English Back to Greek Revelation 17:3

English Back to Greek Revelation 17:3

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

   The most interesting area of study of Revelation 17 and 18 are translating the English  interpretations back into the original Greek and breaking down the meaning behind those words. Some of the English translations were poorly chosen. 

   John chose his words very carefully when drafting his account, detailing specifics that are not found in the English translations. Studying the Greek which John used gives us a clearer picture of what John was witnessing while in the spirit. 

   In verse 7 the angel tells John that he will tell him the mystery of the woman and the beast that carries her. The angel begins to explain a succession of events surrounding the beast who carries the woman upon his seven heads. The angel begins with the beast in verse 8, but does not give John much more information concerning the woman  until the very last verse,  Here, the angel tells John that the woman which he saw was that great (μεγας) city (πολις) which reigns over the kings of the earth. Revelation 17:18. This verse transitions chapter 17 into chapter 18.

   In the Greek, μεγας, mega translates into English as great, huge, enormous by volume, overtly large by physical size. 

   πολις or, polis for city is defined in the Greek as a walled city, mother city, magistrate city of many, that dominates well defined territory: Babylon the Great.

   So now we know that the woman is a metaphor for a extremely large city. 

Seven Heads of the Beast Revelation 13

   1) "And I stood on the sand of the sea, and saw a beast (kingdom) 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. 2) And the beast that I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion; and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat (throne) and great authority. 3) And I saw one of his heads as it were (slain) wounded to death,(εσφαγμενην), and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." 

   John is instructed to document and record a series of events: the things which he had seen, the things that are, and the things which shall be hereafter. (Revelation 1:19). After the seven letters to the seven churches, John is shown a door in heaven and is taken in the spirit. The large majority of the things recorded in Revelation consists of futuristic events, that extended far beyond John's world, to the end of the age. These events transpire during the last seven years of human history and move the reader forward, into the the time of the end. 

  We are told that Revelation is full of prophetic symbolic imagery and it's hard to understand so, we expect to be confounded and confused. We were told how scripture should be interpreted and now, we hold onto centuries-old interpretations for dear life and pass them on, conditioning future generations. One of these ancient interpretations is the theory, that the seven heads of the beast, are the seven hills of Rome, moving the beast back in time. 

   The majority of Revelation consists of the witness statement written by John; the  documented account of the events he viewed 'which shall be hereafter,' These events were witnessed and recorded while John was in the spirit on the Lords day. Much of his witness statement is contested by bible students and scholars who don't quite agree with the timing or, the imagery that John saw and documented. Most of the symbology and imagery is found in the prophetic books of the old testament and, Revelation can be viewed from a biblical perspective based upon these ancient writings. 

   Many religious sects add more to scripture then what is detailed by John. It's important to read scripture as written and avoid the additional inflections that may add or, take away from the words that John had written: Revelation 22:18-19. 

English Back to Greek 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 show you the judgment of the great whore πόρνης that sits upon many waters. Revelation 17:1

   The most interesting area of study of Revelation 17 and 18 are translating the English  interpretations back into the original Greek and breaking down the meaning behind those words. Some of the English translations (in my opinion) were poorly chosen. 

   John chose his words very carefully when drafting his account detailing specifics that are not found in the English translations. Studying the Greek which John used offers a clearer picture of what John was witnessing, while in the spirit. 

   For example the Greek word translated into the English as great (megas) 'prostitute' is  πόρνης which means commercially corrupt one, to export or sell products or commodities immorally for profit or gain. This is generally defined or translated into English by its root πόρνη which is simply pornēs, prostitute or prostitution. This is where the term harlot, wh0re or, prostitute originated from, the root of πόρνης.