Identities
Before I proceed, the best way to untangle the yarn so that you can see clearly who Babylon the Great will prove to be is that I give you a rundown as to who is who and provide you with the Scriptural support thereof so that you will know that I am not making anything up. You have to decide for yourself if what is presented is valid or makes sense.
I am NOT seeking an agreement. I am already thoroughly convinced. This is for your consideration, investigation, research, and even challenge.
Many will reject this because religious organizations will have already prejudiced and programmed them to do so. They are not allowed to think, reason, and consider beyond what they have been told.
I challenge them to dare jump outside of that box and venture into that forbidden zone – a wilderness – apart from the noise of the popular mainstream and broadways to learn what is there.
But I guarantee that when any dared to sneak out of the religious house and taste what is here, their psycho-viscera will forever prod their conscience whenever they are told and taught something with regards to Babylon the Great and the Book of Revelation.
I will cover each bullet point, in turn. By the end, you will know who or what Babylon the Great will prove to be if you haven’t extrapolated her identity already.
- Beast Out of the Sea (Revelation 13:1)
- Seven Heads (Revelation 12:3; Revelation 13:1; Revelation 17:3; Revelation 17:7; Revelation 17:9)
- Ten Horns (Revelation 12:3; Revelation 13:1; Revelation 17:3; Revelation 17:7)
- Ten Crowns on Each Horn (Revelation 12:3; Revelation 13:1)
- Beast Out of the Earth (Revelation 13:11)
- Image of the Beast (Revelation 13:14)
- Scarlet-Colored Beast (Revelation 17:3)
- The Woman (Prostitute) On Top of Scarlet-Colored Beast
- The Waters (Revelation 17:15)
- The Kings of the Earth (Revelation 1:5; 5:10; 6:15; 16:14; 17:2; 17:18; 18:3; 18:9; 19:19; 21:24)
- Babylon the Great (Daniel 4:30, Revelation 14:8; 16:19; 17:5; 18:2; 18:10; 18:21)
Beast Out of the Sea (Revelation 13:1)
“The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.” (Revelation 13:1)
Beasts are kingdoms or dominions. Literal beasts live in the field. The field upon which they live is the earth – which includes the things of the earth such as the waters (oceans, lakes, and rivers), mountains, deserts, forests, and wildernesses. This is God’s earth as He is its Creator. (Genesis 1:1)
Beasts sustain themselves by eating and consuming the things that come out of the earth that the earth’s Creator so abundantly provides.
Yet, there are beasts of the field that God did not create.
In fact, as I write this, Satan has created beasts (plural) or kingdoms upon the field of God’s earth! These beasts existed from the time man was kicked out of Eden. Satan even offered Jesus rulership over all of the beasts or kingdoms of the world, did he not?
Too, recall that Jesus said that his kingdom is not of this world. (Matthew 4:8-10, John 18:36)
Beasts/kingdoms – literal and figurative – come and go. They arise or are born and they die out.
NOTE: Do not confuse the expressions earth with world. Earth (e’rets in Hebrew) refers to the planet God created. It could also refer to “the people” on the earth as we were created out of it. (Genesis 1:1-2 and Genesis 18:25) World, refers to the things established upon or built up out of the earth to stand upon it. Kingdoms, governments, cities, etc are worlds. For example, the world of Noah’s day came out of the earth. It was destroyed. The earth remains. The earth will never be destroyed, the worlds upon it will. (Psalms, 78:69, Psalms 104:5, Eccl 1:4)
Today, a world exists that is not of God just as the one of Noah’s day was not. This world was built up out of the earth. Within this world are many kingdoms (beasts) who fight and war with one another over the earth’s resources. These beasts have a Ruler over them, Satan the Devil. (Matthew 4:8-10, John 14:30, 2 Cor 4:4, and 1 John 5:19) These beasts (kingdoms) will be destroyed. (Daniel 2:44)
In the future, Satan stands up another Beast. A great and powerful Beast, unlike anything the world has ever seen. It has not arrived yet but when it does, it will be wondrous and the inhabitants of the earth in those future days will love and support it. They will also view it as invincible. (Revelation 13:4)
This Beast that we see coming out of the sea, the sea of people, multitudes, nations, and languages. (Revelation 17:15)
Literal seas are salty. Waves are tossed back and forth, oftentimes turbulent, and not calm (at peace). This Beast is created out of the sea of mankind that will be deceived and agitated by Satan when he comes out of the Abyss. (Revelation 20:7-8)
We know that the Mother or Woman that gave birth to this Beast is the Dragon. We are told this at Revelation 13:1: “The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.”
This shows the Dragon standing on “the shore of the sea.” That is, not literally in the sea himself. Observing and looking out over the vast sea of people he has deceived. They are ripe for intervention and change in governance. Like a magician causing a rabbit to appear out of a hat, the Dragon brings up out of the sea of mankind this Beast.
By appearance, this Beast has seven heads, ten horns, and ten crowns upon each horn. To take careful note of is what this Beast has written on each head, “and on each head a blasphemous name.” (Revelation 13:1)
A motherly umbilical cord connects the Dragon to the Beast. The Dragon fuels it.
As Revelation 13:2 shows, “The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.” Do you see this! The Great Dragon, Satan the Devil, gives this Beast his power, his throne, and great authority.
This further cements that The Beast is the visible representative of Satan’s invisible throne over the inhabitants of the earth in those future days. This Beast will have great power and authority over the masses of people (waters) in those future days. (Revelation 17:15)
Upon its initial establishment, this Beast will present itself as a benefactor to the inhabitants of the earth. It will not be menacing. It will create peaceful and secure paradise conditions on earth. Satan uses his Beast to dupe the masses that it brings order to the chaos that he caused in the sea of mankind when he came out of the Abyss. The kingdom of the Beast could span hundreds of years. It would not be unreasonable to see how the inhabitants of the earth become accustomed to government that provides them with a peaceful, secure, and paradisiacal conditions. (Revelation 20:7-8)
The Seven Heads
“This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.” (Revelation 17:9-10)
The heads on this Beast are the visible human proxies/rulers/hood ornaments – so-to-speak – that the Dragon gives power and authority to speak and govern on his behalf.
These heads – kings – do not coexist. Each has a day and time period in which they are allowed by the Dragon to control the Beast. That is, only one king is head over the Beast at a time.
Notice at Revelation 13: 6 we see the expression mouth used in the singular, not plural. So the Beast as a mouth to speak, not mouths. Meaning that only the head controlling the Beast speaks. Again, confirming that the heads on the Beast do not coexist.
“It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.”
There will be an eighth king or head that will sit far above the seven heads. Again, not all heads coexist. The eighth king or head that will sit on top of the Beast will be the last. When this head is destroyed, so does the Beast. Let’s continue as this will become clear.
Notice what the Apostle John writes at Revelation 17:10 about these seven heads …
“They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.
During the tenure of the Dragon’s Beast (kingdom on earth), five of the controlling heads (kings) will have died out or fallen. That is, no longer existing to control the Beast. John speaks of a head or king that is. In other words, during the tenure of the Beast, there will be a sixth head (king) controlling it. Then he speaks of a seventh king (head) that has not come yet.
Please try to understand that the Beast and thus none of these heads have arrived yet. I am fully aware that many have been taught that the Beast is now and that the heads have existed in the past and one at present. This is taught in error.
Next, notice how Johns’s attention is directed away from the heads and to the Beast itself upon which the heads reside.
“The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.” (Revelation 17:10)
Notice how the life or existence of the Beast is associated with a king or head. After all seven heads fall, an eighth king or head sprouts on top of the Beast. This head or king is mysterious. Why? Because we were told at Revelation 13:1 that when this Beast came up out of the sea, it had seven heads! Now we see it with an eighth head or king controlling it. Hang in there, this is going to get good!
Also notice how the Beast itself – as a whole – is now an eighth king! This eighth controller of the Beast belongs to the past seven heads in that – like them – this eighth king will have a time period in which it controls the Beast!
This eighth king will be the last controller of the Beast and “is going to his destruction.” Remember this expression because it will assist you in learning who Babylon the Great will prove to be.
At Revelation 13:3, we are told, “One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast.”
What is this?
If the controlling head receives a fatal wound, the Beast itself dies! So the head wounded here is not one the seven heads that come up out of the sea, but another. It is an appendage of the first Beast out of the sea. That is, born out of it. It is seen as another Beast … but really an appendage of the first Beast, This Beast comes out of the earth. Something already established and standing in control of the earth. What? The Beast itself! This appendage head will have two horns like a lamb but will speak like a dragon. It has no crowns on its horns, so it will not have authority as a king over the Beast. (See below – The Beast Out of the Earth)
That one of the seven heads appears to have suffered a fatal wound means that there will be a relatively brief silencing of the propaganda that will spew out of one of the heads of this Beast. It appears that the angelic message of the Good News of God’s Kingdom will squash the blasphemous propaganda that will have been coming out of the mouth of one of the heads of the Beast. It goes quiet to prepare a response that the people will accept as truth and power. But it will recover.
The Dragon convincingly breathes life back into that head. The Beast speaks even louder and bolder. It challenges and blasphemes God and those who live in heaven. No fire comes down out of heaven to smite it. Did the Beast prove itself more powerful? The people are amazed! The inhabitants of the earth will see and experience the great power of the unseen Dragon that it was able to do such a thing. The people will be amazed at whatever this feat is performed by the Dragon. It will be awe-inspiring and deceptive at the same time.
The Ten Horns
“The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.” (Revelation 17:12)
When this Beast came up out of the sea, the Dragon stationed upon its heads horns with crowns on the horns! Ten horns in total. What is being described at Revelation 17:12? What we see here confirms what I previously talked about: That the heads on this Beast do not coexist. The horns are on the heads! We are being told here that each head will – in their appointed time by the Dragon – will receive a kingdom or authority over the Beast. That is, control it! The length of their respective control or authority over the Beast is likened to an hour. Notice that these horns (and the head upon the horn(s) is attached) receive its authority to control the Beast. From who? The Dragon.
The Beast is made up of the heads and the horns. No head controlling the Beast, no Beast. By the time I finish this article, you will see this Beast with a ruling head, but with no crowns. But the rider controlling it is a ruler.
The Ten Crowns
“The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.” (Revelation 13:1)
At Revelation 13:1, we see the ascension of the Beast out if the sea, it has seven heads, ten horns, and ten crowns on its horns.
You saw earlier that the heads on this Beast are the visible human proxies/rulers that will administer, manage, and control the Beast at seven different time periods of the Beast’s existence. These heads do not co-exist. You also saw that the horns on the heads of this Beast “are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.” In other words, each of these Kings/Rulers will have their individual turn for a short time span (as if for one-hour) to rule as kings along with the Beast.
The crowns on the horns (kings) show that they are indeed kings with the power and authority and kings over the Beast and that which the Beast sits on top of, all of the inhabitants on earth in those future days.
Beast Out of the Earth (Revelation 13:11)
“Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon.” (Revelation 13:2)
This is the same beast as the first but being viewed as if being resurrected as if from the dead. This is the head on the beast that received the fatal wound. (Revelation 13:3)
Notice that it had two horns (power and authority) like an innocent, obedient, docile, and gentle lamb. So, in appearance it looks Christ-like. Yet, when this head opens its mouth, it speaks in support of the Dragon.
Notice that this Beast’s head “exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf.” Meaning that it is a part of the first Beast, with one of its heads talking. (Revelation 13:2)
In fact, the head on this beast, “made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed.” Pay close very close attention here: Notice that this head on the Beast made or convinced the inhabitants of the earth to worship the first beast whose fatal wound had been healed. Wait a minute! Did the first beast die or did one of its heads die? Clearly, this second beast is the head on the beast that received the fatal wound and was brought back life as miraculously resurrected from the dead or inactive state.
And how would this Beast convince? How does anyone convince another? By fruit of lips! That is, speaking! It will be by the same fruit of lips (convincing argument) that the Serpent in the Garden got the Woman Eve to listen to (eat). (Hebrews 13:15 and Isa 57:19)
The temporary fatal wound this Beast receives means that its mouth will be closed up for a short time. When it begins to speak convincingly again means it comes back to life again.
That it is alive again gives it more clout, influence, power, and juice to make a convincing argument to the people to worship the beast and set up an image to it. This Beast out of the Earth is the one and the same Beast viewed with one of its heads falling as if dead to the earth and being resurrected – brought back to life again by the Dragon – out of the earth. This makes it appear that the Dragon is Creator and Owner of the earth before the people. As only God and through His Son can resurrect the dead. Yet here, the Dragon does it in order to wow the inhabitants that he is their god!
“And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.” (Revelation 13:13-14)
The head of this Beast will perform wondrous acts and signs in full view of people on behalf of the Beast itself in order to deceive the inhabitants of the earth.
“The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.” (Revelation 13:15)
This head or mouthpiece on this Beast will be responsible for the creation of the Image of the Beast – a Constitution – that will provide the lawful basis to punish any who do not worship (support) it.
“It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads.” (Revelation 13:16)
The head or mouthpiece on this Beast will force (enforce the laws) where all of the inhabitants of the earth must receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads.
This mark is not some microchip embedded in the hand or on the forehead. The mark will be some act one must perform in front of the public eye that shows where one allegiance lies. It could be a salute, a hand gesture to the forehead, a Heil Hitler (just kidding, maybe not), or some other act that shows before all if you are down with Satan’s Throne. Refusal to perform whatever the act may mark one as a dissenter. Remember, Satan gets his worship through things.
This head on the Beast is a special one. It is the only one out of the seven that died (had its mouth shut up) and was resurrected to life again by the Dragon so that it could speak more powerfully and convincingly.
This Beast – a head – out of the earth -as you will see later – is the Prostitute that rides on top of it. (Revelation 17:1)
Image of the Beast
The Image of the Beast will prove to be is a set of laws, rules, and regulations all within Satan’s kingdom are to be governed by. All must sign off and support (worship) this image.
NOTE: Before one is granted citizenship within the United States, for example, they must show support and allegiance (worship) to the written document by which all Americans are governed, Constitution of the United States. It is the image of the United States of America. Likewise, in future days, all of the earth will be governed by a global constitutional document that reflects (images) the Beast.
Codified within this document will be a law that will essentially state …
“that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.” (Revelation 13:17)
The name of the Beast are the blasphemous names written on each head. Satan’s throne on earth (Beast) was …
“given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.” (Revelation 13:5-6
So, the inhabitants on the earth in those future days are expected – knowingly, unknowingly, wittingly, or unwittingly – to perform acts that blaspheme God, slander his name, his dwelling place, and those who live in heaven.
The Dragon prepares those within his kingdom to blaspheme God, his name, his dwelling place, and those who live in heaven. He does this through his Beast and its Image. He will be largely successful!
So the stage will be set for contention between two kingdoms: The one the Dragon establishes upon the earth (the Beast) and the one that will come down to the earth from heaven, God’s kingdom. This is the place in Hebrew called Armageddon. Thus, kingdom against kingdom.
The Scarlet-Colored Beast
“Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.” (Revelation 17:3)
Notice that this scarlet-colored beast resembles the first beast at Revelation 13:1 that has ten horns, seven heads, ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. EXCEPT, this beast does not have crowns on its horns.
Notice that this beast – as a whole – is covered with blasphemous names. Whereas, the Beast at Revelation 13:1 has blasphemous names on each head. (Revelation 17:3)
So what is this Beast? It is the same as the first Beast at Revelation 13:1 seen at a future time and morphed into something murderous. No longer do we see this Beast (out of the sea) with crowns on its horns. Now we see it with a single rider on top of it! In fact, the last rider and controller of the Beast. (I’ll get to that Rider in a moment)
Note: The past tense used at Revelation 17:3: “Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.”
This tells us at this future point in time, the heads of this Beast have been diminished or subservient. None of the heads are in control of the Beast, a lavish woman – a prostitute – does. She is most curious.
That this Beast is scarlet in color shows it is royally and visibly adorned and presented in a way unlike its previous controllers presented it: With glory, grandeur, and GREATNESS. The Beast at this time will become something greater and grander than its previous self.
Recall back at Revelation 13:2, the Beast received its power, its throne, and GREAT authority from the Dragon. This means that the Dragon sits above the Beast. It is the mother of the Beast. It is the source of the Beast’s power.
In time, a woman, an allegorical woman, will sit on top of the Beast and control (ride) it. Still above her is the Dragon.
So this scarlet Beast is the same as the first Beast of Revelation 13:1 but seen in its last days of its existence. When this Beast changes its color to scarlet, it will show favor those who worship it through its image, but during this time of its changed color, it will act with utmost and deadly cruelty towards God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. (Revelation 17:6)
The Woman Who Rides on Top of the Scarlet-Colored Beast
“Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. The name written on her forehead was a mystery: Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and of the Abominations of the Earth.” (Revelation 17:1-5)
The Woman is seen in a wilderness sitting on top of the scarlet colored Beast I described earlier.
If you know your Bible, then you know that a literal woman was sent out into a wilderness: Hagar, Abraham’s concubine and the mother of Ishmael.
Too, Hagar had relations – fornicated – with Abraham because Sarah – his wife – was barren. This arrangement was at Sarah’s request.
Abraham’s son, Ishmael, was produced as a result of that union. And, as some of you may know, Hagar and Sarah did not get along. Hagar came to despise Sarah and Sarah would humiliate Hagar. When Sarah complained to Abraham about Hagar, Abraham basically told Sarah that Hagar was her maidservant and that she has the authority to do with her as she pleased.
Sarah humiliated Hagar to such an extent that she ran away, pregnant with her child Ishmael. God’s angel instructed Hagar to return to Sarah and humble herself before her. Hagar was promised by the Angel that God greatly multiply her seed and that the son to be born to her was to be called Ishmael. Hagar did as the Angel directed.
In time, barren Sarah gave birth to Isaac. The two women in Abraham’s life presented a problem: Two sons of Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael was 14 years older than his half-brother Isaac.
During a feast for Isaac, Ishmael began poking fun at Isaac. Based on the account, it appears that Ishmael was really going at his younger brother in a violent and threatening way. Sarah, fearing for her son’s life, asked Abraham to drive Hagar and her son Ishmael out. Abraham was not happy about Sarah’s complaint and request, but God’s Angel directed Abraham to drive Hagar and her son out from among them.
Hagar and her son wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
To make a long story short, God’s angel came to Hagar and her sons aid and true to God’s promise, Ishmael became a great nation.
So, what does this have to do with this Woman that rides upon the scarlet-colored Beast? That this woman is seen in a wilderness implies that something drove her out into it.
That she is seen sitting on top of a scarlet-colored Beast, means that she controls it; but also her seed would become an uncountable multitude! Thus, she would become a mother to multitudes of people. Recall, God – through his angel – promised Hagar that …
“I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.” (Genesis 16:10)
Who ordered Hagar and her son driven out? Abraham did through God’s angel direction! Why? Because his older brother – Ishmael – was taunting to persecuting him and God had promised that Hagar’s seed would become an uncountable multitude.
The woman on this scarlet colored Beast prefigures Abraham’s concubine, Hagar whose seed produced an uncountable multitude. Notice what we are told about this woman at Revelation 17:1:
“…who sits by many waters.”
Who are the waters? Revelation 17:15 answers …
“The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.”
I want to emphasize here: The problem is not with the waters of people- the seed of the woman – but with the woman, It was Hagar who despised Abraham’s wife, Sarah. Sarah did not initially have a problem with Hagar, her maidservant, because she requested Abraham have sexual relations with her so that he would have an heir. Sarah’s issue with Hagar came as a reaction to her becoming disrespectful.
At Revelation 12:1-6, we see this woman when she is pregnant and also when she gives birth and then fleeing into the wilderness.
“A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.”
The great sign appearing in heaven (not on earth), is the same sign Jesus’ disciples asked him about at Matthew 24:3 and he answers at Matthew 24:30.
The sign is the birth of Christ’s promised 1000-year kingdom. That kingdom would have an uncountable number of subjects in it! That 1000-year kingdom is produced or born out of the woman clothed with symbolic heavenly entities: the sun, the moon, and stars. This shows that the woman is God’s heavenly kingdom!
We see the Dragon waiting for the woman to give birth to her child so that he can consume it. That is consume Christ’s 1000-year kingdom so that it never takes root.
So God, the greater Abraham, sends His the woman – the mother of his son along with His son – out into the wilderness where she is taken care of.
When on earth, who was driven out into the wilderness and who came to him to tempt him with kingdoms and glory?
It was God’s son, born of a woman! Satan came to him to deceive and tempt him!
When Christ’s kingdom of 1000-years begins, all of the existing kingdoms of mankind will have been destroyed. So the earth itself will be a symbolic wilderness. This is the wilderness into which the woman flees. What will stand upon that symbolic barren earth is Christ’s kingdom is established upon it; an earth to be transformed into a paradise as Jesus promised. It will take 1000-years. In the interim, the Dragon is abyssed for 1000-years.
Sometime after Christ’s kingdom of 1000-years will have ended (perhaps many hundreds of years) and Satan is released from the Abyss, deceives the uncountable seed (waters) of the woman, and establishes his throne (Beast) on earth in those future days, the woman herself has control and authority over her seed (she is their mother) and allowed to control the Beast itself for a short while! That is why we see her riding or sitting on top of it.
Notice what Revelation 17:18 says of this woman …
“The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”
So, the woman who sits upon the scarlet-colored Beast is not a literal woman. She is a GREAT CITY that RULES OVER THE KINGS OF THE EARTH!
This city will not arise to greatness overnight. It becomes a great city! It evolves into such!
You saw earlier in this discussion where I talked about the heads, horns, and crowns on the first Beast. That each of the seven heads represents seven different kings or kingdoms that will proxy the Beast at different time periods. These heads do not coexist. That the ten horns on the heads of the body of the Beast represent ten kings or kingdoms who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the Beast. The expression “… are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.” confirms that the heads along with their respective horns and crowns do not coexist. Each, in its appointed time, receives a kingdom with the Beast. Not all at the same time will. (Revelation 17:12)
The horns are the Kings of the Earth!
So pervasive this GREAT CITY (the Woman) is, she not only sits on top of the waters of people but also over the Kings of the Earth! She rules them!
“The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.” (Revelation 17:18)
The Waters
“Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.” (Revelation 17:15)
The Beast came into existence because of the Great Dragon. The Dragon is the mother of the Beast. The Great Dragon sits at the top of a hierarchy. When he comes out of the Abyss, he stations himself on an invisible throne over the earth in the spirit realm.
Below the Dragon sits a Beast. The Beast is the visible representation of Satan’s throne over the earth. The Dragon – who sits above or on top of the Beast – gives this Beast his power and his throne and great authority. This confirms that the Beast is a throne on earth. (Revelation 13:2)
The Beast sits on top of something, too! What or who? Firstly, when we see the Beast coming out of the sea, where does it go? It comes up onto the shore onto the land or earth! And it sits on the earth. That is, on top of people. People do not come from the sea or live on the sea. We were created out of the earth. When we die, we will be resurrected out of the earth.
Secondly, at Revelation 17:1 and Revelation 17:15 we see a woman sitting on top of the scarlet-colored Beast. This woman sits on top of many waters. If she sits on top of the Beast and sits on top of many waters, then the Beast that she sits on top of also sits on top of many waters.
We are told exactly who the waters are: are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. (Revelation 17:15)
Waters are all of the inhabitants who were a part of the second resurrection. Their numbers are innumerable. (Rev 7:9)
Visualize the hierarchy.
The Kings of the Earth
The expression Kings of the Earth stumbles many. The narrative spun to identify them as the political kings, rulers, presidents, or prime ministers of the past and present is in error. Why?
Because in those future days when Christ establishes his kingdom over the earth, all existing kings and kingdoms (countries) will have been long destroyed. Forgotten.
Thus, when Satan ascends out of the Abyss – after Christ’s 1000-year kingdom over the earth ends – and establishes his visible throne (Beast) on earth, it should be understood that the existing nations, countries, kings, kingdoms, etc will no longer be in existence. So, the Kings of the Earth mentioned in The Book of Revelation is something different.
The first place Kings of the Earth is mentioned is at Revelation 1:5. We are told that they have a ruler over them! Who? Jesus Christ!
“and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.”
Jesus promised his Chosen One’s that they will inherit the earth. From who? From him! (Matthew 5:5)
Further – and as confirmation to the above – who do we see on earth before Satan comes up out of the Abyss? These Kings of the Earth!
“Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6) (Also see Revelation 20:4)
The number of these Kings of the Earth will be 144,000. (Revelation 14:1) They have not been chosen yet because they are the first to be resurrected from the dead. The promised great resurrection is yet future.
The second place Kings of (over) the Earth is mentioned is at Revelation 5:10. There, we are told that Christ “made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
Confirmed again: These Kings of the Earth – whose Ruler is Jesus – are made a kingdom and priest to serve God and THEY WILL REIGN ON EARTH!
The third place Kings of the Earth is mentioned at Revelation 6:15. Here, we see the Kings of the Earth deceived and having submitted themselves in service to the Beast.
Note: You cannot read The Book of Revelation like a novel. It gives a general overview of events – like an outline – and then it goes back and provides more details of those events. It is important to understand this. The book appears as if it jumps all over the place, but it doesn’t if you understand the style in which it is written. You will become confused. For example, we see a Beast at Revelation 13 that has seven heads, ten horns, and ten crowns on each horn. Later, at Revelation 17, we see a Beast that is scarlet in color and it has seven heads and ten horns, but no crowns on its heads. It is the same Beast seen at a different time.
The forth place Kings of the Earth is found at Revelation 16:14. Here we see them at some time period within the throne of the Beast being deceived by the Dragons propaganda to fight against the coming down of God’s kingdom to the earth. God’s war, not man’s war!
The fifth place we see Kings of the Earth is at Revelation 17:2. We see them committing fornication/adultery with the woman who sits on top of the scarlet-colored Beast. And, as a result of that union, the inhabitants of the earth are duped, primed, and prepared to resist the coming down of God’s kingdom to the earth.
This woman is not a literal woman. She is something very great on earth. She is a GREAT CITY or organization. Whose city or organization? So, great she is, is that she sits on top of the Beast and all the people. She even sits on top of The Kings of the Earth! (Revelation 17:18)
Remember I spoke of a hierarchy. Who sits above the Beast? A Woman! This woman has a name on her forehead identifying her as Babylon the Great. Who gave birth to the Beast? Who created it? A Woman! Only women can conceive and give birth. I am giving you hints here.
The sixth place we see Kings of the Earth is at Revelation 17:18. We see them under the woman.
The seventh place we see Kings of the Earth is at Revelation 18:3. We see them already have committed fornication with the Woman, this Great City. Meaning that they are in union with it. They are a part of it. Joined with it. Loyal to it.
The eighth place we see Kings of the Earth is at Revelation 18:9. At the destruction of this great woman, they will weep. No more fornicating for them. No more favors!
The ninth place we see Kings of the Earth is at Revelation 19:19. We see them aligned against the woman – the rider on the Beast to fight against Christ, the rider on the White horse who is the champion of God’s kingdom, Jesus Christ. When one reads at Revelation 19:19, it would appear that these Kings of the Earth are aligned with the woman. No, they are not. They will come to hate the woman, Babylon the Great.
Keep in mind that these kings will be a part of Satan’s visible throne on earth, the Beast. They come to hate the rider on the Beast who sits on top of them! So when the woman is destroyed, the Beast is severed from it’s umbilical cord that infused it with power, authority, and made it a throne! The Beast dies. (Revelation 19:20)
The tenth place we see Kings of the Earth is at Revelation 21:24. In the battle at the place called Armageddon, these Kings of the Earth are not destroyed with the Beast and the False Prophet. Why? Because they cannot be killed in a literal sense. That they were a part of the first resurrection, they were granted eternal life, immortality. They will come to hate the woman and turn on her. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, when the woman is destroyed, the Beast cannot continue. It is destroyed as well. (Revelation 17:16)
When God’s kingdom over the earth is established over the earth, these Kings of the Earth will bring their glory into it.
So, these Kings of the Earth are not past or present political kings. The Kings of the Earth mentioned in Revelation have not arrived yet.
Who Is Babylon The Great?
“The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.” … “The name written on her forehead was a mystery: Babylon the Great the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth.” (Revelation 17:5 and Revelation 17:18)
Now it’s time to identify who Babylon the Great will prove to be.
Remember I called your attention to visualizing a hierarchy.
When Satan, the Great Dragon ascends out of the Abyss, it will be for the purpose of claiming the earth as his, establishing his throne over it by which he is worshiped.
At the very top – and invisible to us – is the invisible throne of the Dragon over the earth. It will reside in the invisible spiritual realm.
On earth, he establishes a visible representation of his invisible throne. That visible throne is called The Beast. It will not be known by that name in future days. The Apostle John is describing what he sees.
Human rulers (kings) will be allowed to manage, administer, control, and govern the people on earth through this Beast. That is why we see heads, horns, crowns, and – lastly – a rider upon it at various times of its existence on earth. The heads on this Beast do not coexist.
In this hierarchy, we see sitting below the Beast, the inhabitants of the earth (the waters) in those future days.
The last controller and rider of the Beast is a proverbial woman. She has a name written on her forehead. The name is a mystery or not understood. It would take time to unravel who has always sat invisibly over the Beast.
Yes, the Beast had visible heads (kings) on it prior to a woman appearing on top of it. They were no mystery! All on earth will know who they are during their tenure as kings (heads) on the Beast.
This last rider on the Beast – a woman with a mysterious name on her forehead – will no longer be a mystery to the Kings of the Earth and the people on earth. She will be exposed – naked – as the invisible throne of Satan over the earth. The master puppeteer pulling the strings.
The Kings of the Earth will realize the great deception. It will take an announcement by God’s angel of the Good News of the Kingdom to slap them into sobriety! (Revelation 14:6)
They turn on the woman. “They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.” (Revelation 17:16)
Recall who created or gave birth to the Beast! Who gave it life! Who gave the Beast his power and his throne and great authority! The Dragon!
Babylon the Great is not the Dragon, but his invisible seat of power over the earth. It was undetected. Hidden from the inhabitants of the earth for perhaps hundreds of years. What was hidden and a mystery, until exposed.
Remember what is written at Ephesians 6:12,
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
The Beast – Satan’s visible throne on earth – will be seen by the people! Its kings will be seen by the people. The last king or rider – the woman – will not be seen to be recognized. She will be invisible because she is a spiritual force. Satan’s powerful spiritual force and presence that influences and manipulates.
Babylon the Great – Satan’s invisible throne over the earth – will sit hidden on top of the Beast, the Kings of the Earth, and all of the people.
For a time, Satan allows human rulers (heads) to sit on top of the Beast. They are who the people see. Then, in time, be pulls an okey-doke and removes them and he directly sits on top of it through an invisible woman, his invisible throne. It will be as if the visible Beast becomes possessed of demons. In a sense, it will because no human rulers will sit on will top it.
This woman will act cruelly towards God’s people.
My book, “The Revelation From Jesus Christ Which God Gave Him” will go into much more detail and connect many dots that might not be apparent here.
What I request all to do: Go to a private place away from the eye and earshot of people, and ask the Creator of the heavens and the earth for his wisdom, his understanding, and his knowledge. We cannot lean upon our own.
It is important that I make this request because it lets the reader know that I am not seeking attention to myself. I want the reader to go to our Creator – through the only mechanism He made possible – His son, to beech Him for illumination.
It the end of the day, we are to sit ourselves in front of our Master and let him lead us, teach us, and guide us to the Father as only he knows the way.
The religious systems of this world want the masses to sit before them and they seek to be proxies between us and our Lord, Jesus Christ and our God and Jesus’ God and Father.
This information will shake many to anger. This information will peak interest and curiosity to further investigation. Yet, before investigation, approach the Father in prayer! You want to know the painful truth despite what this world teaches.
Ask and you will receive. What you receive will not initially be easy to swallow and digest. But it will be the truth.
The truth will never be an easy pill to take and digest in this world.
