The whore of Babylon is either the merchants who profit from trading with Rome or Rome itself--the next chapter explicitly condemns merchants, the slave trade, and Rome (Rev 18). The whore of Babylon is called a "whore" because "the kings of the earth" fucked her (e.g., are literally 'in bed' with Rome's oppression), and then describes the bougiest items imaginable like gold, emeralds, rubies, etc (Rev 17).
There are two beasts, one from the sea and one from the land, but they probably represent Nero and/or the imperial cult. The beasts have dominion over all the earth--like the Roman Empire from the author's perspective. The beast shows contempt for the Christian God, like Nero did when he persecuted Roman Christians. It could also be Herod, but I think Nero makes more sense.
The whore of Babylon is either the merchants who profit from trading with Rome or Rome itself--the next chapter explicitly condemns merchants, the slave trade, and Rome (Rev 18). The whore of Babylon is called a "whore" because "the kings of the earth" fucked her (e.g., are literally 'in bed' with Rome's oppression), and then describes the bougiest items imaginable like gold, emeralds, rubies, etc (Rev 17).
There are two beasts, one from the sea and one from the land, but they probably represent Nero and/or the imperial cult. The beasts have dominion over all the earth--like the Roman Empire from the author's perspective. The beast shows contempt for the Christian God, like Nero did when he persecuted Roman Christians. It could also be Herod, but I think Nero makes more sense.