Revelation 17:1-18
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 viewsNotes
Transcript
1 One of the seven angels who had poured out the seven bowls came over and spoke to me. “Come with me,” he said, “and I will show you the judgment that is going to come on the great prostitute, who rules over many waters. 2 The kings of the world have committed adultery with her, and the people who belong to this world have been made drunk by the wine of her immorality.”
3 So the angel took me in the Spirit into the wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that had seven heads and ten horns, and blasphemies against God were written all over it. 4 The woman wore purple and scarlet clothing and beautiful jewelry made of gold and precious gems and pearls. In her hand she held a gold goblet full of obscenities and the impurities of her immorality. 5 A mysterious name was written on her forehead: “Babylon the Great, Mother of All Prostitutes and Obscenities in the World.” 6 I could see that she was drunk—drunk with the blood of God’s holy people who were witnesses for Jesus. I stared at her in complete amazement.
7 “Why are you so amazed?” the angel asked. “I will tell you the mystery of this woman and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns on which she sits. 8 The beast you saw was once alive but isn’t now. And yet he will soon come up out of the bottomless pit and go to eternal destruction. And the people who belong to this world, whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made, will be amazed at the reappearance of this beast who had died.
9 “This calls for a mind with understanding: The seven heads of the beast represent the seven hills where the woman rules. They also represent seven kings. 10 Five kings have already fallen, the sixth now reigns, and the seventh is yet to come, but his reign will be brief.
11 “The scarlet beast that was, but is no longer, is the eighth king. He is like the other seven, and he, too, is headed for destruction. 12 The ten horns of the beast are ten kings who have not yet risen to power. They will be appointed to their kingdoms for one brief moment to reign with the beast. 13 They will all agree to give him their power and authority. 14 Together they will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him.”
15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters where the prostitute is ruling represent masses of people of every nation and language. 16 The scarlet beast and his ten horns all hate the prostitute. They will strip her naked, eat her flesh, and burn her remains with fire. 17 For God has put a plan into their minds, a plan that will carry out his purposes. They will agree to give their authority to the scarlet beast, and so the words of God will be fulfilled. 18 And this woman you saw in your vision represents the great city that rules over the kings of the world.”
Jeremiah 51 seems to be lurking in the background of ch. 17-18
Jeremiah 51 seems to be lurking in the background of ch. 17-18
It is the destruction of the Great City/Babylon/Rome/Oppression mentioned at the end of ch. 16, but spelled out in more detail.
John sees this from the wilderness,
John sees this from the wilderness,
3 So the angel took me in the Spirit into the wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that had seven heads and ten horns, and blasphemies against God were written all over it.
The wilderness was always where God led his people to give them a different perspective, and even to test their faithfulness. They could see the world from a different angle.
Think of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness
He fought the temptation to bow down to Satan and do what Satan asks because he clung to God’s Word and Power
So it should be whenever God’s people are led to the wilderness. They see the charade of evil and become resolute to cling to God’s power and word.
This is the perspective John receives as he sees “Babylon”/Evil from the wilderness
Babylon sits the portrait for this city/woman.
Babylon sits the portrait for this city/woman.
She stands in direct opposition of the woman in ch. 12. That woman is rescued, but this city, illustrated by an unfaithful woman, will be destroyed.
Remember, we are dealing with imagery and SYMBOLS
Therefore, it is not only Babylon that we are talking about. In fact, it very well might not be Babylon at all, but the NEW BABYLON. Something that is very similar to the way Babylon was/is. Something with the same idea.
What/Who WAS Babylon?
586 BC destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple
Forced God’s people to accept pagan ways, pagan names, pagan worship
Babylon is described here in detail
Babylon was built on waters
Like a fine woman, she is luxuriously decorated. She has a golden goblet that you would think was full of great wine/drink.
But, all of that is a charade. Really the goblet is full of filth and bile
She was not drunk on fine wine, but drunk on the blood of all the faithful of God.
6 I could see that she was drunk—drunk with the blood of God’s holy people who were witnesses for Jesus. I stared at her in complete amazement.
But, this is SYMBOL
It’s not JUST the ancient city Babylon
In fact, many cities in the prophets were referred to as unfaithful women/prostitutes
Tyre
17 Yes, after seventy years the Lord will revive Tyre. But she will be no different than she was before. She will again be a prostitute to all kingdoms around the world.
Nineveh
4 All this because Nineveh, the beautiful and faithless city, mistress of deadly charms, enticed the nations with her beauty. She taught them all her magic, enchanting people everywhere.
Even ISRAEL!
5 Their mother is a shameless prostitute and became pregnant in a shameful way. She said, ‘I’ll run after other lovers and sell myself to them for food and water, for clothing of wool and linen, and for olive oil and drinks.’
20 “Long ago I broke the yoke that oppressed you and tore away the chains of your slavery, but still you said, ‘I will not serve you.’ On every hill and under every green tree, you have prostituted yourselves by bowing down to idols.
36 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you have poured out your lust and exposed yourself in prostitution to all your lovers, and because you have worshiped detestable idols, and because you have slaughtered your children as sacrifices to your gods,
God seems to reserve the term PROSTITUTE/Unfaithful Woman for those who defile themselves with OTHER RELIGIONS and those who lead others to do the same.
ROME also sits this portrait very well! (v.7-10)
V. 8 & v. 11 Remind us of the myth of Nero, that he died, but was thought to come back to life again. Possibly bringing the Parthian army with him to take over Rome again.
8 The beast you saw was once alive but isn’t now. And yet he will soon come up out of the bottomless pit and go to eternal destruction. And the people who belong to this world, whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made, will be amazed at the reappearance of this beast who had died.
11 “The scarlet beast that was, but is no longer, is the eighth king. He is like the other seven, and he, too, is headed for destruction.
By the way, the telling of 7 kings (and 8 kings) and then 10 more kings is probably NOT a way to numerically identify who is Caesar at the time of the writing of this letter, or some timeline for End Times stuff.
Like other times John uses numbers they are most likely symbolic.
The number seven being a number of completion.
The number 8 is often used by Christians and Jews to refer to the 1st day of the 2nd week of Creation. T
he term 8th day was also used to discuss the Resurrection of Christ on the 1st day of the week. Therefore, the number 8 was often used to describe Christ.
Most likely, John is trying to get the hearers and readers to understand something ABOUT the evil that they face, NOT WHO IT IS (they most likely ALREADY know).
It is a way of saying that the reign of evil is not yet complete. I
t is a way of saying that evil will try it’s hardest to parody Christ, but will still fall short.
The ten kings might be a reference to governors or magistrates who assist in ruling the kingdom.
What is most important is the reminder that they will reign for a short time (v. 12 = one brief moment. Or 1 hour in NIV).
12 The ten horns of the beast are ten kings who have not yet risen to power. They will be appointed to their kingdoms for one brief moment to reign with the beast.
Also, what is of UTMOST IMPORTANCE is v. 14
Revelation 17:14 “14 Together they will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him.””
John/Christ highlights that the Lamb’s victory is already sealed! He ALREADY is King of kings!!
Ok, back to Rome
Not just the reminder of Nero, but also familiar geography.
Rome was declared to be the “City on Seven Hills.” John is not writing a cryptic message that states something SECRETLY about Rome. He is not hiding behind a code. Anyone who read this chapter would KNOW without a doubt that John was not referencing Babylon in particular, but more specifically he was referencing Rome.
Oh, and let’s not forget the goddess Roma
She was worshipped by the Romans as the personification of the city of Rome and the Roman Empire.
John, in his description of the prostitute, highlights Roma, but declares that Roma is in fact a prostitute who leads people astray.
This would be akin to someone talking about Uncle Sam and describing him as drunk, redneck uncle (maybe even a pedophile).
John does (as you read ch. 18 you get the idea) lament some things about Roman culture. But, John, although he has some admiration for the empire, he is not sold out in his patriotism.
He recognizes that Rome is a charade and there is a greater Kingdom that he is a citizen of!
These chapters are Christ directing John to pull back the curtain/charade of the Roman world and expose her for the evil she is.
These chapters are Christ directing John to pull back the curtain/charade of the Roman world and expose her for the evil she is.
But, it’s not just Rome!
Remember, this is symbolic and a great use of imagery to tell a greater story.
There still is the prostitute who lures people who claim faithfulness to Christ away. She rides on top of the beast seeking whom she may trick into following her deceptive ways!
The prostitute of Babylon can be any nation, government, people who seek to use economics, religion, progress etc… to oppress and frighten not only the faithful followers of God, but anyone on the face of the earth.
The woman is alive in ISIS, Hamas, Hezbollah, gangs, lawlessness, the suppression of the freedom of religion, fear mongering, the desire to keep up with the Jones's, the desire to call yourself a follower of Christ yet live like the devil the rest of the week, etc…
Babylon is ALL AROUND US!
But, here’s the good news. Christ is ALREADY KING OF KINGS!
The other good news is that somehow evil self destructs!
16 The scarlet beast and his ten horns all hate the prostitute. They will strip her naked, eat her flesh, and burn her remains with fire.
The beast will be destroyed in ch. 20. But, for now John/Christ highlight that the beast will use the Babylons of our world for its purpose and then devour it.
As grim of a picture that is. There is a reminder...
The Babylons we face today may not be the Babylons we face next week!
Evil has a way of devouring itself!
Yes, God will step in and destroy all evil. But, evil does a great job destroying that most of the time evil implodes on itself, making God’s job much easier!
17 For God has put a plan into their minds, a plan that will carry out his purposes. They will agree to give their authority to the scarlet beast, and so the words of God will be fulfilled.
Somehow, God can use evil to carry out HIS plan!
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Amidst the questions in the past/present/future about how long God will wait until he settles the score we sometimes hear the answer , “Just wait! I’m working a plan. You’ll see. It’s a good one. Evil will do it’s thing, but it will implode on itself and destroy itself. Be patient, be faithful, and you’ll be just fine.”
Who/what/where is our Babylon?
Who oppresses people?
Who demands their own self worship or worship of the “system” and a specific way of life at the detriment of being faithful to God?
Here’s the good news!
God is working a plan
It is a good plan - IN HIS TIME!
COMMUNION
COMMUNION
Communion is a reminder that God HAS ALREADY defeated the powerful enemies in our world. Jesus Christ has taken the worst that the Babylons of our world can throw at him and has triumphed over them THROUGH those afflictions. HE IS ALREADY KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!
15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
14 Together they will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him.”
So, as we celebrate communion, we celebrate the VICTORY over our world’s Babylons this act of worship represents.
Christ has come, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.
BENEDICTION
BENEDICTION
20 Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— 21 may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.