April 2, 2017
Evening Service

In chapters 15 and 16, we saw the 7 bowl judgments administered.  The first brought grievous sores up anyone who had the mark of the beast upon them.  The 2^nd and 3^rd bowls turned the sea and rivers into blood.  The 4^th caused men to be burned with fire and the 5^th brought darkness upon the land.  The 6^th bowl dried up the Euphrates River clearing a path for the battle of Armageddon.  The final bowl of God’s wrath was poured out as a great voice from heaven cried out, “It is done!”

Revelation 16:18-21  And voices and thunders and lightning occurred. And there was a great earthquake, such as has not been since men were on the earth, so mighty and so great an earthquake.  (19)  And the great city came to be into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the anger of His wrath.  (20)  And every island fled away, and mountains were not found.  (21)  And a great hail, as the size of a talent, came down out of the heaven on men. And men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague of it was exceedingly great.

·         Chapter 17 now retells of this destruction of Babylon in greater detail.  It is mentioned that this chapter describes the destruction of the religious system of Babylon (church) and the next chapter describes the destruction of the commercial system that is in place.  These 2 chapters are full of symbolisms that, unless divinely inspired, are extremely difficult to understand and explain.

 

Revelation 17:1-2  And one of the seven angels who had the seven vials came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot sitting on many waters,  (2)  with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and became drunk with the wine of her fornication, those inhabiting the earth.”

·         The “great harlot” is the religious institution set up in Babylon (the false church).  The idea of the city being a prostitute could represent the seduction it used to spread its immoral agenda throughout the world, much like a prostitute seduces her customers into sin.  It also could be a comparison between the sinful and defiled false church and God’s chosen church which is His pure and sinless bride.

 

Revelation 17:3-5  And he carried me away into a desert by the Spirit. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored beast, filled with names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.  (4)  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet. And she was gilded with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication.  (5)  And on her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

·         This beast could be and appears to be the beast that rose out from the sea, died and was resurrected and worshiped by many in chapter 13.  The woman represents the idolatrous church arrayed in symbols of her wealth and power.  She holds a golden cup that is full her idolatry and immorality.

 

Revelation 17:6 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with a great marveling.

·         This false church or false religion has overseen the martyrdom of the saints of God down through the centuries.  Here she is intoxicated with the pleasure that the shedding of their blood brought to her.  John marveled at the sight of her.

 

Revelation 17:7-8  And the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, that has the seven heads and ten horns.  (8)  The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to ascend out of the abyss and go into perdition. And those dwelling on the earth will marvel, those whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.”

·         The mention of the beast’s resurrection symbolizes the persistence of evil.  It has never stopped and just keeps reappearing.  It will now appear again only to be sent to perdition.  Perdition is defined as entire loss or ruin and utter destruction.  It will experience the full wrath of God once and for all.

 

Revelation 17:9-13  And here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits.  (10)  And there are seven kings; five have fallen, and one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time.  (11)  And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into perdition.  (12)  And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have received no kingdom yet, but will receive authority as kings one hour with the beast.  (13)  These have one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.

·         Rome was famous for its seven hills so that is the first thing to come to mind.  It however may just be symbolism for all the evil empires that rise into power like them.  This would tie in with the mention of seven kings that could also represent other world powers.  The eighth king could likely be the antichrist.

·         The ten horns refer to ten future kings that serve a short time and then yield their authority and power to the beast.  Ten separate nations united yielding themselves to the authority of the beast.

 

Revelation 17:14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them. For He is Lord of lords and King of kings. And those with Him are the called and elect and faithful ones.

·         These 10 unified nations, under control of the beast, will wage war with the Lamb and be overcome.  Jesus, the Lord of lords and King of kings, will be victorious and we will be called the “elect and faithful ones.”  We win!!

·         I am unclear whether this refers to the battle of Armageddon or not.  The uncertain timeline makes it almost impossible to decide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revelation 17:15-16  And he says to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues,  (16)  and the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked. And they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.”

·         In a dramatic turn of events, the 10 nations will turn on the harlot (the false church) and destroy her.   Her biggest allies quickly become her greatest enemies and her destruction.  But why did they turn so quickly?

 

(17)  “For God gave into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, and to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast until the Words of God will be fulfilled.  (18)  And the woman whom you saw is the great city which has a kingdom over the kings of the earth.”

·         Just as God controlled the mind of Pharaoh, He maintains control even over the evil alliance that fights against Him.  He uses those who have united against Him as tools to execute His will.   They are pawns upon His chess board.  He moves them as He wills to fulfill His perfect plan of judgement.

 

Do we often feel like we are under attack and God has forgotten about us?  No, that will not ever happen.  We are promised that “He will never leave us or forsake us.”  He will turn the tables and use that persecution and trouble (the ugly times of your life) and make it something good and beautiful.  He is the changing business.  

·         I think of the Book of Acts and the stoning of Stephen.  The persecution that arose scattered the church.   God change this death into good as now the Gospel message was spread throughout the world.

·         I am also reminded of the story of Joseph and how his brothers sold him into slavery out of jealousy.  He suffered many setbacks but eventually was in place to save those same brothers and his father from starvation.  He told his brothers this:

Genesis 50:20  But as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save a great many people alive.

·         We can stand upon the promise of Romans 8:28:

 

Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

 

As we watch the events of this world take place right before our eyes, know that God is still in control.  Trust Him to work in our lives and our world to fulfill His perfect Will even if we do not understand it.

 

 

Lord, thank you that You are in control and build our faith that we may trust You more and more as we see the end approaching.