The Harlot of the Revelation represented the Jews who had broken their marriage covenant to Jehovah
There have been many speculations about the identity of the Harlot of the Revelation, who or what does she signify? The identity of this woman is only a mystery to those who ignore the Time Frame given by God for the events of the Revelation.
The author of the Revelation, the apostle John, wrote: “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants the things which must take-place quickly… for the time is near.” Revelation 1:1,3
According to the author of the book, the time was already near. The events of that vision were about to be fulfilled. We must remember, that the timing of biblical events is not reckoned from the time we read it. It is to be reckoned from the time it was written. The events of the Revelation were near to the apostles’ time, and were to occur speedily in that time. Any narrative which places the fulfillment of these events thousands of years later, and even into our future in the 21st century, is obviously false. It means also that the people, systems, organizations and nations portrayed in the Revelation were also all contemporary to the time of the apostles.
The description of the Harlot matches the corrupt High Priests which had religious power in Jerusalem
In his vision, John was shown a Harlot dressed in the colors of the High Priests at the Jerusalem temple. “And the woman was dressed in purple and scarlet arrayed with gold and precious stone and pearls…” (Rev 17:4)
These colors and materials are shown in the Old Testament to be of the garments and adornment of the Temple High Priests.
According to the requirements given to Moses, the High Priests’ garments were to be “gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.” (Exod 28:5)
The high priests wore a breastplate adorned with “four rows of stones: the first row shall be a ruby, a topaz, and a carbuncle…
...the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
…the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst.
…the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their settings.” (Exod 28:17-20)
