“The Great Whore's Betrayal”
REVELATION 17:7-13
THEME: In highly metaphorical language the filthy religious prostitute and her judgment by the Lord Jesus are described. We are assured that God hears our prayers as his persecuted, justice is indeed a divine priority, and our Lord's martyrs will eventually be vindicated.
INTRODUCTION:
One reason John used symbolism was so that his message would encourage believers in any period of Christian history. The true churches are like pure virgins (Rev 19:7-8; see also 2 Cor 11:2), but the false religious system is a "whore" who has abandoned the truth and prostituted herself for personal gain. In every age, there has been a "whore" who has used, abused, and persecuted God’s people; and this will culminate in the last days in a worldwide apostate religious system.
MESSAGE:
II. The Great Whore Explained (Rev. 17:7-13)
What follows is an angelic explanation of the judgment of ‘Mystery Babylon the Great,’ showing an anti-Christian political and religious system that is finally crushed by King Jesus. (Bible Gateway)
A. EXPLAINING
THE BEAST (Rev. 17:7-9)
An angel explains to John “the mystery of the woman” (whore, prostitute, idolater) and the beast, as a power that is historical, presently absent, but is indeed future coming out of the Abyss before its final destruction. It points to a deceptive, blasphemous power that astonishes earth-bound unbelievers.
1. Notice What is Perceived (Rev. 17:7)
- A
Description.
1.
He sees a “woman” (Worldwide Religious System of Idolatry)
riding a “beast”
(the Empire of Antichrist) with “seven heads” (Seven
historical political kingdoms) and “ten
horns.” (Future Ten Kingdom Confederation in Europe).
2. The woman represents a corrupt religious system depicted by the city of Babylon (Rev. 17:7). This “one world” religion in the Western Europe will accompany political unification under the Antichrist and will support his drive toward power.
- A Downfall. But when the Antichrist has achieved power, he will overthrow the religious organizational federation and insist that the entire world adore and worship him (Rev. 17:16).
2. Notice What is Professed (Rev. 17:8-9)
A. Regarding the Beast. (Rev. 17:8)
The beast represents the Antichrist and his empire. “The beast” both a king and kingdom are referred to in this term.
1. Beast Considered as an
Individual. (Rev. 17:8)
A. He Was— was alive
B. He Is Not—dead, was killed
“Was, and is not, and shall ascend.” A reference to the Antichrist’s false resurrection (Rev. 13:3,4,12–14; see Rev. 13:3).
C. He Shall Ascend—raised up from the Abyss
“Out of the bottomless pit.” After his “resurrection,” the Antichrist will become possessed by a great demon, most likely Satan himself, from the abyss (see Rev. 13:1,3). This indicates that the power behind the ruler is satanic (cf. 13:4) and that Satan and the man he controls are closely identified. Their power is one.
D. He Shall Go In— go into eternal punishment
“Perdition.” Eternal destruction (Rev. 17:11; Matt. 7:13; John 17:12; Phil. 1:28; 3:19; 2 Thess. 2:3; Heb. 10:39; 2 Pet. 2:3; 3:7,16). This is the lake of fire, the place of Antichrist’s destruction (Rev. 19:20).
E. He Will Inspire Wonder (Rev. 17:8)
1. Among the Lost of
the Earth
a. “Book of Life.” The roll of the Redeemed, written in eternity past by God (see Rev. 3:5).
b. Only the
Tribulation Saints will escape the Antichrist’s deception (Matt. 24:24).
c. “From the foundation of the world.” See 1 Tim. 1:9; Titus 1:2 (“before time began”). A frequent phrase (Matt. 13:35; 25:34; Luke 11:50; John 17:24; Eph. 1:4; Heb. 4:3; 9:26; 1 Pet. 1:20) referring to God’s pre-creation plan.
2. About His
Resurrection
The fact that the beast “was, and is not, and shall ascend” in the future is another indication of what was introduced in Rev. 13:3.
2. The Beast Considered as an
Empire. (Rev. 17:8)
A. It Was— The Empire Existed Before
B. It is Not —The Empire Ended
C. It Shall Ascend— The Empire was Revived
through Satanic Power
D. It Shall Go— The Empire Will be Condemned
E. The Empire Will Cause Wonder
1. Among its Loyalists
2. About Its Revival
The supernatural survival and revival of both the world ruler and his empire will impress the world as being supernatural and will lead to the worship of the beast and Satan.
B. Regarding the Whore. (Rev. 17:9)
1. The Wisdom (Rev. 17:9)
A. QUOTE: “The truth that is being presented here symbolically requires spiritual insight to be understood, and the difficulty of correct interpretation is illustrated by the various ways it has been interpreted in the history of the church.” — Walvoord, J. F.
2. Remember What the Whore Is (Rev. 17:9)
A. The Seven Mountains Stated.
1. Seven Heads Equal
Seven Mountains.
2. The Seven Mountains
Equal Seven Kings and Kingdoms. (Rev. 12:3;
13:1,3)
The 7
mountains in context likely symbolize the 7 kingdoms and their kings of Rev. 17:10.
Daniel 2:35, Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
B. The Seven Mountains Explained.
1. They Likely Are Not Literal Mountains–City of
Rome
QUOTE: “While Rome is often referred to as having seven hills or mountains, different writers do not necessarily name the same seven mountains.” — Walvoord, J. F.
2. They Most Likely
Represent Seven Kings & Kingdoms (Rev. 17:9-11)
QUOTE: “A close study of the passage does not support the conclusion that this refers to the city of Rome. Seiss, for instance, offers extensive evidence that the reference is to rulers rather than to physical mountains (The Apocalypse, pp. 391-94). This is supported by the text which explains, They are also seven kings (lit., “the seven heads are seven kings”). If the mountains represent kings, then obviously they are not literal mountains and refer not to a literal Rome but to persons.” — Walvoord, J. F.
3. Remember Where the Whore Resides (Rev. 17:9) “On which the woman sitteth”
A.
The Religious System is Headquartered in Rome (Geographically) (Rev. 17:18).
B. The Religious System Influences the Empire of
Rome (Spiritually) (Rev. 17:2, 3).
1. It Influenced the
Seven Kings and their Seven Kingdoms (Historically) (Rev. 17:9, 10).
2. It will Influence the Ten Kings and Their Kingdoms (Futuristically) (Rev. 17:15, 18).
While this religious system is headquartered in the city of Rome, it will grow to worldwide influence after it flourishes in Europe.
B. EXPLAINING THE KINGS (Rev. 17:10-13)
1.
The Seven Kings Explained. (Rev. 17:10-11)
These “seven kings” are representatives of the 7 great world empires (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and that of the Antichrist). See Daniel’s image in Dan. 2:37–45.
A. Considered as Kingdoms
I
favor this view because it fits the total picture of the text better than the
view which regards these as Roman kings.
1.
Five are Past–World Empires—"Five
are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come”.
a.
When John wrote, the
Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Medo-Persian and Greek empires had gone out of
existence.
b.
According to Rev 17:10, five of these
kings (or kingdoms) had passed off the scene, one was present in John's day,
and one was yet to come. If so, then the five past kingdoms would be Egypt,
Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece. All
these world empires where influenced by this religious system of idolatry and
false worship. While the religious systems may have had a different name and
outward appearance during the time of each empire, its essential elements,
nature, character, motives, and beliefs were the same.
c. Remember this is “THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” The system of the future will not be anything new!
2.
One was Present–Roman Empire
The present kingdom would be Rome, and the future kingdom would be that of "the beast." To understand Rev 17:10-11, we must consider Rev 17:12. Rome still existed; and the Antichrist’s empire had not yet come.
3.
One Was Future—Revived Roman Empire of Antichrist
A. The Roman Empire is the Seventh Kingdom
B. The Roman Empire is the Eighth Kingdom
(consisting of a 10 kings confederation)
1. When it comes, it will
be brief (Rev. 12:12; 13:5) and
2. He will end in perdition (Also Rev. 17:11; Rev. 17:8).
B. Considered as Kings (Rev. 17:10-11)
This is a popular view also, but probably unlikely the meaning of the text.
2.
The Ten Kings Explained. (Rev. 17:12-13)
Verse 12 informs us that the 10 horns of the beast represent 10 kings.
A. Ten Kings Are Yet to Rule (Rev. 17:12). See Rev.
12:3; 13:1
Daniel 2:41-42, And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. [42] And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
These are not 10 successive kings of the past, they are contemporaneous kings who are leaders of the kingdoms which will form the original alliance in the Middle East that will unite their power to support the beast (v. 13).
1. These kings are sub-rulers under the Antichrist, whose empire will apparently be divided into 10 administrative districts. The ten kings unanimously yield their power and authority to the beast. In other words, ten countries (or governments) surrender their national sovereignty to him.
2. They possessed “no kingdom as yet.” Thus, the kings cannot be identified with any historical figures.
3.
They are Empowered after “one hour with the
beast.” Symbolic of the brief 3½ year period of time (Rev. 11:2,3; 12:6,12,14; 13:5; 18:10,17,19).
Again the 10 horns are contemporaneous with each other, and as the text indicates they will receive political power for a brief time.
B. One King Will Be the Most Powerful (Rev. 17:13).
1. The ten horns in Revelation 17:12, 13 are
said to represent the ten-nation federation which will give its power and
strength to the beast (compare Dan. 7:23, 24 with Rev. 13:1).
Daniel 7:23-24, Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. [24] And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
2. “The beast" not only has
seven heads, but also ten horns, which represent ten kings.
The Middle East ruler who will emerge in the end time and will make a covenant with Israel seven years before the second coming of Christ. This ten-kingdom empire goes to war against the Lord Jesus when He returns to earth at the end of the Tribulation.
QUOTE: “But these are very special kings: they enable "the beast" to rise to power and are even willing to yield their authority to him. Recall that at the opening of the first seal (Rev 6:1-2), Antichrist began his "peaceful" conquest of the nations. He organized a "United States of Europe," brought peace to the Middle East, and appeared to be the great leader the troubled world was seeking.” —W. W. Wiersbe
3. But during the seven-year period, this ruler broke his covenant with Israel (Dan 9:27) and began to persecute the people of God as well as the nation Israel. Energized by Satan and assisted by the false prophet, "the beast" became the world’s dictator and its god. In this way, "the beast" was both "one of the seven [kings, kingdoms]" but also "the eighth." His kingdom was nothing but a revival of the Roman Empire ("one of the seven"), but it was a new kingdom ("the eighth').
4. The Babylonian system in is a seductive religious power that minimizes doctrinal truth, rejects the authority of the Word, and tries to unite the world’s political powers based on faith in the Antichrist.
APPLICATION:
As we ponder the identity of the seven kings and the emergence of the ten
kings, we must see John's theme of worldly power and its ultimate
ineffectiveness against God and his people. Their authority only lasts for
"one hour," symbolizing its brevity and ultimate destruction. As Christians, have we become infatuated
with the worldly power of movie stars and sports celebrities, political
coalitions, and world economic forces? Are you craving the power and prestige
that position, wealth, and connections offer? If so, you are an easy target
for Satan’s great deception. Worldly power is Satan’s trap; the desire for it
can turn us away from God. Worship only God and make it your strongest desire
to serve him. (W. W. Wiersbe)
