The Harlot's House Pictures Babylon/the World Where God was Saving

Joshua sent the spies out of Shittim (Joshua 2:1) to go to spy out Jericho.

Shittim is the place where God judged Israel for spiritual harlotry and 23,000 died in one day (1 Corinthians 10:8).

Therefore, Shittim pictures God's judgment on the corporate church at the time when judgment began at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17).

And Joshua (Christ) sending the spies (2 messengers) out of Shittim points to Christ sending forth His elect people out of the churches. The 3 who were in Shittim (Joshua, 2 spies/messengers) is similar to the 3 men (God in the appearance of three men) who appeared to Abraham. And after that 2 of the 3 goes to Sodom to encounter Lot. While the 3rd stays behind as Abraham intercedes for Sodom.

In Jericho the two spies enter Rahab the harlot's house. She protects them. She later makes a deal with them for her house and herself. The scarlet thread is placed in the window and Rahab's house becomes a sanctuary. A house of refuge so to speak. Any within will not die.

The Hebrew word translated as "Rahab" is Strong's no. 7343. It is from #7342. This word is translated as wide, pride, and broad. See:

Jeremiah 51:58 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire;

The broad walls of Babylon. Rahab means broad. Her house is on the wall. She is also a harlot. Just as Babylon is called a harlot:

Revelation 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Once we put it all together, we can understand the following spiritual picture:

- The 2 spies/messengers are God's Spirit and people coming out of the church that God has started to judge.

- They go to the harlot's house upon the wall. Rahab's house is a figure of the world outside of the church.

- The scarlet thread represents the blood of Christ working to save all within the harlot's house (here other Scripture would limit those saved within the harlot's house/Babylon to the great multitude of the elect).

- The walls of Jericho (city of palm trees = city of the righteous) will fall down during God's judgment on the church.

- Yet, at the same time there will be salvation in the harlot's (Babylon's) house for all covered by scarlet thread (blood of Christ) will be spared destruction.