Once again I come acknowledging my ineptness and ask your forgiveness for my lack of “Revelation knowledge.”
This chapter (chapter 17) brings several ugly pictures, the main one being a great prostitute who sits on many waters (we are later told in verse 15 the waters represents people and multitudes, and nations and languages). Verse 2 says the kings of earth committed acts of immorality with this prostitute and actually became drunk with the wine of her immorality (could that be a reference to becoming drunk with power?). It is quite a description of her given in verses 3-4 with an inscription on her forehead in verse 5: “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” Even after describing her and then saying what it means (verses 9-13) doesn’t help me any.
Down through the years several ideas have been floated who this pictures. Some say the Roman Empire. Some have said the Roman Catholic Church. That is only two of them; there are more. I have no opinion.
My focus for this morning is on verse 14: “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them because He is the Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.” It sounds to me that in the verses which follow that the losers will turn against the losers, especially the ruler. The key verse is the Lamb will be victorious. He is call the Lord of lords and King of kings.
That Lamb is, of course, Jesus. The great prostitute, whoever that is, has lost, will continue to lose, and will ultimately lose. The Lamb is and will be victorious. He conquered death, hell and the grave and thereby sealed the fate of my enemy. That won’t change.
“Father, all hail to the Lamb, the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Conqueror!”
I think you hit the key point Bill, The Lamb is victorious… I am sure there are a 1000+ interpretations of what everything else means… Whether it is the past, present, future or combination of the the three. The who/whom the depictions may be are of some importance… i.e. we don’t want to be fooled into following this beast or prostitute… I suspect the horns and heads are symbolic of something and probably not literal… though who knows… and again… Does that matter as much as just simply rejoicing in the fact that we know who wins and yet having sorrow for those who fall for the temptation…
I have heard it before, but while attending a men’s group last night… It was stated again…
“We are all just one bad decision from ruining our life”
We as Christians, as followers of Christ, need to shine the light God has given us into every dark place to give an opportunity for those who have not yet seen the light of Christ or have been blinded by the darkness so that they might be given an opportunity to choose Christ over this harlot that is to come.
I feel strongly that the light is starting to shine more brightly and that the world may be starting to see through the darkness that has blinded many for so long. My hope is for an awakening, that eyes and hearts will be opened and God’s love will continue to flow into those dark areas and real hope and peace will be experienced… You can’t counterfeit that!
That saying is so true Ryan. We all need to remember that. I may not feel as strongly as you do about the light shining brightly but I do see pockets of that light and look forward to seeing it spread. Thanks for the encouraging words this morning.
The Lamb will be victorious. That’s what we anticipate, what we long for. Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Amen to all of it Linda!
In these troubling times, I cling with all I have to the promise that Jesus has the final victory. It makes it easier to place all our woes and worries into His hands.
Blessings, Bill!
That is exactly where they belong Martha. We can’t go wrong when we do.
Good Morning, Bill. I must admit most of the Book of Revelation is a mystery to me. The encouraging part is that Jesus is The LORD of lords and KING of kings. And all is under His Feet! Halellujah!
No shame in that Diane. it is pretty much a mystery to me as well. 🙂 And I see Jesus exactly as you state it.