Revelation 17
Notes
Transcript
Welcome friends - would you stand, if you are able, as we read Revelation 17
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me: “Come, I will show you the judgment of the notorious prostitute who is seated on many waters. The kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and those who live on the earth became drunk on the wine of her sexual immorality.” Then he carried me away in the Spirit to a wilderness.
I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, jewels, and pearls. She had a golden cup in her hand filled with everything detestable and with the impurities of her prostitution. On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and of the Detestable Things of the Earth. Then I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.
Then the angel said to me, “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast, with the seven heads and the ten horns, that carries her. The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss and go to destruction. Those who live on the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast that was, and is not, and is to come. This calls for a mind that has wisdom.
“The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated. They are also seven kings: Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he comes, he must remain for only a little while. The beast that was and is not, is itself an eighth king, but it belongs to the seven and is going to destruction. The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they will receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those with him are called, chosen, and faithful.”
He also said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. The ten horns you saw, and the beast, will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, devour her flesh, and burn her up with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his plan by having one purpose and to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman you saw is the great city that has royal power over the kings of the earth.”
Let’s pray. Go ahead and have a seat.
Be careful little eyes what you see, be careful little eyes what you see - for your father up above is looking down in love, be careful little eyes what you see.
If you grew up in Church, or even in the Christian world, there are some songs and potentially even some verses you just have memorized. Some of them are really good - but that one of them that has just always bugged me
I think I know what that’s trying to get at - but I’ll be honest - that song can give off some creepy Santa vibes. Like be careful - cause God is watching.
I think the heart of the song is actually really good - it’s not meant to “scare us straight” but to reflect what Revelation 17 is getting at: we need to be careful in this world - for it is an active war zone - and there are parties present who want to draw us in, get us comfortable, and lead us to death. But it is VERY seductive - so we need to be careful. We need to be aware and cognizant.
We went over all of revelation 16 last week - and now in revelation 17 we really are in the beginning of the end of the book of Revelation - John will begin bringing things all together until their consummation at the end of the book.
Chapter 17 is a new vision - look at verses 1-2
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me: “Come, I will show you the judgment of the notorious prostitute who is seated on many waters. The kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and those who live on the earth became drunk on the wine of her sexual immorality.”
John is told by one of the heavenly representatives that he will be shown the judgement of the notorious, or great, prostitute. Then the angel says that this great prostitute is seated on many waters.
The reference to being seated on waters goes back to Jeremiah 51:13, where the prophet pronounces judgement on Babylon where it too was said to abide on great waters. Beale suggests that sitting in Revelation almost always as to do with authority - and especially with the waters likely indicates authority over the nations. Rome itself was said to be as effective in it’s conquest because of it’s access to the Mediterranean sea. So this is an authority claim and likely tying Babylon to Rome which will become clearer as this chapter continues.
The kings of the earth it says committed pornea with her - sexual immorality - but also symbolic with spiritual immorality in revelation. They compromised themselves with her. They paid her for some benefit - for she is a prostitute. It’s not a real love, it’s a fabricated love. And they became drunk on the wine of her porneia - her benefits.
This could be showing how many “kingdoms” in the roman world actually benefited of being romes client states. They welcomed their conquerors, gave into their demands and their gods, so that they could enjoy security, luxury, and power.
This is the thing with most sin, most idols - we go to them for some perceived benefit. Think of sexual sin - so many go to this because it makes them feel connected, powerful, loved, feel pleasure - but it has a cost. Adultery, porn, emotional affairs - they deeply affect us. They mar us.
Think of our “comfort” use. Many people spend hours each day medicating their brains on devices. It promises dopamine, joy, mind-numbing, decompressing - but there are some dark and poisonous wells on those screens. They call it doom-scrolling for a reason! The rates of loneliness and anxiety are skyrocketing. It has a cost!
There are so many idols that promise us life but we know that it’s Christ who is the way the truth and the life - other idols give us a false life - and ultimately leads to death - but Revelation is clear - it is so seductive. So much so that it seems that John needed to be brought clear of it - look at the first part of verse 3, Revelation 17:3a
Then he carried me away in the Spirit to a wilderness.
The angel, in the Spirit, carries him to a wilderness - the eremos in Greek. This is a significant place. It’s the wilderness that the Israelites wandered - but were cared for by God in it! It was to the wilderness that Jesus went after his baptism.
And all through Jesus life in the gospels - we see that he regularly retreated to the eremos, to the wild, to desolate places, to connect to the father.
The eremos, the desolate places are places without as many distractions. I don’t know if you’ve felt this at times - but whatever satan can use to distract you from the truth - he will use.
So, it would be wise, like John, like Jesus, to continually draw away from the noise, away from the busy and the hurry, into places that the world may call desolate so that we can be with God, the giver of life.
The more we are with God in an un-hurried and honest way, the more we are able to discern the truth of things in life.
in the Spirit John is removed into the wilderness perhaps so that he can see the truth of this grotesque image. For up close she is too alluring. And he then is able to see her. Look at the rest of verse 3 - 6a,
I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, jewels, and pearls. She had a golden cup in her hand filled with everything detestable and with the impurities of her prostitution. On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and of the Detestable Things of the Earth. Then I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the witnesses to Jesus.
So this woman is seated upon one of the beasts - in other words - Satan and the evil powers are propping this woman up. She is alluring the world to her, which ultimately leads others to follow the beast.
The description of the beast is almost word for word from when we were first introduced in chapter 13, and the heads and the horns seem to demonstrate the fullness of the power of the evil kingdoms who hate and kill God’s people.
The great prostitute is alluring with the colors of royalty and opulence - even though there are detestable things present - impurities and stains - but because of the appeared status - people are willing to take the poison with it, as long as they get the same benefits.
And her name is revealed
First, though it says a mystery: The phrase mystery, to me, seems to indicate that God uses even the most vile of powers ultimately to bring about the salvation of the world. There is a great irony here - and it’s mysterious to those of us on the ground what exactly is happening - but when we look back, or look from above it seems obvious - God’s been involved all the while.
Her name - Babylon the Great.
Babylon was the big bad guy and became the archetype of the nemesis for the Jewish people. The phrase Babylon the great refers directly to Daniel 4:30 I’ll put that up for you
the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great that I have built to be a royal residence by my vast power and for my majestic glory?”
This is Nebuchadnezzer bragging about his power. His downfall was a consequence of his independence from God. It’s fascinating that as people receive power and means they like to think they no longer need God - only to find themselves falling and losing it all.
The woman is the mother of all prostitutes and all the evil things. She was drunk on the blood of the people of god.
Babylon here is being spoken of not just as a physical city - but a demonically influenced system that is at work throughout time and space. And she will always hate those who speak the truth of the kingdom of God - for she is satanic.
And whats crazy to me, is the last sentence in verse 6, check this out.
When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.
You could translate this literally - “I wondered with great wonder.” John - the apostle whom Christ loved - is astonished - and marvels as this grotesque woman. Like he can’t take his eyes off her. And that’s from the wilderness! Thats the power and the allure of this great prostitute. Perhaps it’s fear, perhaps it’s a hint of desire - he is astonished.
The angel speaks again: Revelation 17:7
Then the angel said to me, “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast, with the seven heads and the ten horns, that carries her.
Hey wake up - don’t marvel at this - I’ll explain it so that you can see the truth. Then the angel starts to explain - verse 8
The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss and go to destruction. Those who live on the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast that was, and is not, and is to come.
This phrase “was, is not, is about to come up” is a parody of God who was and is and is to come.
That the beast is not refers to the beasts ongoing defeat since the death and resurrection of Christ. And the beats activities right now are all going to lead to his destruction.
The angel says then - that those who live on earth that are not redeemed - that are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world - language that’s both old testament but also Pauline and ephesians language. Those that are not new creations in christ - will be astonished - same word of John’s wonder. They will marvel at the beast. They’re gonna be captivated by it.
I’ll put it this way - when those who aren’t saved act in a way and live in a way that isn’t holy - don’t be surprised! Why are we surprised when people who don’t know Jesus, haven’t bent the knee to Christ, live contrary to his ways? Of course they are!
The angel continues now, and says this first:
This calls for a mind that has wisdom.
Hey slow down and have wisdom. Wake up. Eyes open. Don’t fall asleep at the wheel, and pay attention.
Then the angel speaks in some details about the nature of the beast and the horns - look at the remainder of verse 9 - 13
“The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated. They are also seven kings: Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he comes, he must remain for only a little while. The beast that was and is not, is itself an eighth king, but it belongs to the seven and is going to destruction. The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they will receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.
This is one of the sections that gets highly debated and picked a part with all sorts of different theories. Like of the seven commentaries I was referencing for this section - while some agree in part, it seemed like all had there own take - it was this way in the early church too, I have one commentary that samples early christian writers - and they have mixed understandings on this. Some look to rome, some look to kingdoms through the ages, some look to just future kingdoms, some look to Israel as unfaithful, like there are almost countless ideas.
sThat should reinstill for us - transformation not speculation.
The reference to the seven mountains to me and the predominate view of the scholars I read is a clear reference to Rome, it’s just the particulars that many debate. slide
Pretty infamously, rome was built on seven hills. So it’s actually pretty profound - Revelation is tying through imagery Babylon this typological satanic kingdom that stands against God’s will with Rome! Which makes sense with all of the emperor worship that was going on with Emperor Domitian (if you date it to the late first century which I do).
The Angel continues then with the seven kings and it’s a bit confusing and leads to most of the speculation some of which is quite compelling, and has lead some to date the book of Revelation actually to before the fall of Jerusalem - which is fascinating, but I align more with Beale here that this seems to relate back to Daniel 7:3-7, where the seven heads of the four beats identifies empires that spans centuries. So that the beast is a, in Beale’s words: trans-temporal figure.
Babylon is the type, Satan uses it to prop up different nations, systems, empires, and people fall in love with the ways of the world putting their hope in the beasts rather than with God.
Bruce Metzger, a new testament scholar said it this way: slide
“Babylon is allegorical of the idolatry that any nation commits when it elevates material abundance, military prowess, technological sophistication, imperial grandeur, racial pride, and any other glorification of the creature over the Creator . . . . The message of the book of Revelation concerns… God’s judgments not only of persons, but also of nations and, in fact, of all principalities and powers - which is to say, all authorities, corporations, institutions, structures, bureaucracies, and the like.” Bruce Metzger; Breaking the Code.
He goes on later to add even in churches.
Also, The beast itself is considered one of the kings - and it’s headed to destruction.
And the ten horns - are ten kings who have not received a kingdom - but get authority with the beast for one hour. It’s fascinating that satan seems to share his power with these people for a short time - and the kings think they are in charge - but their day comes, and Satan uses them like a pawn.
The purpose of all these kings is revealed in 13 and 14, where they serve the beast - and war against God. Revelation 17:14
These will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those with him are called, chosen, and faithful.”
Christ is the king of kings and the lord of lords. And those who follow HIM are called, chosen, and faithful.
Y’all - that’s the place to be. The lamb may not LOOK as dynamic as beast with prostitute on it’s back - but HE will be the conquerer. And us with him - the called, the chosen the faithful.
The angel then goes back and describes the waters, verser 15:
He also said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.
Again - ruling over all the peoples and the crowds. but now interestingly - we see that there is some action again - verses 16-18
The ten horns you saw, and the beast, will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, devour her flesh, and burn her up with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his plan by having one purpose and to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman you saw is the great city that has royal power over the kings of the earth.”
This is fascinating - for this section where the horns then destroy the prostitute - Babylon, seems to be tied to another time where God unleashed his judgment against another harlot - in Ezekiel it’s Israel who is unfaithful. And in Ezekiel 23:25-47 she is to be consumed by fire, stripped, be naked and hated, hoses burned, and even has Israel drinking from a cup just like Babylon in Revelation.
We know in the Old Testament that the prophecy in Ezekiel was fulfilled when Babylon conquered Jerusalem.
I want to quote Beale here directly as he does a good just bringing this together:slide
“The same imagery is now reapplied to the desolation of the Babylonian harlot. What Babylon did to Israel in the OT epoch is now turned around and applied to the Babylonian world system int he new covenant age.” GK Beale; Revelation
Even the kings of the world follow God’s plan - he put it into their hearts.
God is sovereign over history. The beasts don’t run amuck. Rome didn’t win . Babylon isn’t forever - GOd’s kingdom is. - Caesar isn’t Lord - Jesus is lord.
Okay - another dense chapter, let’s step back and ask
So What?
So What?
How should we read this passage in light of our lives today - What do we do with the images of a great prostitute riding a grotesque beast.
1 - Be aware of the seductive nature of Babylon (sin, the flesh, and the devil)
I think we often can downplay how seductive, corrosive, and addicting the sinful world is, and at the same time be way to confident in our own ability to resist. We think that things won’t or don’t have an effect on us - that it won’t influence us. And then we can boast in our freedom - I can do all things.
And let’s be real - there are lots of things in the world that seem neutral, or gray rather than black or white. And it can take great wisdom to discern - and great knowledge of our own fleshly desires in light of the Spirit. All the while Babylon’s siren call rings out - promising us life, and knowledge and happiness and comfort and power - and all we have to do is look here.
But there is no such thing as a free lunch, as they say.
Ariana and I have a recurring inside joke when we watch shows and pharmaceutical ads come on - they always show the perfect family, the perfect colors, healthy people hiking and swimming and laughing - as the narrator talks about the benefits of a certain drug - heart burn, eczema, and many others - and it seems so happy - and at the end of these commercials they then read the potential side effects - and they are like such a startling disconnect from the images you see.
And that’s so we can be informed!
Most things of babylon don’t always come with such a transparent side effect list.
Remember - 1 Corinthians 10:23
“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything builds up.
Know that Satan prowls around seeking to devour. Know that he will continually come with temptations - like he did with Eve, like he did with Christ.
So we ought to just be aware! When I was a youth pastor I’d regularly have students, usually young men when they started dating or having an interest in a girl as me a very popular question: “How far is too far?” I get that question - students knew that sex outside of the context of marriage was sinful - so their question was how close can I get without sinning. And most of those young men wanted to get as close to that line, even dangle over that line because there hearts and their minds were WAY past that line.
We need to know ourselves - there are areas I’m tempted towards sin strongly. My “line” is WAY far back - not because I want to just limit my freedom - but because I don’t want to be enslaved to sin. The path to sin is easy, quick, and comes with snacks. Usually not with a narrator reading the potential side effects.
Cause the fact of the matter is there are side effects. Go digging around in the weeds right now and your prone to pick up a few tics. Little blood suckers that latch on - and can cause great harm!
So we need to resist! How do we do that?
2 - Resist by fleeing to the Wilderness
It’s crazy how busy and full our lives our - and I’ve come to believe that this is a tool that Satan uses to get us weak, tired, distracted and vulnerable. Especially when you factor work, kids sports, chores at home, eating, sleeping - then the societal expectations we all feel. It can be exceptionally difficult to see the truth.
Jesus regularly went out to the wilderness, to the eremos, in order to talk with the FAther. And he was human - right so he felt what it was like to have a full day, and people who depended on him all while people were trying to kill him! What did he do at the end of a long day?
Just mind numb on his phone for a bit to chill? Did the Gospels say that after a long day of healing people and before headed to Jerusalem, he decompressed by absorbing a bunch of mindless content?
NO - it’s not that JEsus didn’t relax and enjoy - of course he did - but we resist Satan by being with God. Not opening up hours a day on devices to him. We need to slow down, get quiet, and be with God. And that is really difficult to do when you are in the middle of the battlefield.
I’m not saying we all need to find some desolate field to call our own - but I am suggesting that we need to find a place and time where we can regularly be present to God with as view distractions as possible.
God is speaking - he wants to be with you, bless you, encourage you - but we give him seconds or a quick prayer SO THAT we can go about everything we need to do that day.
Don’t we see how backwards that is? Is not being aware of the presence of God, letting him be with us, praying to him, enjoying him, interceding for others - allowing him to correct us and encourage us - isn’t that the most important thing? Most of the time we don’t even give him our seconds - we give him our fourths or fifths!
I say this not to shame you - not at all - but to remind us, to encourage you - friend we need to be with God. And we need to linger in his presence. There is no more important place to be - no more greater need - then in the life giving presence of God. And I know it’s hard: but
We either can feel the discomfort of escaping into the wilderness with God, and find God - or fall asleep in wonder of Babylon - and have God find us sleeping.
I encourage you - find time - i promise you we all have some to spare - and give it to God. Dwell with him. And if you need help in what exactly that should look like - talk to pastor Brandon or myself - we’d love to give you some ideas.
But being with God will change your life. Which leads us to
3 - How we live matters
The notorious prostitute will constantly tell us that how we live doesn’t matter. That this action - or this person is insignificant. Nothing could be further from the truth.
There is not a single insignificant being that has ever lived. How we live - even in the most mundane moments are profound - for God is there with us. We say, rightly, that God is omnipresent - everywhere - that means when you sleep and when you wake and when you eat and when you bathe and when you clean and work and anywhere you go - God is there. Inviting us to live with him and in his way. How profound is this, friends? That means everything we do, and anywhere we go is an invitation to worship.
How we interact with people - how we speak to them, act around them. This deeply matters. Satan likes to tell us that what we do, how we live, how we interact or not - doesn’t really matter - that it makes no real difference.
Eugene Peterson has just an incredible paragraph on his work on Revelation 17, he writes: slide
“… our daily encounters with bank tellers, post office clerks, and gas station attendants are, each one, elements of sin and grace. All of these people and each of these encounters is a significant detail in the life of faith. but we are not aware of it. Most of the time we are not living in a crisis in which we are conscious of our need of God, yet everything we do is critical, to our faith, and God is critically involved in it. All day long we are doing eternally important things without knowing it. All through the day we inadvertently speak words that enter peoples lives and change them in minor or major ways, and we never know it.” Eugene Peterson; Reversed Thunder
This is a profound mystery - where Satan will constantly get us to just relax and get comfortable - God calls us to be with him, work with him, live with him and he will give us REAL rest. Satan’s way leads to destruction - Christ IS life.
Finally
4 - Put your hope in Christ, not in other kings or kingdoms ( a tale of two cities)
Maybe you hear all this and you realize that you’ve actually been marveling a bit at Babylon. Maybe you’ve fallen in love with how she moves. Maybe you find yourself marveling at her abit.
Maybe you’ve been hanging out and doing stuff you ought not to - and now you can feel the ticks growing as they have attached themselves to you. whispering condemnation to you.
Friend - there is great hope - fix your eyes on JEsus. Go to him. Ask him to cleanse you. Ask him to forgive you. Live with Christ.
Jesus is our hope!
He will conquer even the most evil ones for he is the lord of lords and the king of kings!
In all these things:
Christian Standard Bible Chapter 8
we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord
Let’s pray
