Rev CH 17-19a

INTRO

I. Where we’ve been (CH 14-16)

A. 1st we got a pic of Jesus & his people

B. Next we got a vision message declaring the fall of Babylon

C. Next is the final judgement

D. Then the 7bowls & ends in the end of the world…again.

II. Video

A. Play video

B. What stuck out to u?

III. Overview 17-19a (3 weeks left)

A. CH 17: The prostitute described

B. CH 18: The prostitute’s fall

C. CH19: The contrast o the prostitute & the bride

DIGGING IN

I. CH 17

A. Set the stage

a. after the end of the world, the angel w/the 7th bowl comes down and says, “hey, wannna c the judgement o the prostitute?” Jn’s like “sure!”

b. Jn is “carried away in the Spirit” to a wilderness

1. Why does the vision take place in a wilderness?

i. symbol illustrating depravity

-it’s an unveiling of what the world sees as beautiful (we see the world’s view in Ch 18) is actually depraved

2. Then we get a pic o “her”

B. Describe the prostitute

Revelation 17:3–6 ESV

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.

Rev 17:

C. Who’s the prostitute?

Revelation 17:5 ESV

5 And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.”

a. Is this the actual Babylon?

1. the name is a symbol that would bring to mind:

i. Godlessness

ii. depravity

iii. unrestrained character & sexual immorality

2. symbolizes the allure of prosperity

3. her name “mother of prostitutes & earth’s abominations represents

i. the lust o godless societies 4 sensual pleasure & their rejection of all restraints

Revelation 17:18 ESV

18 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”

Rev 17:

b. Soooo, what city is it?

1. Rome?

2. a future kingdom/religious institution that extends over all the earth?

3. Roman Catholic Church?

D. What’s she riding on?

a. red beast w/7 heads & 10horns

1. describe what the beast represents

i. 7heads:

-7 mountains

*clear illusion 2 Rome:

~Rom was founded on 7 hills on the E shore o the Tiber River.

~started as a sml city but to an empire through its conquests o

^Italy 3rd centruy B.C.

^Carthage in N Africa 3rd centry B.C.

^Greece & Mecedonia (2nd Cent. B.C.

^W & N Europe 2nd Cent B.C. - 2nd Cent. A.D.

^Egypt & Near E 1st Cent A.D.

~easy 2 see how this combined w/the connection o 7kings & 10 hors o kings reveals this combined w/the prostitute as Roman empire & culture

-7kings

*who r the kings? (some theories)

~several roman emporers

~empires

~numerical symbols standing for all worldly kingdoms that culminate in the beast

ii. 10 horns

-10 is the number representing earth

*probably this isn’t 10 specific kings, but the summation o all the earth’s who are gathered & deceived by the dragon to wage war on the lamb

*remember

rev 16:14

Revelation 16:14 ESV

14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.

rev 16:

Revelation 16:16 ESV

16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

iii. for sure, the beast is the spiritual being behind these nations taht stand against the lamb

iv. the prostitute combined w/the beast represent cultures that unite the relentless pursuit o wealth and pleasure & the ruthless exercise o political and coercive pwr 2 force worship o itself

-in that time the latest illustration o this was Rome, but certainly not the last…

*& will remain the case until, at the right time, God will come back & set all things right…when God will bring judgement on the enemies of the lamb & his people & God’s kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven

2. We certainly should see the beast as the 1 described in Ch 13 (1st beast profaning/parodying Jesus [2nd member o trinity])

i. This is not a 3rd beast despite the diff. in descriptions

-Consider the various ways Jesus is described:

*Son of Man

*lamb of God

*conquering king on a white horse

~not 3 diff. folks…3 descriptions giving robustness to Jesus’ character/nature

3. & what is this about…

i. This is not a 3rd beast despite the diff. in descriptions

-Consider the various ways Jesus is described:

*Son of Man

*lamb of God

*conquering king on a white horse

~not 3 diff. folks…3 descriptions giving robustness to Jesus’ character/nature

& what is this about…

Revelation 17:8 ESV

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.

i. further illusion to Nero/Rome?

-Nero died…so he was & is not, but arise frm the bottomless pit pointing to Emperor Domitian (just as evil)

ii. bad kings come and go perpetually till Jesus returns?

iii. a parody of God “who was and who is to come”

was and who is to come

II. CH 18

A. Next we Get the Fall o the prostitute & the beast along w/the affect it has on the whole earth

a. we see the wailing o kings, merchants, & sailors

1. Why r they all crying?

i. They had all been made wealthy by the corrupt great cities affect on commerce

ii. W/the great city destroyed the economy is recked & their once wealthy lifestyles have been brought to poverty

III. CH 19a

A. Finally we get the contrast o the bride & the prostitute

a. 1st we get a picture o all God’s people rejoicing & worshiping God

1. take a look at vs...

Rev 19:

Revelation 19:6 ESV

6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.

i. What does “the sound of mighty peals of thunder” typically represent?

-God’s presence and pwr

ii. where do we 1st see it?

-God’s throne

iii. where is it described as coming frm now?

-the rejoicing shouts from God’s people

*when the end comes we c that God’s presence & power is present in the midst & worship o God’s people!!

2. How is the bride described?

Rev 19:7-

Revelation 19:7–9 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; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

i. rejoicing & exalting God

ii. prepared

iii. clothed beautifully (righteous deeds)

iv. blessed (happy)

b. the prostitute is

1. adorned beautifully

2. for now is partying & rejoicing while God’s people suffer

i. in the end suffer & morn while God’s people celebrate

3. for now looks successful & victorious while God’s people are killed, looking defeated

i. in the end, killed & defeated while God’s people become successful & victorious

c. Next consider the rel. btwn the prostitute & her master compared to the rel. btwn the bride & her groom

Revelation 17:16 ESV

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,

Rev 17:16-

1. The beast hates her

2. The marriage alludes to intimacy, love, affection, commitment

The Challenge

I. Jn places b4 the 7 churches a challenge

A. who do u wish 2 serve?

a. the beast where u may experience short lived success & pleasure followed by pain & anguish 4 the rest o eternity

b. OR God where u may experience short lived pain & anguish but victory & joy 4 the rest o eternity

B. The choice has not changed 4 us 2day!!

a. I’m reminded o Joshua’s challenge to Isr.

Joshua 24:14–15 ESV

14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Josh 24:

Read 19b-20

after 2night, 2weeks left!!