If it is not still a mystery, tell me why even here on this thread no one agrees? Yes, John did write that the woman was "that great city." But some here think a city refers to false religion around the world! The intent of the Author is that JERUSALEM is "that great city." John told us this is a previous chapter. They are not thinking about how the entire world will be deceived from Jerusalem. By the way, Babylon in Revelation, the wh**e (harlot), Mystery Babylon the great, etc is all speaking of the SAME THING: the city of Jerusalem while the Beast and False prophet are there deceiving the entire world.
Because it seems no one is reading the Words that actually are right there in the Bible. I didn't see it for years, but it is right there in front of our eyes.
Rev. 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written,
Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth. 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. ( Greek word thauma 2295 meaning Great Wonder or to MARVEL it doesn't mean admired.) 7 And the angel said unto me,
Wherefore didst thou marvel ? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
{{ Do you catch this ? The Angel Is telling John I will TELL YOU THE MYSTERY OF THE Woman and the Beast. }}
How can you or anyone say this is still a Mystery, when the Angel Reveals the Mystery ? The Greek Word used for Mystery means a Secret by Gods Silence. Well the Angel breaks that Silence and Reveals the Mystery.
THE MYSTERY/SECRET OF THE BEAST EXPLAINED BY THE ANGEL !!
8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. 9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. 14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
{{ So the Angel takes away the SECRET/MYSTERY, and tells us the Beast is Seven Kingdoms, five have fallen one is, and one is yet to come. (Through thinking, we understood that Babylon, Persia, Greece had fallen, and were written about in Daniel, from his time on/point of view. And we understood Daniel spoke of Rome in Prophecy, and Rome was the ONE THAT IS as Johns time, so then we had to figure out who the other three were. We knew through Daniel that at the END TIMES another Kingdom would Arise out of the Fourth Beast, so Revived Rome/Anti-Christ and 10 Kings will arise and conquer/enslave Israel. So now we have FIVE of the Kingdoms, who are the other TWO ? Well the Five have one thing in common, they all conquered or enslaved Israel, so now we can understand who the last TWO ARE, Egypt and Assyria, thereby you have every nation that ever Conquered or enslaved Israel, so the Angel TOLD US WHO THE BEAST WAS !! But the Angel tells us MORE, the Angel tells us the Seventh King when he comes will only rule a short time (one hour) and the Beast that was, is not, yet is and comes out of perdition (Satan/Apollyon) will become the 8th Kings or He will POSSESS the Seventh King and was of all Seven. AND.......The Ten Horns you saw are Ten Kings, they have no Kingdom as yet, but will receive power for ONE HOUR ( One Hour here proves Babylon is not LITERALLY DESTROYED in One Hour) with the Beast. They have one Mind and will give their powers and Kingdoms to the Beast. }}
MYSTERY/SECRET REVEALED !!!
MYSTERY/SECRET OF THE HARLOT REVEALED BELOW
Rev. 17:15 And he saith unto me,
The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, a
nd burn her with fire. 17
For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
{{ What is Gods will ? Rev. 17:1 says COME SEE THE JUDGMENT OF THE HARLOT !! So God is going to use the Kings and Anti-Christ to bring His will to pass. Who is the Harlot ? WHAT IS THE MYSTERY/SECRET ? She is Many Nations, Peoples, Tongues and Multitudes, so she is ALL OVER, She is WORLDWIDE !! She is a Harlot, and she is DESTROYED BY THE BEAST and his Kings. So something that is in every nation, is destroyed by the Kings and the Beast. WHAT COULD IT POSSIBLE BE ? LOGIC IS A MUST !!! What does the Anti-Christ do at the end ? He places an Image of himself in Gods Temple and Demands all the world to worship him as GOD or Die !!! So what does this tell you ? That he is going to wipe out ALL OTHER GODS or Religions !!! The Harlot, with Blood on her hands is FALSE RELIGION. She is JUDGED BY GOD, He uses the Kings to do His will. The ANGEL REVEAL THE MYSTERY/SECRET. But were we listening ?}}
MYSTERY/SECRET REVEALED.
Only the Vision Had the word MYSTERY on the Harlots Forehead. Once the Angel explains the Mystery, why are we still stumped ? Because we are not reading the plain text.