And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
The book of Revelation was written by the apostle John while he was exiled on the island of Patmos during a period of fierce Roman persecution of Christians. In chapter 17, John sees a vision of a lavishly dressed woman called 'Babylon the Great' — a symbolic figure representing corrupt imperial power that seduces nations and grows rich while devouring the weak. She rides a terrifying beast and is drunk — not on wine, but on the blood of God's people who refused to deny their faith in Jesus. John says he was 'greatly astonished' — the Greek word suggests he was nearly undone by what he saw. This vision was meant to tear away the glamour of Rome's power and expose the violence underneath.
God, give me eyes to see through glamour — to recognize power that dresses itself in beauty while consuming the vulnerable. I don't want to be so comfortable that I stop seeing clearly. Keep me awake, keep me faithful, and give me the courage to follow the Lamb even when the whole world is following something else. Amen.
Power has always known how to dress itself up. In John's day it wore Roman purple and gold, built magnificent stadiums, and called itself eternal and civilized — all while feeding Christians to lions for sport. John's astonishment is worth sitting with. He wasn't surprised that evil exists. He was astonished at how beautiful the corruption looked, how thoroughly the violence had been normalized, how a system built on blood had convinced itself it was order. That's the deeper horror here — not the blood, but the glamour. Not the cruelty, but how easily it gets mistaken for culture. This is one of the most disturbing images in all of Scripture, and it refuses to resolve neatly. But maybe that's the point. John was writing to Christians tempted to make peace with empire, to blend in quietly, to decide the cost of faithfulness was simply too high. This vision tears the costume off. It asks you — honestly, without easy answers — what systems or comfortable arrangements have you stopped questioning because they happen to benefit you? Following the Lamb in a world drunk on its own power has always been costly. It still is.
Why does John describe the woman as 'drunk' on the blood of the saints rather than simply guilty of it? What does that word 'drunk' add to the image of corrupt power?
John was 'greatly astonished' — almost undone by what he saw. Have you ever had a moment where the reality of evil in the world struck you with that kind of force? What happened?
This vision was written for Christians tempted to compromise with empire to survive. Where do you feel that same pressure today — to go along with systems or structures that conflict with your faith?
How does this image of Babylon challenge you to examine the cultural, political, or economic systems you participate in every day without much thought?
The saints in this passage died rather than abandon their testimony. What is your faith actually costing you right now — and what would you be willing to lose for it?
And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
Revelation 6:4
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matthew 7:15
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 12:17
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed .
Revelation 13:15
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 7:14
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
Matthew 2:16
I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
Revelation 2:13
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Daniel 7:25
I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints (God's people), and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus [who were martyred]. When I saw her, I wondered in amazement.
AMP
And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly.
ESV
And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly.
NASB
I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.
NIV
I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.
NKJV
I could see that she was drunk — drunk with the blood of God’s holy people who were witnesses for Jesus. I stared at her in complete amazement.
NLT
I could see that the woman was drunk, drunk on the blood of God's holy people, drunk on the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. Astonished, I rubbed my eyes. I shook my head in wonder.
MSG