Revelation 17:7

¶ 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.

And {G2532} the angel {G32} said {G2036} unto me {G3427}, Wherefore {G1302} didst thou marvel {G2296}? I {G1473} will tell {G2046} thee {G4671} the mystery {G3466} of the woman {G1135}, and {G2532} of the beast {G2342} that carrieth {G941} her {G846}, which {G3588} hath {G2192} the seven {G2033} heads {G2776} and {G2532} ten {G1176} horns {G2768}.

Then the angel said to me, “Why are you astounded? I will tell you the hidden meaning of the woman and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that was carrying her.

“Why are you so amazed?” said the angel. “I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns.

And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and the ten horns.

Context of Revelation 17:7

Revelation 17:7 marks a pivotal moment in John's vision, as an angel prepares to unveil the profound symbolism behind the 'woman' and the 'beast' he has just witnessed. Following John's astonishment at the sight of the woman, identified in the previous verse as 'drunken with the blood of the saints' (Revelation 17:6), the angel questions his marveling. This verse signals the beginning of a detailed explanation of the complex prophetic imagery that follows, crucial for understanding the end-time events described in the seventeenth chapter of Revelation.

Key Themes

  • Unveiling Prophetic Mysteries: The angel's promise to 'tell thee the mystery' emphasizes God's intention to reveal hidden truths to His servants, particularly concerning the forces opposing Him in the last days. This theme underscores that while some aspects of prophecy are complex, God provides understanding through divine revelation.
  • Symbolism of World Powers and Corruption: The 'woman' and the 'beast' are central symbols representing powerful, often oppressive, entities. The woman is widely understood as 'Babylon the Great,' symbolizing a global system of spiritual and moral corruption, perhaps a false religious or political-economic system that persecutes true believers. The beast, with its 'seven heads and ten horns,' represents a sequence of powerful earthly kingdoms or a final global empire hostile to God, often linked to the beast described in Revelation 13:1. The beast 'carrying' the woman signifies the close, though ultimately destructive, relationship between these corrupt powers.
  • Divine Authority and Control: Despite the terrifying nature of the vision, the angel's calm and authoritative tone highlights that these events are not random but are part of God's sovereign plan, revealed and explained by His messenger. God is in control, even over the rise and fall of seemingly invincible earthly powers.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV word 'mystery' here translates the Greek musterion, which doesn't imply something unknowable or unsolvable, but rather a truth previously hidden but now revealed by divine revelation. It suggests a profound spiritual truth that can only be understood through God's disclosure, rather than human reason or investigation alone. The angel's explanation serves as a divine key to understanding these complex prophetic symbols.

Practical Application

For believers today, Revelation 17:7 encourages diligent study of God's Word, particularly prophecy, with an open heart for divine understanding. It reminds us that despite the powerful and deceptive forces at work in the world, God is sovereign and reveals His plans. Understanding these prophecies helps us to discern spiritual realities, stand firm in faith, and not be surprised or dismayed by the world's opposition. We are reminded that God's ultimate victory is assured, as seen in Christ's triumphant return and the ultimate fall of Babylon described in Revelation 18.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Revelation 17:8

    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.

  • Revelation 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:

  • Revelation 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.

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