Read & explore together
The Woman on the Beast
In this vision, an angel shows John a striking picture of a woman, a beast, and a written name. The passage uses vivid apocalyptic imagery to present a figure already marked out for judgment.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
Revelation 17:1–5 is given as a vision. One of the seven angels speaks to John, says he will show judgment, and carries him in the Spirit into a wilderness. John then reports what he sees: a woman, a scarlet beast, a golden cup, and a name written on her forehead.
Revelation 17:1–5Main takeaway
This vision presents a woman of great splendour whose image, actions, and written name are all tied to impurity and judgment.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01An angel announces judgmentThe passage begins with one of the seven angels inviting John to come and see “the judgment” of “the great prostitute”.
Explanation
The passage begins with one of the seven angels inviting John to come and see “the judgment” of “the great prostitute”. Before John describes what he sees, the angel states the theme of judgment. The woman is introduced as one who “sits on many waters”, which is part of the image given in the vision.
02The earth is linked to her immoralityVerse 2 describes how others are connected with the woman. “The kings of the earth” committed sexual immorality with her, and “those who dwell on the earth” were made drunk with the wine of her sexual immorality.
Explanation
Verse 2 describes how others are connected with the woman. “The kings of the earth” committed sexual immorality with her, and “those who dwell on the earth” were made drunk with the wine of her sexual immorality. These are the exact effects the vision names before John describes her appearance.
03John sees the woman on the beastJohn is carried “in the Spirit into a wilderness”, reminding readers that this is a visionary scene.
Explanation
John is carried “in the Spirit into a wilderness”, reminding readers that this is a visionary scene. There he sees a woman sitting on a scarlet-coloured beast. The beast is “full of blasphemous names” and has “seven heads and ten horns”. These details are presented as features of what John sees.
04Her cup and her written nameVerse 4 describes the woman’s dress in purple and scarlet, with gold, precious stones, and pearls.
Explanation
Verse 4 describes the woman’s dress in purple and scarlet, with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She holds a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of the sexual immorality of the earth. Then verse 5 adds a further detail: on her forehead is written, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does the angel say he will show John at the start of the vision?
Look for the angel’s exact promise in Revelation 17:1 and notice that judgment is named before the scene is described.
02How does the passage describe the woman’s effect on kings and on those who dwell on the earth?
Use the wording in Revelation 17:2 about sexual immorality and being made drunk with its wine.
03Which details in verses 4 and 5 describe the woman’s appearance, what she carries, and what is written on her forehead?
Notice her clothing and jewellery, the contents of the golden cup, and the full title written on her forehead in Revelation 17:4 and Revelation 17:5.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Revelation 17:1–5
1One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here. I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters,
2with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality. Those who dwell on the earth were made drunken with the wine of her sexual immorality.”
3He carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.
4The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of the sexual immorality of the earth.
5And on her forehead a name was written, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”