16. And the ten horns which thou sawest in the beast: these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate, and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her with fire.
17. For God hath given into their hearts to do that which pleaseth him, that they give their kingdom to the beast till the words of God be fulfilled.
18. And the woman which thou sawest, is the great city, which hath kingdom over the kings of the earth.
1, 2. The fall and devastation of Rome were mentioned in the preceding chapter, [1] but its importance as the seat of the false prophet and the capital of a world wide empire under Antichrist demands a more detailed account. Hence St. John now describes at length the new pagan empire of Rome (ch. xvii), and foretells its complete and final destruction (ch. xviii).
The great harlot sitting by many waters is Rome holding sway over many nations [2] that share in her corruption and infidelity to God. Ancient Tyre and Ninive were likewise designated as harlots by the prophets Isaias and Nabum. [3] St. John simply follows out the symbolism in which infidelity to God is called fornication and adultery. [4]
3. St. John is led into a desert which foreshadows the great devastation and desolation that shall be
