God: The Original Avenger
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Turn to and read Revelation 17:1 and Revelation 18:1-3.
We are almost there! I’m talking about Christ’s return to establish His kingdom for His millennial reign upon earth. We’ll get to that event in Revelation chapter 19. But before that, we have before us the events of Revelation chapter 17-18.
The Destruction of the Whore
The Destruction of the Whore
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
We are not going to look “verse by verse” through these two chapters. I am going to give you the “highlights” because I want your attention to be drawn to something other than the destruction of the whore but found within the destruction of the whore.
But first, I would like to remind you of the unholy trinity. Can anyone remember who makes up the unholy trinity?
The Dragon - Satan
The Beast - The antichrist as the leader of the unified political system.
The Whore - The false prophet as the leader of the unified religious system.
Within the next several chapters we will see God’s judgment upon each of these individuals. Here in Revelation chapters 17-18 we see God’s judgement upon the unified religious system that has deceived the entire world into worshipping the antichrist.
An interesting aspect to this is the fact that God doesn’t “lift a finger” to bring this judgment to pass. The Beast - the antichrist and his political system - do it!
And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
Exploring Revelation: An Expository Commentary (b) The Babylonish Monster the Final Development of the System (17:7–18)
Nothing could be further from the minds of these kings than to be fulfilling the divine will, but God makes even the wrath of man to praise Him!
Exploring Revelation: An Expository Commentary (b) The Babylonish Monster the Final Development of the System (17:7–18)
Now, by a sovereign act of God, it is all over. The most insolent, daring, blasphemous, and powerful coalition of nations ever brought together by godless, wicked men is shown here to be a mere tool in the hands of God to wreak His vengeance upon that which has provoked His wrath for centuries.
So, Revelation chapters 17-18 are all about the destruction of the world’s religions that have all been brought together and unified during the tribulation.
What is “religion?”
What is “religion?”
(Hey! Don’t show the following definition until I share it with the congregation.)
Religion: Man’s attempts to make life work apart from God.
Ever since Cain brought his sacrifice of the “fruit of the ground,” mankind has been trying to make life work apart from God.
The religion of atheism
The religion of evolution
The religion of humanism
The religion materialism
The religion of education
The religion of _____________________
Anything that is man’s attempt to make life work apart from God is religion, whether we want to call it a religion or not.
I believe that we need to ask ourselves this question: “Are we trying to make life work apart from God?” Sure, we’ve been saved by grace through faith in Jesus but now that we are saved, are we still “trying hard” to make the Christian life work? Next month, our Connection Groups will begin a new Bible study, entitled, “Real Christianity,” which is really centered around this thought: Religion vs. Relationship and how even Christians, once they are saved, can have difficulty.
If you’re saved and you’ve found yourself on the ladder trying to impress [Christ], earn His grace, or perform for His acceptance - He can save you from that too! He can bring you back into a daily resting relationship where all the doing flows from loving; all the serving flows from growing in grace.
I hate to say it but that describes my life at times. Even though I know that I have been saved by grace through faith, I sometimes find myself “working” for His acceptance. But, I have to remind myself that God loves me. If I have a bad day, it’s ok; He still loves me. If I have a good; I better not become prideful. He doesn’t love me any more just because I had a good day!
That really leads us into our main focus this evening. While, on the surface, these two chapters are about the destruction of the unified religious system led by the False Prophet, that really shouldn’t be our focus. Our focus should be the Lord!
God is and will be victorious.
God is and will be victorious.
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
I don’t always feel “victorious.” And that’s ok! Aren’t you glad that victory doesn’t depend on us? Even though we have “up’s and down’s” in the end, we will be victorious.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God’s Word is and will be victorious.
God’s Word is and will be victorious.
For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
The Bible stands though the hills may tumble.
The Bible stands though the earth may shatter and crumble.
I will plant my feet on its sure foundation,
Though all around is sinking sand, the Bible stands.
Although our world mocks the Word of God, you will never be disappointed planting your feet upon its sure foundation!
God’s Word will have the last laugh!
God has an excellent memory.
God has an excellent memory.
For her sins have reached unto heaven, And God hath remembered her iniquities.
God has an excellent memory but He would rather forget!
I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, And will not remember thy sins.
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
I’m so thankful that God stands ready to forgive - and to forget - when we humble ourselves and seek His forgiveness!
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Unfortunately, for those living during the Tribulation, it will be too late. God’s judgment will have come!
God is strong.
God is strong.
Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, Death, and mourning, and famine; And she shall be utterly burned with fire: For strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
In the previous two verses (vs. 6-7) the whore, in pride, glorifies herself and says in her heart, “I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.”
Pride has been the downfall of many and will continue to be the downfall of many. God hates pride. It was Satan’s pride which caused his downfall. It was Cain’s pride which kept him from offering to God an acceptable sacrifice.
Religion - any attempt to make sense of life apart from God - is born out of pride.
God will judge pride; He must judge pride. He is strong and is very capable of judging pride. But God is also gentle enough to lift up the humble in heart!
Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: But the proud he knoweth afar off.
He hath put down the mighty from their seats, And exalted them of low degree.
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
God can be trusted.
God can be trusted.
Rejoice over her, thou heaven, And ye holy apostles and prophets; For God hath avenged you on her.
Jesus said...
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
Paul said...
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Peter said...
Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
God said...
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Turn to and read 1 Peter 4:12-17.
When you and I find ourselves suffering for the cause of Christ, we can trust God. He is the original avenger!