What is the context?
The angel explains that the waters beneath the woman represent peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. Her influence is broad. But the powers carrying her do not remain loyal: the beast and ten horns will hate her, strip her and destroy her with fire.
The reversal exposes the fragility of her apparent security. The alliance with rulers that supported her splendor becomes the means of her ruin. The vision uses violent imagery to describe a downfall brought about by the very powers associated with her.
The angel then states that God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by uniting under the beast until His words are fulfilled. Their actions do not take the story beyond His authority. The chapter closes by identifying the woman as the great city ruling over the kings of the earth.
How is this passage commonly understood?
The USCCB notes understand the hostile kings as powers that bring judgment on Rome while unwittingly fulfilling God’s will. Wesley likewise sees the destruction of the woman as the fulfillment of God’s judgment, within his reading of Rome and papal power. The shared feature is the reversal of an alliance and the woman’s loss of the wealth and support on which she depended.
Walvoord expects the beast to destroy a future religious system and replace it with worship of himself. He distinguishes that event from Babylon’s later political and commercial downfall.
The passage’s own explanation is that the rulers’ common purpose serves God’s stated purpose until His words are fulfilled. Their alliance brings about the woman’s downfall while God’s words are fulfilled.
Where does this fit in God's plan?
Jeremiah 51:11–13 and 28–29 describes God stirring rulers against ancient Babylon to accomplish His announced judgment. Revelation’s account has a similar pattern: a powerful city is brought down through other rulers, while God’s purpose governs the outcome. This is a scriptural parallel, not a claim that every ruler in the two passages is the same.
Isaiah 10:5–7 and 12 adds another aspect of that larger theme. Assyria serves a purpose in God’s judgment while pursuing its own destructive ambitions, and is itself held accountable for arrogance. Revelation likewise presents hostile powers acting within a purpose they do not control. Their temporary usefulness does not make their rule permanent or put them beyond judgment.
What is our position?
We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.