Revelation 18:1-14 in the King James (KJV) and Alternate (from the Greek) Word Pictures with Reiterations (AWPR) Versions

Revelation 18

 ¹And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.      (KJV)
          (1)   And after - in the midst of     these things,

                 behold, look and see:   I saw another Angel of the same kind

                 going down coming down - descending down out of Heaven,

                 having - holding - possessing     great - large

                 authority - power - permission  (to do or not do);

               

                 and the Earth was illuminated - lit up - shined upon

                 out from the glory - splendor - dazzling light - radiance of him.

                 (AWPR)

 ²And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.      (KJV)
          (2)   And he hoarsely cried out in a

                  mighty - potent - strong / powerfully    great-large voice,

                  laying down definite words, saying / speaking:

                       'Fell (from the heights) - Fell down into ruins,                  

                        Fell (from the heights) - Fell down into ruins, 

                        Babylon the great,

                        and came into being (as) - has become

                        an inhabitance - a place of willful residency / occupation - a dwelling place

                        of demons,

                        and a haunt for watching - a watched (over) place / keep / prison

                        of every unclean - unfit - polluted spirit,

                        and a haunt for watching - a watched (over) place / keep / prison

                        of every unclean - unfit - polluted bird,

                        also being detested - abhorred - hated - persecuted

                        with ill words and conduct;      (AWPR)

 ³For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.        (KJV)
          (3)         because out from the  (intoxicating) wine  of the

                        outburst of anger - wrath - indignation - fury and violence of the mind

                        of the sexual intercourse outside the marriage spouse relationship -

                        fornication  of her have drunk all the nations - ethnicities;

                        and the kings of the Earth in the the midst of / amongst / with her have

                        committed sexual intercourse outside the marriage spouse relationship -

                        fornication,     and the [rich] merchants / travelers in the way
                        [/ dealers of Commerce on a large scale] 

                        out from the

                        power of strong achievement - achieving power / ability / capability 

                        of the severe sensuality / luxury

                        [which also brings about arrogance, insolence,

                         shamelessness to vice and immorality]

                        became materially and financially rich
                        [became as plutocrats - a wealthy ruling class governing in and over society,
                          while also worshiping wealth / Mamon].       (AWPR)

 ⁴And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.      (KJV)
          (4)   And I heard attentively another voice of the same kind out from Heaven,

                  speaking / saying,

                       'Come forth out of her, the People of Me,

                        in order that you may not   partake / participate with  - share  

                        in the sins / acts of errors - lies - unbelief - aberrations,

                        and in order that you may not take up - receive - partake of - obtain

                        [whether voluntarily or involuntarily]
                        out from the strokes - blows - plagues / calamities of her;
                        (AWPR)

 ⁵For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.      (KJV)
          (5)      because the  sins / acts of errors - lies - unbelief - aberrations

                     attended together - followed together - joined together in the Way

                     continually until   [they reached]  up to Heaven,

                     and GOD remembered / brought to mind / mindfully recalled

                     her injustices - wrongs - criminal acts - unrighteous unlawful behaviors

                     resulting in injuries - frauds and deceits of her.*    (AWPR)               


 ⁶Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.       (KJV)
          (6)      (As if by obligation) Return - Repay - Recompense - Give

                     to her in what manner or way also

                     she (as if by obligation) returned - repaid - recompensed - gave to you,

                     and double to her,

                     double down upon / according to the works - labors - performances -deeds

                     of her in the drinking cup / vessel that / which she mixed - mingled - blended..

                     Mix - mingle - blend to her double.      (AWPR)


 ⁷How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.      (KJV)
          (7)        As much as / (By) how much / So much as

                       she ascribed / bestowed honor and praise upon - glorified

                       herself and lived luxuriously  - luxuriated in severe sensuality / luxury

                        [which also brings about arrogance, insolence,

                         shamelessness to vice and immorality]

                        
                        so great / so many / so numerously / so much

                        give - bestow upon - render - pay to her

                        (verbal and physical) examining / inquisitional torture

                        by (fire and) smoke - smoking torments and

                        weeping sadness - mournful lamentations - suffering grief;

                        because in the heart                

                         [the inner mind and feelings comprised of: the will, rationale, 
                          passionate desires, impulses, inclinations, and disposition to

                          behave or do one way or another]

                         of her  she utters definite words, saying,

                              'I sit down a Queen,

                               and (as) a widow /

                               [alternately in Classical Greek]
                                as one who has certainly never married,

                               I certainly am not;

                               and  weeping sadness - mournful lamentations - suffering grief

                               I certainly not, may not, look (upon) - see - behold.'

                               (AWPR)

 ⁸Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.     (KJV)
        (8)        Through this, in one day / in one certain and set day or time

                     shall come / shall be here     the strokes - blows - plagues / calamities

                     of her death and weeping sadness - mournful lamentations - suffering grief

                     and famine - starvation, 

                     [including that deprivation of food due to pestilence]

                      and in fire - fiery flame / burning fire

                      she will be burned up / consumed with burning flames

                      because mighty - potent - strong - able - powerful

                      (is the) LORD GOD,  the (one) separating -

                      distinguishing good from evil - (judicially) judging her.

                      (AWPR)

 ⁹And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,      (KJV)
          (9)        And will weep tears - noisily grieve for her,

                       and will wail while striking / beating themselves over her,

                       the kings of the earth:

                       those with - in the midst of - amongst her   having fornicated -

                       having had sexual intercourse outside the marriage spouse relationship

                       and having lived luxuriously  - luxuriated in severe sensuality / luxury

                       whensoever - so often as

                       they see with the eyes to observe - look upon

                       [ while also considering and directing the thoughts of the mind upon,

                         while beholding - perceive what they are (actually) looking at]

                         the smoke of the burning / conflagration - fiery consumption of her
                         (AWPR)

 ¹⁰Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.       (KJV)
          (10)       From afar / a long way (off)

                        through the great terror / fear with astonishment - amazement

                        of the  (verbal and physical) examining / inquisitional torture

                        by (fire and) smoke - smoking torments  of her,

                        saying / speaking,

                             'Woe - alas - calamity - disaster!

                              Woe - alas - calamity - disaster to the City,  

                               the mighty - potent - strong - able - powerful City,

                               Babylon the Great!   

                               Because in one hour - day -(short period of) time

                               came forth (so as to make a public appearance)

                               the Krisis - Time to Lawfully Judge and Render Verdict

                                      [usually of punishment]                              
                               of you.           (AWPR)

 ¹¹And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:     (KJV)
          (11)              And the merchants - travelers in the (broad) Way
                               [ / dealers of Commerce on a large scale]
                         
                               of the Earth  weep with tears - noisily grieve
                               and [as with lamenting over a death]
                               weep sadly - mournfully lament - (outwardly) grieve painfully

                               over her,

                               because the full cargo / full (transport of) Merchandise

                               [that brought by sea]
                               of them

                               certainly no one buys / purchases for a price,

                           

                               Certainly not still / yet (anymore)                (AWPR)      


 ¹²The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,      (KJV)
          (12)               a full cargo / a  full (transport of) Merchandise
                                [that brought by sea]
                                of gold,

                                and of shining bright- glistening silver,

                                and of desired - esteemed - valued - precious stone,

                                and of pearls,

                                and of fine linen / fine cotton,

                                and of purple      [includes reddish-purple],

                                and of silk,

                                and of crimson red / scarlet,

                                and all (manner of) thyine wood / wood aromas - incenses,

                                and every elephant / ivory vessel - instrument - utensil,

                                and every / all vessel - instrument - utensil out from wood

                                esteemed - highly valued - honored / respected - precious,

                                and of copper / brass,

                                and of iron,

                                and of glazed stone / marble,                   (AWPR)                       


 ¹³And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.     (KJV)
          (13)               and cinnamon,

                                and (religious) incenses,

                                and oil based ointment,   [includes those perfumed and expensive]
                                and frankincense,

                                and (intoxicating) wine,

                                and olive oil,

                                and fine flour,

                                and wheat / grain,

                                and animal possessions

                                [be they for meat, as beasts of burden, and even as pets],

                             

                                 and those that walk before / ahead - sheep,

                                 and horses,

                                 and chariots,

                                 and bodies 

                                 [those slaves or of the masses used for exhibition and / or
                                   works of labor],

                              

                                 and souls

                                 [the (lower) soul from which springs the sensual desires -
                                   appetites - passions - basest forms of behaviors]              
                                 of men. 
                                 (AWPR)


 ¹⁴And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.       (KJV)
          (14)                And the time of juice - season of juice
                                    [seasonal fruit of the late summer or early fall]

                                 of the lust - craving - desire  of the
                                 soul   [the (lower) soul from which springs the sensual desires -

                                   appetites - passions - basest forms of behaviors]  

                                 of you withdrew - departed - went away from you,

                                 and all the greasy / fat things,

                                 and all the white - dazzling bright - radiant things

                                 withdrew - departed - went away from you,

    

                                 yet not / still not (by search) you will find them.    (AWPR)

 Disclaimer:  The Alternate Word Pictures with Reiterations (AWPR) translation should be used as a Bible Study Aid only, and it is recommended that a direct literal translation or the King James Bible be used for regular and ecclesiastical purposes, and that the AWPR be used in association only as a Bible study aid so as to help the reader / user in their Bible Studying to clarify context and Scriptural Intent.     Thanks.  -- Brianroy 



 Commentary
*  - verse 5     Of frauds - deceits...this last part of translating adikemata (i.e., adikema) in its expanded and word picture translation  will also include frauds and deceits involving the evil use - the evil making - the evil obtaining of money or wealth.  


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 Let us learn from these Scriptures that without Jesus and without His presence in our lives, we become as the lost souls described in Revelation.   

Jesus saith unto him,
I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me   (JOHN 14:6, KJV)

 Jesus said,
“Enter you in the Strait Gate:
for wide is the gate, and broad is the Way that leads to destruction,
and many are they who go in thereat:
because the gate which leads to LIFE is Strait, and the Way is narrow,
and there are few who find it.”
(Matthew 7:13-14) KJV

The word that Jesus uses for “broad”, in Matthew 7:13, is “euruchoros” (ευρυχωρος) in the Greek. This word conveys the picture of a wide and vastly open countryside. Imagine yourself on a flat plain of a wilderness, and that your 360 degree field of vision is literally nothing but hundreds of miles of barren wasteland. Furthermore, the only reason you don’t see more barren land is because it slopes out of view upon the horizons on all sides of you. This is “the Broad Way” of euruchoros, where you can choose any which and every way, what ever is right in your own eyes, and still be assured of your own demise and destruction.

Sin is often made to look as fun, and in fun the vanity can also be acknowledged as well.  Interestingly, the wording of the Go-Go's in Head Over Heels can also be taken in a subliminal spiritual context in which Christ the WAY also becomes the One of the Heart and the Voice of Reason Who makes not only this life, but lives (including that of the world and age to come)  worth living.


 

 Been running so long

I've nearly lost all track of time

In every direction

I couldn't see the warning signs

I must be losin' it

'Cuz my mind plays tricks on me

It looked so easy

But you know looks sometimes deceive

Been running so fast

Right from the starting line

No more connections

I don't need any more advice

One hand's just reaching out

And one's just hangin' on

It seems my weaknesses

Just keep going strong

Head over heels

Where should I go

Can't stop myself

Outta control

Head over heels

No time to think

Looks like

The whole world's out of sync

Been running so hard

When what I need is to unwind

The voice of reason

Is one I left so far behind

I waited so long

So long to play this part

And just remembered

That I'd forgotten about my heart

Head over heels

Where should I go

Can't stop myself

Outta control

Head over heels

No time to think

Looks like

The whole world's out of sync

Revelation 17: King James (KJV) and Alternate (from the Greek) Word Pictures with Reiterations (AWPR) Versions

Revelation 17

 ¹And 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:    (KJV)
          (1)   And goes / comes from one of the 7 Angels,

                  the (ones) having - holding - possessing the 7

                  (wide-mouthed) pans - basins - bowls - vials,

                  and spoke at random with / in the midst of - in the presence of me,

                  speaking - uttering definite words - saying to me,

                        'Come here - come hither to this place,

                         I will cause you to see -

                         I will exhibit / display to your view - show

                         you the judgment decision [usually that of punishment or condemnation]
                         of the Harlot
               
                          [she who sells herself for gain / wealth,

                           and is inclusive of merchants and those who sell themselves

                           in finance and merchant related fields for gain/wealth]

                         the great - large,

                         the one sitting down upon the many flowing fresh water

                         lakes, ponds, rivers, streams;      (AWPR)

 ²With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.      (KJV)
          (2)         With / in the midst of    who the kings of the Earth

                        have voluntarily committed

                        sexual intercourse outside the marriage spouse relationship - fornication

                        and became deeply drunk

                        [to the point of reveling and orgy]
                        from out of the (intoxicating) wine
                        [the addiction to the indulgences] of the

                        sexual intercourse outside the marriage spouse relationship - fornication

                        of her,

                        those inhabiting the permanent dwellings of the Earth.*     (AWPR)

 ³So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.     (KJV)
          (3)   And he carried / borne me away into a

                  desolate wilderness - a lonely and uninhabited land - a desert

                  by (the) Spirit.

                  And behold, look and see; I saw a woman

                  [generally a young fully developed woman of marriageable age]
                  sitting down n the crimson red / scarlet Therion,

                  stuffed full (to overflowing) of names of blasphemy -

                  hurtful slander - smiting and abusive false reports or characterizations,

                  having - holding - possessing 7 heads

                  and 10 (fully developed / large) horns.      (AWPR)


 ⁴And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:      (KJV)
          (4)   And the woman
                  [generally a young fully developed woman of marriageable age]
                  was clothed - wrapped about in a covering of

                  purple

                  [includes the reddish-purple tint ]
                  and crimson red / scarlet,

                  and overlaid / adorned with gold

                  and a costly - highly esteemed and desired - precious stone

                  and pearls,

                  having - holding - possessing in the hand of her

                  a drinking vessel - cup made of gold,

                  stuffed full (to overflowing) of  that which is

                  foul smelling - disgusting - abhorrent - abominations

                  and without cleanness - unclean - filthy of the

                  sexual intercourse outside the marriage spouse relationship - fornication

                  of her.**       (AWPR)

 ⁵And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.     (KJV)
           (5)    And upon the forehead / above the eye of her,

                   a name having been carved - inscribed - engraved - written:

                         'Mystery - hidden /concealed secret knowledge not readily discerned,

                          Babylon the Great.

                          The mother / ancestor of the Harlots

                 
                          [those who sell themselves for gain / wealth,

                           and is inclusive of merchants and those who sell themselves

                           in finance and merchant related fields for gain/wealth]

                          and of the foul smelling - disgusting - abhorrent - abominations
                          of the Earth.     (AWPR)

 ⁶And 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.      (KJV)
            (6)    And behold, look and see; I saw the woman being deeply drunk
                       [to the point of reveling and orgy]
                     out from the blood of the holy - consecrated - sanctified set apart - saints,

                     and out from the blood of the martyrs - those giving testimony - witnesses

                     of Jesus.

                     And I was struck with wonder - awe - admiration /

                     And I marveled beholding - looking at - observing - seeing her

                     (with) a great wonder and admiration of what I beheld. ***

                     (AWPR)


 ⁷And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.      (KJV)
          (7)   And said - asked - inquired of me the Angel,

                       'Why  / Wherefore / Through what (reason) did you

                        wonder - awe -admire?'

                        I will certainly - exactly tell / declare to you the mystery -

                        the hidden /concealed secret knowledge not readily discerned,  

                        of the [young fully developed] woman  [of marriageable age],

                        and of the Therion,

                        the (one) taking up - holding - bearing - carrying -supporting - enduring

                        her,

                        the (one) having - holding - possessing 7 heads

                        and 10 (fully developed / large) horns.      (AWPR)  

 ⁸The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
  (KJV)
          (8)        The Therion, which you looked upon - beheld - saw,

                       was, and certainly is not (now),

                       and is at the point of - about to

                       ascend - rise up - climb up - go up - come up out of the Abyss,

                       and into the destruction - waste - loss - perdition

                       [of the second Death]
                       goes  / departs in stealth - withdraws secretly;

                       and those dwelling in permanent structures upon the Earth

                       will wonder - awe -admire,

                       of  whom / (those) whom certainly not have been

                       carved - inscribed - engraved - written the names (of them)

                       upon the Scroll - Book - Volume of Life

                       from (the) laying / casting down - Foundation of (the) World (System),

                       seeing - perceiving - observing - looking to the Therion,

                       which one / someone who was, and certainly is not (now),

                       although indeed it is.****     (AWPR)

 ⁹And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.      (KJV)
          (9)   Here - in this place - in this thing

                  (is) the mind

                  the (one) having - holding - possessing 

                  skill and expert knowledge - deep insight - wisdom.

                  

                  The 7 heads are 7 mountains where - in what place

                  the woman sits down on / upon them;       (AWPR)

 ¹⁰And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.      (KJV)
          (10)        And they are 7 kings;

                         the 5 fell, and the 1 he is;

                         the other (of the same kind) certainly not

                         came forth (so as to make a public appearance);

                         a small - brief - little (while / period of time) he must

                         necessarily - inevitably needs to

                         remain - wait - retain  [his power - kingdom - authority].

                         (AWPR)

 ¹¹And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.      (KJV)
          (11)        And the Therion, which was, and certainly not is,

                        even he is eighth;

                        and out from the 7 he is,

                        and into destruction - waste - loss -ruin - perdition

                        it goes - departs - withdraws (secretly - in stealth and out of sight).

                       (AWPR)


 ¹²And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.      (KJV)
          (12)     And the 10 (fully developed / large) horns,

                      that which you saw - looked upon - beheld- perceived:

                      10 kings they are,

                      (every one) who certainly not (have) yet

                       taken hold of - seized - taken up - received a kingdom;

                       but rather - but indeed as kings  (for) one

                       brief / short time - hour - day

                       take hold of - seize - receive

                       permission - authority - power (to do or not do)

                       (together) with / in the midst of the Therion.     (AWPR)
                      
 ¹³These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.     (KJV)
          (13)       These have - hold - possess one  knowing /

                        one mind - will  - inclination - judgment,

                        and the through a giving over by succession -

                        give up through a bestowing upon - deliver / deal out / distribute

                        the power - might - authority - ability - capability  and the

                        permission - authority - power (to do or not do) to the Therion.

                        (AWPR)                  


 ¹⁴These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.      (KJV)
          (14)       These in the midst of / amongst / with  [against]   the Lamb

                        will make war,

                        and the Lamb will prevail - overcome - conquer - subdue them,

                        because - for He is LORD of lords and King of kings,

                        and (of) those in the midst of / amongst / with Him,

                        (the) called -  (the) invited (ones) and

                        [the thoughtfully and favorably]
                        chosen  / elect

                        and faithful - trustworthy - believing (ones).'

                        (AWPR)


 ¹⁵And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.      (KJV)
          (15)  And he speaks / says to me,

                         'The flowing fresh waters which you looked upon - beheld - saw,

                          where the Harlot

                           
                          [she who sells herself for gain / wealth,

                           and is inclusive of merchants and those who sell themselves

                           in finance and merchant related fields for gain/wealth]
                

                           sits down,
                           are a people - a nation [of peoples joined together into a common society]
                           and a great crowd / a confused multitude (great in number),
                           and / also / even nations - ethnicities and tongues - languages.*****

                           (AWPR)

 ¹⁶And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.     (KJV)
          (16)         And the 10 (fully developed / large) horns which you 

                          looked upon - saw   on/upon the Therion,

                          these will hate - abhor - persecute - detest the Harlot

                           [who sits upon and is represented in the last Days 
                             by the United States of America]



                          and will make - form - produce - bring about - cause her (to be)

                          laid waste - desolated - destroyed
                          and stripped - uncovered / (made) stark naked - bare.

                           

                          And the flesh of her (they will) eat,

                          and they will burn her up / they will burn her down

                          in fire.     (AWPR)
                              
                           
 ¹⁷For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.      (KJV)
           (17)        For GOD gave - bestowed into the hearts
                 
                         [the inner mind and feelings comprised of: the will, rationale, 

                          passionate desires, impulses, inclinations, and disposition to

                          behave or do one way or another]

                         of them to make - form - produce - bring about - cause - do

                         the mind - will - inclination - determination - judgment of Him,

                         and to do (thus with) one mind,

                         and to give over - bestow the kingdom of them to the Therion 

                         continually until the spoken words of GOD 

                         shall be accomplished - completed - fulfilled.     (AWPR)


 ¹⁸And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.      (KJV)
          (18)       And the  woman
                  [generally a young fully developed woman of marriageable age]
                        whom you saw - looked upon - beheld

                         is the city, the great,

                         having - holding - possessing a kingdom upon / over

                         the kings of the Earth.'       (AWPR) 
                      

Disclaimer:  The Alternate Word Pictures with Reiterations (AWPR) translation should be used as a Bible Study Aid only, and it is recommended that a direct literal translation or the King James Bible be used for regular and ecclesiastical purposes, and that the AWPR be used in association only as a Bible study aid so as to help the reader / user in their Bible Studying to clarify context and Scriptural Intent.     Thanks.  -- Brianroy 

My Comments:

*  verse 2  -  This verse effectually defines who and what the Harlot is.  The Harlot is a lumping together of all those who have worshiped and served any religion, ideology, belief, business, government, institution, or what have you, that was to the detriment and expense of believing into Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior (including His pre-incarnate state as Creator - GOD of Israel in those relevant time periods) in return for wealth/gain and a permanent dwelling structure. She is Mamonism, a worship of material gain and wealth as the focus of existence, worth of self or others, and of worship. 

**  verse 4 -  The cup of filth is that associated with filthy acts ingested by those who commit oral sex upon the anus, phallus or vagina.  The cup would be filled with feces and/or diarrhea, urine,  semen and sperm, clear - urine- bloody fluxes, and possibly vomit thrown in for good measure.  Remember, abomination is something that is viewed as truly abhorrent and disgusting, as well as foul smelling and meant to fully rejected.

*** verse 6 - She was very likely by at least the outward appearance exceedingly fit / firm, beautiful face and figure, and voluptuous - large and well shaped  breasted, unseen in John's day and only in recent decades in ours.  She was so fascinating a figure, that John not only marveled, but looked upon with great pleasure and admiration to the point that he was likely just about to lust with his eyes before the Angel interrupted and perhaps instantly sobered him up. 

**** verse 8 - This verse suggests that the knowledge of destiny of each individual through the ages was not known since Adam and Eve, as is generally thought in modern Christianity, a destiny from the foundation of the World, such as when the "world" is synonymously assumed to be the Earth itself.  Rather, the verse clearly teaches us from the Greek that we are instead to look to from the Casting or Laying down of the World System found in the worship of wealth or Mamon...we are to look to our ancestors after the Noachian Flood, at the Tower of Babel. 

 Genesis 11  (King James version - KJV)

 ¹And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

 ²And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

 ³And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar.

 ⁴And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

 ⁵And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

 ⁶And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

 ⁷Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

 ⁸So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

 ⁹Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

      When GOD came down and visited and dispersed our ancestors at the Tower of Babel, it was then that GOD in his Omniscience looked into the hearts and souls of each human there, and saw each and every one of us down through history, and chose us before we were born.  The question is, will you of your own free will answer the call to be chosen and born from above / born again, or go away into perdition, the destruction that must result from experiencing the second death if you choose unwisely to reject the loving Savior, Jesus Christ, who with the Father calls to whosoever will to freely come fully welcome and without reservation or hesitation to be loved and accepted as set apart with a sincere and repentant heart and willingness to be saved.  

*****   verse 15 (cf. v. 18)  - There is no doubt in my mind that in the Aleitheia, the true reality, that this Harlot is specifically to be identified as lastly sitting upon and manifesting the waters/ peoples of the United States of America.  America sees this harlotry spiritually through its uncontrollable grip to the forces of Secular Materialism and Leftist Liberalism, especially in the last 4 years (2008 to present / i.e. 2012).  In verse 18,  we see that the kingdom of the peoples that make up these United States become the harlot in a living spiritual form.

       Those who are born from above, or born again in Jesus Christ, do not suffer the second death.  They / we become the chaste virgin, the bride of the LORD Jesus Christ as an entire people.  However the distinction is this, the bride of Christ subsumes all the living spirits of believers both in this body now and those who have been taken to paradise of Heaven, believers now living (2 Corinthians 5:1-8) going back to our first father Adam and our first mother Eve, those who have properly believed into the Creator, YHVeH Messiah - the LORD Christ (Lamentations 4:20, Genesis 2:7, John 14:6, John 3:15-16, et al.), while the post-Noachian flood city of Babel created Harlot lives in a perpetual state of the physical dead ones who have not even died a first time, and who must also die a second time as well...first the body must die, then the soul/spirit when it is cast with death and hell into the Lake of Fire, as we shall see in chapter 20, verses 6 and 14, etc.