Revelation 17:3

So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

So {G2532} he carried {G667} me {G3165} away {G667} in {G1722} the spirit {G4151} into {G1519} the wilderness {G2048}: and {G2532} I saw {G1492} a woman {G1135} sit {G2521} upon {G1909} a scarlet coloured {G2847} beast {G2342}, full of {G1073} names {G3686} of blasphemy {G988}, having {G2192} seven {G2033} heads {G2776} and {G2532} ten {G1176} horns {G2768}.

He carried me off in the Spirit to a desert, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast filled with blasphemous names and having seven heads and ten horns.

And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.

And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness: and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

Commentary

Revelation 17:3 introduces a pivotal vision in the Apostle John's prophetic journey, guided by an angel. This verse sets the stage for a detailed revelation concerning the judgment of "Mystery Babylon," a powerful symbolic entity in end-time prophecy.

Context

This verse immediately follows the angel's invitation to John to witness the judgment of the "great whore that sitteth upon many waters" (Revelation 17:1). John is transported "in the spirit," a common prophetic state seen elsewhere in Revelation (Revelation 1:10, Revelation 4:2), indicating a divinely inspired vision. The "wilderness" often symbolizes a place of desolation, isolation, or a setting conducive to receiving profound spiritual revelation, away from the distractions of the world.

Key Themes

  • Symbolic Transportation and Revelation: John's being "carried away in the spirit into the wilderness" highlights the supernatural nature of the vision and God's direct involvement in revealing these future events. The wilderness setting emphasizes the starkness and solemnity of the coming judgment.
  • The Woman and the Beast: The central imagery is "a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast."
    • The Woman: As further described in subsequent verses (Revelation 17:5), this woman is identified as "Mystery, Babylon the Great." She represents a powerful, corrupt system—often interpreted as a false religious, political, or economic entity—that exerts significant influence over the world. Her "sitting upon" the beast suggests control, alliance, or dependence on worldly power.
    • The Scarlet Beast: The "scarlet coloured beast" is a manifestation of immense worldly power, typically associated with an antichrist kingdom or empire. Its "scarlet colour" symbolizes luxury, sin, and bloodshed, often linked to the persecuting nature of this power. This beast shares characteristics with the beast from the sea in Revelation 13:1, which also has seven heads and ten horns.
  • Blasphemy and Opposition to God: The beast being "full of names of blasphemy" underscores its inherent opposition to God and divine authority. This signifies a system that openly defies God, claiming attributes or honors due only to Him, or speaking impious words against His name, tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.
  • Symbolic Numbers (Seven Heads and Ten Horns): These are recurring symbols in Revelation, often representing kingdoms, rulers, or specific powers. The "seven heads" can denote successive empires or a complete system of governance, while the "ten horns" typically symbolize ten kings or a coalition of powers that will rise in the end times, as also seen in the description of the great red dragon in Revelation 12:3 and the beast of Daniel 7:7.

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "in the spirit" (Greek: en pneumati) signifies John entering a state of divine inspiration or prophetic trance, enabling him to perceive spiritual realities beyond normal human senses.
  • "Scarlet coloured" (Greek: kokkinon) refers to a vibrant, deep red hue, historically associated with royalty, luxury, and often with sin, prostitution, or bloodshed, aligning with the negative connotations of the woman and beast.
  • "Blasphemy" (Greek: blasphemia) denotes speaking evil against God, claiming divine prerogatives, or dishonoring sacred things. The beast's being "full of names of blasphemy" indicates its pervasive and inherent anti-God nature.

Practical Application

Revelation 17:3 serves as a powerful reminder of the spiritual forces at play in the world. It calls believers to:

  • Spiritual Discernment: Be vigilant in discerning systems, whether religious, political, or economic, that may appear powerful or glamorous but are ultimately opposed to God and His truth. The "scarlet" allure can hide a blasphemous core.
  • Understanding Prophecy: Recognize that biblical prophecy uses rich symbolism to convey profound truths about humanity's future and God's ultimate sovereignty. This vision encourages us to seek deeper understanding of the times and to remain steadfast in faith.
  • Separation from Worldly Corruption: Just as John is carried into the "wilderness," believers are called to separate themselves from the corrupting influences of the world, particularly those that embody blasphemy and opposition to Christ.
This verse emphasizes that God reveals future events not to instill fear, but to equip His people with knowledge, encouraging them to stand firm against deception and ungodliness.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Revelation 12:3 (10 votes)

    And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

  • Revelation 13:1 (7 votes)

    ¶ And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

  • Revelation 13:6 (7 votes)

    And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

  • Revelation 12:6 (5 votes)

    And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days.

  • Revelation 17:6 (5 votes)

    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.

  • Revelation 17:7 (5 votes)

    ¶ 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.

  • Revelation 17:9 (5 votes)

    And here [is] the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.