Revelation 17:17 - Exposition

For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled; God did put … to do his mind, and to come to one mind (Revised Version). "His mind" is thought by Bengel, De Wette, and Dusterdieck to signify the beast's mind. Others understand God's mind. In either ease the general sense is plain. While the world power is apparently performing the will of the beast, God is working above all; only by his permission can anything be done (of. the "it was given" of Revelation 13:1-18 .). The "words of God" are his denunciations against those who trust to the world (cf. Ezekiel 16:37 , quoted on Ezekiel 16:16 ).