Are Revelation 17 and 18 separate prophecies, or are they both talking about the Great Whore?

 

Revelation 17 and 18 comparison study.

Many people teach that Revelation 17 and Revelation 18 are two separate prophecies. Let's take a look!

There are several scriptures from both chapters that are identical!

Here, we have the same "name" given to this entity in both chapters:

Rev 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Rev 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

Here, we see she commits fornication with the kings of the earth in both chapters:

Rev 17:2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

Rev 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

Here, we see that she's decked with gold and arrayed in purple and scarlet, in both chapters:

Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

Rev 18:16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls !

Here, we see that she's a city in both chapters:

Rev 17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Rev 18:16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city...

Here, she's drunk with the blood of the saints:

Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

Rev 18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

She's a woman:

Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

Rev 18:7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

Here, we see judgment is come to her:

Rev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

Rev 18:10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

So we can see that the two chapters are definitely talking about the same entity, and referring to the same sins and punishment. It's not a separate prophecy in each, but simply a single entity and prophecy that spans both chapters.

Remember, the chapter and verse numbers in the Bible did not exist in the original writings, but were added later for references. Sometimes, the chapter divisions seem to indicate a division that's not really there.

This entity is also spoken of in Revelation 14 and 16 where it is destroyed during the wrath of God:

Rev 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 
Rev 16:19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

Rev 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.  3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication...

Rome is destroyed in chapter 16 as the great earthquake, bigger than any earthquake, ever, happens.

Rev 16:18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

Rev 18:21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. 

It's also important to know that this is not the Babylon of the time of Daniel. It's a "spiritual Babylon". Rev 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. This is not the same physical city that existed 2500 years ago.

There are many details about this entity that indicate she is the Roman Catholic Church (the Vatican)! Please see this document for detailed information: Who is the Great Whore?

If this offends you in any way, please know that I'm not condemning Catholics, but pleading with anyone in that church who loves Jesus to come out of her!

Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 

 

For more information, see the following pages:

Who is the Great Whore?

VIDEO: Who is the Great Whore, and who is the False Prophet?

What is a false religion?

For a detailed study of the Book of Revelation, click here!