Two Women Compared
Revelation 17 and 21 present contrasting pictures of the “great whore” and “the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” There are several particulars of the passages which are so closely related, either by similarity or contrast, that it is apparent to the reader was intended to note a contrast between the chaste Bride of Christ and the adulterous pretender. We list them here:
| Revelation 17:1-8 | Revelation 21:9-27 |
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| “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 . . .”
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“And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials . . . and talked with me, saying, Come hither I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”
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| So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw . . .
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And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high Mountain, and shewed me . . .
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| The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour . . .
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Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;”
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| decked with gold
and precious stones and pearls a golden cup in her hand . . .
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city of pure gold
foundations of precious stones 12 gates of pearl street of pure gold
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| . . . full of abominations and filthiness”
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“There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth . . . worketh abomination, or maketh a lie . . .
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| “…they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life…”
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. . . but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
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| “Mystery, Babylon the Great” | “The great city, the holy Jerusalem” |