The previous articles I’ve published about Revelation 17:16 were written under the assumption that the ten kings and the beast develop hatred for Babylon the Great and destroy Babylon the Great with fire. Recall that I utilized the King James Bible’s rendering of the verse in those articles. The King James Bible's rendering of Revelation 17:16 says the following:
- Rev 17:16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
You may be wondering why I've suggested that the ten kings and the beast hate Babylon the Great and destroy Babylon the Great with fire when the King James Bible’s rendering of Revelation 17:16 suggests that only the ten kings hate Babylon the Great and destroy Babylon the Great with fire.
The main reason is that I studied and wrote under the assumption that the Greek suggested that it is the ten kings and the beast who hate and destroy Babylon the Great. Here are some of the reasons why I studied and wrote under this assumption:
- I have two New Testament commentaries that analyze Greek, Vincent’s Word Studies and Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament. Each of these commentaries suggest that the Greek text conveys the idea that the ten kings and the beast hate Babylon the Great and destroy her with fire. Vincent’s Word Studies suggests this idea while displaying the King James Bible’s rendering of Revelation 17:16 (specifically the phrase "upon the beast").
- In addition, I have read numerous scholarly articles which state that the ten kings and the beast hate Babylon the Great and destroy Babylon the Great with fire. The authors of these articles know far more about the Greek language than me, so I took their analysis of the Greek seriously.
- A third, very minor consideration (since I believe the King James Bible is the best Bible version available) was that several other Bible versions like the NASB agree with the way that the different sources I mentioned above render/describe Revelation 17:16. I thought that there must be something in the Greek that makes these variety of sources (Greek commentaries, scholarly articles, and Bible versions) agree that the ten kings and the beast hate Babylon the Great and destroy her with fire.
Late last week I became curious about why the New Testament Greek language commentaries I mentioned and why other Bible versions suggest that the ten kings and the beast hate Babylon the Great and destroy her with fire when the King James Bible suggests that only the ten kings hate Babylon the Great and destroy her with fire. I spent this past weekend looking for answers, and today I’ll finally share much of what I found with you.
- The Greek highlighted in yellow is not found in the Westcott-Hort text and in the Nestle-Aland text while the Greek highlighted in turquoise is not found in the Textus Receptus:
Comparing Revelation 17:16 Across Three Major Greek Texts
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Westcott-Hort
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Nestle-Aland
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Textus Receptus
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και τα δεκα κερατα α ειδες και το θηριον ουτοι μισησουσιν την πορνην και ηρημωμενην ποιησουσιν αυτην και γυμνην και τας σαρκας αυτης φαγονται και αυτην κατακαυσουσιν [εν] πυρι …
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και τα δεκα κερατα α ειδες και το θηριον ουτοι μισησουσιν την πορνην και ηρημωμενην ποιησουσιν αυτην και γυμνην και τας σαρκας αυτης φαγονται και αυτην κατακαυσουσιν εν πυρι
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και τα δεκα κερατα α ειδες επι το θηριον ουτοι μισησουσιν την πορνην και ηρημωμενην ποιησουσιν αυτην και γυμνην και τας σαρκας αυτης φαγονται και αυτην κατακαυσουσιν εν πυρι …
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Westcott-Hort and Textus Receptus Comparison: http://bit.ly/ouN4iw
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The main difference that stands out to me is that the Westcott-Hort text and Nestle-Aland text use και instead of επι or “epi”. According to Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries, “epi” means “upon” in Greek.[1] Again, I’m not an expert on the Greek language, but my suspicion is that the lack of the word “epi” in the Westcott & Hort text and in the Nestle-Aland text is largely responsible for the difference between the King James Bible’s rendering of Revelation 17:16 (which says the ten kings upon the beast hate and destroy Babylon the Great) and the other Bible versions’ rendering of Revelation 17:16 (which tend to say that the ten kings and the beast hate and destroy Babylon the Great).
Reexamining the Greek Commentaries:
I went to check which Greek text Vincent’s Word Studies and Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament used. This is what I found:
Vincent’s Word Studies Introduction:
I have not attempted textual criticism. I have followed principally the text of Westcott and Hort, comparing it with Tischendorf's eighth edition, and commonly adopting any reading in which the two agree. It is, perhaps, scarcely necessary to say that the very literal and often uncouth renderings which frequently occur are given merely in order to throw sentences or phrases as nearly as possible into their Greek form, and are not suggested for adoption as versions. Each word or passage commented upon is cited first according to the authorized version.[2]
Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament Preface
The words of the Canterbury Version will be used, sometimes with my own rendering added, and the transliterated Greek put in parenthesis. Thus one who knows no Greek can read straight ahead and get the point simply by skipping the Greek words which are of great value to those who do know some Greek. The text of Westcott and Hort will be used though not slavishly. Those who know Greek are expected to keep the Greek text open as they read or study these volumes. The publishers insisted on the transliteration to cut down the cost of printing.[3]
Both commentaries utilized the Westcott-Hort text instead of the Textus Receptus. This explains why those commentaries suggest that the ten kings and the beast hate Babylon the Great and destroy her with fire. This also explains why Vincent's Word Studies suggests this idea while showing the King James Bible's rendering of Revelation 17:16 (specifically the phrase "upon the beast").
What to Make of All This
This article is not intended to provide an in-depth history of the King James Bible and other versions of the Bible that are out there or to recommend that people use a specific version of the Bible. However, I will touch upon the subject of which Bible version I personally would rely most on before I discuss how all this information impacts how I view Revelation 17:16.
This past weekend I spent some time looking at some background information concerning the Textus Receptus, the Westcott-Hort text, and the Nestle-Aland text. After considering the information I saw, I still believe the King James Bible most accurately reflects the Word of God of the Bible versions available. The main issue I have with the Wescott-Hort text and the Nestle-Aland text is that these texts delete words and verses which are found in the Textus Receptus. Here are a couple of examples:
Example 1:
Westcott-Hort
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Nestle-Aland
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Textus Receptus
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και επορευθησαν εις ετεραν κωμην …
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και επορευθησαν εις ετεραν κωμην
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… και ειπεν ουκ οιδατε οιου πνευματος εστε υμεις
9:56 ο γαρ υιος του ανθρωπου ουκ ηλθεν ψυχας ανθρωπων απολεσαι αλλα σωσαι και επορευθησαν εις ετεραν κωμην …
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The verse in the table above is Luke 9:56, which says the following in the King James Bible:
- Luk 9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
Many Bible versions do not have “For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them” in Luke 9:56 because the Westcott-Hort text and the Nestle-Aland text do not include the Greek highlighted above.
Example 2:
Westcott-Hort
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Nestle-Aland
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Textus Receptus
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18:11 ηλθεν γαρ ο υιος του ανθρωπου σωσαι το απολωλος …
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Nestle-Aland: http://bit.ly/q48dJc
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The blank boxes above are not a result of me forgetting to put the Greek text in the boxes. The Westcott-Hort text and the Nestle-Aland text do not include Matthew 18:11, which says the following in the King James Bible:
- Mat 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
I do not know why the Nestle-Aland text and the Westcott-Hort text do not include Matthew 18:11. I think Matthew 18:11 is an important verse…
For this reason and others I tend to trust the King James Bible more than the other Bible versions available. I am not fully comfortable dealing with other Bible versions which may be based on Greek texts which delete words and verses that appear in the Textus Receptus.
The information I found this past weekend makes me seriously question whether the assumption that the ten kings and the beast hate Babylon the Great and destroy Babylon the Great with fire is a correct one. I am now leaning towards the idea that only the ten kings hate Babylon the Great and that only the ten kings destroy Babylon the Great with fire. This idea seems to line up best with what the Textus Receptus/King James Bible convey.
I apologize for publishing articles about Revelation 17:16 that were written under an assumption which I now find questionable. I have to do a better job in the future of making sure my assumptions are sound before I proceed to write a series of articles about a topic like this. I now have to spend time thinking about why the ten kings hate and destroy Babylon the Great. More specifically, I have to spend time thinking about whether the destruction of Babylon the Great is an act the ten kings pursue to show their loyalty to the beast or a move by the ten kings to betray the beast.
Again, I apologize for what happened. I plan to add a disclaimer to the articles I previously wrote about Revelation 17:16 to alert new site visitors about what I’ve wrote today.
References
[1]Epi Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries: G1909
[2] Vincent, Marvin. Vincent's Word Studies. 1886 http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/cmt/vws/int000.htm
[3] Robertson, A.T. Word Pictures in the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House Company, 1930
9 comments: (+add yours?)
Rev. 17:17 states that God put in their hearts to fulfill his will, which is for babylon to be destroyed as in 17:16.
Proverbs 21:01 states that the heart of the king is in the hands of the Lord and He turns it wherever he will.
This is what happened with pharaoh and Moses. After pharoah hardened his heart -- God turned him even more adamant. (Exo. 7-10 about 20 references)
So I suspect that the 10 kings are literally acting against their own interests in destroying babylon out of hate -- as directed by the Almighty. The hate in their heart was magnified into destruction.
As for the KJV... In a multitude of counselors there's safety. (Proverbs 11:14 & 24:06)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts
I think one of the keys to the timing of Babylon's end is found in Rev. 14, but depending on your interpretation, that will move the timing around. The chronology seems to be that the announcement that God's wrath is about to fall is made, then Babylon falls, then the Lord harvests the elect to be with him (the rapture) and harvests the chaff to go into the winepress of God's wrath. Notice it is Babylon's fall, not her complete annihilation (which comes at the end of the vials judgments) which occurs here. That could indicate both an economic fall, as well as being overrun to be pillaged, people killed, etc. (which is indicated by O.T. Scriptures), but not being blown off the face of the earth quite yet. And is the burning with fire by the ten kings the means of God's
complete annihilation at the end, or is it just enough burning to enact the fall of
Babylon? Now the question of timing becomes, what do you consider God's wrath? Pre-tribs consider the entire seven years and the seals on through to the end God's wrath. Some consider God's wrath as starting at the midpoint of the seven years. Some see it as starting with the trumpet judgments, and others see it as only being the vial judgments at the last or seventh trumpet, (I fall into this last category). So there seems to be two considerations. Do the ten kings cause Babylon's fall, which comes before her complete destruction, or do they annihilate her completely. Depending on the answer to that question, it will alter things. And if it refers to her complete annihilation, is that the reason the antichrist is not mentioned as being a part of this? Because he has lost his power and is no longer in charge by the time Babylon is destroyed at the end of the vial judgments? Do they for some reason destroy her in retaliation for his losing his power, as maybe they see her as the cause? Or are they only responsible for her fall, and do it out of greed to usurp her riches as well as her authority? Questions to ponder.
Those are some very thought-provoking questions. I think you're right that Revelation 14 is key. It's been a chapter on my mind this entire week.
A verse that's been on my mind throughout this entire process is Jeremiah 50:43. The verse suggests the "king of Babylon" does not react well to the news of these armies coming to attack Babylon. It kinda reminds me of Daniel 11:44 where some news disturbs the Antichrist. If those verses are relevant one could possibly argue that there is betrayal taking place. I'll be taking a look at these issues this weekend, including a comparison of Isaiah 14 and Habakkuk 2.
If you want a really good book to read about why the newer bible versions are different then the king James there is one called " while men slept" by Kerby F. Fannin.It explains why westcott and hort purposley tried to change the bible for a "new universal christianity". It is really worth getting and reading if you want to know the truth about the different bible versions. anyway good post. I agree wholeheartedly with you.
Ann
Thanks for the recommendation
The 10 kings are influenced by God to destroy the whore. God has put it into their heart to do His will, which is to lay the land of Babylon desolate. God said in Jeremiah 51:29, that "the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the LORD shall
be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation
without an inhabitant."
This is the Lords work and I believe the beginning of the day of the Lord. Babylon is a destroyer of His heritage and a whore that has fornicated with every idol under heaven. The land that was to stand for freedom became a land that stood for bondage, from her very beginnings. Now she is a hold for every foul and hateful bird. The arrogancy of the proud has caused us to blaspheme God blatantly by nicknaming a town, Las Vegas, as SIN CITY.
"Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord GOD of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee. And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up:
and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round
about him." Jeremiah 50:31-32
I also believe that the antichrist hates the whore as well because he comes on the scene deceitfully. God declared that deceit would prosper in his hand for a season and that he would rise through flattery and understanding dark sentences. The beast that carries the harlot knows that the harlot must perish. But he isn't smart enough to figure it out, thus God decreed before the foundation of the world how it would happen.
Mystery Babylons destruction is the beginning of the day of the Lord. God has set it up so that His plan can unfold. The antichrist will rise after the destruction of mystery Babylon and that is when the mark of the beast will come.
Very thought provoking questions Connie. The timing of Mystery Babylons fall is the key to understanding a lot of end-time prophecy I believe. I believe Babylons destruction comes in 2 waves of judgments. The first judgment is the fiery flame judgment of an all-out nuclear attack led by the kings of the north, 2 of the kings for sure are Russia and Iran, who the other 8 are still under further investigation. This first attack will lay the land of Babylon desolate. The cry of all those who traded with her will reverberate around the world. When she is laid desolate the earth will literally move. This will be the signal that the end-times are real short, because after that attack the 10 kings will give their strength and power unto the beast and then he will rise.
Sidenote, the AC will put down 3 of the 10 kings after he rises. What 3 kings these will be, idk at the moment. "And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he
shall subdue three kings." Daniel 7:24
The 2nd and final judgment that Babylon will go through is at the end of the tribulation period when God will bring her into remembrance again. I believe this judgment will be the total annihilation of the country into the sea, never to rise again. God speaks of the waves coming up over her and the sea. He also illustrates it twice in Jeremiah 51:59-64 and Revelation 18:21 by saying that she will sink and never rise again. This will complete the double portion of judgment that God decreed for her. God will fill unto her double because she has waxed rich and made the whole world mad. Babylon is fallen, fallen.
Another key is the command given by God to flee Babylon before she is destroyed. I believe this is the real key. Why would God tell His people 7 times in Jeremiah 50-51 to flee if there were no consequences? God repeats His command to flee in Isaiah 13 and Revelation 18. Why would God command His people to flee Babylon 9 times, which is the number signifying finality and judgment, if it weren't an urgent message?
I believe that this call to come out of Babylon, both spiritually and physically, will ring out before the rapture comes. God has this warning for a reason and it's my gut feeling that this reason will be a crucial tipping point for the body of Christ in America.
Babylon the greats demise will be an all-out sneak attack, but only those aware of the plan of God will be able to see the signs before hand. Just my thoughts. God bless.
I’m evaluating the possibility of two judgments for Babylon
the Great at the moment. The main issue
for me when looking at a two judgments scenario is trying to figure out how
much damage would Babylon the Great incur in a potential first judgment. The complete destruction of Babylon the Great
in a potential first judgment seems too much to me. If the city was destroyed in the first judgment
then I imagine the kings of the earth, sailors, merchants, etc would mourn like
it is described in Revelation 18. At the
moment, I do not think the kings of the earth, sailors, merchants, etc do not
mourn until the seventh bowl judgment when they see Babylon the Great's smoke. I
could be wrong about all this. I’m still
looking at the issue.
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