PROPHECIES INTERPRETED

In 17:7-18 John interprets his vision of the Great Whore. This monster is a parody of Christ, event of the point of a future second coming. All of the symbols John uses to describe the enemies of God’s people – the monster, the abyss, the great city, Babylon, the great whore, the monster from the sea - actually describe the one reality – imperial Rome.

Identifying the various numbered kings in vs. 9-13 is a confusing and pointless exercise. Many have tried, even to identifying some of them with modern nations like Australia and China, which is certainly a false approach. The point John makes is that many nations will surely persecute the Christian faithful and in so doing will make war on the Lamb (vs. 14).

John saw these agents of persecution from the point of view of Christ who is ever the victor. Furthermore, his companions in victory will also be those who are faithful. Indeed, John believed that the victory of Christ over sin and death on the cross was the inaugural victory of God. It would be re-enacted again and again in his faithful followers in John’s time and thereafter until the end time determined by God alone.

Vss. 15-18 contains another prophecy describing the destruction of the great whore, i.e Rome. This appears to happen by the rebellion of client kingdoms which formerly yielded their power and authority to Rome. But this too is within God’s purpose. As Professor Caird noted, “the savaging of the whore by the monster and its horns is John’s most vivid symbol for the self-destroying power of evil. Every power which sets itself up against God shall in the end break itself on the Cross of his Son and the martyr witness of his saints. In the end, self-giving love triumphs.