Verse 1. “Then one of
the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me,
saying, ‘Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot
who sits on many waters,’”
In many instances
within Scripture, “water”
or “waters”
is a depiction of people. That is certainly true in this instance as
we will see in Revelation 17:15, where the Spirit reveals, “The
waters which you saw where the harlot sits are peoples and multitudes
and nations and tongues.” The “harlot”
personified in this verse represents the political, economic, social
and religious systems of this world. “She” has already been severely
damaged as we have seen in the preceding chapters, and “she” is now at
the final judgment on humanity.
Human beings often take
unnecessary pride in thinking they (we) have acted independently,
becoming filled-up with ourselves at what “we” have done. A sobering
disclosure in this Book of Revelation is that nothing in this world is
an independent action. We do not live or act alone. Those who reject
the Holy Spirit of God will instead be led by the enemy who controls
this “harlot,” and he wants us all to be dead. Behind the headlines
and every event on earth is this grinning “harlot,”
which personified in these verses is the enemy of all who live.
Verse 2. “with whom the
kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell
on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality.”
There are two key
“women” in the Book of Revelation. One of them is a representation of
the people who trust in God. They are intimated in Revelation 12:4,
where “she”
is portrayed as pregnant, about to birth the Messiah into the world.
Jesus Christ came to us through God’s people, the Jews. “She”
is also glimpsed in Revelation 19:7, a point in time when the “marriage
of the Lamb has come and His wife has made herself ready.”
The “fine linen”
she wears in that place is described as the “righteous
acts of the saints” (Revelation
19:8).
The other “woman”
is in this verse, consists of all who refuse to place their faith in
the Lamb, the Son of God. They are commit “acts
of immorality” by choosing “her”
instead of God. Many in authority (the kings of the earth) have
chosen “her”
through the centuries. The parent, supervisor, manager, president,
king – There has always been the fear for those in authority that they
will lose their power by turning to the Lord. That fear causes many
to be “drunk”
with the “immorality”
accepting the illusory “power” they think they have outside of God’s
will. Actually they have nothing at all.
Verse 3. “And he
carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman
sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven
heads and ten horns.”
This verse is
reminiscent of Luke 4:1-13, where we see that the enemy, the power
behind this “woman,”
tempted Jesus in the wilderness. It included the temptation for Jesus
that He would seize control of the moment and dazzle the world with
His greatness, instead of responding to the Holy Spirit of God, who
was leading Him to the cross to die for our sins. We all experience a
form of this kind of temptation, for this creature is after us all to
short circuit the patient leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
The “woman”
in this verse represents the political, economic and religious systems
of this world - the “kings of the
earth” (the “beast”)
are duped into thinking they are running things themselves. When they
yield to the power behind “her” promptings, they turn their back on
the Lord. “Blasphemous names”
are a part of what she is; which helps us to understand where all the
profanity in the world comes from. It is interesting that she is in a
“wilderness.”
We think of our world system as “civilized,” but actually humanity is
crude and barbaric, mean-spirited to the core. This world IS an
uncivilized wilderness. Only the Lord can set us free.
Verse 4. “The woman was
clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious
stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations
and of the unclean things of her immorality,”
We’re given a representation, a “close-up”
view in this verse of the political, economic and religious systems of
humanity, viewing “her”
personality characteristics through the “clothing”
she wears. The enemy points us toward mere outward appearances,
whereas God looks at things as they really are. When God came to us
in human form in Jesus Christ, He was lowly and unadorned. You can
see this in the circumstances of His birth (Luke 2:7) and in His
simple but profound observations about Himself (Matthew 11:29).
The “adornment” of this “woman”
is actually an expression of the way “she” is inside. “She” is
obsessed with appearances and self-fulfillment; characteristics that
are reflected in “her”
many followers. There is actually nothing wrong with the wearing of
jewelry. Heaven is full of such substances – The streets will be
paved with gold. But the followers of this “woman”
prefer appearance more than they care for the needs of others. When
we act in this manner, we ride the scarlet beast into the wilderness
and drink the cup of abomination of her immorality.
Verse 5. “and on her
forehead a name was written, a mystery, ‘Babylon the great, the mother
of harlots and of the abominations of the earth.’”
Seneca, who was born in Spain, in 4 BC, and
became a tutor to the young Caesar Nero, wrote that it was customary
for harlots of the time to have a name written on their foreheads (“Controversiae”
1. 2). From a supernatural perspective, we are all marked with a seal
of ownership – We are either part of the natural state of humankind,
or we have accepted the Lord who has redeemed (bought) us by His
blood. This verse takes us behind the pretense of this world. The “harlot”
in this verse is God’s view of the power behind those who purport to
be godly, but are not.
The false religious systems of this world
owe their human origins to the mystery religions of Babylon. The
Druids took from them and so did the religions of India. The
wellsprings of Babylonian religious thought are seen in Genesis
Chapter 11, which records an attempt to form a godless world order.
The essence of Babylon is man at the center of a political, economic
and/or religious setting that excludes the true God. We need to
prayerfully look at who and what we are. In Genesis 11:4, people did
not look to God, but instead attempted to reach the heavens without
Him, trying to make a name for THEMSELVES. We must prefer His name to
our own.
Verse 6. “And I saw the
woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the
witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly.”
There are two “women” portrayed in the Book of
Revelation. Each is a parable of humans within this world. One “woman”
is the people of God (those who trust in the Lord) and the other group
belongs to the “harlot” of these verses,
an analogy of the humanistic political and religious systems of earth.
A key difference between the two which enables us to tell them apart,
is this: The one persecutes and the other is persecuted. There may be
“good” people within bad organizations, but in the time of the Great
Tribulation, they will be separated and this “woman”
will be seen clearly.
Humanity is the battlefield of an ancient,
supernatural war, fought and led by beings beyond reality as we know
it. The war will ultimately be won by the Lord, and all who trust in
Him will share in His victory. Yet the battle rages on, and His people
are frequently insulted, robbed, injured and killed by an enemy that
knows no remorse. We become a part of His victory when we receive the
Lamb, the Son of God and begin to love one another; no matter what our
present outward circumstances may seem to be.
Verse 7. “And the angel
said to me, ‘Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the
woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and
the ten horns.’”
John the Apostle, who was the witness of these
future events that were occurring before his very eyes, continued to
be amazed by what he saw. One who was “of the
seven angels” (verse 1) spoke to him, essentially asking, “Why
are you so surprised?” And, “Why do you
not understand?” The angel now explains to John much that will
help us understand events behind the outward scenes of life,
especially at the end of this age.
“Why do you wonder?”
It is the intention of the Lord God, Maker of heaven and earth, that
you will COMPREHEND – Everything! The Greek word for “mystery”
refers to something that was not seen and is now revealed. Scholars
have wondered about the “seven heads” and
“ten horns” for literally centuries and
can’t agree on much of anything about them. God’s intention,
especially for those who live at the time of the end, is that His
little ones will be led by this “road map” of the future. Within the
worst circumstances of human history, God’s people will UNDERSTAND,
through these verses.
Verse 8. “The beast
that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss
and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name
has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the
world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and
will come.”
The “woman” of verse
3 is the powerful force in league with the “beast”
(the political system and its leader) she is riding. “She”
manifests herself through that “beast”
which the world will see as a powerful empire, ruling the political
and economic world of the time. The “beast”
will also be a leading force in the world of religion. Only those who
trust in the Lord Jesus Christ will be able to resist this creature’s
overtures. The “beast” existed before and
will only exist again on earth for a time.
A characteristic of this “beast”
is that it “was and is not.” In other
words, many who are alive then will understand that the empire
referred to in these verses as the “beast”
has been seen on earth before. A leading candidate for that “honor” is
Rome, an empire that never really ended, but just fell apart into the
European nations and those around the Mediterranean Sea. Charlemagne
tried to resurrect Rome, as did the leaders of the “Holy Roman Empire”
in Europe. Napoleon tried and so did Hitler. The German word “Kaiser”
and the Russian word “Czar” are actually corruptions of the Latin
(Roman) word “Caesar” (the Roman Emperor). The world WANTS the
Roman Empire to return.
Verse 9. “Here is the
mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which
the woman sits,”
“The mind which has wisdom”
is probably the one that does not spend its time trying to figure out
every nuance of these verses. These events are in the FUTURE, and it
would be like a man of the 15th or 16th Century trying to imagine air
travel. Someone like Leonardo da Vinci might have had some pretty good
ideas about the subject (and he did), but the practical understanding
and usage of those ideas had to come much later.
It has been almost irresistible for religious
scholars to view the “seven mountains” of
this verse as Rome, which has been nicknamed by poets and Italians as
the “City of seven hills” for thousands
of years. If Rome is not to be the capitol, they say, this restored
European Empire will certainly remind many of ancient Rome. The world
will indeed “wonder” at this empire that
“was and is not,” but has returned to the
“modern” world.
Verse 10. “and they are
seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and
when he comes, he must remain a little while.”
But (continuing the commentary in verse 9) the “seven
mountains” can only be seen precisely as the city of Rome IF
you take the verse out of context. Including the rest of the sentence,
which continues into verse 10, the “mountains”
are actually revealed to be political leaders (people of high estate),
along with the systems they rule. At the time of these events, five of
these “kings” have already “fallen”
– They are no longer in power.
It’s interesting to observe, as we do in these
verses, that God sees the future with complete accuracy. Some events
are simply – INEVITABLE, and He knows the outcome of all things. There
are pretenders who say they know the future, but do not, and the
newspapers are full of such people. The “astrological forecast” is
pathetic because it is false and misleading. At some point in the
future history of mankind, people will read these verses and actually
WATCH the outcome of these events on the news. Even more astounding is
the fact that many who read will still deny the God who told us in
advance about them.
Verse 11. “The beast
which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the
seven, and he goes to destruction.”
This “beast which was
and is not” was mentioned in verse 8 - “He”
is the power behind a political system and also its people –
Additionally, “He” is a person, the
leader of an empire that is to come. “Eighth”
in this verse refers to “kings” in
verse 10. The lack of an article indicates it is NOT the eighth in a
successive series of seven previous kings. The “beast”
of this verse is formed out of the “seven”
kings of verse 10. This empire and its leader the “beast”
will bring to mind governments from the past, especially the Roman
Empire, which copied aspects of the earlier Babylonian and Greek
empires.
This governmental system will definitely remind
people of Rome, which drew so much from previous systems. It is
important to note that the system of government in these verses will
only last for a short time and then it will be destroyed. All forms
of earthly government will be no more. Not only will they disappear
from the earth, but those individuals who neglect God and trust in
human systems will be ruined as well. We all need to look the Lord,
for everything of this world will be no more.
Verse 12. “The ten
horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom,
but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.”
The “ten horns”
in this verse are the same “ten horns”
viewed in Daniel 7:7. These are political entities that were not in
existence at the time first Daniel and then John wrote and they are
not yet on earth in a complete form even now. However, the European
Community of nations may well be the earthly manifestation of the
empire that is to come. If it is, then we will see centuries-old
national boundaries begin to dissolve, in favor of ten regions led by
those who are completely sold-out to the demonic “beast”
of these verses. “Horns” denotes
“power”.
“One hour” is
simply an expression for a very short time. A lot of people in the
Great Tribulation will make the fatal mistake of opting for short term
economic security instead of choosing the Lord, who would give them
everything - forever! Actually, bad choices have characterized
humanity since the beginning. Eve gave in to her desire which ruined
life for herself and everybody else. Her son, Cain, destroyed his own
eternal opportunity and killed his brother. It’s time for us to look
to the Lord, instead of choosing the whims of the moment; the
weaknesses of this world.
Verse 13. “These have
one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.”
The phrase “kings”
in the preceding verses, refers not only to leaders, but also the
people they will lead. The people of the ten regions mentioned in
verse 12 may well differ physically from one another. Those in the
ten areas may speak different languages. Their physical
characteristics may not be the same. These differing groups likely
possess a history of hostility toward one another and they have killed
one another for centuries.
Yet here are these diverse peoples with
“one purpose.” We were meant to be “one,”
by the way (John 17:11), but we are to be “one”
in the Father and in the Son (John 17:21). Systems and groups that
become “one” in a context outside the
power and love of God, involve themselves in a particularly low form
of blasphemy that will be seen at the time of these verses. They will
be united under this “beast,” an
entity who intends the destruction of not only God’s people, but
everyone else as well.
Verse 14. “These will
wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He
is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the
called and chosen and faithful.”
We should not be surprised that all the nations
of the world are becoming “secular” – They all will ultimately turn
against the Lord. You may want to argue the point, but there is no
true “godly” nation and there never has been one. Not only is it
inevitable that all nations will wage war against Him, but it is also
certain, as in this verse, that the Lord will utterly defeat them, for
He indeed is “Lord of lords and King of kings.”
There is none like Him. He is all powerful, in strength and in love.
And if we are with Him – If we place our faith in
the Lord, acknowledging that He is worthy, full of love, and is VICTOR
over sin and death; we become His “chosen”
and “faithful.” God’s people in the
Book of Revelation will be in great danger and will suffer terribly,
but death is only a doorway to our Lord, and He will carefully bring
His loved ones through to be with Him – Forever. You are SAFE in Him.
Verse 15. “And he said
to me, ‘The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples
and multitudes and nations and tongues.’”
This “harlot” is
a representation of the governmental, economic, political and
religious systems of this world. “She”
is how our human systems look from the perspective of the holiness and
love of God. There are a lot of references in Scripture to the “waters.”
Some simply refer to actual bodies of water, such as the Sea of
Galilee or the Mediterranean Sea. “The
waters” in Scripture can also refer to people, as in this
verse.
God’s people are called the “wife”
of His Son, Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:7-8), a people led by the Holy
Spirit of God, consisting of those who have placed their faith in the
Lord. The “harlot,” on the other
hand, is a people who have rejected the Lord. Certainly from this
verse we can see the interest of this “harlot”
- “She” is right here among us, intent
on causing harm. But “she” will be
utterly defeated (verse 14) because the Lord will make it so.
Verse 16. “And the ten
horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and
will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn
her up with fire.”
The “ten horns”
of this verse represent ten strong people or groups of people (along
with the regions they rule) during the time of the Great Tribulation
at the end of this age. Even though they draw power from the “beast”
as disseminated to them by this “harlot”
(God’s view of the motives behind the human race) they will hate the
very power structure that props them up. Such is the nature of sin.
Humans are sinners by nature. We sin and then we
feel guilty because we ARE guilty. The next step is the pathetic
attempt to cover guilt through destructive and self-destructive
behavior. We hate ourselves and hate what we have done, so we attack
others, even turning on ourselves. When we trust in the Lord, we find
peace because, in Him, our Creator, we are “born
again” (John 3:3) - returned to the innocence that was always
His gift; His intention for those who would have faith in Him.
Verse 17. “For God has
put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common
purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of
God will be fulfilled.”
Dictators, kings and other tyrants have been
attempting to conquer Europe (and if possible, the world) and make it
one nation for many centuries, but it cannot happen until the time of
the end. Historians have a lot of theories about why Napoleon lost at
Waterloo, with his epileptic seizures being one of those
considerations. But it was not the time of the Great Tribulation at
that moment and it was therefore inevitable that he could not maintain
all the countries he had conquered.
The nations of Europe and the world have a
history of hatred toward one another, and it has remained very
unlikely they would ever agree on anything. But God who ultimately
has great purpose in everything, has marked the time of these verses
and will orchestrate this “common purpose,”
which they will follow, even to the point of “giving
their kingdom to the beast.” It is “impossible” for the world
to be united, but it will happen at the time of the end, for God’s
word will indeed “be fulfilled.”
Verse 18. “The woman
whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the
earth.”
So many wonder: “Why?” to what is happening in
this world. This Book of Revelation takes us BEHIND merely external
events and shows us WHY the world is the way it is. Why do so many
hate the things of God? We are watching this process in the United
States: If America ever was a “Christian” nation; it isn’t anymore.
The Bible, prayer, the cross, mentions of God in public settings –
Many are attempting to ban them from the USA. First from the
government, then it will be the churches, and finally they will get
rid of individuals who trust in God. This process toward eliminating
godliness from society has been occurring since the beginning of time.
The “woman”
called the “great city” in this verse,
is actually a people, or rather, the organized power that moves them;
an entity that is hostile to God. Individuals, no matter how rich or
famous, even whole countries, are mere pawns in a movement that
intends the destruction of all who have faith in the Lord. Those who
intend to drive God out of your land, note this: You are a small part
of a movement that, in God’s sight, is like a cheap ugly “harlot,”
a prostitute. All who consort with “her” are like “drunken” customers, refusing to see what they are
doing, but they are responsible, all at the same time. You need the
Lord.
Let’s pray together: Lord, I see the ugliness of
sin and I see my need. I confess that I have sinned and I trust in
You now. Please forgive me and make me clean in Your sight. In Jesus
Name. Amen.
Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
P.O. Box 92131
Long Beach, CA
90809-2131 USA
www.fridaystudy.org
Ron@fridaystudy.org
