Matthew Poole and continuators on Revelation 17:1

1 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 :

This whole Verse is but a Preface to a new Vision which Iohn had; not new, as to the matter revealed in it; for it plainly revealeth matters relating to Antichrist; and the matter of so contemporizeth with the three last Vials, about the final Ruine of Antichrist, who was before described under the Notion of a Beast, here under the Notion of a great Whore. A Whore properly signifies one that is married, and is false to her Husband's Bed; and so very well sutes the Church of Rome (if they yet deserve that Name) whose Faith was formerly spoken of throughout the World, Rom. 1.8. but is long since turned idolatrous, (Idolatry in the Prophetick stile being [illegible: 2 letters]ite through the Scripture called Whoredom.) She is said to sit upon many Waters, either because she exerciseth a Jurisdiction over much People, or with Allusion unto old Babylon (which gave her her Name) which was scituated near Euphrates, a River in which there was a great Collection of Waters. John is called to hear the Counsels of God concerning her Destruction, which though more generally and shortly revealed before, yet God here designs to reveal to Iohn more fully, particularly and plainly.

Marginal references: Nehem. 3.4▪; Jer. 51.13▪