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:
As Revelation 16:12 stated generally the vial judgment on the harlot, Babylon's power, so Revelation 17:1-18 and Revelation 18:1-24 give As Revelation 16:12 stated generally the vial judgment on the harlot, Babylon's power, so Revelation 17:1-18 and Revelation 18:1-24 give it in detail: so Revelation 19:1-21 details the judgment on the beast and the false prophet, summarily noticed, Revelation 16:13-15, before the Lord's coming.
Unto me. 'Aleph (') A B, Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, omit.
Many. So 'Aleph (') A; but B, 'the many waters' (Jeremiah 51:13): Revelation 17:15, below, explains. The whore is the church apostate, as the woman (Revelation 12:1-17) is the Church while faithful. Satan having failed by violence, succeeds in seducing her by the world's allurements: unlike her Lord, she was overcome (Luke 4:6-8): hence, she is seen sitting on the scarlet beast, no longer the wife, but the harlot; no longer Jerusalem, but spiritually Sodom (Revelation 11:8).