“The kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her…” (Revelation 17:2 CEB).
The woman who sat astride the scarlet beast of Revelation seventeen had a history of immoral relationships with the world’s political leaders. To better understand that dynamic, we should first remember that selfishness is an underlying (and often under-recognized) component of any immoral relationship. In the context of an inter-personal relationship, this involves one (or both) partners who seek to use one another to satisfy their various needs.
Here in Revelation 17:2, this reference to immorality likely means these governmental leaders (or “kings of the earth“) exploited this godless political system to serve their interests. Those interests might have involved tangible assets (like material or financial wealth), along with non-tangible assets like power or influence. This reminds us that it’s easy for leaders (and others) to become embroiled in various forms of immorality if they fail to recognize God’s sovereignty over their lives.
“…the people of the world became drunk from drinking the wine of her immorality” (Revelation 17:2 GNT).
One of the more unpleasant consequences of excessive drinking is the hangover that usually follows. The same is true of sinful acts and behaviors. While it may seem as if the “party will never end,” a hangover always follows in the form of judgment for such conduct.
“Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness…” (Revelation 17:3 NIV).
A wilderness area is typically associated with a remote, undeveloped region that is isolated from human activity. But much like everything else, this woman’s behavior could not escape the penetrating gaze of God’s Spirit, no matter where it took place.
“…I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was entirely covered with blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns” (Revelation 17:3 AMP).
We should note that the creature who bore these blasphemous names is the one who supports this woman. This emphasizes the demonic underpinnings of her activities along with those who engage with her.
“The woman wore purple and scarlet clothing and beautiful jewelry made of gold and precious gems and pearls. In her hand she held a gold goblet full of obscenities and the impurities of her immorality” (Revelation 17:4 NLT).
These opulent accessories point to the characteristic qualities of wealth, power, royalty, and prominence. The gold cup presumably appeared beautiful on the outside, but its interior held the filth of her adulteries. In like manner, this image reminds us that looking good and being good are not necessarily synonymous. As Jesus once reminded us, “…just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions” (Matthew 7:20 NLT).