The great prostitute
Day 715, Monday, July 27
Revelation Chapter 17
Rome, both as a city and as an empire, is personified in Revelation as “Babylon the great, the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth.” While the translation is different, this is the famed “Whore of Babylon,” known from the word used in the King James Version, in which 17:1 describes Rome as “the great whore that sitteth upon many waters.”
Rome is often referred to in the New Testament as Babylon, comparing it to the city and empire that took the Jews into exile as recorded in the Old Testament. In spite of using the name “Babylon,” it is clear that Rome is the city being referred to. Most of the Roman Empire is the coastal nations surrounding the Mediterranean Sea and the seas adjoining it—the “many waters.” Rome is famously located on seven hills, which are mentioned in verse 9, and verse 18 says, “The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”
As we often see in scripture, “prostitution” is not used literally here, but refers to idolatry and more generally unfaithfulness to God.
As noted before, there was a common belief among Romans that the Emperor Nero, who had killed himself, would return from the dead. He is referred to in verse 8 as the beast who “once was, now is not, and yet will come.” This phrasing reminds us of the description of God in Revelation 1:8 as the Alpha and the Omega, “which is, and which was, and which is to come.” Unlike Nero, God is eternal.
This vision also includes 10 kings, usually seen as representing Roman emperors. Their authority is to give power to the beast; they serve Rome. “They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

Monday meditation

Song of Solomon 4:16-5:1
She
Awake, north wind, and come, south wind! Blow on my garden, that its fragrance may spread everywhere. Let my beloved come into his garden and taste its choice fruits.
He
I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk.
Friends
Eat, friends, and drink; drink your fill of love.

Prayer focus
Thank you for calling and choosing us. Keep us faithful that we may share in your victory.

-Rev. Mark Fleming