10-20-2019 Destructive Numbering Revelation 17:7-18
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Introduction:
Although we’ve certainly come across some difficult passages in our journey through the Book of Revelation, there is little doubt that the passages that we’ll examine over the next two weeks in chapters 17 and 18 are the toughest to deal with. There are so many different opinions about what all the details in these chapters represent. For instance, the city represented by the harlot woman in chapter 17, which we’ll look at in just a few moments, is identified by various scholars as Jerusalem, or Rome, or today’s city of Babylon, or even by a couple, New York City. But as we’ve seen with other parts of Revelation, it seems difficult to argue about these kinds of details when in all honesty, YHWH doesn’t give us enough information to make those kinds of determinations with a degree of certainty. And the danger of that approach is that while we’re arguing over the details, we are probably going to miss why Jesus wanted us to hear this, and what we can learn and apply if we will take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
So before we go through chapter 17 this morning, let’s do just that--take a step back and understand the overall picture of chapters 17 and 18.
The first thing that is apparent in these two chapters is that much of this is clearly to be taken figuratively-- it’s symbolic language. Just like the beasts we saw earlier in the book were not literal beasts, but rather represented the human Antichrist and false prophet, the woman prostitute that we see in chapter 17 is not a literal woman who is seated on literal waters. We can be confident of that conclusion because many of the elements in this chapter are identified clearly in the chapter as symbols which represent something else. We can still take a literal interpretation of Revelation while recognizing that these verses are from a literal angel, speaking literally to the Apostle John, about the literal meaning of the symbols that in of themselves, have figurative meanings.
So is the city of Babylon literal?
The important element that ties these two chapters together is Babylon. As a city, Babylon is second in importance in the Bible only to Jerusalem, with around 300 mentions in Scripture.
We’ve already seen in Revelation, Babylon represents more than just a physical city located in present day Iraq. It is used as a symbol in much the same way that we use the terms “Wall Street” or “Hollywood”. Although those terms do indicate a physical location, we generally use them to represent much broader concepts like our financial system or the film industry in America.
We are going to see that here in the book of Revelation, Babylon represents two aspects of the human systems that will be significant factors in the events surrounding the Day of the Lord.
• Chapter 17 – a world religious system
• Chapter 18 - a political and economic system.
Revelation Theological Insights
Worldly Empire(s)
Michael Gorman observes seven features of empire that emerge in Revelation 17–18.a Empire
1. is a system of domination that seduces the powerful and intoxicates the common people, all with promises of power and security;
2. is both territorially grand and ideologically expansive, creating a kind of false ecumenism;
3. presents itself as aesthetically pleasing and full of benefits for its subjects;
4. is always opposed to the true God and his followers;
5. grows and expands, in part because the conquered give in;
6. will eventually die of self-inflicted wounds, as subjects revolt and destroy what originally empowered them;
7. is a short-term incarnation of the more permanent and powerful empire of Satan.
sound any familiar?
Transition:
Most famously, Babylon is portrayed negatively as a great worldly power that destroyed Jerusalem in 586/587 BC (Jerem. 50; Isaiah 13–14; 21; 47). The early Christians even spoke of Rome as “Babylon” (1 Pet. 5:13). As a result of her history, Babylon becomes a symbol of an evil empire, the great center of political, economic, and military power that opposes God and serves Satan. Babylon is also known as the great prostitute who exports her idolatry and immorality to every nation. There have always been and will still be centers of power that export immorality, indulge in luxury, and ensnare smaller empires and individuals in forms of slavery. We must heed again Jesus’s warning not to be deceived and led astray by such display of power, especially when they benefit us, since they are in partnership with the devil himself. Only the Lamb of God is worthy of our sacrificial devotion.
This passage this morning is set within the judgment of Babylon the Great (17:1–19:5) and is the angelic interpretation of the immediately preceding vision of 17:1–6. We’ll find similarities between Revelation 13 and 17, illustrating again the presentation of complex symbolic truth in the book.
Scripture Reading:
Revelation 17:7–18
7 But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.
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.
9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated;
10 they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while.
11 As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction.
12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.
13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast.
14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
15 And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.
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,
17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
18 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”
This is the angel’s interpretation of the vision of the harlot. The angel begins with a description of the beast ridden by this woman, along with his influence among unbelievers (17:7–8), then moving to explain the beast’s seven heads (17:9–11) and ten horns (17:12–14), as well as the destruction of the prostitute (17:15–18). Through it all, we hear again about Jesus’s lordship and triumph, the challenge for his followers, and the sovereign plan of God to destroy evil.
Transition:
Numbers seem significant in this morning’s passage so we will use ONE now:
I. One beast & One influence (17:7–8)
I. One beast & One influence (17:7–8)
verse 6 told us John is marveling at the woman and now the angel tells him not to marvel.
But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.
It’s as if the angel is asking John, “Why are you so impressed with this woman?”
Many times, we are impressed with the works of this world as well
Anything that removes our attention from the Lord is something that Satan can use to distract us. (Idolatry)
-- APP: She is not going to last, she is evil, she is being judged, so he should not be impressed with her
Here we see another instance of evil trying to imitate good, since both God and Christ are described similarly:
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.
“was, and is not, and is about to rise”
The beast’s “dying and rising” also parodies Christ’s death and resurrection, and while his time on this world will be apparently marvelous, he comes from the bottomless pit/the Abyss and is going to eternal destruction (20:10).
“The dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life”
The “inhabitants of the earth” will be mesmerized/astonished by the beast’s counterfeit resurrection. The names of these unbelievers were never written in the book of life, a heavenly register used for the security of believers. — I find it very interesting that first it was John marveling at the harlot then…
“The dwellers… will marvel to see the beast.”
These Earth dwellers stand in awe of the anti-Christ and are amazed at everything he does.
-- Why?
Because he does things in the name of “god” … so “we” must follow
“whose names have not been written… from the foundation of the world”
here in v8, the names were kept out of the book from eternity past, pointing to God’s foreknowledge.
Is this double-predestination? Are some predestined to hell “from the foundation of the world”?
Not Necessarily
John is not teaching a form of determinism/fatalism because even according to Rev 3:5
The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
names could possibly be blotted out of the book of life—so names could be changed or perhaps added, so John can be emphasizing the great distinction that exists between the followers of the Lamb and those who give their allegiance to the beast.
Anyone who makes conscious decision to not follow Jesus belongs to Satan
Transition:
We can now move from ONE number to the number seven:
II. Seven heads & One beast (vv.9–11)
II. Seven heads & One beast (vv.9–11)
Those who have spiritual wisdom must understand this
This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated;
“This calls for a mind with wisdom”
This connection is made explicit in verse 10, but here is a call to biblical wisdom
I believe that John is not talking to the average Sunday-only Christian-- This is for those who would seek after God’s Word to understand, to be changed by it.
So then, the next few verses apply directly to those who would seek to know more, to be more
This is then a call to get beyond the black text on white paper … what’s the application?
- IMP: “If you are to understand this enough to apply these words, then being a casual Christian is not going to cut it. We have to study and learn – in order to teach to disciple others.”
The angel is about to describe the meaning of the 7 heads (2 diff meanings)
-- First the seven heads represent 7 mountains:
“ seven mountains on which the woman is seated”
-- A mountain is symbolic with a seat of power
- We are told the woman sits on these 7 mountains, but why sitting?
-- She’s got control; in short, she is sitting in domination of these 7 kingdoms
Second, the seven heads represent seven kings
Now for the harder part:
they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while.
5 (fallen) + 1 (is now) + 1 (has not yet come but will only remain for a little while) + 1 (the beast = the 8th king).
-- We know from the context of Daniel 7:17 that there are 4 kingdoms from Daniel’s time until then end of days …
-- Daniel 7:16-17 says,
16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. 17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.
Those 4 kingdoms are:
-- Babylon (625-539 BC)
-- Persia (539-333 BC)
-- Greece (333 BC- 55 BC)
-- Rome (55 BC-132 AD)
The 2 Kingdoms that dominated Israel were Egypt and Assyria before Daniel
they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while.
These would make up the 6 till John’s day, where we are told, “One is”, which would be the Rome of John’s day. And one to come beyond Rome
(v11) The other has not yet come would be the 7th of the coming Antichrist
This is begun by the anti-Christ, and once he is fully revealed actually becomes the eighth because … he is now his own Kingdom.
As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction.
-- The anti-Christ makes an agreement with Israel during first half of Tribulation
-- APP: Satan who will incarnate the Antichrist is the “Eighth” who will be of the 7 kingdoms …. yet distinct because he will be indwelling the 7th.
- The 7th Kingdom is the one world order (aka the revived Roman Empire)
In the end, however, the beast remains a messianic pretender and, like all the other false messiahs, is doomed to destruction.
Transition:
We have jumped from 1 to 7, now we’ll make full circle to 10 and back to the ONE
III. Ten horns & their war with One Lamb (vv.12–16)
III. Ten horns & their war with One Lamb (vv.12–16)
And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.
The 10 horns represent 10 future kings
-- Responsible for turning over all of their power and authority to Satan
- There is no clear understanding of who these nations are at this time
-- IMP: It would make sense to believe these would be powerful nations
Why?
These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast.
Because they have authority/power to give to Satan for his use
Historically, the background of the ten horns is Rome’s practice of using client kings to rule its provinces
-- Daniel 7:24-25 says,
24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings. 25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
- These verses in Daniel are the confirmation of Revelation Chapter 17
-- Lend weight to the final kingdom on this Earth, which is run by the anti-Christ
-- All of these nations are of the same mind, and will be given power and authority to take on the Saints and make them martyrs under Satan’s leadership
Their reign will be short-lived (i.e., “one hour”), but even then they have a shared purpose: to submit their power and authority to the beast in an all-out war against the Lamb.
They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
The evil coalition will battle the Lamb, but the Lamb will win because he is “Lord of lords and King of kings”.
The Lamb is accompanied by his “called and chosen” ones, who also follow him faithfully.
These two expressions emphasize the importance of both divine sovereignty and human faithfulness. To the extent that believers participate in the great victory of the Lamb over his enemies, they do so by following him faithfully.
And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.
She represents everything that distracts us from living for God completely
-- APP: We have a responsibility to stand against her & stay alert to protect
- IMP: Today we have an obligation to ensure that the Gospel is … preached!
-- There is a promise that the woman described in Chapter 17 will be destroyed
-- But, NOT BEFORE she has consumed the resources of this world (defile’s God)
-- AND taken hostage each person that gives themselves to her (idolatry destroys)
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,
The divinely orchestrated civil war between the beast/ten horns and the prostitute fulfills God’s promise to punish the prostitute (17:1) and illustrates the self-destructive nature of evil. The wicked are not a happy band of brothers, but precisely because they are wicked they give way to jealousy and hatred that result in mutual destruction. In the end, the powers of evil serve the purposes of the sovereign God, in addition to being condemned by him.
Evil is always self-destructive
History: It is striking to see how many evil men ended life impaled on their own sword. Undoubtedly, one of the most stark examples is Adolf Hitler. The man who had proclaimed war against the world ended his days in a bunker, with the world closing in on him. The despot who poisoned millions of Jews, sat beside his wife, who died by poison. The aggressor who launched missiles and dropped bombs died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Hitler, the man who had ordered bodies burned in the furnaces of Auschwitz and all the other camps was carried outside his bunker in a rolled-up rug and burned on the ground. Evil always consumes itself.
Because of the allegiance that the nations of the world have pledged to the Beast, the world will fall under this one religion and Satan will demand worship from every living creature.
- Once the woman has convinced the world to give itself over to her ways …Satan (aka the Beast) will no longer have use for her
-- This is a VERY important lesson for this world (today that is you and I) to learn
- IMP: Satan uses the resources, people, and even the religion of this world to exact one thing – to use them for HIS control over it
- HUGE IMP: Once you are no longer useful to the Beast, you too are discarded
-- APP: Right now, Satan is seeking to use you – he is seeking to take from you anything that he can utilize for his selfish reasons, whereas God is seeking to use you for His Glory!
-- The woman is an idol that the devil used to take our eyes off of God-- When she has outlived her usefulness she will have her flesh eaten and burned
-- IMP: Irony is that God uses Satan to exact His judgment on His creation!
- APP: The devil’s use of religion is something that he has been trying to do since the beginning of time, and it is important to understand that our church is in the middle of this fight today.
- How can I say this?
-- Do you see around us where the devil has used excuses, bickering, and nonsense to keep people from being involved in the church?
-- APP: This is what he does; anything to get you thinking about YOUR wants
This woman is symbolic of everything that the devil has used against mankind
-- Personally, I think it is time to remove her glamour by exposing who she is
-- The bible uses the word “harlot” to describe her, and I believe it is appropriate
- Our understanding of what she is trying to do is paramount
We have things to do today, and its past time that we get involved and get on it
So What? (vv.17–18)
So What? (vv.17–18)
So YHWH controls everything!
for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
As we apply this text, there are several areas that merit our careful attention.
And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”
1. While wicked powers are quick to form self-serving alliances and often appear invincible, they will ultimately self-destruct.
1. While wicked powers are quick to form self-serving alliances and often appear invincible, they will ultimately self-destruct.
They have a “tendency to spread out, setting up complex, often unpredictable relationships.” Power centers must extend themselves in order to accomplish their purposes. Power tends to flow outward. But this extension of power is expected to return to the center in the form of loyalty and allegiance; that’s how the center retains its power. Although such centers appear invincible, according to the wise and sovereign purposes of God, their own selfishness will be their downfall. YHWH has promised to punish Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes (17:1), and he does so by allowing evil to self-destruct.
2. People need to take inventory of how invested they are in any ungodly power structures and renew their cries for divine justice.
2. People need to take inventory of how invested they are in any ungodly power structures and renew their cries for divine justice.
Sometimes we support worldly systems unwittingly through our financial commitments. This text calls us to become more informed about how our economic choices affect people around the world. Are we promoting injustice by how we use our money? Are we promoting injustice through our silence or ignorance of a company’s intent? Will a few changes in spending habits have a ripple effect for justice across the world?
3. Jesus will win the war, and we can participate in his victory by following him faithfully.
3. Jesus will win the war, and we can participate in his victory by following him faithfully.
Apparent victory leading to ultimate defeat, or apparent defeat leading to ultimate victory—these are the biblical options. In the end, Jesus will win! Because of who he is (“Lord of lords and King of kings”), victory is certain. To participate with Jesus in his victory calls for more than a declaration of our past experience with God (“I was saved when I was ten”); it demands our present obedience and our future perseverance. The called and chosen follow Jesus faithfully. The loftiness of apocalyptic literature gives way to the ordinary grind of daily discipleship. We fight the enemy by following Jesus.
So What?
So What?
Conclusion:
It is easy to talk about things in a future tense, but what about today?
-- Over the next few weeks, I would like to ask you to do one thing: PRAY
-- I see potential here to fight against the woman and the Beast-- To not allow their ways to enter this Sanctuary
- I want to challenge each that is here today to do the same
CHALLENGE:
Take time to seek a renewal, know that Satan has used (and will continue to use) religion as a means of separating people – and then ask God how we can overcome it right here at home.
I believe the nations will grow to hate the woman because of the position she has put them in – but what about us? Do we see how the woman is using us today?
- Are we being dazzled or deceived?
- Have we believed in something / or live in a way that is not entirely biblical?
- This is the challenge of the church!
- We are called to stand against what is not biblical, and what is not of God
-- Keep watch against the woman that you are not deceived
-- If we will do that the church will prosper (Gospel spread)
-- And we, those following Jesus, will be victorious!
- Next time we will look at the setting up the failure of this world through the final battles that will occur.