Revelation 17:2

With whom the kings of the earth haue committed fornication, and the inhabiters of the earth haue beene made drunk with the wine of her fornication. Revelation 17:2 (KJV)

This verse is part of the vision given to the Apostle John on the island of Patmos, where he received the book of Revelation. In the broader vision John also describes a woman seated on a scarlet‑colored beast, an image that appears in Revelation 17:3. The angel’s description of the relationship between a symbolic woman and the world’s rulers serves as a vivid illustration of spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry. The woman represents a great city or system that has exercised a powerful influence over the rulers and leaders of the earth, leading them away from godly principles.

The phrase “the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication” emphasizes the extensive reach of this influence. The metaphor of drunkenness portrays spiritual intoxication and confusion that result from association with false teachings, corrupt practices, and deceptive ideologies. It suggests that many people have become so enamored with the allure of this city’s power that they have lost discernment and have compromised their devotion to God.

Overall, Revelation 17:2 portrays a powerful city or system that has corrupted the world’s leaders and led the inhabitants of the earth astray. The passage serves as a stark warning against being swayed by worldly influences and urges believers to remain faithful to God’s truth. It calls for vigilance, discernment, and the avoidance of spiritual compromise with false ideologies or practices. By recognizing the danger of spiritual fornication, Christians are encouraged to cling to true worship and to reject the intoxicating allure of any system that seeks to replace God’s authority with its own.