See on ch. 1:11; cf. ch. 21:9. The identification of this angel as one of the seven plague-bearing angels of chs. 15 and 16 implies that the information about to be imparted to John is related to the seven last plagues. This relationship is confirmed by the fact that the announced topic of this chapter—“the judgment of the great whore”—takes place under the seventh plague (see ch. 16:19).

 That is, exercises despotic power over many “peoples” and “nations” (see v. 15). The form of the verb in Greek presents the “great whore” as in power at the time and as continuing to exercise power. As the ancient city of Babylon was situated upon the literal waters of the Euphrates (see on Jer. 50:12, 38) and dwelt figuratively “upon many waters,” or peoples (Jer. 51:12, 13; cf. Isa. 8:7, 8; 14:6; Jer. 50:23), so modern Babylon is represented as sitting upon, or oppressing, the peoples of earth (cf. on Rev. 16:12).

 Gr. pornē, “prostitute,” “harlot.” Pornē probably goes back to a word meaning “to sell” or “to export for sale” such things as slaves. In Greece prostitutes were usually purchased slaves. The OT prophets often compare apostate Israel, which repeatedly went “a whoring” after heathen gods (Eze. 23:30; cf. Isa. 23:17; see on Eze. 16:15), with an adulterous woman. Concerning mystical Babylon as a harlot see on Rev. 17:5 (cf. vs. 2, 4; ch. 19:2). For OT passages whose thought or wording is similar to that of Rev. 17 see on Isa. 47:1; Jer. 25:12; 50:1; Eze. 26:13.

 Gr. krima, “sentence,” “decision,” “verdict,” “decree,” here of the heavenly assize with respect to “the great whore,” in view of her criminal course of action (see on vs. 4-6; cf. on ch. 18:10). Note that the angel does not show John the execution of the sentence, or he would have used the word krisis, which word is translated “judgment” in ch. 18:10. He simply tells him of it. Krisis may indicate either the act of investigating a case or the act of carrying out the sentence. See on chs. 16:19; 18:5; 19:2; cf. Isa. 23:11.

 Chapter 17 consists of two distinct parts:

 (1) the symbolic vision of vs. 3-6, which John saw, and

 (2) what he was told (v. 7) in explanation of it as recorded in vs. 8-18.

 Part one sets forth the crimes of Babylon, and thus constitutes Heaven’s bill of indictment, a declaration of why the divine sentence is to be pronounced upon her (see on v. 6). Part two sets forth the sentence itself and the means by which it is to be executed. Babylon’s criminal career reaches a climax under the sixth plague (see on ch. 16:12-16), whereas the sentence decreed is executed under the seventh (see on chs. 16:17-19; 17:13-17; 18:4, 8; 19:2). Accordingly, part one is concerned most particularly with events under the sixth plague, and part two with those under the seventh. Thus ch. 17 is a delineation of the final crisis, when Satan puts forth his supreme effort to annihilate God’s people (cf. ch. 12:17) and when all the powers of earth are arrayed against them (cf. GC 634). God permits Satan and the human agencies allied with him to carry forward to the verge of success their plot to annihilate the saints. But at the moment the blow is to be struck God intervenes to deliver His people. The hosts of evil, arrested in the very act of attempting to slay the saints, stand without excuse before the bar of divine justice (see Dan. 12:1; cf. EW 282-285; GC 635, 636; LS 117). Little wonder that John was filled with amazement as he beheld the climax of the great drama of the mystery of iniquity (see on ch. 17:6).

 See on chs. 1:2; 4:1.

 Or, “Here” The expression has the force of an imperative. See on v. 3.

 The Greek word translated “with” (meta) may be understood as implying an intimate relationship between John and the angel. Possibly the angel addressed John before taking him off in vision. See on ch. 1:2, 10.

 See on chs. 15:7; 16:1.