Revelation 17 is a chapter in the Bible that talks about a strange and powerful vision seen by the apostle John. In this vision, an angel shows him something very important about the future and about the powers that fight against God. It uses a lot of symbols to describe these things.
John sees a woman sitting on a beast. The woman is dressed in purple and scarlet, wearing beautiful jewelry and holding a golden cup. But the cup is full of terrible things, and she is called “Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and of the Abominations of the Earth.” This woman is not a real person. She represents a powerful and evil system in the world. Many people believe she stands for a corrupt and sinful city or empire that influences the whole world. Some think it was the Roman Empire during John’s time, but others think it can mean any evil system that fights against God.
The beast she is sitting on has seven heads and ten horns. This beast also has blasphemous names written all over it. The beast is very strange. The angel explains that the beast “once was, now is not, and will come again.” This means it represents a powerful kingdom that existed, disappeared, and will return again in the future. The seven heads stand for seven kings or kingdoms. Five had already fallen, one was ruling during John’s time, and one was still to come. The ten horns stand for ten kings who will rule with the beast for a short time. These kings will work together and fight against Jesus, who is called the Lamb. But Jesus will win because He is the Lord of lords and King of kings. More details revelation 17 explained
Later in the vision, the beast and the ten kings turn against the woman and destroy her. They burn her and leave her ruined. This shows that evil systems will not last forever. Even the powers of the world that seem strong and successful will one day be destroyed by their own allies or by God’s judgment.
The chapter ends by explaining that the woman John saw is a great city that rules over the kings of the earth. In John’s time, this was probably the city of Rome. But again, it can also mean any powerful place or system that leads people away from God and into sin.
Revelation 17 teaches us that even though evil may look strong and attractive, it is full of lies and destruction. In the end, Jesus will defeat all evil. The chapter encourages believers to stay faithful and not to be fooled by the glitter and power of the world. It reminds us that God sees everything and that His judgment will come in the right time. Evil will fall, and those who follow Jesus will be with Him in victory.