10-13-2019 Dead Serious Revelation 17:1-6
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Introduction:
Obituary
Our church was saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our most valued members, “Someone Else.”
Someone's passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Else has been with us for many years and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than a normal person's share of the work. Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone's list, "Let Someone Else do it." Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results; "Someone Else can work with that group."
It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the most liberal givers in our church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed Someone Else would make up the difference.
Someone Else was a wonderful person; sometimes appearing superhuman. Were the truth known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone! We wonder what we are going to do.
Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it? Who is going to do the things Someone Else did?
When you are asked to help this church, remember -- we can't depend on Someone Else anymore. Someone Else is dead.
So what then am I asking you to help with this morning?
A Dead Church
A Dead Church
A new Pastor in a small Oklahoma town spent the first four days making personal visits to each one of the members, inviting them to come to his first services.
The following Sunday the church was all but empty. Accordingly, the Pastor placed a notice in the local newspapers, stating that, because the church was dead, it was everyone's duty to give it a decent Christian burial. The funeral would be held the following Sunday afternoon, the notice said.
Morbidly curious, a large crowd turned out for the "funeral." In front of the pulpit, they saw a closed coffin, smothered in flowers. After the Pastor delivered the eulogy, he opened the coffin and invited his congregation to come forward and pay their final respects to their dead church.
Filled with curiosity as to what would represent the corpse of a "dead church," all the people eagerly lined up to look in the coffin. Each "mourner" peeped into the coffin then quickly turned away with a guilty, sheepish look.
In the coffin, tilted at the correct angle, was a large mirror.
Transition:
Obviously, these two anecdotes are a bit facetious—it is a bit fun to use humor to introduce tough topics, but what if there is too much familiarity between these anecdotes and Grace Baptist Church?
What if this is dead serious? If so, there are deadly consequences. Let’s continue in our journey through Revelation as this morning’s passage can help understand the severity of these deadly topics.
At the conclusion of the bowl judgments last week, Babylon was split into three parts and is made to drink the full cup of God’s wrath (16:19). Now one of the seven angels from chapter 16 invites John to witness in greater detail the judgment God will bring on the harlot.
Scripture Reading:
Revelation 17:1–6
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.
The judgment of Babylon the Great in chapters 17–19:5 is expanding the final bowl judgments of Revelation 16. In the rest of this morning’s chapter, the angel interprets the meaning of the vision (17:7–18).
In the end, Revelation is about God’s desire to live among his people, the Creator with his creation. This divine desire reaches its full glory in the coming together of the Lamb and the bride. Throughout the Bible, the marriage metaphor with Israel as YHWH’s bride and the church as the bride of Christ reveals the depth and fullness of God’s covenant love for His people. But when the people are unfaithful, the metaphor changes from the beauty of marital fidelity to the filthiness of adultery and prostitution (e.g., Hos. 2–3; Jer. 3; Ezek. 16). If the people of God can play the harlot, how much more can those who vehemently and repeatedly curse God, those who never took covenant vows to begin with? The images of prostitution and marital faithfulness stand side by side in Revelation 17–18 as one of the most dramatic spiritual contrasts in the Bible.
Transition:
The question I have for you this morning is do you, do we, love God enough?
Our church needs t be able to recognize who they fight against
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
- What Chapter 17 shows us is the religious system that Satan uses
A common question at this point in the Great Tribulation is: Why is Satan so successful? all the Earth Dweller know without a doubt who is the one plaguing them
Since the rapture of the church, many people are confused and seeking answers--This is the primary reason why the world is able to be united under one religion
Because of the confusion and chaos, people will be looking for answers
APP: Satan knows who we are and what are needs are, so he uses those- He knows that we are willing to follow any trend of the day
-- So with that in hand, he is able to take control (because we give it so easily)
- As Christians, we need to understand this and be able to act accordingly. As Christians, we are to be a witness to this deceptive, manipulative way of satan—all the while a witness of the transforming love of God.
This passage this morning was written for us today. This passage has more relevance than you might first think. To explain how, let’s now witness what John saw.
I. An Invitation to Witness (vv.1-2)
I. An Invitation to Witness (vv.1-2)
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,
The vision of the great prostitute and the vision of the bride of the Lamb begin in similar ways, emphasizing the contrast between the two: “Come, I will show you …” (here in 17:1; & then in Rev 21:9–10).
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.”
And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,
But first, what John is to witness is the judgment of the harlot, although what he sees at first is her prosperity and influence.
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,
She “sits by many waters,” defined later in verse 15 as “peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages” (the people under her rule). The great prostitute (a.k.a. Babylon) symbolizes a great center of secular demonic power. She leads other nations and individual unbelievers (“dwellers/inhabitants of the earth,” ) to join her .
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.”
Okay, we know this is a vision and the symbols will be interpreted. So what is all this talk of sexual immorality about?
This could refer to specific sexual sin, but I suspect it includes way more. We know from the O.T. days that YHWH often rightly accused Israel of religious adultery. This was not due to literal promiscuity, but a desire for other gods. In a similar fashion, the Earth dwellers with the beast are worshipping a different god—the harlot. They know of the judging True God yet they rather go after another god. Apparently a few thousand years doesn’t change much.
Okay so this is between the unbeliever Israelites and the unbeliever Earth dwellers. How is this applicable to now at Grace? It is applicable to us because there are quite a bit of us who become so easily deceived and perhaps unknowingly dabble in this religious immorality. How so? We get uneasy about some clear biblical principle so we whore after a way to excuse ourselves from a seemingly difficult, unwanted biblical mandate. Do we love God enough to do hard things? For just one example: A verbal witness to strangers around us. In other words:
Must Every Christian Share the Gospel with strangers?
Must Every Christian Share the Gospel with strangers?
If we’re honest, most of us here today would really like it if the answer to this question were, “No.” “No” would enable us to avoid being hated (for telling the Gospel, anyway!), and all that comes with that. “No” would help us mask our fear of man. In essence, “No,” would justify our reasons for not telling the Gospel of Jesus to strangers. Do any of these following excuses sound familiar?
“It’s not my calling.”
“I don’t know how to tell the Gospel.”
“I’m not good with stuff like that.”
“I’m not gifted that way”
“I don’t know many unbelievers.”
or how about this one: “I live the Gospel rather than tell the Gospel.”
“I may not be able to answer people’s questions/comments.” Etc.
These are the lies of satan with which he deceives us so readily—perhaps some of us have been deceived for years.
Indeed, if “No” were the answer to the question, our lives would certainly be much more comfortable and convenient.
But the answer to the question is, “Yes.” we are to share the Gospel with strangers!
Transition:
Maybe you already know the answer is, “Yes,” and maybe you don’t. Either way, we need to let Scripture itself convince us so you see that it is God and not just me. So, let’s get into these texts and continue.
II. A Vision to Ponder (vv.3-4)
II. A Vision to Ponder (vv.3-4)
Just as John ponders what he is about to see, we too, ought to ponder what is revealed to us.
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.
John is “in the Spirit” or “carried away by the Spirit” four times in this book (ch 1; ch 4; here in 17:3; and finally ch 21), His experience and message are from God. Let me be clear that my message from that last example is from God’s Word:
The Word of God Says Every Believer Must Share the Gospel.
The Word of God Says Every Believer Must Share the Gospel.
If you’ve received instruction on evangelism (i.e., telling the Gospel), you may expect that I’ll take you to the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20 or perhaps Acts 1:8.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
And while these are excellent passages on the mission of the church, they (at first glance, anyway) leave some room for doubt about whether telling the Gospel is really for every Christian.
Here’s what I mean.
The immediate context in Matthew 28:19-20 says that the 11 disciples were with Jesus. Admittedly, it does not say that only the 11 disciples were with Jesus, but neither does it seem to suggest that anyone else was there, making it possible that Jesus was speaking only to the 11 disciples.
Similarly, the immediate context of Acts 1:8 leaves room to wonder if only the disciples were to, “receive power … to be witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth,” since verse 13 lists only the 11 disciples among the number of those gathered for Jesus’ final words (Acts 1:13).
And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.
Though there are actually very good contextual arguments that both of these passage refer to every Christian, for the sake of time, we’ll forego those arguments for a gander at another passage, which leaves no room for guesswork, making it perfectly reasonable to believe the commissions found in Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8 are, in fact, intended for every believer.
In the second chapter of Peter’s first letter, he reminds all the Christians who have been dispersed as result of heavy persecution that they are His:
[[1 Pet. 2:9]]
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
We find in this passage that ALL the people of God, collectively, are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation” But there is a purpose to having received these blessings: “that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” And while the passage does not limit to whom the Gospel is to be proclaimed — it does include strangers around us. And this is modeled by Peter, who has essentially only spoken of the Gospel to this point in his letter. As such, every Christian should understand the Matthew 28 and Acts 1 commissions to apply to them to be given to everybody else.
but let us press on with Revelation:
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.
Purple and scarlet signify the luxury of royalty, while the harlot’s glittery gold adornments contrast with the “fine linen, bright and clean” worn by God’s holy people (19:8; cf. 21:9–21).
Satan’s way looks so attractive—so comfortable. We, as believers, get fouled up in how appealing it is to disobey. It looks so good not to have to obey in the things we don’t want to obey.
Transition:
So then, what’s the fix?
III. A Problem to Revile (vv. 5-6)
III. A Problem to Revile (vv. 5-6)
We have to see sin as it is: sin — and hate it!
And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.”
The name on the forehead reveals one’s true character and allegiance, both for those allied with the beast and for those faithful to God. Babylon’s name is a “mystery,” meaning not only that end-time events once hidden are now being revealed but that they will unfold in an unexpected or ironic way. Babylon the Great is also described as the “mother of all prostitutes,” meaning that she aggressively promotes her vice and corruption so that her idolatrous and immoral lineage is reproduced throughout the world.
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.
“drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.”
Babylon is intoxicated with persecuting Christians, who are defined as “God’s holy people” or those who bear witness to Jesus as in Ch.12. John has in mind one group of people rather than two (i.e., the saints defined as those who are faithful in their witness to Jesus; cf. 12:11). All forms of persecution, including economic oppression, exile, imprisonment, and martyrdom, are included under the image of shed blood.
We, too, partake in this drunkeness when we sin. No, it is not for persecution, but sin does go against God and His people.
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.
“When I saw her, I marveled greatly”
John’s reaction to the vision of the bloodthirsty harlot is astonishment, which probably reflects his shock, fear, and surprise all at the same time. He is perplexed and mystified because he expected to watch her downfall (17:1), but now he only sees her blaspheming God and murdering God’s people. The angel’s interpretation of the vision follows in the rest of this chapter 17:7–18.
Instead of marveling, let’s start reviling
So What?
So What?
Several key points of application emerge from this passage.
1. We should resist the temptation to merge Christianity with the prevailing culture.
1. We should resist the temptation to merge Christianity with the prevailing culture.
This chapter makes it clear that people must join either with the great prostitute or with the bride of Christ; there are no other options, and there is no middle ground. The contrast between the good and evil woman is made not because the reader’s choices are obvious but because the choices are subtle. Evil appears good.… Some of the churches then thought they could merge Christianity with the contemporary culture but were awakened to the need to repent. We are under constant pressure to attempt this merger, especially along economic lines. The world does not want us witnessing! This passage provides an opportunity to define “the world” and how we can relate to the world wisely and compassionately but refuse to “love the world” in our pursuit to love our Creator even more.
Even in the way we do church, we sometimes drift into imitating the world. Our numbers may increase, but are we really doing what’s best for the people? If we really want to impact the world, we should not simply imitate worldly strategies and tactics. We need strategies that are biblically sound as well as imaginative and creative.
2. What’s so bad about Babylon?
2. What’s so bad about Babylon?
When we come to the lists of goods consumed by Babylon in Revelation 18, it will sound familiar to many who have grown up in the West. We may be tempted to ask, what’s so bad about Babylon anyway? This passage identifies four specific sins of Babylon. First, she rejects God through idolatry. How captivated are we by the idols of our culture (e.g., entertainment, getting along)? Second, she promotes sexual immorality. How discerning are we about what we watch and listen to and laugh at? Third, she uses people and nations to indulge her passion for economic prosperity and luxury. Do we amass wealth for selfish purposes, or do we give generously and sacrificially? Fourth, she abuses and murders those who follow Jesus Christ. How do we talk about and treat fellow believers?
3. Although Babylon may appear to be winning now, she is headed for certain destruction.
3. Although Babylon may appear to be winning now, she is headed for certain destruction.
Perhaps John devotes such a large amount of space to the downfall of Babylon (chs. 17–19) because she appears at present to be all-powerful and invincibly sovereign. In time, however, she will be destroyed and overshadowed by the glorious bride of the Lamb. Persevering in the midst of materialism, injustice, political corruption, false religion, and so on becomes easier when we realize that Babylon-like systems never last. In the end, they will oppose the Lamb and suffer His wrath, a fact announced ahead of time by God (17:14). Our faithfulness flourishes when we take the long view and see the ultimate outcome. We need perspective to side with the winner. We need the eyes of faith to see that God’s plans are permanent. Most of us will confront this issue when deciding how to use our time, money, and possessions. Jesus’s words not to store up treasures on earth but to store up treasures in heaven seem to echo in the background here.
In Conclusion:
Go Therefore and Make Disciples.
Go Therefore and Make Disciples.
The result of my example is that all believers should concern themselves with communicating the Gospel not only to those we know and have a relationship with, but to lost and dying world—especially strangers.
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
In fact, the Gospel should be a frequent topic of conversation for all who know Jesus. And this makes sense. If what comes out of our mouth is indicative of what is in our heart, and if our hearts are full of love for Jesus, if we truly love God enough why would we not, and how can we not proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light to everyone we can?
So, to those who know and love Jesus, I say with Jesus, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age”.