Single lesson
Revelation 17: The Woman on the Beast
Revelation 17:1–5; Revelation 17:6–13; Revelation 17:14–18
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. This lesson also brings together The Mystery Explained, The Victory of the Lamb.
Before you teach
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.
Explain the central teaching of Revelation 17: The Woman on the Beast, using two details from the reading. This vision presents a woman of great splendour whose image, actions, and written name are all tied to impurity and judgment. This vision explains that the beast’s power looks impressive and united for a time, yet it is marked by opposition to God’s people and moves towards destruction. This vision says that the Lamb overcomes opposing powers, and that God’s words are accomplished through what happens in the vision.
Welcome: Revelation 17: The Woman on the Beast
5 minIntroduce “The Woman on the Beast”, “The Mystery Explained”, “The Victory of the Lamb” and locate Revelation 17:1–5; Revelation 17:6–13; Revelation 17:14–18. This vision presents a woman of great splendour whose image, actions, and written name are all tied to impurity and judgment. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Revelation 17:1, Revelation 17:3, Revelation 17:5
Read and explain the passage
12 minThe Woman on the Beast (Revelation 17:1–5): 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.
The Mystery Explained (Revelation 17:6–13): John sees the woman as “drunken with the blood of the saints” and “the martyrs of Jesus”, showing a shocking picture of violence against God’s people. He responds with great amazement. The angel then addresses John’s wonder and says he will explain the mystery of both the woman and the beast with seven heads and ten horns.
The Victory of the Lamb (Revelation 17:14–18): The passage begins with conflict: “These will war against the Lamb”. Yet the outcome is clear. The Lamb overcomes because he is “Lord of lords and King of kings”. Those with him are described with three words: called, chosen and faithful. The verse focuses on the Lamb’s authority and the character of his companions.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “The Woman on the Beast”, “The Mystery Explained”, “The Victory of the Lamb”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Revelation 17:1, Revelation 17:6, Revelation 17:7, Revelation 17:14
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “What does the angel say he will show John at the start of the vision?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. This vision says that the Lamb overcomes opposing powers, and that God’s words are accomplished through what happens in the vision. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Revelation 17:1, Revelation 17:8, Revelation 17:11, Revelation 17:17
Make and respond: Vision and message evidence map
12 minWork on “Revelation 17: The Woman on the Beast: Vision and message evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “The Woman on the Beast”, “The Mystery Explained”, “The Victory of the Lamb” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Revelation 17:1, Revelation 17:10, Revelation 17:18
Closing: return to The Victory of the Lamb
3 minRevisit Revelation 17:14–18. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about The Victory of the Lamb and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Revelation 17:14, Revelation 17:16, Revelation 17:18
Questions to explore
What 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.
Revelation 17:1
What repeated outcome is stated for the beast despite its alarming appearance?
Notice that both the description of the beast and the later explanation end with the same direction: it goes to destruction.
Revelation 17:8, Revelation 17:11
According to verse 17, what does God put in their hearts to do, and how long does this last?
Notice the phrases about being of one mind, giving their kingdom to the beast, and the point when the words of God are accomplished.
Revelation 17:17
Make, think or respond
Revelation 17: The Woman on the Beast: Vision and message evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “What the passage describes”, “What is explained in the text”, “What question remains”.
- Read Revelation 17:1–5; Revelation 17:6–13; Revelation 17:14–18. Use “The Woman on the Beast”, “The Mystery Explained”, “The Victory of the Lamb” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Circle an explanation the passage itself provides. Leave unexplained details as questions for further reading.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Revelation 17: The Woman on the Beast connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “The Woman on the Beast”, “The Mystery Explained”, “The Victory of the Lamb” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Revelation 17:1–5; Revelation 17:6–13; Revelation 17:14–18. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Revelation 17:1–5; Revelation 17:6–13; Revelation 17:14–18. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Revelation 17
1 One 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,
2 with 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.”
3 He 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.
4 The 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.
5 And on her forehead a name was written, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”
6 I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great amazement.
7 The angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
8 The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction. Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present.
9 Here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.
10 They are seven kings. Five have fallen, the one is, and the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must continue a little while.
11 The beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goes to destruction.
12 The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.
13 These have one mind, and they give their power and authority to the beast.
14 These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with him are called, chosen, and faithful.”
15 He said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.
16 The ten horns which you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute, will make her desolate, will strip her naked, will eat her flesh, and will burn her utterly with fire.
17 For God has put in their hearts to do what he has in mind, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished.
18 The woman whom you saw is the great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.