Why did John marvel at the woman in Revelation 17?
John marveled at the woman because of her immense wealth, pomp, circumstance, and power. She represents the false religious system, drunken with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus, and John wondered at her outward splendor and dominating influence.
Les explains that in Revelation 17:6 John saw the woman, representing the religious system, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. John wondered with great admiration. Les suggests he had to wonder at all of their wealth and their pomp and their circumstance and their power. Then in verse 7 the angel asks, “Wherefore did you marvel?” and offers to tell him the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her.
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.
More Questions
What does the woman represent in Revelation 17?
In Revelation 17, 'the woman' represents the religious system, just as 'the beast' represents the political system.