4 Women of Revelation

Intro

Opening Story/Question/Illustration: Today, we celebrate Mother’s Day. For some of us it is a day of celebration. We will eat dinner with our mothers or at least call our mothers. Americans love mothers day. They Spend (Insert here) on Mother’s day cards and gifts. The stores are all a buzz with Mother’s day sales. For others of us it is a sad day. It’s a day that we remember the mother who is not with us. Some of us have wonderful mothers and we have a wonderful relationship with her. Others of us have relationships filled with regret, pain, fighting, and sadness. The truth is, unless there was some mutual adoption at an older age, none of us in this room chose our mother. We didn’t get a say in the matter. We live with the hand we’ve been dealt - Whether good or bad. This Morning I want to talk about a mother that we can choose. I want to talk in a sense about a spiritual “mother.”

Introduction to the text: The book of Revelation is a mysterious book. It is a book full of symbolism and mystery. It is a book that probably has more opinions on interpretation than perhaps any other book in the Bible. Sometimes, I think we miss the forest because of the trees. We can get so busy with the book trying to decipher the beast in chapter 13 or who Gog and Magog are that we miss the point of the book entirely.

The Book of Revelation is a Prophecy

But it is also a letter written to a group of 7 Churches in the area now known as Turkey.

It was written by John and it was a prophetic word of encouragement and rebuke to this group of Churches. It was written as a reminder that, in spite of what they were going through, Jesus was still in control. It was written to a group of Churches that, much like us, often struggled with the temptation to give in to the culture.

It is a prophetic warning that these churches had a choice to make - Follow Jesus faithfully or face judgment.

It is in this letter that is full of symbolism, prophecy, and mystery that we are introduced to four women. This is what I want to talk about today. Of these four women, two of them the text talks about their child or their children and the other two we can sort of assume their children. These aren’t necessarily literally children - but the text is, in a sense asking us a question - Which women will you choose? Who will be your mother?

Transition to Points: So, let’s get started as we look at the four women of Revelation

Points

Revelation 2:18–28 ESV

18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 “ ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star.

Jezebel

The first woman on our list is Jezebel

Jesus here addresses the Church at Thyatira.

This city was located in Modern day Turkey.

It was established as a military outpost.

The city was full of Trade Guilds (like unions)

In order to be a part of your chosen profession, you would need to join a trade guild.

The problem with this is that it each of the trade guilds had their own patron god or godess. If you were to be a member of the trade guild it was expected that you would participate in worship to the guild’s god or goddess.

The church here is apparently doing well.

They love others

They trust God and are full of faith.

They have served those around them

They are growing and constantly improving in all these things! This a church that, on the surface you would want to attend.

But there is a dark side to this church.

As great as their strengths were, their weaknesses are even worse.

They had relaxed their hold on the truth. They had been tolerating false teaching or heresy within their midst. Jesus says if they do not change he’s going to come and judge them.

This is where we get introduced to our first woman - Jezebel

Jezebel has led people away from the truth through false teachings

Apparently this congregation has allowed a false teacher, whom Jesus refers to as “Jezebel” to teach within their congregation. They have been unwilling to take a stand against her or her teaching.

This woman’s name wasn’t really Jezebel -It was Jesus’ insult towards this woman who was teaching false doctrines.

In the Old Testament, Jezebel was the Phoenician wife of Ahab who programmatically led the northern kingdom into Baal worship and sorcery (; ; ). In other words, the Jezebel of the OT led the people of God away from God to worship false gods - and apparently this woman was doing the same thing in the church at Thyatira.

We aren’t fully sure what exactly she was teaching, but our guess is that she was teaching that it was ok to participate in the trade guild and their festivals to their gods and goddesses.

Think about it - If you want to feed your family you have to work. If you wanted to work in your craft or trade, you would have to participate in a trade guild. If you want to participate in the trade guild, you would have to participate in the worship of a false god.

Your choice: Compromise your faith or stay faithful to Jesus.

This lady here was apparently teaching that Jesus was ok with your compromise.

Illustration: Growing up there was always a kid or two in my class that would get into a lot of trouble. I remember several times kids getting in trouble a lot and their mom would come to the teacher and defend everything they had done. The kid could do no wrong. The mother thought little Suzy or Little Billy was perfect. They never really steered them in the right direction and as a result, many of those kids grew up and went the wrong direction. Part of the job of a good mother or father is to point their kids in the right direction. To point them towards the truth. This was the job of a Good teacher of God’s word - to point people towards to the truth. But Jezebel here failed in her job.

We live in a world where truth has become relative. Everyone is encouraged to “have their own truth.” I understand the idea of perspectives - But at the end of the day there is still truth. There are still things that are right and wrong.

Jesus’ call - don’t compromise.

Jezebel thinks she is a prophet, but she’s really a deceiver from Satan

Jezebel is seen as a satanic force (this is the only place in the book a person wields this terrible power) claiming the Spirit’s authority (as a prophetess) but leading many of God’s “slaves” astray into heresy.

Jesus states that, “I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn from her immorality.” Evidently, someone had warned “Jezebel” before.

Jesus ends by saying he is going to inflict suffering on this woman and her followers.

I know at this point your probably thinking “What a great mother’s day sermon.” Hold on, it gets better.

To sum it up - Jezebel has led people away from the truth through false teachings

Revelation 17:1–18 ESV

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, 2 with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” 3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 5 And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” 6 And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly. 7 But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. 9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 10 they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. 11 As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” 15 And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16 And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, 17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”

The Great Prostitute

Here, we come to our second woman - The Great Prostitute

The language here, as I’m sure you guessed is symbolic.

There’s a lot of speculation and opinions about who this woman is - But, in my opinion, the woman represents Rome and it’s empire - AND all Empire’s and systems which set themsevles up against God.

We are told in vs. 18 that she is “The great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”

We are told in vs. 9 that the woman is seated on seven heads or seven mountains. Rome is famously known as the “city that sits on 7 hills.”

She is also referred to here as “Babylon the great”

What exactly is she guilty of? The next few chapters spell out much of that, but we won’t take time to read all of it.

The Prostitute - Babylon the Great - Has led people away from the truth through false promises

The Prostitute - Babylon the Great - Has led people away from the truth through false promises

She has lured people in with promises of security and peace

She has lured people in with promises of power and wealth

She has lured people in with promises of pleasure and fun

Illustration - It’s like the scene in the movie Pinocchio - Pinocchio is lured to pleasure island where is promised a good time. It’s an amusement park, it’ll be a lot of fun, he thinks - But he gets there and after a while finds out that he’s turning into a donkey. This isn’t fun - it’s a trap. When we allow culture to lure us into it’s grip we often find ourselves trapped. The problem with Babylon the great is that she traps us by making false promises.

The problem is that she is taking on a role that is only designated for God

Only God provides real security and peace

Only God gives access to truth wealth and power

Only God gives true joy and fulfillment

The Empire of Rome and every empire before her and after her, all the way up to the empire of the Antichrist pulls us in with false promises of security, hope, peace, and fulfillment - All things that only come from God.

God is going to judge her and all who follow her for this!

To Sum it up: The Prostitute - Babylon the Great - Has led people away from the truth through false promises

Now you may be thinking, this is a lot of gloom and doom, but hold on, we have 2 women left. They stand in stark contrast to the two women we have just looked at.

Revelation 12:1–17 ESV

1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. 7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” 13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. 15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. 16 But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. 17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

The Woman Clothed with the Sun

There’s been a lot of speculation regarding this passage in recent years. But don’t get so caught up in the trees that you miss the forest.

Who is this woman? The symbolism here is rich.

The baby that she gives birth to is Jesus - The savior

The dragon that opposes her and wants to destroy her and the child is satan.

The dragon does his best to defeat her and her child, but he is unable to defeat them. The text tells us that he then goes on to make war with the rest of the women’s offspring.

The woman, in one sense could be Mary - Who gives birth to Jesus - But more likely the symbolism here points to the nation of Israel. That she represents God’s chosen people through whom messiah has come.

The rest of her offspring that the dragon goes out to make war against? That would be you and me - Believers or the Church.

But don’t get so caught up in all the imegary that you miss what’s happening here

The woman, with the help of God, faithfully stands in opposition to the dragon

Illustration: This reminds me of a praying mom..The mom’s in the room who have faithfully prayed for your children. I remember 3 women in my life who prayed like this. I remember as a kid going to the altar with my mother and listening and watching as she cried out to God. I remember as a little child going to my grandmother’s home and seeing her at night and in the morning crying out to God. I remember in college I did an internship with the youth pastor I grew up with. I remember on several occasions walking into the living room and seeing my youth pastor’s wife on her knees praying for her kids.

There is a great history of women who have prayed for and faithfully stood against the dragon for their children.

In direct contrast with Jezebel and her children, this woman and her children take a stand against the dragon, satan.

They face trouble, but God is with them, protecting them, helping them.

Jezebel and her children have compromised, but this woman, and her children, with the help of God, faithfully stand against the opposition of their enemy.

Revelation 19:7 ESV

7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;

Revelation 21:2 ESV

2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Revelation

The Bride

Revelation 21:1–9 ESV

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” 9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

The Bride

In , Paul compares the relationship between husband and wife to the relationship of Christ and the Church. We are the bride of Christ. He is the groom.

2 Corinthians 11:1–2 NLT

1 I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ.

Ephesians 5:27 ESV

27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

2 Corinthians 11:2 ESV

2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

The Bride here in Revelation stands in direct contrast to the prostitute or Babylon the great. The bride represents the people of God who have been faithful.

The Bride stands in direct contrast to the prostitute or Babylon the great.

The Bride stands in direct contrast to the prostitute or Babylon the great.

This is a new city filled with the presence of God and the people of God.

Instead of following the false promises of Babylon the people of God, the Bride of the Lamb have followed God and been faithful to him!

Babylon has been destroyed (See Chapters 17-19)

But the people who have been faithful to God have triumphed!

All throughout the book there are moments when it looks dark for the people of God - they are persecuted and killed because of their allegiance to the lamb

But at the end of the book, Babylon is left in a heap of rubble. The prostitute is destroyed and the faithful bride is triumphant!

Illustration: Those of you who are married in the room, hopefully you remember your wedding day. They day when your bride walked down the aisle and you made a commitment to be with one another for ever. Here’s the truth, the decision to commit to one another wasn’t just made that day. That day solidified that commitment. Before that, you probably spent days, months, or even years getting to know one another - And they day you made your commitment official. What a day that will be when we who have been faithful to Jesus for years finally see him face to face and our commitment to him comes to full fruition!

The Bride faithfully stands by her husband and has reaped the rewards of her faithfullness.

The Bride faithfully stands by her husband and has reaped the rewards of her faithfullness.

So what does all this mean?

It means you are left with a decision.

You didn’t get to choose your earthly mother - But you do get to choose which of these women you will follow.

The question that Revelation forces you to grapple with is this - Will you be a faithful witness for Jesus? Will you stand faithfully in opposition to the dragon? Will you stand faithfully as a bride with her husband? Or will you compromise? Will you give in to the pull of the world around you?

Which woman will you be called children of? The choice is yours.

Conclusion

Restate the Main idea: God has called you to be faithful to Jesus.

If you’re here this morning, and you don’t know Jesus. We want to pray for you

Pray.