Revelation 17 - The Woman and the Beast

Last week we saw the 7 bowl judgments poured out upon the earth.  In chapter 16 the Tribulation is finished.  Chapter 17 goes back and fills in some of what has happened during the Tribulation and covers the specifics of when Babylon is destroyed.

One of the angels invited John to see how God would punish Babylon.  The angel called Babylon a great prostitute who sells her body for sex.  The kings of the earth committed adultery with her.  The inhabitants of earth were intoxicated with her adulteries. (Rev. 17:1-2).  Her beauty is only skin deep.  She many look good, but soon her evil will soon be reveled.  Someone who is drunk has no idea what they are doing.  This is like these kings.  They were so wrapped up in the wealth, greed and evil that they didn’t realize the magnitude of what they were doing.

When and how have you been intoxicated with desires of the world?

This prostitute is not a literal woman.  The woman is Babylon and may represent the city of Rome.  Babylon can be looked at as a world system that is against God or as the city of the Antichrist.  She turns good into evil.  She controls many rivers meaning many nations.  All the kings of the earth shared the trade and culture with her.  They desired wealth, luxury and false gods.  She caused the nations and people of earth to worship the beast.

John was taken by the Spirit into a desert where he saw a woman sitting on a red beast covered with blasphemous names and had 7 heads and 10 horns.  She is dressed in purple and adorned with beautiful expensive jewels on the outside, but inside she was anything but beautiful.  True beauty in found in Jesus alone.  She carried a golden cup filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.  On her head was written, “Mystery Babylon the great the mother of prostitutes and the abominations of the earth” – Rev 17:5.  She was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. (Rev. 2-6)  She is a killer of believers.  She represents all who hate God, but someday will face His justice.

This golden cup could mean that all this evil and immorality of the world has been brought into the church.  The church was tolerating almost anything and everything.  They were watering down Jesus and God’s truth. 

We see that today.  We see some churches watering down Jesus and the gospel.  They are tolerating life styles and choices that God does not approve of, because they don’t want to hurt people’s feelings or because it’s the popular thing to do.  They say times have changed and we need to accept those changes.  I think they need to read the Bible to see what God says.

The beast is the Antichrist who was great enemy of Christ and God’s people.  The woman was drunk not with wine, but the blood of God’s people.  Babylon was responsible for the death of God’s people.  They died because they were loyal to Jesus.

The angel explains to John.  The beast we saw in chapter 14 is the Antichrist.  He was killed yet rose from the dead to deceive the people of the earth.  He is red like the red dragon, Satan.  He is full of blasphemous names against God.  The people of the earth whose names are not written in the book of life will worship the beast.  Scripture calls for us to be wise.  The 7 heads are mountains.  They are also 7 kings.  Five had fallen and one had not come yet.  Some believe the five fallen are Julius Caesar, Tiberius Caesar, Caligula, Claudius and Nero.  Domitian was alive in John’s day.  The 7^th is the Antichrist, the coming leader revived from the Roman Empire.  He will also be the 8^th and rule the entire world. (Rev. 17:9-11) 

How do you gain wisdom?  We gain wisdom by asking God for it.  We stay in His Word and Him to help you understand it.  Then we will be able to discern between a lie and the truth.  Stay in prayer.  Our faith will be strengthened and our trust in God will become stronger and stronger.

The description of the beast and the Lord is very different.  The beast once was, now is not, and yet will come and will be destroyed. (Rev. 17:10)  The Lord is and who was, and is to come.  He will live forever.  (Rev. 1:4; 8; and 4:8)  The beast is a counterfeit of Jesus.  The beast comes to destroy and Jesus came to save.  Jesus triumphed over Satan on the cross.  Satan’s final days will end to total destruction.

The 10 horns are the 10 kings.  They will receive authority as kings for 1 hour along with the beast.  Their purpose it to make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings.  With Him will be His chosen and faithful followers. (Rev. 17:12-14)

Then the angel said to John that the waters he saw where the prostitute (Babylon) sits are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.  The beast and the 10 horns will hate the prostitute and will bring her to ruin.  The beast seems to have used her for his purposes, but now he and the 10 kings will destroy her.  (Rev. 17:15-16)

“For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God’s words are fulfilled.” – Rev. 17:17  This was God’s plan in order to punish Babylon.  God is in control and His plans will succeed, because He is the only real God.

 

We can see Babylon traits in the world today.  There is a cultural system that pulls people away to ungodliness.  It encourages sin, selfishness, tolerance of all things, greed, love of money and material things.  But remember, God will still achieve His purposes in the world.  He is sovereign and in control – and – He wins in the end!

What seductive influences are present in your life?

Do you let Jesus shape and influence your heart or are you captured by an intoxicating Babylon?

Principle:  God turned man’s evil into His beautiful purposes.

Jesus never sought power or authority, but lived as a servant and lived to glorify God.  True beauty is in Jesus.  His punishment on the cross for us brought us peace that is true beauty.

 Next week we will study Revelation 18.  Hope to see you here.

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Revelation 15 & 16 - The 7 Bowls of God's Wrath

In chapter 15-16 we will see the final outpouring of God’s wrath before Christ’s return.  Chapter 15 begins the preparation for the last 7 judgments of His wrath.  His wrath began in chapter 6 and will be finished with these last 7 judgments.  This chapter is an introduction to these last and final plagues on mankind.  This covers to last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation that is described in chapter 16.

Revelation 15 – Seven Angles with 7 Plagues

7 angels prepare to give out the last 7 Tribulation judgments.  These are called bowls that are full of God’s wrath.  No one can enter the temple until the 7 plagues are finished. (Rev. 15:8) 

John saw 7 angels with 7 last plagues.  “… the seven last plagues – last, because with them God’s wrath is completed.” – Rev. 15:1b  Then he saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire.  Standing beside the sea where those who didn’t worship the image, but who had been faithful to God.  They are Tribulation Martyrs who refused to submit to the Antichrist and were beheaded.  God had given them harps and they sang the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.  “Great and marvelous are you deeds, Lord God Almighty.  Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.  Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name?  For you alone are holy.  All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” – Rev. 15:3-4. 

They are celebrating God’s destruction of His enemies and the redemption of His people.  They praise Him for His excellent and perfect ways.  He is just and sovereign.  We are not to fear the world.  We are to fear God.  Fear is to show reverence to God.  “All nations will come and worship before you” is when Jesus returns and sits on the throne and rules the world.

How are you strengthened as you think about God’s perfect ways?

After this John saw the temple in heaven.  The tabernacle of the Testimony was opened.  Out of the temple came 7 angels with 7 plagues dressed in clean linen and golden sashes.  One of the four living creatures gave to the 7 angels 7 golden bowls filled with God’s wrath.  The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and His power.  No one could enter the temple until the 7 plagues were completed. (Rev. 15:5-8)  This shows that there is serious and severe judgment in progress.

Some people - even Christians think God is only a God of love, but these angels are operating under God’s orders - they are coming out of temple showing they are taking orders from God.  They are clothed in white indicating they are not demon angels, but God’s angels.  Seven shows the completeness of it all.  God will put an end to sin once and for all.  When these 7 plagues are over, Christ will return.

Revelation 16 – Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

John heard a loud voice from the temple, “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.” – Rev. 16:1  This was the voice of God.  These bowls contain the anger of God.

1^st angel – his bowl is poured out on the land and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. (Rev. 16:2)  This shows God’s grace by not bringing judgment on believers.  He will protect them just as He did the Israelites during the plagues of Egypt.

2^nd angel – his bowl was poured on the sea and it turned to blood and everything in the sea died. (Rev. 16:3)  Now everything in the sea is dead.  Can you image the stench and potential for disease?

3^rd angel – his bowl is poured out on the rivers and springs of water and they became blood. (Rev. 16:4)  This may or may not be literal blood, but if Christ can turn water to wine, He can turn water to blood.  The important thing is the water will not be fit to drink and will breed disease.

Why would God do this?  The 3^rd angel tells us that justice is served and that He is just in these judgments and He is the holy One.

4^th angel – his bowl is poured out on the sun which scorched people with fire.  The people refused to repent. (Rev. 16:8-9)  Even with lack of water and this great heat people did not fall to their knees and repent.  Have you ever had a bad sunburn?  Well, I am sure it was nothing like this.  They probably were covered with painful sores and blisters.

5^th angel – his bowl is poured out on the throne of the beast and his kingdom was plunged into darkness.  Men cursed God because of their pains and sores, but still refused to repent. (Rev. 16:10-11)  This will be world-wide.  The same thing happened during the plagues of Egypt.  This is an illustration of their spiritual darkness, too.  I am sure this brought depression, suicides and all sorts of evil attacks on the mind.  Jesus predicted this, “But in those days, following that distress, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.” – Mark 13:24  Where is their Antichrist now?

6^th angel – his bowl is poured out on the great river Euphrates and its water dried up.  3 evil spirits came out of mouths of dragon, the beast, and the false prophet.  Spirits of demons will perform miraculous signs and go out to the kings of the world to gather them for a great battle against God called Armageddon. (Rev. 16:12-16)  These spirits will have power to do miracles just like the Egyptian magicians copied Moses’ miracles, but God has limited their power.  This river was a boundary between the east and the west.  The river was dried up so the kings of the east could cross for the “battle on the great day of God Almighty”.  They would join forces with armies all over the world to battle the King of Kings.  (We know who wins.)

Jesus Himself speaks in Rev. 16:15-16, “Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”  We as believers must be alert as we wait for Him to return.  Remain clothed means to remain true to Jesus.  We have been clothed with His righteousness and we are to continue to life a transformed life.  We are to remain clothes with His character.  We need to be ready by repenting of sin and believe in Jesus for salvation.

7^th angel – his bowl is poured out into the air.  A voice came out of the temple, “It is done!”  This voice is probably God Himself.  Then lightning, thunder and earthquake occurred.  No earthquake like it has ever occurred.  The city split into 3 parts and the cities of the nations collapsed.  Islands and mountains disappeared.  Huge hailstone fell upon men.  They cursed God. (Rev. 16:17-21)  God’s final judgment will end with a great earthquake.

These judgments are like the 10 plagues in Egypt when God got rid of their false gods.  In this final judgment He will get rid of all untruths, all sin and all that is against Him.  These judgments are clearly supernatural and everyone will know they are from God.  Instead of falling down and repenting, they curse God.  They refuse to change their ways.  Their hearts are hard and stubborn.  They should have turned from their sin and praised God.  With all these plagues, deaths and sufferings the people did not repent.  Can you image?  What were they thinking?  Talk about being stubborn.  God gave them every chance to repent. 

How have you minimized your sin?  Satan wants you to minimize your sin.  He wants you to justify it and make it seem insignificant.

Have you repented of your sin or are you too stubborn?

Are you independent and think you don’t need God?

Do you plan to go to church and start reading your Bible someday, but not right now?

Are you just too busy to spend time with God?

Principles: 

Through the blood of Christ, Christians are victories despite circumstances experienced on earth.

Those who refuse God’s grace choose God’s inescapable judgment instead.

God’s final judgment will be devastating, purposeful, and complete.

We all deserve these judgments, but Jesus stood in our place so we don’t have to.  Jesus will return!  Will you be ready?  I hope this study will open your eyes before it’s too late.  God is patiently waiting for you to repent and surrender to Him.

 Next week we will study Revelation 17 which covers the specifics of when Babylon is destroyed.  Hope to see you here.

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Revelation 14

The book of Revelation speaks to suffering believers.  It was written from a suffering place, by John who was suffering, and to suffering people.  Sin is the reason all suffer, but all suffering in not from sin.  The suffering in the world can be traced back to sin and its curse with the fall of mankind in the book of Genesis.  No suffering can separate us from God’s love.  Believers identify with Christ’s suffering and through our suffering we are brought closer to Him.  Peter called for all believers to rejoice in their suffering, because through it we are identified with Christ.  One day there will be no more suffering.  Until then He holds us in His hands.

How have you suffered?

How are you using your suffering?

Are you allowing Him to come closer to you or are you shutting Him out?

Do you trust God’s purposes in your suffering even though you don’t understand?

Revelation 14 is a preview of the harvesting of the earth.  The believers are separated from the unbelievers and then the unbelievers are destroyed.  It’s a fast forward of what will happen in the end, which we will see in the following chapters. 

Revelation 14:1-5 – The Lamb and the 144,000

John saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion.  He had the 144,000 with Him.  John heard a roar of like rushing waters and a loud peal of thunder.  He also heard a sound like harpists singing a new song before the throne and before the 4 living creatures and elders.  No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth.  They didn’t defile themselves with women and followed the Lamb wherever He goes.  No lie was found in them and they are blameless.   (Rev. 14:1-5)

Who are these 144,000?  I think they are the same as in chapter 7.   If they weren’t, I think scripture would tell us so.  John is describing them in more detail here.  They were sealed with God’s name on their foreheads and in their hearts and minds.  They have victory over the beast and his mark.  They are redeemed from the earth.  They are God’s people who have withstood the attack of Satan.  The church is often referred to as a woman.  Not defiled with women means they did not accept the doctrines of the corrupt church.  God often speaks of the purity of His people in terms of sexual immorality.  These 144,000 have not been compromised by the world, but remain loyal as a virgin bride to the future groom.  They remain pure toward Christ.

How are you loyal to Christ?

Do you have God’s seal?

Do you follow Him wherever He leads you?

Revelation 14:6-13 – The 3 Angels

John saw 3 angels who have 3 important declarations from God.

The 1^st angel was flying and proclaiming the eternal gospel to all the people of the earth.  “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come.  Worship him who made the havens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” – Rev. 14:7  He is warning people to fear or respect God instead of the Antichrist and to give God the glory, not the Antichrist.  This is good news to those who receive and obey it, but bad news to those who reject it.  This seems to be God’s last offer to proclaim Jesus as Lord before the final wrath to come.

The 2^nd angel followed, “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” – Rev. 14:8  I think the Babylon here may not be a literal city, but a world system that opposes the church and Christians.  Babylon is symbolic of the world and its evil system.

The 3^rd angel followed, “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.  He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever.  There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.” – Rev. 14:9-11  As we studied before those who have the mark on their forehead belong to the beast.  Just as the 144,000 belong to God by His name being on their foreheads, these who take to mark are sealed for Satan.  There will be torment that will not last for a short time, but forever.  There will be no end!  This forever is just as heaven is forever for believers.  They will drink God’s wrath undiluted.  His judgment is not going to be watered down.  They will receive the full force of God’s anger.  There will be people who will be deceived and take the mark.  The angel is pointing out the consequences of those who do so.

“This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.” – Rev. 14:12  He is giving believers another call for endurance.  They are not to give in to the temptation to worship the beast, but to remain faithful even to death.  “Write:  blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” – Rev. 14:13  John was told to write that those who die during the Tribulation as martyrs will be blessed and reign with Christ during the Millennium (Rev. 20:4).

What things of this world do you worship?

What in this world defiles you?

Do you follow the Lamb wherever He goes?

Is your faith strong enough to endure to the end?

Revelation 14:14-20 – The Harvest

John saw a white cloud with one like a son of man sitting on it.  He had a golden crown and a sharp sickle. (Rev. 14:14) Then another angel came out of the temple and called out, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” – Rev. 14:15 

The angel coming out of the temple shows he has the authority and is speaking directly from God.  So he swung his sickle over the earth, and gathered God’s people.  The crown on the one like a son of man shows his authority.  I think this is a representative of Jesus.  In the verses 15 and 17 it says another angel suggests a previous angel so I don’t think this is Jesus, but His angel.  Jesus would not need someone to tell Him it was time for the harvest.  Also Matt. 13:39 says at the end of the age the reapers are angels.

Another angel came out of the temple with a sickle.  Then another angel called in a loud voice, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” – Rev. 14:18    Again the angle is speaking directly from God.  The angel swung his sickle and gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath.  They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out, rising as high as horses’ bridles for 200 miles. 

The sickle is judgment.  The wine press is God’s wrath.  The clusters of the vine or grapes represent the unbelievers of the earth, those who have followed and worshipped the Beast.  It was outside the city that Jesus died so God will punish the people outside the city.  The city was Jerusalem.

With which group do you identify?

Sounds like a horrible sight and place to be.  Only the Lamb can rescue you from God’s wrath.  We all deserve God’s wrath and we all need the gospel.  The Lamb offers escape from His wrath that will last forever.  If you are a believer, thank God for His grace and mercy He has given you that you will not have to endure this.  If you have not yet become a follower of Christ, I hope this wakes you up.  See the bottom of this blog page for the plan of God’s salvation.

 Next week we will study Revelation 15-16.  Hope to see you here.

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