What does the woman's attire in Revelation 17:4 reveal about her character? The Scene John Saw “ The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominations and the filth of her adulteries.” (Revelation 17:4) Purple and Scarlet—Colors that Speak • Purple, in Scripture, is the shade of royalty and political power (Judges 8:26; John 19:2). • Scarlet often points to luxury, but it is also the color linked with blatant sin and bloodguilt (Isaiah 1:18; Matthew 27:28). What it reveals: she flaunts earthly authority and wealth while being stained with open rebellion against God. Gold, Precious Stones, Pearls—Glitter That Masks Rot • Extravagant adornment parallels the opulence of ancient Babylon (Isaiah 47:1–8). • Throughout Scripture, wicked systems cloak corruption with riches (Ezekiel 28:13–17, Tyre; Revelation 18:16, commercial Babylon). What it reveals: an obsession with material splendor to project importance, entice followers, and conceal moral decay. The Golden Cup—Shiny Outside, Poison Inside • A golden vessel suggests religious ritual, yet it is “filled with abominations.” • Similar imagery appears in Jeremiah 51:7: “Babylon was a golden cup in the LORD’s hand, making all the earth drunk.” • Jesus denounces the same hypocrisy: “You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence” (Matthew 23:25). What it reveals: polished ritualism that serves up spiritual poison. Links to Other Texts about Seductive Apparel • Proverbs 7:10 — “a woman with the attire of a prostitute and a crafty heart.” • Jeremiah 4:30 — “Though you dress in scarlet, though you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold… you beautify your eyes with paint, in vain.” • 1 Peter 3:3-4 contrasts such showiness with the “hidden person of the heart.” A Character Profile Drawn from Her Attire • Proud—seeking royal status without submission to the true King. • Sensual—dressed to attract and seduce multitudes into spiritual adultery. • Materialistic—measuring worth by outward wealth. • Hypocritical—religious on the surface, filled with abominations within. • Blood-guilty—scarlet hints at the martyr blood she will later be accused of shedding (Revelation 17:6). Takeaway for Believers Clothing that dazzles the eye can disguise a heart in rebellion. God sees through the layers (1 Samuel 16:7). The woman’s attire warns us to value inward holiness over outward display and to stay alert to systems—religious, cultural, or political—that glitter yet guide souls away from Christ. |
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