November 24, 2023 | Be On Mission
The Prostitute and the Scarlet Beast
Scripture: Revelation 17(NIV)
1 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. 2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”
3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. 5 The name written on her forehead was a mystery:
BABYLON THE GREAT
THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES
AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH..
6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.
When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. 7 Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.
9 “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
12 “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. 16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God’s words are fulfilled. 18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”
Devotional
Chapters 17-20 in Revelation depict a vision of heaven’s victory over evil. Babylon and Satan are defeated by the rider on a white horse, who establishes a thousand year reign. Let’s delve into these.
Here in Revelation 17, there are a number of powerful and strange symbolic figures. Fortunately, this chapter gives a definition of many of these images.
The woman = the great city (Rome)
Babylon = the same woman (Rome)
The seven heads = seven hills (Rome was built on seven hills)
The seven heads = seven kings (two meanings – a common literary style)
The beast = an eighth king
Ten horns = ten more kings
The waters = people under the authority of the Roman Empire
The Lamb = Lord of lords and King of Kings – Jesus, who defeats all of them
In this chapter, the Lamb overcomes the woman on the seven-headed, ten-horned beast, sitting on the waters. Put plainly, Jesus overcomes the oppressive Roman Empire as it was persecuting believers in severe ways.
Some seven hundred years earlier, Jerusalem was destroyed by Babylon (in present-day Iraq). The best and brightest Jews were taken captive to Babylon (think Daniel, Ezekiel, Esther). Though the Jews returned to rebuild Jerusalem (think Ezra, Nehemiah, Zerubbabel), the word Babylon became synonymous for any existential threat with evil intent. The fact that powers of Rome would be overcome by the peace of Christ was great news for the persecuted Christians of that day.
But let’s not only leave this imagery to the annals of history. In many ways, the word Babylon is still synonymous for any existential threat with evil intent. Satan hasn’t given up on attempting to turn believers away from following Jesus. The seductive and authoritative forces presented in Revelation 17 are still at work today.
But we know that the battle belongs to the Lord! These words were first spoken by the undersized David when he was facing the giant Goliath (1 Samuel 17:47). Others may have the swords and spears. Others may have the power and authority. Others may have the cultural influence. But the battle belongs to the Lord! The Lamb of God, Jesus, has won the victory!
Jesus Himself put it like this: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Poem
The Songs Of Zion
Dedicated to Mark And Gayle
O, Babylon! You whoring bitch!
You Jezebel! You wicked witch!
Who chained the exile, called for songs
To mock the prophets, boast in wrongs
You drank the blood of martyr’s death
You belched the stank of drunken breath
Today’s the day your power ends
Today’s the day you will descend
Into the depths, never to ride
Never again, will you defile
And with your death, our harps we’ll play
Along the shores of this new day
No longer called on foreign soil
To sing the songs of Zion
Christ’s banner claiming all the land
Christ’s children boldly sing and stand
From every tribe, all nations sing
A new song to the King of Kings!
“O Zion, safely home at last!
Sound forth the temple trumpet blast!
Open the Gate of Beautiful
O Pilgrim, Welcome Home!”
