rwp - 17

rwp@Revelation:17:1 @{I will show thee} (\deix soi\). Future active of \deiknumi\. It is fitting that one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls should explain the judgment on Babylon (16:19|) already pronounced (14:8|). That is now done in chapters strkjv@Revelation:17; 18|. {The judgment of the great harlot} (\to krima ts porns ts megals\). The word \krima\ is the one used about the doom of Babylon in strkjv@Jeremiah:51:9|. Already in strkjv@14:8| Babylon is called the harlot. \Porns\ is the objective genitive, "the judgment on the great harlot." {That sitteth upon many waters} (\ts kathmens epi hudatn polln\). Note triple use of the article \ts\. In strkjv@Jeremiah:51:13| we have \eph' hudasi pollois\ (locative in place of genitive as here). Babylon got its wealth by means of the Euphrates and the numerous canals for irrigation. Rome does not have such a system of canals, but this item is taken and applied to the New Babylon in strkjv@17:15|. Nahum (Nahum:3:4|) calls Nineveh a harlot, as Isaiah (Isaiah:23:16f.|) does Tyre.

rwp@Revelation:17:2 @{The kings of the earth} (\hoi basileis ts gs\). Repeated in strkjv@1:5; strkjv@6:15; strkjv@17:18; strkjv@18:3,9; strkjv@19:19; strkjv@21:24| and "the kings of the inhabited earth" (16:14|) either for human rulers in general or the vassal kings absorbed by the Roman Empire. {Committed fornication} (\eporneusan\). First aorist active indicative of \porneu\. "In purchasing the favour of Rome by accepting her suzerainty and with it her vices and idolatries" (Swete). {Were made drunken} (\emethusthsan\). First aorist passive indicative of \methusk\, old verb (from \methu\), as in strkjv@Luke:12:45|, here only in the Apocalypse. Cf. strkjv@Isaiah:51:7| and \pepotiken\ in strkjv@Revelation:14:8|. See strkjv@18:3|.

rwp@Revelation:17:3 @{He carried me away} (\apnegken me\). Second aorist active indicative of \apopher\, to bear away, prophetic aorist. This verb is used of angels at death (Luke:16:22|) or in an ecstasy (Revelation:21:10| and here). {In the Spirit} (\en pneumati\). Probably his own spirit, though the Holy Spirit is possible (1:10; strkjv@4:2; strkjv@21:10|), without Paul's uncertainty (2Corinthians:12:2|). Cf. strkjv@Ezekiel:3:14f.; strkjv@8:3; strkjv@11:24|. {Into a wilderness} (\eis ermon\). In strkjv@Isaiah:21:1| there is \to horama ts ermou\ (the vision of the deserted one, Babylon), and in strkjv@Isaiah:14:23| Babylon is called \ermon\. John may here picture this to be the fate of Rome or it may be that he himself, in the wilderness (desert) this side of Babylon, sees her fate. In strkjv@21:10| he sees the New Jerusalem from a high mountain. {Sitting} (\kathmenn\). Present middle participle of \kathmai\ as in verse 1|. "To manage and guide the beast" (Vincent). {Upon a scarlet-coloured beast} (\epi thrion kokkinon\). Accusative with \epi\ here, though genitive in verse 1|. Late adjective (from \kokkos\, a parasite of the _ilex coccifera_), a crimson tint for splendour, in strkjv@Revelation:17:3,4; strkjv@18:12,16; strkjv@Matthew:27:28; strkjv@Hebrews:9:19|. {Full of names of blasphemy} (\gemonta onomata blasphmias\). See strkjv@13:1| for "names of blasphemy" on the seven heads of the beast, but here they cover the whole body of the beast (the first beast of strkjv@13:1; strkjv@19:20|). The harlot city (Rome) sits astride this beast with seven heads and ten horns (Roman world power). The beast is here personified with masculine participles instead of neuter, like \thrion\ (\gemonta\ accusative singular, \echn\ nominative singular, though some MSS. read \echonta\), construction according to sense in both instances. The verb \gem\ always has the genitive after it in the Apocalypse (4:6,8; strkjv@5:8; strkjv@15:7; strkjv@17:4; strkjv@21:9|) save here and apparently once in strkjv@17:4|.

rwp@Revelation:17:4 @{Was arrayed} (\n peribeblmen\). Periphrastic past perfect indicative of \periball\, to fling round one. {In purple and scarlet} (\porphuroun kai kokkinon\). Accusative retained after this passive verb of clothing, as so often. \Porphurous\ is old adjective for purple (from \porphura\), in N.T. only here and strkjv@John:19:2,5|. See preceding verse for \kokkinos\. {Decked} (\kechrusmen\). Perfect passive participle of \chruso\, old verb, to gild, to adorn with gold, here alone in N.T. {With gold and precious stone and pearls} (\chrusii kai lithi timii kai margaritais\). Instrumental case. \Chrusii\ is cognate with the participle. \Lithi timii\ is collective (18:12,16; strkjv@21:19|). There is a \zeugma\ also with \margaritais\ (18:12,16; strkjv@21:21|), for which word see strkjv@Matthew:7:6|. Probably John is thinking of the finery of the temple prostitutes in Asia Minor. {Full of abominations} (\gemon bdelugmatn\). Agreeing with \potrion\, "cup" (neuter singular accusative). Some MSS. read \gemn\ (nominative masculine like \echn\ in verse 3|, quite irregular). For \bdelugmatn\ (genitive after \gemon\) see strkjv@Matthew:24:15|; (Mark:13:14|), common in the LXX for idol worship and its defilements (from \bdeluss\, to render foul), both ceremonial and moral. See strkjv@Jeremiah:15:7|. {Even the unclean things of her fornication} (\kai ta akatharta ts porneias auts\). Either the accusative after \gemon\ as in verse 3| (and full of the unclean things of her fornication) or the object of \echousa\, like \potrion\.

rwp@Revelation:17:5 @{Upon her forehead a name written} (\epi to metpon auts onoma gegrammenon\). Roman harlots wore a label with their names on their brows (Seneca, _Rhet_. I. 2. 7; Juvenal VI. 122f.), and so here. In strkjv@19:16| Christ has a name on his garments and on his thigh, while in strkjv@14:1; strkjv@22:4| the redeemed have the name of God on their foreheads. There is undoubtedly a contrast between this woman here and the woman in chapter strkjv@Revelation:12|. {Mystery} (\mustrion\). Either in apposition with \onoma\ or as part of the inscription on her forehead. In either case the meaning is the same, that the name Babylon is to be interpreted mystically or spiritually (cf. \pneumatiks\ strkjv@11:8|) for Rome. {The Mother of the Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth} (\H Mtr tn Pornn kai tn Bdelugmatn ts Gs\). The Metropolis of the Empire is the mother of harlotry and of the world's idolatries. Charles quotes Tacitus (_Ann_. XV. 44) about Rome as the city "quo cuncta undique atrocia aut pudenda confluunt celebranturque_."

rwp@Revelation:17:6 @{Drunken with the blood of the saints} (\methuousan ek tou haimatos tn hagin\). Present active feminine accusative singular participle of \methu\, old verb, to be drunk (Matthew:24:49|). {Of the martyrs of Jesus} (\tn marturn Isou\). "Witnesses" (2:13|) for Jesus (objective genitive) unto blood (16:6; strkjv@18:24|) and so martyrs in the modern sense of the word. "Drunk with blood" is a common idea with the ancients (Euripides, Josephus, Philo, Cicero, Pliny). {With a great wonder} (\thauma mega\). Cognate accusative with \ethaumasa\.

rwp@Revelation:17:7 @{I will tell thee the mystery} (\eg er soi to mustrion\). The angel gives his interpretation of the woman and the beast (17:7-18|). \Er\ is the future active of \eipon\ (defective verb), to tell, to say.

rwp@Revelation:17:8 @{Was and is not} (\n kai ouk estin\). Imperfect and present of \eimi\, an apparent antithesis to \ho n kai ho n\ of strkjv@1:4|. This is a picture of the beast of strkjv@13:1ff.| which the woman is riding, but no longer just the empire, but one of the emperors who died (\ouk estin\, is not). {And is about to come up out of the abyss} (\kai mellei anabainein ek ts abussou\). That is, he is going to come to life again. {And to go into perdition} (\kai eis apleian hupagei\). Songs:(and he goes into perdition) the best MSS. read rather than the infinitive \hupagein\. Most interpreters see here an allusion to the "Nero _redivivus_" expectancy realized in Domitian, who was ruling when John wrote and who was called Nero _redivivus_. {Shall wonder} (\thaumasthsontai\). First future passive (deponent) of \thaumaz\, with which compare \ethaumasth\ in strkjv@13:3|. John had wondered (\ethaumasa\) in verse 6| "with the amazement of a horrible surprise; the world will wonder and admire" (Swete). {Whose name} (\hn onoma\). Singular \onoma\, like \ptma\ in strkjv@11:8|. See strkjv@13:8| for the same description of those who worship the beast and for discussion of details. {When they behold} (\blepontn\). Genitive plural of the present active participle of \blep\, agreeing with \hn\ (genitive relative) rather than with \hoi katoikountes\ (nominative just before \hn\). {How that} (\hoti\). "Namely that." {He was, and is not, and shall come} (\n kai ouk estin kai parestai\). Repetition of what is in verse 7| with \parestai\ (future of \pareimi\, from which \parousia\ comes) in place of \mellei\, "parody of the divine name" (Charles) in strkjv@1:4,8; strkjv@4:8|, "as the hellish antitype of Christ." The Neronic Antichrist has also a \parousia\.

rwp@Revelation:17:9 @{Here is the mind which hath wisdom} (\Hde ho nous ho echn sophian\). "Here is the intelligence which has wisdom" (Charles). A variation of strkjv@13:18|, but the same idea. {Seven mountains} (\hepta or\). Rome was known as the city on seven hills (Vergil, Horace, Ovid, Cicero, etc.). {On which} (\hopou--ep' autn\). "Where--upon them." Pleonasm like \hopou--ekei\ in strkjv@12:6|. In strkjv@13:1ff.| it is the beast that has the seven heads, while here the woman riding the beast has seven heads, a slight change in the symbolism, and the heads are further identified as kings.

rwp@Revelation:17:10 @{Seven kings} (\basileis hepta\). This is another change in the symbolism. The identification of these seven kings is one of the puzzles of the book. {The five are fallen} (\hoi pente epesan\). Second aorist active indicative of \pipt\ with the \-an\ ending. Common for the downfall of kings (Ezekiel:29:5; strkjv@30:6; strkjv@Isaiah:21:9|, etc.). See strkjv@2Samuel:3:38|. {The one is} (\ho heis estin\). The one when this vision is dated. {The other is not yet come} (\ho allos oup lthen\). Prophetic second aorist active of \erchomai\. Charles takes this as the date of this "source" or part of the Apocalypse. But John could himself have used this language in the time of Domitian even if he was the one who had not yet come. The difficulty about counting these emperors is that Galba, Otho, Vitellius reigned so briefly that they hardly merit being included. {When he cometh} (\hotan elthi\). Indefinite temporal clause for the future, with \hotan\ and the second aorist active subjunctive of \erchomai\, "whenever he comes." {He must continue a little while} (\oligon auton dei meinai\). Swete takes this to be Titus, who died September 13, 81, after a short reign.

rwp@Revelation:17:11 @{Is himself also an eighth and is of the seven} (\kai autos ogdoos kai ek tn hepta\). This is the angel's interpretation and it looks like a reference to Domitian as the eighth, who is regarded as one of the seven because he was considered a second Nero (Nero _redivivus_). For \ek tn hepta\ see strkjv@Acts:21:8|. John may have used \ek tn\ instead of \heis ek tn\ to avoid absolute identity between Domitian and Nero (Beckwith). {And he goeth unto perdition} (\kai eis apleian hupagei\). As in verse 8|. "Domitian was assassinated (September 18, 96), after a terrible struggle with his murderers. The tyrant's end was a symbol of the end to which the Beast which he personated was hastening" (Swete). Cf. strkjv@19:11-21|.

rwp@Revelation:17:12 @{Which have received no kingdom as yet} (\hoitines basileian oup elabon\). Second aorist (proleptic and prophetic) active indicative of \lamban\. The heads are emperors and the horns are kings (both called \basileis\). {As kings} (\hs basileis\). Compared to kings (see \hs\ in strkjv@1:10; strkjv@4:6; strkjv@9:7; strkjv@13:3; strkjv@14:3; strkjv@16:21|) without identification with the emperors, though succeeding them with "quasi-imperial powers" with the beast. {For one hour} (\mian hran\). Accusative of extent of time, and that a brief time (18:10,16,19|) in comparison with the beast (13:2|).

rwp@Revelation:17:13 @{Have one mind} (\mian gnmn echousin\). "One purpose" (\gnm\ from \ginsk\) as in strkjv@Acts:20:3; strkjv@1Corinthians:1:10|. The new powers are allies of the beast. {They give their power and authority unto the beast} (\tn dunamin kai tn exousian autn ti thrii didoasin\). Present active indicative of \didmi\. Just as the dragon gave both power and authority to the beast (13:2|), so they are wholly at the service of the beast.

rwp@Revelation:17:14 @{These} (\houtoi\). These ten kings. {Shall war against the Lamb} (\meta tou thriou polemsousin\). Future active of \polemeo\, to war. As allies of the beast (the servant of the dragon, strkjv@12:7|) they will wage war with the Lamb (the enemy of the dragon). These kings gather for battle as in strkjv@16:13f|. {And the Lamb shall overcome them} (\kai to arnion niksei autous\). Future active of \nika\. This is the glorious outcome, victory by the Lamb over the coalition of kings as against the beast before. {For he is Lord of lords and King of kings} (\hoti Kurios kurin estin kai Basileus basilen\). The same words are again descriptive of Christ in strkjv@19:16|, as of God in strkjv@Deuteronomy:10:17| (God of gods and Lord of lords) and strkjv@Daniel:10:17| (God of gods and Lord of kings). Cf. also strkjv@1Timothy:6:15; strkjv@Revelation:1:5|. Crowned heads are Christ's subjects. {And they also shall overcome that are with him} (\kai hoi met' autou\). "And those with him shall also overcome" (supply \niksousin\, not \eisin\). They will share in the triumph of the Lamb, as they shared in the conflict. Cf. \meta tou thriou\ in verse 12|. {Called and chosen and faithful} (\kltoi kai eklektoi kai pistoi\). These are the three notes of those who share in the victory. For \kltos\ and \eklektos\ see strkjv@Matthew:22:14| (contrasted); strkjv@Romans:8:28ff.; strkjv@2Peter:1:10; strkjv@Revelation:2:10,13|. The elect are called and prove faithful.

rwp@Revelation:17:15 @{Where the harlot sitteth} (\hou h pornos kathtai\). Relative adverb \hou\ (where) referring to the waters (\hudata\) of verse 1| on which the harlot sits. Present middle indicative of \kathmai\. {Are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues} (\laoi kai ochloi eisin kai ethn kai glssai\). The O.T. uses "waters" as symbol for "peoples" (Isaiah:8:7; strkjv@Jeremiah:47:2; strkjv@Psalms:29:10|, etc.). "Rome's greatest danger lay in the multitudes which were under her sway" (Swete).

rwp@Revelation:17:16 @{These shall hate the harlot} (\houtoi missousin tn pornn\). Future active of \mise\. \Houtoi\ is resumptive demonstrative pronoun (masculine) referring to the ten horns and the beast (neuter); construction according to sense. The downfall of Rome will come from the sudden change in subject peoples. {Shall make her desolate and naked} (\rmmenn poisousin autn kai gumnn\). Future active of \poie\ and perfect passive predicate accusative participle of \ermo\, old verb (from \ermos\ desolate), again in strkjv@18:16,19|. \Gumnn\ (naked) is predicate adjective. {Shall eat her flesh} (\tas sarkas auts phagontai\). Future middle of the defective verb \esthi\, to eat. Note plural \sarkas\, portions of flesh (James:5:3|) as in strkjv@Psalms:27:2; strkjv@Micah:3:3|. {Shall burn her utterly with fire} (\autn katakausousin en puri\). Future active of \katakai\, to burn down (perfective use of \kai\). John wrote before the days of Alaric, Genseric, Ricimer, Totila, with their hordes which devastated Rome and the west in the fifth and sixth centuries. "No reader of the _Decline and Fall_ can be at a loss for materials which will at once illustrate and justify the general trend of St. John's prophecy" (Swete).

rwp@Revelation:17:17 @{Did put} (\edken\). "Did give" (first aorist active of \didmi\. {To do his mind} (\poisai tn gnmn autou\). Epexegetic first aorist active infinitive of \poie\ after \edken\, as often in this book. They are of one mind (verse 13|) because God put them up to it, clear statement of God's over-ruling hand among the nations. {Until the words of God should be accomplished} (\achri telesthsontai hoi logoi tou theou\). Temporal clause about the future with \achri\ (like \hes\), with the future indicative of \tele\, but with aorist passive subjunctive \telesthsin\ in strkjv@15:8|. For \tele\ see also strkjv@10:7|. For "the words of God" see strkjv@19:9|. They will be fulfilled.

rwp@Revelation:17:18 @{The woman} (\h gun\). She is now explained after the beast has been interpreted. Verse 9| made it plain enough, but this verse demonstrates that the woman is the city of Rome "which reigneth (\h echousa basileian\, the one having a kingdom) over the kings of the earth (\epi tn basilen ts gs\)." Rome followed Babylon, and other cities may follow in their train.

Revelation 17