Reading Revelation 17:9-18: When the Big Dogs Turn on Each Other
- Thad DeBuhr
- Jun 11
- 7 min read
Ever feel like the world is just a constant stream of bad news? You turn on the TV, scroll through your phone, and it’s always the same story: another dictator digging in, another powerful nation throwing its weight around, more attacks, often on innocent people, more death, more sadness. It feels like the world’s big players never change their stripes, always looking out for themselves, always pushing people down.
It can be tough to hold onto hope as a Christian when it seems like the world is just getting darker. You see the endless cycles of power grabs, corruption, and violence, and you start to wonder, "Will things ever really get better? Does God even care about all this mess?" It’s easy to feel like hope is a luxury we can't afford.
But what if there's an ancient message, tucked away in the Bible, that speaks directly to this feeling? Today, we're cracking open Revelation 17:9-18. It's got some wild stuff in it – a woman riding a beast with seven heads and ten horns. Sounds like something out of a sci-fi flick, right? But stick with me, because this picture has a real point for us today, a point that can actually reignite that hope when the world feels overwhelming.
Setting the stage: Revelation 17:9-18
This vision that John had wasn't just a crazy dream. Back in the first century, when Christians were getting a raw deal from the Roman Empire, this passage was like a punch of hope and a clear warning. The Roman Empire was top dog, demanding everyone bow down to their emperors like they were gods. If you didn't, you were in trouble.
When John talks about the beast's "seven heads" being "seven mountains," anyone living back then would've immediately thought of Rome. It was famous for being built on seven hills. Think of Rome as "Babylon" in this story – a powerful, proud city full of idols and hate for God's people. Guys like N.T. Wright and Craig Keener, who've studied this stuff a ton, will tell you that early Christians often used "Babylon" as a code word for Rome.
The "seven kings" the vision mentions? Those are likely a line of Roman emperors. It shows how this oppressive power kept coming after God's followers, one leader after another. And that weird line about "one who is, and is not, and is about to come" probably pointed to Emperor Nero. Even after he died, some folks thought he'd come back, which made people back then pretty uneasy. Brad Gray from Walkingthetext.com always says, understanding this history is key to getting what Revelation was really about.
For more about Nero, go here.
Then there are the "ten horns," which stand for ten kings or powerful groups that team up with this beast. They might not be the main power, but they join forces with the big empire to go against God and His church. John MacArthur points out that this shows how widespread the fight against Jesus and his followers would be.
But here’s the kicker in this whole vision: this so-called invincible "Babylon" eventually gets taken down. The "ten horns" and the beast themselves turn against the woman and destroy her. It’s a powerful message that even the mightiest human powers, when they go against God, are on shaky ground and will eventually eat their own. It's not about God being spiteful; it's about Him being the ultimate authority and making things right.
Rabbit Trail: Counting Kings and Chasing Secrets
Now, before we wrap up, let's talk about something that often trips people up when reading Revelation, especially parts like this one. You see, some folks get really focused on trying to nail down exactly who those "seven kings" or "ten horns" were in history. They'll pull out timelines of Roman emperors, count them up, and try to make them fit perfectly with verses 10 and 11.
For example, some might try to line up the "seven kings" with specific Roman Caesars like Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Vespasian, and Titus. If you try to make that exact fit, it often pushes the date when Revelation was written way earlier than most Bible scholars believe – maybe even back to Nero's time (around 60s AD) instead of the more commonly accepted date during Emperor Domitian's reign (around 95 AD). This can then lead to arguments about how old John would have been when he wrote it, or even if John, the apostle, really wrote it at all. It's like trying to force a square peg into a round hole.
But what other problems pop up when you try to take this passage too literally, trying to find exact historical matches for every detail? Well, for starters, it often turns the book of Revelation into a complicated puzzle only for the smartest Bible scholars to solve, instead of a message of hope and warning for everyday Christians. It makes you feel like you need some secret decoder ring to understand it, rather than simply looking to Christ.
What's the end game for people who go down this "rabbit trail"? A lot of times, it feels like it's a search for some special, hidden knowledge that no one else has. They might hope to discover the exact timing of future events, or feel like they have some kind of "insider" information about how the world will play out. It's almost like a desire for a special power or insight that gives them an edge.
But here's the tough truth: this kind of hyper-literal, prediction-focused approach can actually become a kind of idol. It distracts us from the main point of Revelation – which isn't to give us a secret timetable, but to give us hope, strengthen our faith, and call us to be faithful. Instead of focusing on loving God and serving our neighbors, it can get us caught up in endless debates that divide believers, rather than uniting them in active faith, love, and sacrifice for others.
So, while it's interesting to know how some people try to figure out these historical connections, the real power of Revelation isn't in literal timelines or secret codes. It's in the timeless message that God is sovereign, Jesus wins, and we are called to stay faithful, no matter what worldly powers are doing.
There's more to this Reading Revelation 17:9-18 STUDY GUIDE
BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN FURTHER FOR:
Questions to chew on and discuss (or for your journal)
A Journey Group Discussion Starter (use in your small group time)
Modern Day Application Ideas
Want to watch the video version of the Daily Bible Podcast Episode that corresponds to this study guide? Here you go!
Questions for You to Chew On and Discuss
Knowing that "Babylon" was likely Rome back then, how does that change the way you read this part of the Bible?
Where do you see "Babylonian" ways – things that go against what God wants – showing up in our world today?
Since God is ultimately in control, even over huge, powerful empires, how does that give you some solid hope in your own life?
Journey Group Discussion Starter
Can you think of other stories in the Bible where God used the bad guys to bring about their own downfall? Talk about those.
Want to learn more about our Journey Groups (Small Groups online or in person)
Modern-Day Application: Go from "reading Revelation" to applying the lessons and principles:
Even though Revelation 17 was talking about stuff that happened way back with the Roman Empire, the big ideas still matter for us today:
Use Your Head: We need to be smart about the things in this world that try to grab our main loyalty. Anything that tries to push God out of first place in our lives – whether it’s what we believe about politics, how much we want stuff, or even just being too focused on ourselves – that’s a bit of "Babylon" right there.
Hold On Tight When Things Get Ugly: If you’re catching heat for your faith, remember this passage. No matter how strong the opposition looks, God is still the boss. Their time in charge won’t last forever; His will.
God's Got the Big Picture: This part of the Bible is a solid reminder that God is running the show. He lets kingdoms and empires rise and fall, and He steps in when they stand against what He's doing. That should give us confidence, not fear.
Don't Sell Out: "Babylon" can look pretty tempting sometimes. We gotta be careful not to ditch our beliefs just to fit in or get ahead in the world.
Bottom line? Revelation 17 tells us to keep our eyes locked on Jesus. He’s the one who’s going to come out on top in the end. It pushes us to live like citizens of His forever kingdom, even while we're walking through the mess of this world.
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BRAND NEW RESOURCE FOR YOU!
Unraveling biblical "end times" can be confusing. This straightforward guide cuts through the noise, explaining various views—from what Jesus taught to early church beliefs—to help you confidently understand prophecy and live faithfully today.
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Thank you Pastor Thad the study guides are a big help in my understanding Revelation