17:1–2 Within the framework of Revelation, the vision of Babylon’s prostitute and her punishment functions as part of an extended footnote (17:1–19:10) that describes the contents of “the cup filled with the wine of the fury” of God’s wrath (16:19b). Its complexity and even confusion have led some to question John’s sources (cf. Beasley-Murray, Revelation, pp. 249–50). However, this betrays a failure to read the story as a wonderfully crafted “mystery,” in agreement with the clue provided by the angelic interlocutor (17:7). Thus, John’s “astonishment” upon seeing the gaudy whore (17:6b), followed by the astonishment expressed by “the inhabitants of the earth” at the reappearance of the beast (17:8) are actually proper responses to this vision that every competent reader, insider or outside…