Revelation 17:18

And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

• ·        The woman whom you saw is the great city = begins the final explanatory item of the bowl-carrying angel. The identity of the woman is given. She is the great city. (RC)

• ·        Which reigns (literally, has a kingdom) over the kings of the earth = is the final defining strait for the woman. The way the woman rules over the kings of the earth is through the Antichrist. This makes her a harlot. She prostitutes herself with Antichrist when she rightly belongs to God.  (RC)

Psalm 137:8  O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed, happy the one who repays you as you have served us!

Psalm 2:2  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed..

Revelation 17:17

For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.

• ·        For God has = signals that an explanation follows concerning why the ten kings will act as they do  (RC)

• ·        Until the words of God will be fulfilled = indicates that the destruction of the harlot is a fulfillment of prophecy.  (RC)

Isaiah 14:26 This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth…

Lamentations 2:17  The LORD has done what he purposed; He has fulfilled His word which he commanded in days of old. 

Revelation 17:16

And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

• ·        Will hate the harlot = is the first. Revelation 17:7 and 9 indicates that the harlot’s relationship to the beast is mutual. She wants to be with the beast and the beast wants her. Therefore, Revelation 17:16 must be taken in an ingressive sense. That is, the ten horns and the beast "will begin to hate the harlot." Something will happen that will change the relationship between the harlot, the beast, and his confederate nations.  (RC)

• ·        Will make here desolate and naked = signals both depopulation and shame.  (RC)

Daniel 7:24  The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom.  And another shall rise after them; he shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings.

Isaiah 1:21  How the faithful city has become a harlot!  It was full of justice; righteousness lodged in it, but now murderers.