Prior to this chapter, the city of Babylon has been mentioned only two times in the Book of Revelation: once in 14:8, and again in 16:19. This is amazing, considering the great emphasis given to her in the two chapters we are about to look at.

The traditional view of the tribulation period portrays the Antichrist as having full control of the world's economy during his reign. This study however, takes the position that, for the most part, the Beast and Babylon will be locked in battle for control of the world's wealth, with the Beast winning out in the end. His victory however, will be short lived as his plan for total world domination and enslavement will be cut off by the return of Jesus Christ.

From the description given of Babylon in chapters 17 and 18, it appears that this great city, for all intent and purposes, will represent the world's version of the heavenly "new Jerusalem", which is described chapters 21 and 22.

With that in mind, it becomes apparent that she is intended to be to the Beast, what new Jerusalem is to the Lamb: a bride or wife. However, the major difference between the two is that new Jerusalem is forever faithful to her intended husband; whereas Babylon quickly prostitutes herself, and double-crosses her intended.

The perfect evil duo: the vilest of persons, walking hand-in-hand with the vilest of cities, is never to be fully played out. Babylon's deceit and harlotry will prove too much for the Beast, infuriating him to a point which is destined to lead to her destruction, at his hands. Again, we see an opposing or mirrored effect: the Lamb loves faithful new Jerusalem; the Beast hates unfaithful Babylon.

Chapter 17 deals with the unveiling of the mystery concerning this great city who is likened unto a harlot; and also explains the mystery of the Beast which came into full power in chapter 13. This chapter can be divided into the following segments:

Verses 1 and 2 are the introduction to the identity and final judgment of both the harlot and the Beast.

In verses 3 - 6, John is shown a vision of this woman, in the wilderness, sitting upon the Beast.

Verse 7 is a transitional verse whereby we go from the actual vision shown to John, to the explanation of it.

Verses 8 - 11 covers the identity and positional relationship of the Beast with the woman, as well as the kings of the earth, who are to be instrumental in her rise to power.

Verses 12 - 17 deal with ten kings who have allied themselves with the Beast, and their role in Babylon's destruction.

Finally, verse 18 points back to the beginning of the chapter by identifying what and who the harlot of this chapter represents.

Verses 1 - 2

"...the judgement of the great whore..."

Verses 1 and 2 begin the chapter as an invitation for John to come and preview the judgment of the great harlot of the earth, identified in verses 5 and 18 as the City of Babylon.

The word "fornication" as used in here in verse 2, and through out this chapter, is defined in Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, as idolatry. The idolatry directed towards Babylon, by the world, is fostered by the immense wealth which she will possess. Babylon, in all her glory, will become the idol which will capture the hearts and minds of the inhabitants of the earth.

An idolatrous relationship will exist whereby she will manipulate the kings of the earth and their subjects through this immense wealth. The golden cup in her hand is filled with her ill-gotten gain. This is poured out, as an offering to the people, in order that she may be glorified and exhalted in the earth; as they receive from her enormous treasury. The drink in the cup is so mesmerizing and pleasant, that the partakers are hopelessly in her clutches.

Partaking of the golden cup points to the buying and selling of goods, and the exorbitant profits which she will pay to those who contract with her. The merchants of the earth are made rich by her (18:15). Babylon appears to have unlimited purchasing power; in stark contrast to the "mark of the beast" system which is to be implemented by the Antichrist.

As stated previously, Babylon's grip on the wealth of the world will be the single greatest hurdle which the Beast must negotiate in order to have full control of the earth and its inhabitants. It will be the ultimate greed-driven battle between those who have, and those who have not; with the have-nots eventually winning out.

"...whore that sitteth upon many waters..."

While Babylon is pictured as sitting upon the Beast (verse 3), she is initially portrayed as one sitting upon many waters. In the early days of Babylon's existence, an extensive system of canals was built in and around the city (a 15 mile square), utilizing the waters of the Euphrates River. Because of this, she appeared from a distance, in a literal sense, to be a city sitting upon "many waters". Such a position, in a desert setting, may be seen as a sign of her greatness.

In verse 15 of this chapter however, we are told that the waters upon which she sits, represent "...peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues". As we study this chapter we shall see that Babylon is actually seated at two levels:

1. "...upon many waters..."
2. upon "...seven mountains."

Babylon must be first be resurrected from the dust of the earth before the Beast can interact with her. The "many waters" probably represent the base, or foundation, which shall facilitate that restoration or rebirth.

The "...peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." which these waters represent, are most likely the oil rich Islamic nations of the Middle East which will restore Babylon to a prominent position of wealth and power in the world. Once that is accomplished, then she will be in a position to garner global power and wealth, in order to bring immense glory to herself.

Since Islam is known for its fierce opposition to anything of an idolatrous nature; it is more understandable how that the city itself; and not some object or objects within it, is the entity which will possess the idolatrous characteristics of chapter 17.

It would be an idolatry which is not blatantly obvious from a religious stand point; but more so in the vein that the world will lift her up and esteem her above all other cities of the earth. This is the counter to the exhalted righteous woman of chapter 12, who is also lifted up, but for different reasons. Anything can be made into an idol, even a city like rebuilt Babylon.

On the second level: the seven heads of the Beast upon which Babylon also sits (verse 9), represent a higher relationship or covenant which shall be established between her and the Beast; whereby it appears that he will place the kingdoms which he conquers, early in the tribulation, under her control.

Many have painted Babylon as a symbolic entity representing a variety things, but Scripture makes it clear that God has declared through His prophets that He intends to judge a literal city which is called Babylon.

So how is it that a city, such as Babylon in Iraq, which hasn't existed for centuries, could come into existence again, and rise up to become the most powerful city on earth? It's seemingly an impossibility!

It's no coincidence, that the wealth of the world is now being amassed in the Middle East. This should be our first clue as to how something like this might be possible. The following is a portion of a article written by Henry Thompson, one of the world's top economist:

"...The Arab Gulf has 65% of the world’s proven oil reserves. Iraq has 360 billion barrels of potential reserves, and 12% of the world proven reserves. Oil in the ground is like money in the bank making Iraqis wealthy.

Iraq can easily produce 6 million barrels of oil a day or 2 billion barrels per year out of its working oil fields. At $50 per barrel, that oil would sell for $100 billion. The population of Iraq is 24 million and that oil income translates to $4000 per capita per year.

For some crude conservative idea of the wealth of Iraq, suppose Iraq sells 1/4 of its potential reserves at an average price of $50 per barrel over the next 20 years. That would generate 90 billion x $50 = $4.5 trillion. If the population of Iraq grows to 30 million, that would be $150,000 per capita for 20 years, or $7,500 annual per capita income.

Estimated productive assets in the US according to the World Bank are $60,000 per capita, and in the world $5,000 per capita. If Iraq invests only 1/4 of its oil revenue for the next 20 years, it would match current US productive assets per capita.

The total value of Iraq's potential oil reserves at an average profit of $75 per barrel over next 100 years would be 360 billion x $75 = $27 trillion or $900,000 per capita, making every Iraqi a millionaire. These calculations do not include natural gas revenue, lately about equal to oil revenue for producing fields.

In the entire Arab or Persian Gulf, proven oil reserves are 1.95 trillion barrels. Selling this at an average profit of $75 per barrel over the next 100 years would generate $15,000 trillion income. If half of that is invested, it would amount to $7,500 trillion or ¼ of the present total productive assets in the world.

Iraq is a wealthy country. "

This article was written some time ago and the calculations were based on much lower oil prices than we have seen in 2008. At any rate, it is clear that the economic clout of the Middle East is growing at an astonishing rate. Any slide in the oil revenues, such as seen in late 2008, will certainly be only a temporary setback for these nations.

These figures also make very clear the reasoning of the U.S. and others to thwart any possibility of Middle Eastern extremist getting their hands on Nuclear Weapons. If such a scenario were to develope, it could shackle the world's economy and literally bring it to its knees before those people.

Military intervention would be extremely difficult to initiate if such parties had a nuclear deterent. Plans, pushed by the U.S., to build an anti-missile defense system in Europe are clearly in response to the volatile political atmosphere of the Middle East: and the constant fear that nations such as Iran will develope nuclear weapons and possibly use them for political, economic, or even religious blackmail. That appears to be the real fear driving the industrial west's foreign policy in the region.

So where is it headed? With the rising power of world economic blocs such as the European Union, and a possible North American Union (U.S., Canada and Mexico) taking shape: it looks more probable, that at some point, the oil rich nations (OPEC, or the Middle East only) will eventually form an economic bloc of their own. With no industrial base, it would appear that it will be integrated into the system as the world's market place.

OPEC has held some talks with Russia (2008), pointed at the possibility of it joining the oil cartel. This may ultimatly result in an alliance between the coming Antichrist and Babylon; assuming that Gog, mentioned in chapter 12, and the Antichrist, are the same person, who is to come out of the far north to attack both Israel, and eventually Babylon itself.

As stated, a Middle Eastern zone would not be built upon an industrial base, due to its lack of natural resources; but would be one which will complement all others, by the buying and selling of merchandise which they produced {18:11}. In all likelihood, this position will be made a reality through the immense revenues being generated by oil sales.

Babylon may well be destined to become the new capital of such a union (the Kings of the Earth, as it were). If the higher echelons of the Islamic World were to pour their enormous resources into her developement, Babylon could quickly rise to the position to which she is called.

Given the geo-political and religious state of affairs in that region of the world, it also becomes clear that without the injection of such resources, Babylon's probability of rising again would be minimal, if not impossible.

Scripture however, demands that she come back because God has yet to judge her in the fashion by which He has declared through His prophets.

The oil wealth of the Middle East could certainly provide the vehicle through which the prophecies of Scripture will be fulfilled. Even with a slump in market conditions, the trend which has begun towards higher oil prices in the world, is undoubtedly an integral part of the fulfillment of the part of Bible Prophecy, whereby Babylon will be elevated to a position of greatness which she never knew in the past. It will be a true "rags to riches" story.

The bottom line is: Babylon will be wealthy beyond compare. The initial wealth, which lifts her up, has to come from somewhere. Since she is physically located in the heart of the Islamic world, and those nations (the waters upon which she sits) are building vast fortunes generated by oil sales; it stands to reason that her rise to power will be, at least initially, jump-started through revenues from that source. Saddam Hussein began the process by spending more than one billion dollars towards her resurrection; others will finish it!

After almost 1,900 years, many doubted that Israel would ever rise to become a nation again, but God is faithful to His word. He declared that Israel would return as a nation, and so it has. He will also be faithful to bring back Babylon; and to remember that as she plundered and destroyed Jerusalem in the past, so He will do to her. He has not forgotten her sins though she has hidden herself in the dust of the earth for centuries! The place where organized rebellion against God began (Gen. 11:1-9), is also the place where it shall end (Jer. 50:40 ; Rev. 20:15).

Verses 3 - 6

"...a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast..."

The vision of the judgment of this woman now begins as John is transported, "...in the spirit..." into a remote place called "...the wilderness..." where he sees her sitting upon a scarlet colored Beast having seven heads and ten horns.

In as much as the Beast is carrying the woman; it would seem to indicated that a covenant has been initiated between the two. Verse 9 helps us to understand that the woman is not sitting upon the back of the Beast, but rather upon its seven heads. The seven heads therefore would represent the base upon which such a covenant would be founded.

Jesus has a standing covenant (of marriage) with the Church (Eph. 5:23-25) which will inhabit new Jerusalem in the future. Here in chapter 17 we may be seeing the Beast in a similiar covenant relationship with Babylon. A relationship by which he lifts her up, with the intension that he will be glorified through her when he comes into the fullness of his power.

During the tribulation period, the kings of the earth (evil leaders) will bring their glory and honor to Babylon (18:3). Conversely, after the tribulation period, the new kings of the earth (the saints) will also bring their glory and honor to new Jerusalem (21:24). The glory of the former shall pass away, but the glory of the latter shall abide forever.

At some point during the first half of the tribulation, things will come unraveled, with Babylon turning her back on the Antichrist; enraging him to the point that he will not stop until she has been stripped of her wealth and totally destroyed. He will then take that wealth to Israel with the plan to make Jerusalem his permanent capital. In effect, he will attempt to usurp the position reserved for Jesus Christ {Luke 1:32}. That plan however, will end in his destruction, at the hands of the Lord.

This Beast is obviously the same one described in Rev. 13. The scarlet color mentioned here is, no doubt, a tag showing his kinship with the "...great red dragon..." which appeared in chapter 12, and from which he received his power, authority and royal appointment (13:2).

Verse 4 shows the opulence associated with this grand harlot, and as stated before, blatantly displays her, not only as superior to modest earthly Jerusalem, but also as the rival of "new Jerusalem", which is yet in heaven.

Verse 5 identifies Babylon as the "...MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH..." The word "MOTHER" is used here in the sense that she has daughters; rather than meaning that she is the chief harlot of the earth. She is that for sure, but the emphasis here is that she has daughters (cities in the world who take their que from her). These daughters probably represent the capital cities of the Kings of the Earth, who have come under the control of Babylon's harlotry.

The Mystery Name written on her forehead is "BAB'Y-LON THE GREAT". She does not, even symbolically, received the "mark" or "name of the beast" in her forehead showing that her allegiance is to him. To the contrary, we need to re-emphasize that for most of the tribulation period, Babylon will be set at odds with the Antichrist, and pose the single greatest problem he will have to deal with. Once this traitor has been eliminated, then he will feel the world is finally at his feet.

"...I saw the woman drunk ..."

Here John marvels as he saw the woman as being drunken with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus. This shows her anti-Christian attitude; and makes it clear that the blood she is held accountable for is primarily that of the tribulation saints, since those killed were believers in Jesus Christ.

At this point in chapter 17, she does not appear to be one exerting calculated control over the Beast; but rather as one who is in a drunken stupor, and on the verge of falling off of her seated position upon the Beast.

The sense here is, that the Beast is very focused, but the woman, through her arrogance, has unknowingly positioned herself perilously close to destruction. She has a false sense of security by making an unrealistic assessment of how safe and secure her position really is {18:7}.

In verse 7, the angel questions John as to why he marvelled at what he saw. He then informs John that he will explain the mystery of both the woman and the beast which carries her.