Revelation 17:17 Commentary and Bible Study

The angel (verse 7) then provides a reason why the ten horns turn on the woman and destroy her. Verse 13 has already told us that they ‘have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast’, and what we have read about the destruction of the woman is a means to that end. So now John is told that the reason why they behave in this surprising way is that ‘God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.’ This is certainly connected to the way they treat the woman, for she is still the subject in verse 18. Somehow, she stands in the way of the beast taking this position and so the final piece of their plan can only be accomplished after she has been removed. This is a picture of positive hostility towards the harlot. They hate her with an intense hatred, otherwise they would not dispose of her in such a frightful way. Their making her desolate and naked, eating her flesh, and burning her with fire, have also been put into their hearts by God. They do this in agreement with each other. The fact that God wills it does not mean that Satan is not involved. The Lord wills it to bring about the final judgment, but Satan is permitted to orchestrate this final rebellion. These are the steps Satan will use to bring the antichrist to prominence, and they are most unusual. What kings ever voluntarily handed over power to another? What could persuade all these kings to willingly, and in coordination, give up power and allow it to pass into the hands of a single all powerful world leader? Nevertheless, they turn on the woman, the mother of harlots. It happens again and again through the gospel age on a much lesser scale, but it'll happen mightily at the very end.