The angel will provide explanation of the phrase in Revelation 17:15. For now it is important to note that commerce in the days of the apostle John happened largely via water (ships). The reference is not to the Tiber River (on which Rome was located) because the phrase many
waters does not do justice to what this river in fact was. So we ought not to use the reference to seated on many waters
to limit the identity of the great prostitute
to Rome.
1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters,