Revelation 17 introduces us to a woman clothed in fine garments, adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls, seated atop a scarlet beast. Her appearance is captivating, even alluring, but her opulence conceals her true nature. She is described as holding a golden cup filled with abominations and the impurities of her immorality. Beneath her glittering surface lies a heart filled with rebellion against God, proudly bearing the name “Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes and of the detestable things of the earth.”
At first glance, her splendor is tempting—who wouldn’t be drawn to such wealth and power? But her outward beauty is a façade, disguising her inner corruption. This image challenges us to consider how the allure of worldly success, comfort, and luxury can distract us from what truly matters. How often do we chase after things that seem good on the surface but lead us away from God?
In our day-to-day lives, we face countless versions of this “adornment.” The pursuit of wealth, status, and approval can easily become our focus. These things may not be inherently wrong, but when they consume us—when they become idols—they lead us to compromise our faith. We may find ourselves justifying small lies, bending moral standards, or neglecting our relationship with God, all in the name of achieving something “beautiful.”
Paul warns us in 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 that even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. What is shiny, appealing, or popular is not always godly. Like the woman riding the beast, the world often presents sin in attractive packaging. But as Jesus reminds us in Matthew 23:27, appearances can be deceiving: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.”
The call for us is to see through the glimmering lies of the world and recognize their true nature. Are we pursuing holiness, or are we settling for something adorned with decadent blasphemy? The answer lies in daily examining our hearts, our priorities, and the things we are chasing.
Revelation 17 ends with the woman’s downfall, a sobering reminder that worldly allurements are fleeting. Only God’s kingdom endures. As we navigate a culture that often prizes appearances and material wealth over truth and faithfulness, let’s anchor ourselves in Christ, who offers a beauty and a glory that will never fade.