The 2
Women of Revelation T
To begin to understand Revelation you must have some understanding of the symbolic language often used in scriptures. This kind of language dominates Revelations. As we look at the two women of Revelation we must appreciate the fact that it is not speaking of literal women but is using them as metaphors to explain something much broader. There are actually three women mentioned in Revelation, they are: 1. The woman who had the male child (Revelation 12:1-2). 2. The prostitute/harlot who also rides the beast (Revelation 17) and 3. The bride who will be at the marriage feast of the lamb. In this article we will focus on the later two.
22
|
SHARE|MAGAZINE
We’ll start by looking at their mention in Revelation 19. Verse 2 states (NIV) “He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” Verse 7-8 “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” The Harlot To understand who she is we must note how she is described above in Revelation 19:2. The NIV describes her as an ‘adulterer’ other translations call her a
October - December 2020
‘fornicator’. Both are correct. A fornicator is having an affair outside of marriage an adulterer is having one with someone else while married. In Bible days when a Jewish woman was betrothed to a man their commitment was sealed and they were considered as good as married and simply awaiting the marriage ceremony so the consummation and life together can begin. The harlot therefore, as one betrothed to Christ, has made a marital commitment to Him but is having an affair with someone else. She is in the company of Jesus during the days but in the bed of the devil at nights. She is defined by her deception, she’s the ‘great harlot’ and represents
