Revelation 17:6 meaning

The imagery in this verse presents a stark and shockingly vivid portrayal of spiritual corruption. The vision features a woman, described metaphorically as a great harlot, who symbolizes the false religious system that seduces nations into immorality and idolatry. This great whore is representative of a corrupt alliance between political powers and false religion, often identified with Babylon, a symbol of rebellion against God throughout scripture. The abuse of power and the persecution of true believers are intrinsic to her character, exemplified by her intoxication with the blood of the saints.

This scene reveals not only a moral decay but also the spiritual desolation resulting from such alliances. The apostle John's astonishment further emphasizes the gravity of the situation; he is eye-witnessing a horrifying reality where a supposed religious authority is responsible for the martyrdom of Christ's followers. This serves as both a warning and an admonition to remain vigilantly separate from such corrupt influences, acknowledging the eternal conflict between truth and the seductive allure of falsehoods that have plagued humanity since the beginning. The scripture says, “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.”.