What does Revelation 17:15 mean?

And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. Revelation 17:15

Explanation

Revelation 17:15 is a passage from the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament. The verse is part of a conversation between an angel and John of Patmos, the author and visionary of Revelation. Literally, the verse is explaining what the waters represent that John saw in his vision. He had observed a “whore” sitting on many waters. In this context, the “whore” (often referred to as “Babylon the Great”) is depicted as a symbol of a corrupt and idolatrous system. The angel clarifies that the waters are not just waters, but they symbolize the various peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages over which this ‘whore’ has influence or control. This interpretation shifts the meaning from a physical reality to a metaphorical understanding, where waters represent the diversity and breadth of the whore’s reach across different cultures and societies.

Historical Context

The Book of Revelation is traditionally dated to the late first century during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian, around 95 AD. The Roman Empire was highly influential, and it had widespread control over various territories, known for its power, wealth, and idolatry from a Jewish and Christian perspective. The image of the whore sitting on many waters would have resonated with contemporary readers as suggestive of the pervasive power of Rome, which was often criticized for its decadence and persecution of Christians. This context is crucial in understanding the metaphorical intend behind the waters and the whore in the vision.

Theological Insights

Theologically, Revelation 17:15 has been interpreted in various ways:

• A traditional Preterist viewpoint sees this verse as referring to the actual historical city of Rome and its empire, which had control over numerous peoples.
• The Futurist perspective interprets the verse as a prophecy concerning a future entity, often associated with a one-world government or system that exerts control over many nations before the end times.
• An Idealist or symbolic viewpoint takes the passage as a timeless representation of evil and corruption in worldly powers throughout history.
• The Historicist interpretation would understand the verse in the flow of historical events, seeing the corrupt city as representing different corrupt entities in history that have exerted significant influence over people.

Practical Applications

The teachings of Revelation 17:15 can offer practical applications, such as:

• Recognizing the vast and multiform ways in which worldly systems can assert influence over individuals and societies.
• Encouraging awareness and discernment to identify and resist being unduly influenced by corrupt entities.
• Prompting believers to be vigilant and steadfast in their faith even amidst a powerful and pervasive societal system that might be contrary to their beliefs.

Cross-References

• Revelation 17:1 – “… I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:”
• Jeremiah 51:13 – “O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness.”
• Revelation 13:1 – “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns…”

Language Study

In Revelation 17:15, the Greek term for “waters” is “υδάτων” (hudatōn), which is the genitive plural of “ὕδωρ” (hudōr), meaning “water” as a physical substance. However, given the context, it bears the metaphorical meaning as explained by the angel. “Peoples” is from “λαοὶ” (laoi), “multitudes” from “ὄχλοι” (ochloi), “nations” from “ἔθνη” (ethnē), and “tongues” from “γλῶσσαι” (glōssai), signifying different groups characterized by language and cultural identity.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The depiction of a city or entity ruling over many nations and tongues can be compared with other ancient empires from mythology and history, like Babylon, viewed as a corrupting power in Judaic history. In literature, this trope of a city or civilization exerting great influence and met with divine punishment can be found in myths like the Tower of Babel and the city of Atlantis, symbolizing pride and downfall.

Scientific Perspectives

The scientific community does not comment on the metaphorical representations found in the Book of Revelation as they are beyond empirical investigation. However, the passage may indirectly relate to the notion of globalization and its impact, which is a subject of study in modern sociology and political science. It’s an interesting parallel between the vast web of influence of any dominant power across the globe and the symbolic representation of waters and their expanse.

Commentaries

Various Biblical scholars have provided insight into Revelation 17:15. Some, like Matthew Henry, have emphasized the control exerted by the whore, interpreting it as a corrupt influence across people groups. Others, such as John Gill, align with the Futurist interpretation, seeing it as a prophetic vision related to the end times. They all agree, however, that the waters are symbolic of a population under the influence of a corrupt system, which is interpreted in light of historical and eschatological events.