Vol.4, No.50 – December 15, 2019, Countdown to the end – 37
Come, I willow you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk –Revelation 17:1-2
One of the symbols in Revelation captivates; it is the woman on the Beast. Images and figurative language is provocative. Ray Stedman observes, “She receives more attention than almost any other metaphor in the book.”
There are numerous identifying details connected with her than any other symbol. Academics, biblical scholars, professors, teachers, and preachers run with their suppositions to write books, teach lessons, and preach messages.
Do not miss the text (the biblical text):
- Her title is prostitute—like a whore, she tempts people to cave-in to immoral behavior, and actually participates with them in sin
- Her behavior is intoxicating—even though what she promotes is wrong, to those who indulge it will feel good (but only for a season)
- Her dress is attractive—she is adorned in purple and scarlet that glitters with gold and precious stones. Her image intends to look good.
- She rides the Beast—her power and influence are Satanic; in the end it brings her ruin
- She gets drunk on the blood of the saints—the massacre of those who follow Jesus exhilarates her to draw more and more blood
As seductive and powerful as she is, in the end the Beast with his ten ruling henchmen rise up and destroy her. You have heard the outcome of corruption; sin finds a person out.
So, the questions come. When will this prostitute rule? When will her ruin occur?
The prostitute’s deceptive reign occurs during the first half of the Great Tribulation. Her destruction, her ruin, will come at the time the Beast begins his final rebellious assault against the Lord God (during the last half of the Great Tribulation).
Future events do not give one an excuse to get complacent. The very demonic power that will bring the prostitute to world domination is at work in the world today. Spiritual hustlers have the appearance, charisma, and people leaving the services of those churches even brag they feel good.
What they do, however, is flaunt disobedience to the Lord. They play into another Gospel, which is not a Gospel at all. (Galatians 1:6)
John describes the effects of another Gospel: Every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already (1 John 4:3
Worthy are you, our Lord and God! Revelation 4:11
He, who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches! Revelation 2:7
Behold, Jesus is coming soon Revelation 22:6
Life Application
Do not assume that future events allow you to sit back, because you know how the story ends. Countless millions of people do not confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They are on the road to destruction. If we care, we will spend time, sharing the truth of the Gospel, and the absolute outcome due to rejection of the Gospel. How we care demonstrates in our personal ministry of witness and invitation.
Thought for the Season
The prophecy was our hope before we were born. A child would be born—Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6-7 a passage of prophecy stirring and encouraging of the birth of Jesus—more than any prophecy we can ever read –Paul Tripp, in Come Let us Adore Him
