SEV Biblia, Chapter 17:3
Y me llev en el espíritu al desierto; y vi una mujer sentada sobre una bestia de color de grana, que estaba llena de nombres de blasfemia y que tenía siete cabezas y diez cuernos.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Revelation 17:3
Verse 3. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness] This wilderness into which the apostle was carried is the desolate state of the true Church of Christ, in one of the wings of the once mighty Roman empire. It was a truly awful sight, a terrible desert, a waste howling wilderness; for when he came hither he:- Saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.] No doubt can now be entertained that this woman is the Latin Church, for she sits upon the beast with seven heads and ten horns, which has been already proved to be the Latin empire, because this empire alone contains the number 666. See on chap. xiii. 18. This is a representation of the Latin Church in her highest state of antichristian prosperity, for she SITS UPON the scarlet coloured beast, a striking emblem of her complete domination over the secular Latin empire. The state of the Latin Church from the commencement of the fourteenth century to the time of the Reformation may be considered that which corresponds to this prophetic description in the most literal and extensive sense of the words; for during this period she was at her highest pitch of worldly grandeur and temporal authority. The beast is full of names of blasphemy; and it is well known that the nations, in support of the Latin or Romish Church, have abounded in blasphemous appellations, and have not blushed to attribute to themselves and to their Church the most sacred titles, not only blaspheming by the improper use of sacred names, but even by applying to its bishop those names which alone belong to God; for God hath expressly declared that he will not give his glory to another, neither his praise to graven images.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. So he carried me away in the spirit , etc.] Not in body, as if he was removed from the isle of Patmos to some other place; but in a visionary way, just as Ezekiel was carried between earth and heaven, in the visions of God, to Jerusalem, ( Ezekiel 8:3). It was represented to the mind of John, to his spirit, or soul, as if he had been taken up by the angel and carried through the air: into the wilderness ; by which may be meant either the wilderness of the people, the world, the church hereafter described, being a worldly one, and consisting of worldly men; or Gentilism, the Gentile world is often in the prophecies of the Old Testament called a wilderness; the Romish church having much of Heathen worship, and Heathen customs and practices in it, hence its votaries are called Gentiles, ( Revelation 11:2) or this circumstance may be mentioned, and the thing so represented to John, because that a wilderness is a solitary place, and fit for retirement and meditation; and where he might, without any interruption, take a full view of the following sight, and make proper observations upon it; and it is worth notice, that this is the place where the true church and became out of sight, in the room of which this apostate church appears: or, as others have thought, John is had into the wilderness, where the true church was hid and nourished, and the false one is there shown him, that seeing both together, he might compare them, and observe the difference between them; to all which may be added, that a wilderness is a fit place for such a beast as hereafter described to be seen in: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast ; the beast is the same with that in ( Revelation 13:1) as the description shows, and is no other than the Roman empire as Papal; the scarlet colour is expressive of its imperial dignity, its power and authority, it received from the dragon; and also of this beast's cruelty and tyranny, and of its shedding the blood of the saints: the woman sitting upon it is the great city of Rome, as is manifest from ( Revelation 17:18) or the Romish antichrist, the apostate church of Rome, represented by a woman, as the true church is, ( Revelation 12:1) but in a very different form, and is the same with the second beast in ( Revelation 13:11) and the false prophet; and as the two beasts respect the same, under different considerations, namely, the Papacy, in its civil and ecclesiastic capacity, so this strange phenomenon, a woman sitting on such a beast, means one and the same thing as the horse and his rider in the seals, though in different views; the woman designs the Romish church, with the pope at the head of it, and the beast the Roman Papal empire as civil, by which the former is supported and upheld, bore up on high, and exalted in the manner it has been: moreover, as purple and scarlet are the colours of garments wore by the pope, and cardinals, hence the woman in the next verse is said to be arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, so even the very beasts on which they rode were covered with scarlet. Platina f393 says that Pope Paul the Second ordered by a public decree, on pain or punishment, that no man should wear a scarlet cap but cardinals; to whom also, in the first year of his popedom, he gave cloth of the same colour, to put upon their horses and mules when they rode; and besides, would have put into the decree, that the cardinals' hats should be of scarlet silk: upon which Du Maulin makes this remark; Pope Paul the Second was the first that gave scarlet to the cardinals, as well for themselves as for their mules, to the end that this prophecy, which agreeth in general with the see of Rome, might likewise appertain particularly to everyone of the pillars of the said see, which is to be set upon a scarlet coloured beast. It follows, full of names of blasphemy : that is, the beast, or Roman Papal empire, was full of them; in ( Revelation 13:1,5) a name of blasphemy is said to be upon his head, and he to have a mouth speaking blasphemy; but here his whole body is represented as full of them, and may refer to the blasphemous doctrines of worshipping of images, of pardons and indulgences, of transubstantiation, etc. and to the multitude of images, of the virgin Mary, and other saints, in the antichristian state, in every part of it; and to those blaspheming persons, the cardinals, priests, and Jesuits, which abound in it; as well as to those blasphemous names and titles which are given to the pope, the head of it, or assumed by him; such as God on earth, the vicar of Christ, the head, and husband, and foundation of the church, with many others: having seven heads, and ten horns : the seven heads are the seven mountains, on which the city of Rome, the metropolis of the empire, is seated; and the seven kings, or seven forms of government, under which it has been, as appears from ( Revelation 17:9,10) (see Gill on Revelation 12:3), (see Gill on Revelation 13:1) and the ten horns signify the ten kings over the ten kingdoms, into which the empire was divided, when overrun by the Goths and Vandals; and which ten kings gave their kingdoms to the beast, the Romish antichrist; they gave their strength and power to him, being of his religion, and have been his horns, his defenders and supporters, ever since, as may be gathered from ( Revelation 17:12,13,17).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - Rome clearly appears to be meant in this chapter. Pagan Rome subdue and ruled with military power, not by art and flatteries. She left the nations in general to their ancient usages and worship. But it is wel known that by crafty and politic management, with all kinds of decei of unrighteousness, papal Rome has obtained and kept her rule ove kings and nations. Here were allurements of worldly honour and riches pomp and pride, suited to sensual and worldly minds. Prosperity, pomp and splendour, feed the pride and lusts of the human heart, but are n security against the Divine vengeance. The golden cup represents the allurements, and delusions, by which this mystical Babylon has obtaine and kept her influence, and seduced others to join her abominations She is named, from her infamous practices, a mother of harlots training them up to idolatry and all sorts of wickedness. She fille herself with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus. Sh intoxicated herself with it; and it was so pleasant to her, that sh never was satisfied. We cannot but wonder at the oceans of Christia blood shed by men called Christians; yet when we consider thes prophecies, these awful deeds testify to the truth of the gospel. An let all beware of a splendid, gainful, or fashionable religion. Let u avoid the mysteries of iniquity, and study diligently the great myster of godliness, that we may learn humility and gratitude from the exampl of Christ. The more we seek to resemble him, the less we shall be liable to be deceived by antichrist.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 απηνεγκεν 667 5656 με 3165 εις 1519 ερημον 2048 εν 1722 πνευματι 4151 και 2532 ειδον 1492 5627 γυναικα 1135 καθημενην 2521 5740 επι 1909 θηριον 2342 κοκκινον 2847 γεμον 1073 5723 ονοματων 3686 βλασφημιας 988 εχον 2192 5723 κεφαλας 2776 επτα 2033 και 2532 κερατα 2768 δεκα 1176
Vincent's NT Word Studies
3. sitting. To manage and guide the beast.
A scarlet-colored beast. The same as in ch. xiii. 1. This beast is ever after mentioned as to qhrion the beast. For scarlet, see on Matt. xxvii. 6.
