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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Revelation 17
Verse Commentaries:
Chapter Level Commentary:
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired but it is the key to following the original author's intent which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Third paragraph
4. Etc.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS TO Rev_17:1 to Rev_18:24
A. These two chapters describe in detail the destruction of Babylon whose fall was mentioned earlier in Rev_14:8; Rev_16:19, as well as Rev_18:2; Rev_18:21. Each of these occurs in a separate literary unit (12-14), (15-16), and (17-19). This could be another example of parallelism or recapitulation.
B. The Old Testament background of these two chapters is found in the funeral dirges written to applaud the fall of ancient godless cities:
1. Babylon (cf. Isaiah 13, 14, 21 and Jeremiah 50-51)
2. Tyre (cf. Isaiah 23 and Ezekiel 26-28)
3. Nineveh (cf. Nahum)
4. wicked Jerusalem (cf. Isa_1:1-26; Eze_16:51-52)
C. This concept of a fallen world system that is antagonistic to God is presented in Psalms 2, Daniel 2; Daniel 7; Dan_9:24-27; Matthew 24 : Mark 13; Luke 21; and 1Jn_2:15-20.
D. Revelation uses OT funeral dirges to describe the fall of Rome, the anti-God world empire of Johns' day. However, this same independent, arrogant, materialistic, anti-God world system is present in every age (cf. 1Jn_2:18). It will also ultimately manifest itself as an end-time ruler and world empire (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2). The details that will help John's last generation readers identify the end-time Antichrist may reappear in the last days. The problem has been that every generation of believers has tried to force Revelation into its day!
This book has first-century relevance, every-century relevance, and last-century relevance. It is best not to push the details. They had meaning (first hearers); they will have meaning again (the last generation). But for the great majority of the generations of believers, they are mysteries. It is much better to assert the central truths of the seven literary units. These are eternally relevant! If the details become strictly literal for the last generations of persecuted believers they will not need a commentator to tell them!
E. William Hendriksen, More Than Conquerors, asserts the parallelism of all seven sections of Revelation (see note C. p. 10). In so doing he asserts the parallel of the fall of believers' enemies (Satan; two beasts; and Babylon, anti-God, anti-Christ world system). Although their destruction is dealt with separately (Satan, Rev_20:7-10; the two beasts, Rev_19:17-21; and Babylon, Rev_18:1 to Rev_19:4), they are really simultaneous, just like the seals, trumpets, and bowls.
In many ways this is an attractive interpretive structure that extends the obvious parallelism of the seals (Revelation 4-7), trumpets (Revelation 8-11), and bowls (Revelation 15-16) to Revelation 17-19 and Revelation 20-22.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.
1. Are Revelation 17, 18 a literary unit? If so, why?
2. Why is it so difficult to interpret when Babylon fell?
3. Who does Babylon, the great whore, refer to in John's day? In our day? In the end-time?
4. What is the immorality and wine referred to in Rev_14:8; Rev_17:2; Rev_18:3 in connection with this world system?
5. Please explain your interpretation of Rev_17:10-11.
6. From what OT book are most of John's allusions taken?