
Please note that Apostle John was “carried away in the spirit,” not in the body, he was not removed from the Isle of Patmos to some other place. Apostle John simply received a ‘new vision’ from the angel regarding the “great harlot”. -- The new vision reveals that the location of the “great harlot” has changed from ““sitting upon many waters” in verse 17:1, to “sittingupon ascarlet coloured beast” here in verse 17:3. [1]
So, ‘who’ or ‘what’ is the “scarlet colored beast”? – There are three references to “beasts” in Revelation that have a common description…they each have ‘seven heads’ and ‘ten horns’, and they are found in Revelation 12, 13, & 17.
The first reference in Revelation 12 reads . . .
Revelation 12:3-4, DRCB … And there was seen another sign in heaven. And behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns and on his heads seven diadems. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to be delivered: that, when she should be delivered, he might devour her son.
Revelation 12:3-4. TCB ... At ang ibang tanda ay nakita sa langit: at narito, ang isang malaking dragong mapula, na may pitong ulo at sangpung sungay, at sa kaniyang mga ulo’y may pitong diadema.4 At kinaladkad ng kaniyang buntot ang ikatlong bahagi ng mga bituin sa langit, at ipinaghagis sa lupa: at lumagay ang dragon sa harapan ng babaing manganganak na, upang lamunin ang kaniyang anak pagkapanganak niya.
Revelation 12:3-4, KJB … And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. The seven heads and ten horns belong to a “dragon”, and Revelation 12:9 identifies the dragon as Satan.
The second reference in Revelation 13 reads . . .
Revelation 13:1-5, DRCB … And he stood upon the sand of the sea.) And I saw a beast coming up out the sea, having seven heads and ten horns: and upon his horns, ten diadems: and upon his heads, names of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like to a leopard: and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his own strength and great power. And I saw one of his heads as it were slain to death: and his death's wound was healed. And all the earth was in admiration after the beast. And they adored the dragon which gave power to the beast. And they adored the beast, saying: Who is like to the beast? And who shall be able to fight with him? And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies: and power was given to him to do, two and forty months [3-1/2 years].
Revelation 13:1-5, TCB ... At siya’y tumayo sa buhanginan ng dagat. At nakita ko ang isang hayop na umaahon sa dagat, na may sangpung sungay at pitong ulo, at sa kanilang mga sungay ay may sangpung diadema, at sa kaniyang mga ulo ay mga pangalan ng kapusungan.2 At ang hayop na aking nakita ay katulad ng isang leopardo, at ang kaniyang mga paa ay gaya ng sa oso, at ang kaniyang bibig ay gaya ng bibig ng leon: at ibinigay sa kaniya ng dragon ang kaniyang kapangyarihan, at ang kaniyang luklukan, at dakilang kapamahalaan.3 At nakita ko ang isa sa kaniyang mga ulo na waring sinugatan ng ikamamatay; at ang kaniyang sugat na ikamamatay ay gumaling: at ang buong lupa’y nanggilalas sa hayop;4 At sila’y nangagsisamba sa dragon, sapagka’t ibinigay niya ang kaniyang kapamahalaan sa hayop; at nangagsisamba sa hayop, na nangagsasabi, Sino ang kagaya ng hayop? at sinong makababaka sa kaniya?5 At binigyan siya ng isang bibig na nagsasalita ng malalaking bagay at mga kapusungan: at binigyan siya ng kapamahalaan, upang magpatuloy na apat na pu’t dalawang buwan.
Revelation 13:1-5, KJB … And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months [3-1/2 years].
Here, the ‘seven heads’ and ‘ten horns’ belong to a “beast coming up out of the sea” and this “beast” is said to have the appearance of “a leopard, a bear, and a lion.” – This same imagery is used in Daniel 7:1-7, where the prophet Daniel describes a vision he received. In his vision, he saw four beasts rising from the sea. The first three were (1) a lion, (2) a bear, and (3) a leopard. These were followed by a “fourth beast different from the others” — and it had ten horns.
There can be little doubt that Revelation 13 and Daniel 7 are referring to the same things and our understanding of Revelation 13 will be better understood by first understanding Daniel’s prophecy. – The beasts represent kings (and their kingdoms) that will appear on earth. It is not difficult to know exactly what these four kingdoms are because the kingdoms are actually mentioned by name in Daniel Chapters 8 and 10…
The first kingdom (the lion) is Babylon (Daniel 2:36-38).
The second kingdom (the bear) is Persia (Daniel 2:39; 8:20; 10:13)
The third kingdom (the leopard) is Greece (Daniel 2:39; 8:21; 10:20)
he fourth kingdom (more fierce than the others, with ten horns) is Rome (Daniel 2:40-43).
Now, remember that these kingdoms are somehow associated with the seven-headed and ten-horned beast in Revelation 13, which implies a Satanic connection and therefore these four kingdoms are in opposition to God. They also have in common the fact that each of these kingdoms persecuted Israel for a period.
Now in Daniel 7:23-27, it is revealed that from the fourth kingdom (Rome), there shall eventually emerge ten kings (represented by the ten horns). -- Afterwards, another king will emerge (contemporary with the first ten) who will oppose God and God’s people for a 3 1/2-year period following “the abomination of desolation” which will occur at the midpoint of the Seven Year Tribulation Period. This is clearly the same person (“beast”) in Daniel as the ‘first beast’ in Revelation 13 who utters blasphemies, makes war with the saints, and overcomes them for 42 months (Rev 13:5). -- THIS IS ANTICHRIST!
The third reference in Revelation 17 reads . . .
Revelation 17:3, DRCB … And he took me away in spirit into the desert. And I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy,
Revelation 17:3, TCB … At ako’y kaniyang dinalang nasa Espiritu sa isang ilang: at nakita ko ang isang babae na nakasakay sa isang hayop na pula, na puno ng mga pangalang pamumusong, na may pitong ulo at sangpung sungay.
Revelation 17:3, KJB … So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. Here, the “seven heads” and “ten horns” belong to a “scarlet beast”.
This is the same beast that “came up out of the sea” in Revelation 13:1-10. – This beast is the Antichrist! – The color scarlet and red are identified with sin in Isaiah 1:18. It is also the color of Satan in Revelation 12:3. [2]
The “beast” is “full of names of blasphemy” which means he has a strong connection to Satan. -- Blasphemy literally means ‘injurious or evil speaking’. It is when one accuses another wrongly and tries to hurt another person. It is the opposite of love, which seeks to be kind and gentle. Blasphemy relates to Satan since he is the accuser of the brethren according to Revelation 12:10. [3]
Please note that the “Harlot Woman” is RIDING the beast, meaning that she has control of the beast”. The "APOSTATE ONE-WORLD RELIGION" which will exist during the first 3-1/2 years of the Seven Year Tribulation Period (and be destroyed at the end of the first 3-1/2 years of the Seven Year Tribulation Period) is symbolized in Revelation 17 by a Woman who rides on a beast. -- Thus, “the woman” riding upon the beast symbolizes an apostate church [a false religious system] controlling the “beast” [the political state – the revived Roman Empire] for the first 3-1/2 years of the Seven Year Tribulation Period.
John F. Walvoord comments on this Revelation 17:3 as follows:
“The fact that the woman represents ecclesiastical power [religious power] as distinct from the beast which is the political power. Her position, that of riding the beast, indicates on the one hand that she is supported by the political power of the beast, and on the other that she is in a dominant role and at least outwardly controls and directs the beast.” [4]
END NOTES
[1]BIBLE HUB, Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible, Revelation 17:3, Accessed August 8, 2024, Web: https://biblehub.com/commentaries/revelation/17-3.htm
[2]REVELATION LOGIC, “The Seven Heads and Ten Horns”, Accessed August 10, 2024, Web: https://revelationlogic.com/articles/the-seven-heads-and-ten-horns/
[3] THE ROCK OF OFFENCE – JESUS CHRIST, “Scarlet-colored Beast – Satan (Rev 17:3)”, Accessed August 10, 2024, Web: https://www.therockofoffence.com/scarlet-beast/
[4] WALVOORD, John F., “The Destruction of Ecclesiastical Babylon”, Accessed August 10, 2024, Web: https://walvoord.com/article/275