3. THE MYSTERY OF THE HARLOT Revelation 17:15-18 15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.--In verse 3 the woman was represented as sitting on the scarlet-colored beast. That was explained in the preceding paragraph. Verse 1 says she was sitting upon the sea. This paragraph explains that. The waters refer to a multitude of peoples of various nations who supported the papacy. For clearness we again mention the fact that the apostate church is represented by the beast in Revelation 13:11-18, but by the drunken harlot in Revelation 17:1-7. This distinction should be remembered. It is common in scriptural figures for the same thing to be represented by several different symbols. Christ is called both Lamb and Lion to describe different characteristics. Both are appropriate, but must not be confused. So of beast and harlot. The former is an emblem of the persecuting spirit of the apostasy; the latter, the seductive wiles by which people would be led into false religious practices, called a "golden cup full of abominations" and "unclean things of her fornication." (Verse 4.) 16 And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire.--This language indicates that political Rome (the beast) and the nations subject to it would hate the harlot (apostate church). This refers to a later period, for verses 3 and 14 show that their combined powers were engaged in war against the Lamb; at the time of this verse they were against the papacy, determined to make it desolate. This has been at least partly fulfilled in the fact that nations once subject to papal rule have become Protestant or rejected church rule in matters of state. Being despoiled of such glory and power is appropriately described as being made desolate and naked. Eating her flesh and burning her with fire imply complete destruction, but are not to be taken literally. They probably indicate that when nations refused to be governed by papal authority the end of such rule over them was as complete as if a body had been eaten or a city burned. 17 For God did put in their hearts to do his mind, and to come to one mind, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished.--This verse shows that in some way God was the moving cause (permitted or allowed) of these nations unitedly supporting the beast until the divine purpose was carried out in certain particulars. Then they became enemies of the harlot in accomplishing other purposes God had in view. 18 And the woman whom thou sawest is the great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.--In verse 5 the great city is described as Babylon. But this must be understood figuratively as meaning the papal church, which, like its proto-type, ancient Babylon, must finally be destroyed. LESSON 21. THE WOMAN ON THE SCARLET-COLORED BEAST Read Rev. 17 1. What did one of the seven angels promise to show John? Ans. Revelation 17:1. 2. Whom had this woman caused to sin? Ans. Revelation 17:2. 3. Where did the angel take John? Ans. Revelation 17:3. 4. Describe the beast on which the woman sat. Ans. Revelation 17:3. 5. How was the woman dressed? Ans. Revelation 17:4. 6. What name was written on her forehead? Ans. Revelation 17:5. 7. On what was the woman drunken? Ans. Revelation 17:6. 8. What mystery did the angel say he would reveal to John? Ans. Revelation 17:7. 9. What was there peculiar about this beast's existence? Ans. Revelation 17:8. 10. Who would wonder at the peculiarity of this beast? Ans. Revelation 17:8. 11. What do the seven heads of the beast represent? Ans. Revelation 17:9. 12. What is said of the seven kings? Ans. Revelation 17:10-11. 13. What do the ten horns represent? Ans. Revelation 17:12-13. 14. Against whom would they wage war? Ans. Revelation 17:14. 15. What will be the result of this war? Ans. Revelation 17:14. 16. What do the waters "where the woman sitteth" represent? Ans. Revelation 17:15. 17. How and by whom will the woman be destroyed? Ans. Revelation 17:16. 18. Who put it in their hearts to do this? Ans. Revelation 17:17. 19. Who is this woman? Ans. Revelation 16:19; Revelation 17:5; Revelation 17:18; Revelation 18:2; Revelation 18:10.