The Harlot of Revelation 17

[Articles in the Multiple Views series are intended to present various views held by Christians, in an objective and unbiased manner]

In Revelation 17, we see the Apostle John mention “a woman sitting on a scarlet beast” (Revelation 17:3). This woman “is drunk – but her inebriation does not flow from any typical liquors. Her drink of choice is the blood of the saints [seen in v.6]. She is wrapped in a harlot’s robes, and this inscription is found scrawled across her forehead: “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND THE ABOMINATION OF THE EARTH” (Revelation 17:5) …

An angel unravels the mystery of this woman’s identity. As it turns out, this scene is not about a woman at all. The woman symbolizes a city, “the great city that rules over the kings of the earth” (Revelation 17:18). But this city’s rule does not last forever. “In one day, her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning, and famine, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her” (18:8).

But what city could this woman possibly be? And when does she fall? Or could it be that she has already fallen? Here are the three possibilities for the city symbolized by the woman on the beast” [1], which has been postulated:

What city could the harlot symbolise?	When does the city fall?
Jerusalem – judged because of their rejection of Jesus as Messiah	In AD 70 when TItus beseiged the city and destroyed the temple. While the defenders of Jerusalem split into three factions (Revelation 16:19), the Roman armies passed easily over the Euphrates River (Revelation 16:12). During the siege, Roman catapults hurled massive white stones into the city (Revelation 16:21).
Rome & any other regime like ancient Rome – judged because of their exploitation and persecution for the sake of luxury and gain	They collapse will collapse upon themselves (Revelation 17:16-17) When Jesus returns, he will destroy all such powers once and for all
Babylon (thought to be rebuilt in the future along the Euphrates River in Iraq)	Near the end of the future seven-year tribulation. This fall of Babylon is also described in Isaiah 13-14 and Jeremiah 50-51

Source: Rose Guide to End-Times Prophecy (2011)

[1] Rose Guide to End-Times Prophecy (2011), p.261