Revelation 15:1-19:10 17:1-8 One of the 7 angels showed John a prostitute sitting on many waters. She committed adultery with kings and was seated on a red beast with 7 heads and 10 horns. The woman appeared to be very wealthy and held a cup filled with abominable things. Her name was "Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and of the Abominations of the Earth." She was drunk with the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. John was astonished but the angel explained the mystery of the woman and the beast she rides.
v. 8 The beast once was, now is not, and will come up from the Abyss to be destroyed. Notice how this is a counterfeit of Christ who was, and is, and is to come.
v. 9 The seven heads = 7 hills = 7 kings
5 of them have fallen, 1 is, and 1 has not yet come
The beast = an 8th king who belongs to the other 7 kings and will be destroyed
10 horns = 10 kings who have not yet received a kingdom. They will give their power to the beast and make war against the Lamb but the Lamb will overcome them because He is King of kings and Lord of lords. The Lamb's called, faithful and chosen followers will be with Him.
v. 15- the waters on which the prostitute sits = peoples, multitudes, nations and languages
The beast (7 kings, 8th king, and 10 who will be kings) will hate the prostitute and bring her to ruin, eating her flesh and burning her with fire. They will do this to her because God is using them to accomplish His purpose of destroying her. Who is this woman? She is a city.
v. 18 the prostitute = the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.
18:1-10 Another angel came down from heaven and the earth was lit up by his splendor. He shouted that Babylon is fallen. She has made the world's merchants rich and they have "drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries." Another voice called out to the people of God in that city telling them to come out of her before the plagues come. She will be paid back for her sins, her crimes, and her arrogance.
v. 11-19 The merchants who became rich from her will mourn when they see the smoke of her destruction. They will weep because no one buys their cargoes anymore. The merchants will be terrified at her torment and shocked that she was brought down to ruin so quickly.
v. 20 The merchants also seem to recognize that although this is bad news for Babylon it is good news for the saints and apostles because God has finally judged this city for what she had done to the followers of Jesus.
v. 21-24 Another angel threw a boulder into the sea to demonstrate the violent way Babylon would be destroyed. There would be no more light, laughter or music in this city because she led the nations astray and was guilty of shedding the blood of the saints and prophets.
19:1-8 Finally, a loud "Hallelujah!" was heard in heaven. A great multitude praised God for condemning the great prostitute and avenging on her the blood of His servants. The 24 elders and 4 living creatures also worshiped God saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!" A voice from the throne called for all the servants of God to praise Him and John heard a great multitude shouting praises to the Lamb. The wedding of the Lamb has come. His bride has made herself ready and she was given fine linen to wear. Fine linen = the righteous acts of the saints.
v. 9-10 The angel told John to write, "Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb. These are the true words of God." John began to worship the angel but the angel wouldn't let him because he is a fellow servant. Only God should be worshiped.
Next time we will read John's vision of the Lord riding into battle against the beast and the kings of the earth.
--Sandy Blank
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