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Revelation 17:1
ESV Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters,
NIV One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, 'Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters.
NASB Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, 'Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters,
CSB Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me: "Come, I will show you the judgment of the notorious prostitute who is seated on many waters.
NLT One of the seven angels who had poured out the seven bowls came over and spoke to me. 'Come with me,' he said, 'and I will show you the judgment that is going to come on the great prostitute, who rules over many waters.
KJV And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

What does Revelation 17:1 mean?

John relates that one of the seven angels with the bowls invited him, but does not specify which one. His vision here is to see judgment on a symbolic woman living in a symbolic location. The following descriptions are ornate and meant as intricate metaphors. Their non-literal intent is made clear in the next passage, starting in verse 8, where the angel explains what each of these images is meant to symbolize. The angel's invitation to John begins by identifying another infamous figure in the end times, sometimes referred to as the "Whore of Babylon" or "Mystery Babylon."

Scholars are divided in their interpretation of the identity of this prostitute. Later verses connect this symbolic woman named Babylon with a city (Revelation 17:18). Some say this points to Rome, meaning Catholicism. Others identify Jerusalem, meaning Judaism. However, this symbolic prostitute is probably an incorporation of corrupt religions. Some commentators suggest an end-times union of apostate Protestantism and apostate Roman Catholicism, or a blend of world faiths into a single one-world religion. Others suggest this is a reference to a general, ungodly humanistic version of spirituality.

The prostitute is "seated on many waters." We learn from verse 15 that the waters "are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages." Perhaps the false prophet in Jerusalem persuaded world religions to join in the worship of the beast regardless of their religious views. Revelation 14:8 describes Babylon as having "made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality." The prostitute—this ungodly and corrupt approach to religion and morality—is about to receive divine judgment.
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