The Battle for Personal Power

The Battle of Personal Power

 MATTHEW 4:1-11

THEME: The Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. Jesus triumphs over Satan, then returns to Galilee to begin his ministry and calls his first four disciples.

RELEVANCE: Jesus was tempted so that every creature in heaven, on earth, or under the earth might know that Jesus Christ is the Conqueror. This temptation was necessary to demonstrate His moral fitness to do the work for which He had come into the world. He exposed Satan and his tactics, and He defeated Satan indisputably. Because of His victory, we can have victory over the tempter.

INTRODUCTION:

Our Lord’s experience of temptation prepared Him to be our sympathetic High Priest.

Hebrews 2:16-18, For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. [17] Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. [18] For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Hebrews 4:15-16, For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

It is important to note that Jesus faced the enemy as man, not as the Son of God. His first word was, “Man shall not live by bread alone.” We must not think that Jesus used His divine powers to overcome the enemy, because that is just what the enemy wanted Him to do! Jesus used the spiritual resources that are available to us today: the power of the Holy Spirit of God (Matt. 4:1), and the power of the Word of God (“It is written”).

LESSON:

Jesus Defeats The Devil (Matt. 4:1-11):

Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan.

THIRD ROUND OF ATTACK—LIVE FOR PERSONAL POWER (Matt. 4:8-10) 

The Temptation to Seek Worldly Power (Matt. 4:8-9): All the Power and Glory This World Has to Offer Is Yours If You’ll Only Kneel Down and Worship Me. 

1.    In The Third Temptation, the Devil Took Jesus Up on an Exceedingly High Mountain and Showed Him “All The Kingdoms Of The World.”

a.     He offered them to Jesus in exchange for His worship. Although this temptation had to do with worship, an exercise of the spirit, it was an effort to seduce our Lord to grasp imperial power over the world by worshiping Satan.

b.    The reward offered, all the kingdoms of the world with their glory-grandeur, appealed to “the lust of the eyes” (1 Jn. 2:16).

c.     In a sense, the kingdoms of the world do belong to the devil at present.

                                                   i.     He is spoken of as “the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4), and John tells us that “the whole world lieth in wickedness”(1 Jn. 5:19).

                                                 ii.     When Jesus appears at the Second Advent as King of kings (Rev. 19:16), then “the kingdoms of this world” become His (Rev. 11:15).

                                               iii.     Jesus would not violate the divine timetable, and certainly He would never worship Satan!

2.    For Us the Temptation Is Twofold:

1.    To Barter Our Spiritual Birthright for the Passing Glory of This World.

2.    To Worship and Serve the Creature Rather Than the Creator.  The devil offered the whole world to Jesus if Jesus would only bow down and worship him.

a.     Today Satan offers us the world by trying to entice us with materialism, sex, and power. The devil would like us to believe that "life is short, get all you can!"

b.    Even Christian leaders find themselves tempted to build empires here on earth.

c.     But Satan requires people to pay for such success by selling their souls to him. We must resist temptations in the same way that Jesus did.

d.    If you find yourself craving something that the world offers, quote Jesus' words to the devil: “Worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” Then follow that advice, with the support and prayers of Christian friends.

3.    The Devil Offered Jesus A Shortcut to His Kingdom.

a.    Jesus knew that He would suffer and die before He entered into His glory (Luke 24:26; 1 Peter 1:11; 5:1).

b.    If He bowed down and worshiped Satan just once (this is the force of the Greek verb), He could enjoy all the glory without enduring the suffering.

c.     Satan has always wanted worship, because Satan has always wanted to be God (Isa. 14:12–14).

d.    Worshiping the creature instead of the Creator is the lie that rules our world today (Rom. 1:24–25).

4.    There Are No Shortcuts to the Will of God.

a.    If we want to share in the glory, we must also share in the suffering (1 Peter 5:10). As the prince of this world, Satan could offer these kingdoms to Christ (John 12:31; 14:30). But Jesus did not need Satan’s offer.

b.    The Father had already promised Jesus the kingdom! “Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen [nations] for Thine inheritance” (Ps. 2:8).

c.     You find the same promise in Psalm 22:22–31, and this is the psalm of the cross. 

The Triumph Over the Desires of the Eyes. (Matt. 4:10): Get out of here Satan; Worship and Serve the Lord your God only!

1.    For The Third Time, Jesus Resisted Temptation by Using the Bible: “Thou shalt worship the LORD thy God, and Him only you shalt thou serve.” (Deut. 6:13).

a.     Worship and the service that flows from it are for God alone. To worship Satan would be tantamount to acknowledging him as God.

b.    Satan had said nothing about service, but Jesus knew that whatever we worship, we will serve. Worship and service must go together.

2.    The Order of The Temptations as Recorded by Matthew Varies from That in Luke (4:1–13). Some have suggested that Matthew’s order parallels the order of the temptations that Israel faced in the wilderness (Ex. 16; 17; 32). Jesus showed Himself in perfect contrast to Israel’s response to hardship.

3.    Also, The Word “Then” In Matt. 4:5 And the Word “Again” In Matt. 4:8, Seems to Indicate Sequence.

a.     Luke only uses the simple conjunction “and” and does not say he is following a sequence.

b.    Our Lord’s command at the end of the third temptation (“Get thee hence, Satan!”) is proof that Matthew followed the historical order. There is no contradiction since Luke did not claim to follow the actual sequence.

II. The Assistance of the Angels (Matt. 4:11): Afterward, Angels Come and Care for Jesus.

A.   SATAN LEAVING (Matt. 4:11).

1.    When Jesus Had Successfully Defeated Satan’s Temptations, The Devil Left Him.

2.    Temptations Come in Waves Rather Than in A Steady Flow. What an encouragement for God’s tested saints!

a.     Isaiah 59:19, So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

b.    The metaphor of "lifting a standard" for making an armed resistance is common in Isaiah (Isa 5:26; 13:2; 18:3; 31:9).

c.     “That, whatever attempts the enemies of God's people may afterwards make upon them to disturb their peace, they shall be baffled and brought to nought: When the enemy shall come in like a flood, like a high spring-tide, or a land-flood, which threaten to bear down all before them without control, then the Spirit of the Lord by some secret undiscerned power shall lift up a standard against him, and so (as the margin reads it) put him to flight. He that has delivered will still deliver. When God's people are weak and helpless, and have no standard to lift up against the invading power, God will give a banner to those that fear him (Ps 60:4), will by his Spirit lift up a standard, which will draw multitudes together to appear on the church's behalf.” --- Matthew Henry

3.    Satan Slunk Away, A Defeated Foe; But He Did Not Cease to Tempt Jesus.

a.     We understand that Luke 4:13, carries the idea, “that the devil ended every possible kind of temptation, he stood off from Christ until a suitable time.”

b.    Through Peter, Satan again tempted Jesus to abandon the cross (Matt. 16:21–23); and through the crowd that had been fed, Satan tempted Jesus to an “easy kingdom” (John 6:15).

c.     One victory never guarantees freedom from further temptation. If anything, each victory we experience only makes Satan try harder.

B.   ANGELS ARRIVING (Matt. 4:11).

1.    We Are Told That Angels Came And Ministered Unto Him, But No Explanation Is Given for This Supernatural Assistance. It probably means that they provided the physical nourishment for Him which He had refused to provide at Satan’s suggestion.

2.    We Learn That the Devil Can Attack Those Who Are Controlled by the Holy Spirit, But That He Is Powerless Against Those Who Resist Him with the Word of God.

3.    After Jesus Christ Had Defeated Satan, He Was Ready to Begin His Ministry. No man has a right to call others to obey who has not obeyed himself. Our Lord proved Himself to be the perfect King whose sovereignty is worthy of our respect and obedience. But, true to his purpose, Matthew had one more witness to call to prove the kingship of Jesus Christ.

CONCLUSION:

Jesus was tempted so that every creature in heaven, on earth, or under the earth might know that Jesus Christ is the Conqueror. This temptation was necessary to demonstrate His moral fitness to do the work for which He had come into the world. He exposed Satan and his tactics, and He defeated Satan indisputably. Because of His victory, we can have victory over the tempter.

 

The Battle of Pride

Jesus Defeats the Devil: The Battle of Pride

 MATTHEW 4:1-11

 

THEME: Jesus definitively triumphs over Satan to show us how to live for spiritual priorities instead of succumbing to the temptations to live for our pride, prestige, and glory.

RELEVANCE: Jesus is tempted so that every creature in heaven, on earth, or under the earth might know that Jesus Christ is the great Conqueror. This temptation is necessary to demonstrate His moral fitness to do the work for which He had come into the world. The devil will encourage us to adopt a value system that places an unhealthy emphasis on physical and material things, but Jesus un-mistakenly points out our real priorities. In addition, He exposes Satan and his schemes, while crushing him most convincingly. Because of Christ’s victory, we can win against the temptations of pride.

INTRODUCTION:

It is important to note that Jesus faced the enemy as a man, not as the Son of God. We must not think that Jesus used His divine powers to overcome the enemy, because that is just what the enemy wanted Him to do! Jesus used the spiritual resources that are available to us today: the power of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 4:1), and the power of the Word of God (“It is written”).

LESSON:

Jesus Defeats The Devil (Matt. 4:1-11):

I. The Attacks of the Adversary (Matt. 4:2-11)

This period was a necessary time under God’s direction—another occasion where the Son obeyed and endured until the tests were completed. Hebrews 5:8, says, “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;”.

The Son of God never sinned, so He did not learn “obedience” in the sense of overcoming personal rebellion. Rather, He experienced “obedience” in a tangible, flesh-and-blood way. By living as a man, He chose to submit to the Father’s will in real-time and real-world situations. 

Now Jesus, our great High Priest, can truly sympathize with our struggles. By experiencing suffering and choosing obedience through it, Jesus became the qualified and perfect source of salvation for us all. 

THE SECOND ATTACK OF SATAN—LIVE FOR PERSONAL PRIDE, PRESTIGE, AND YOUR OWN IMMEDIATE GLORY (Matt. 4:5-7). 

A The Temptation of Pride (Matt. 4:5-6): Prove you are the Son of God; jump off the highest point of the Temple!

Matthew 4:5-6, Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, ⁶ And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 

1.     The Second Temptation Took Place In Jerusalem On The Pinnacle Of The Temple.

a.      The devil challenged Jesus to throw Himself down as a spectacular display of His divine Sonship to gain popularity and acceptance. The Lord Jesus was taken to a pinnacle of the temple, probably about 500 feet above the Kidron Valley.

b.     Satan knew of the protection promised to the Messiah by God in Psalms. Psalm 91:11-12, For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. [12] They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

c.      Satan made a subtle suggestion to Jesus as the Messiah. He may have been reminding Jesus of Malachi’s prophecy (Mal. 3:1). The people expected Messiah to suddenly appear in the sky, coming down to His temple. Satan was saying, in essence, “Why don’t You do what the people are expecting and make some marvelous display? After all, the Scripture says His angels will protect You as You come down!” (W. W. Wiersbe) 

d.     Beloved, be alert to any power, strength, ability, gift, talent, beauty, or prominence you may possess! This could become a source of pride and independence of God!   

2.     The Temptation Was For Jesus To Demonstrate That He Was Messiah By Performing A Sensational Stunt.

a.      Jesus could achieve glory without suffering; He could bypass the cross and still reach the throne. But this action would be outside the will of God.

b.     John describes this appeal as “the pride of life” (1 Jn. 2:16). It resembles the “tree desirable to make one wise” (Gen. 3:6) in the Garden of Eden, as both were a means of achieving personal glory while ignoring God’s will.

c.      This is a desire to attain religious prominence apart from the fellowship of His suffering. We seek great things for ourselves, then run and hide when difficulties come our way. When we ignore God’s will to exalt ourselves, we tempt God.

d.     Satan challenges Jesus to prove His divine identity. He is tempting Jesus to take matters into His own hands rather than submitting to God's intended path of suffering and obedience.

e.      Ignoring God's will to exalt ourselves leads to spiritual separation, misplaced priorities, and an inevitable downfall. Pride fosters arrogance and self-reliance, while true purpose and honor come from surrendering to God's plan and serving others.

f.      Aligning your will with God's shifts your focus from earthly recognition to serving others, ultimately allowing Him to guide, honor, and elevate you in His perfect timing.

g.     God repeatedly warns us against pride, describing it as a spiritual barrier that invites destruction, brings shame, and causes individuals to exalt themselves above God. These passages caution that self-reliance without God ultimately leads to a fall. 

1.     Warnings about the Destructive Nature of Pride

a.      Proverbs 16:18, Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

b.     Proverbs 11:2, When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

c.      Proverbs 29:23, A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

2.     Warnings revealing God's Opposition to Pride

a.      James 4:6, ...God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

b.     Proverbs 16:5, Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

c.      Psalm 10:4, The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

3.     Mandates that Call us to Humility before Him

a.      1 Peter 5:5, Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

b.     Philippians 2:3, Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

3. This Temptation Was Even More Subtle Because Satan Also Used the Word of God.

a.      “So You intend to live by the Scriptures,” Satan implied. “Then let me quote You a verse of Scripture and see if You will obey it!” Satan then quoted from Psalm 91:11–12 where God promised to care for His own. “If You really believe the Scriptures, then jump! Let’s see if the Father cares for You!”

b.     Satan May Have Thought If Jesus Could Quote Scripture To Him, He Could Quote It Too. However, he purposely did not quote Psalm 91:11-12 accurately. He left out an important phrase, “in all thy ways.” According to the psalmist, a person is protected only when he is following the Lord’s will. For Jesus to cast Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple in some dramatic display to accommodate Himself to the people’s thinking would not have been God’s will. Jesus’ response indicated that it would not be proper to test God and expect Him to do something when one is out of His will.

c.      Note Carefully Our Lord’s Reply: “It Is Written AGAIN” (Matt. 4:7). We must never divorce one part of Scripture from another, but we must always “compare spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Cor. 2:13). We can prove almost anything by the Bible if we isolate texts from the contexts and turn them into pretexts. Satan had cleverly omitted the phrase “in all Thy ways” when he quoted from Psalm 91. When the child of God is in the will of God, the Father will protect him. He watches over those who are “in His ways.” (W. W. Wiersbe)

d.     Satan tempts Jesus to prove He is the Son of God by jumping from the high pinnacle of the temple. The devil weaponizes scripture by quoting Psalm 91:11-12, trying to trick Jesus into foolishly testing God’s promise of protection for a cheap, spectacular show. 

 

B.   The Triumph Over Pride (Matt. 4:7): Do not presume to test the Lord or force Him to accommodate your will; respect the fact that He is God!

 Matthew 4:7,  Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

1.     Jesus Replied with Deuteronomy 6:16: “Thou Shalt Not Tempt The Lord Thy God.”

a.      We tempt God when we put ourselves into circumstances that force Him to work miracles on our behalf. The diabetic who refuses to take insulin and argues, “Jesus will take care of me,” may be tempting the Lord.

b.     We tempt God when we try to force Him to contradict His own Word. It is important for us as believers to read all Scripture, and study all God has to say, for all of it is profitable for daily life (2 Tim. 3:16–17).

c.      Jesus reveals that demanding God perform a miracle to prove His love or power is not faith; it is a lack of trust and an act of manipulation.

d.     God had promised to preserve the Messiah, but that guarantee presupposed living in God’s will. To claim the promise in an act of disobedience would be tempting God.

 

2.     Again, Jesus Resisted the Temptation for Immediate Glory, Prestige and Pride! 

a.      The time would come when Jesus would be revealed as Messiah, but the cross must come first. It is wise to wait on God’s timing.

b.     The altar of sacrifice must precede the throne. The crown of thorns must precede the crown of glory. Refuse to be afraid of sacrifices for the Lord’s sake. We are correct when we anticipate suffering, pain, investment, obligation and payment before any returns, privileges, or advantages.

c.      Jesus would await God’s time and would accomplish God’s will. Making a point of walking daily in the will of God is one way to demonstrate faith in it.

d.     A life of humility honors to the Lord and the Lord will honor a life of humility. Proverbs 22:4 says: “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.” True reverence for God and a spirit of humility yields great spiritual rewards. The Lord exalts and honors the humble!

1.     Proverbs 15:33, The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

2.     Proverbs 18:12, Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

3.     1 Peter 5:6, Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.

We can triumph over pride and Satan’s temptations when we know God’s Word for ourselves, understand His will for us, cling to His approaches, and timing. The wiser we are the more his manipulations lose their power over us. Refuse to take suggestions from Satan, the world system, and the carnal fleshly nature we all still possess. Never trust the Devil’s usage of the Scriptures, it is okay to go back and study the Word more carefully for yourself. It is also okay to give yourself some time to reflect, and to gain thinking equilibrium. Place a little time, perhaps 24 hours, between your initial impressions or impulses and any follow-through actions. If there is a need to be hasty, rushed, quick, or hurried it may NOT be the best course of action no matter what they ‘promised’. Any offers that make you feel ‘time pressure’ or ‘a limited time offer’ is probably not from God! If it seems too good to be true…it probably is! 

CONCLUSION:

Jesus triumphs over Satan’s temptations of pride and independence! He was tempted so that every creature might know that Jesus Christ is the matchless Conqueror. This temptation was necessary to demonstrate His moral fitness to do the work for which He had come into the world.

Additionally, Jesus exposed Satan and his tactics, and He defeated Satan without a doubt. Because of Christ’s success, we can have many conquests over pride and the tempter.

By our experiencing various sufferings, inconveniences, hardnesses and choosing obedience to God through them, we become qualified comforters and perfect aids in the salvation and growth of others. Yes, we too can definitively triumph over Satan and live for God’s priorities instead of yielding to Satan’s temptations to live for pride, prestige, and glory.

Judgment of the Great Whore

“Judgment of the Great Whore”

REVELATION 17:1-18

THEME: In highly metaphorical language the filthy religious prostitute and her judgment by the Lord Jesus are described. Be assured that God hears the prayers of his persecuted, justice is a divine priority, and martyrs will eventually be vindicated. 

INTRODUCTION: 

1. John describes the Lamb’s phased and progressive victory over "the beast" and his kingdom. Here the religious system is destroyed; then later the political and economic systems fall also (Rev 18). Afterwards, the Lord Jesus returns to earth; condemns Satan, "the beast" and the false prophet (Rev 19:19-20); and then establishes His kingdom.

2. John has a vision of a “great whore” which is a “great city” seated on “seven mountains,” who rides “sit upon a scarlet colored beast”—the Antichrist to power and then she is destroyed by him. John first symbolically describes “the great whore” (Rev. 17:1–6) and goes on to interpret the vision (Rev. 17:7–18), identifying the beast, his drive toward power, and his subsequent turning on the “whore” when absolute power is his. (W. W. Wiersbe)

John revisits that destruction and deals in detail with the fall of Babylon.

MESSAGE:

I.  The Great Whore Exposed (Rev. 17:1-6).

The scene begins with an invitation (Rev 17:1-2).

A.  AN EXPOSING SUMMONS (Rev. 17:1-3a).

  1. From an Angel.

One of the angels asks john to come and see what God will do with "the beast's" worldwide religious system.

  2. To the Apostle.

John was invited to witness the punishment of the great prostitute, symbolizing the religious system of Babylon. Religious Babylon likely includes apostate Christendom, both Protestant and Catholic. It may well represent the ecumenical church. (W. W. Wiersbe)

  3. About a Judgment.

         A.  Upon a System of Spiritual Impurity. Her corruption (Rev. 17:1-2, 4). The prostitute rules over "peoples and multitudes and nations and languages," indicating the global influence of this system.

         B.  Upon a System of Political Fraternity. Her compromise (Rev. 17:3): she has aligned herself with the godless political systems of this world. John learned that the kings of the earth had committed fornication with the woman; which means they had become a part of the religious system, which she symbolized (Rev.14:8). Prostitution often symbolizes idolatry or religious apostasy (Jer. 3:6–9; Ezek. 16:30ff.; 20:30; Hos. 4:15; 5:3; 6:10; 9:1). She has seduced political leaders with her compromise and intrigue. The world rulers will be absorbed into the empire of Satan’s false Christ.

         C.  Upon a System of Global Religion.

The harlot’s influence will extend beyond the world’s rulers to the rest of mankind (v. 15; 13:8,14). The many waters symbolize “peoples, multitudes, and nations, and tongues” (v. 15).  Vast numbers of inhabitants of the earth have come under her evil influence and have been reduced to staggering misery. The imagery does not describe actual wine and sexual sin, but pictures the world’s people being swept up into the intoxication and sin of a false system of religion. (W. W. Wiersbe)

   4. Through the Spirit.

Following the invitation, John was carried away "in the spirit" into the wilderness. There he saw "the harlot" and wrote down the description of what he saw (Rev 17:3-6). Gen 2 speaks of a pure bride in a lovely garden; but by the Bible’s end, civilization has degenerated to an impure harlot in a wilderness! That is what sin does to the world.

B. AN EXPOSING SYMBOL (Rev. 17:3-6).

This description is critical and bursting at the seams with information and insight.

   1.  The Symbol of the Woman

She represents a seductive, corrupt religious and political system that opposes God, leading people into idolatry or ‘spiritual adultery’.

QUOTE: “Let's begin with the woman. Rev 17:18 makes clear that she is identified with a city that existed in John's day ("reigns" is present tense). This city is prosperous and powerful, but also idolatrous ("blasphemy") and dangerous. For one thing, it pollutes the nations with its filth and abomination (pictured by the golden wine cup); for another, it persecutes those who belong to the Lord (Rev 17:6). Power, wealth, pollution, persecution: these words summarize the "great harlot's" involvement on a worldwide scale.”  — W.W. Wiersbe

         A.  Her Place (Rev. 17:3)

According to Revelation 17:15, the prostitute rules over “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues” (languages), indicating the global influence of this system.

Her posture is important as she is seated upon “many waters” (Rev 17:1), and upon a “scarlet coloured beast” with seven heads and ten horns. John was greatly amazed and wondered with admiration when he saw the woman and “the beast.” But what did it all mean? Thankfully, the angel gave John (and all believers) the explanation of these symbols (Rev 17:7-18).

         B.  Her Portrait (Rev. 17:4) 

She is clothed in luxury, symbolizing wealth, arrogance, and allure. The “golden cup” holds “abominations and filthiness”—the idolatrous and sinful, immoral behaviors of her “fornication”.  So clad in luxury (purple and scarlet), she holds a golden cup filled with spiritual adultery, idolatry, and corrupt practices that entice the world, ultimately representing corrupt religious-political power. 

1.      She is utterly materialistic (Rev. 17:4a). The woman is dressed in expensive garments, decorated with gold and precious stones. She is holding a golden cup in her hand and is drunk with the blood of the saints. On her forehead (see rev 13:16; 14:1) she wears a special name.

2.      She is corrupt, “abominations” (Rev. 17:4a) (Greek: bdelugma—detestable/accursed things) and "filthiness of her fornication" signify a mixture of idolatrous worship, moral corruption, and deception offered to the kings of the earth.

3.      She says blasphemous things about God (Rev. 17:4b). All of this signify a mixture of idolatrous worship, moral corruption, and deception offered to the kings of the earth. Generally, she is a false religious system or a corrupt world power that lures inhabitants away from divine truth, leading to spiritual corruption (“fornication”). This imagery contrasts with the pure bride of Christ, symbolizing deep spiritual impurity disguised as attractive, divine favor. 

         C.  Her Prostitution (Rev. 17:5)

On her forehead the caption, “Mystery Babylon the great, mother of harlots and abominations of the earth” appears. This seems to indicate she has daughters who are also “harlots.” A harlot is a woman who fornicates or uses her body for financial, political, or profitable gain. It’s a system that is, at the same time, opulent and morally filthy.

QUOTE: “The woman's name also involves "mystery" (Rev 17:5). In the New Testament, a "mystery" is a hidden truth that only the spiritually initiated can understand. To grasp one of God's mysteries requires spiritual intelligence and discernment. In this case, the mystery has to do with Babylon.

The city of Babylon was founded by Nimrod (Gen 10:8-11). The name Bab-el means "the gate of God." Ironically, the famous tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9) was an idolatrous attempt by man to defy God. When the Lord sent judgment on the builders by making mankind's one language into many, the word bab-el came to mean "confusion." Later in history, Babylon became a great empire before finally falling to Media-Persia. But from the beginning of Nimrod's city in Gen 10, an insidious anti-God "Babylonian influence" has been felt throughout history.”   —W.W. Wiersbe

QUOTE: “The Bible is full of information about Babylon as the source of false religion, the record beginning with the building of the tower of Babel (Gen. 10-11). The name “Babel” suggests “confusion” (Gen. 11:9). Later the name was applied to the city of Babylon which itself has a long history dating back to as early as 3,000 years before Christ. One of its famous rulers was Hammurabi (1728-1686 b.c.). After a period of decline Babylon again rose to great heights under Nebuchadnezzar about 600 years before Christ. Nebuchadnezzar’s reign (605-562 b.c.) and the subsequent history of Babylon is the background of the Book of Daniel.

Babylon was important not only politically but also religiously. Nimrod, who founded Babylon (Gen. 10:8-12), had a wife known as Semiramis who founded the secret religious rites of the Babylonian mysteries, according to accounts outside the Bible. Semiramis had a son with an alleged miraculous conception who was given the name Tammuz and in effect was a false fulfillment of the promise of the seed of the woman given to Eve (Gen. 3:15).

Various religious practices were observed in connection with this false Babylonian religion, including recognition of the mother and child as God and of creating an order of virgins who became religious prostitutes. Tammuz, according to the tradition, was killed by a wild animal and then restored to life, a satanic anticipation and counterfeit of Christ’s resurrection. Scripture condemns this false religion repeatedly (Jer. 7:18; 44:17-19, 25; Ezek. 8:14). The worship of Baal is related to the worship of Tammuz.”  —John MacArthur

         D.  Her Practices (Rev. 17:6)

She commits adultery with both potentates and people of this earth (Rev. 17:2). Four times in this chapter, the woman is called a 'harlot" (Rev 17:1,5,15-16); and her sin is called "fornication" (Rev 17:2,4). Her evil influence has extended to the whole world, reaching even into high places ("the kings of the earth").  She is idolatrous (Rev. 17:2; 18:3, 9), cruel (Rev. 17:6), and has murdered the martyrs of Christ.

QUOTE: “The woman is "the great harlot," but she is also "the mother of harlots." The Babylonian system has, in one way or another, given birth to all false religions. She has also seduced men into opposing God and persecuting His servants. ”   W. W. Wiersbe

   2. The Symbol of the Beast (Rev. 17:3b)

This “scarlet” beast with “seven heads and ten horns” is a symbol of a satanic political system (like the Roman Empire or the antichrist kingdom) that supports this corrupted system of the ‘harlot’.

         A.  His Appearance (Rev. 17:3b)

               1. Note What He is.  “Beast”

               2. Note What His Color Is.  “Scarlet”

               3. Note What His Communication Is.

QUOTE: “As noted earlier, scarlet is the color of Satan (Rev 12:3) and of sin (Isa 1:18). Scarlet was a popular color in Rome, and both scarlet and purple were associated with rank and riches.

But the woman must not be separated from "the beast" that carries her.”  —W. W. Wiersbe

          B. His Associations (Rev. 17:3b)

               1. He Has Seven Heads

               2. He Has Ten Horns

QUOTE: “The beast' has seven heads and ten horns. The seven heads symbolize seven mountains (Rev 17:9) and also seven kings or kingdoms (Rev 17:10), in keeping with Old Testament imagery (Ps 30:7; Dan 2:35). 1 have already suggested that the seven mountains can be interpreted geographically as the seven hills of Rome, but they may also be interpreted historically as seven kingdoms.”   —W. W. Wiersbe

Finally, this passage portrays John’s vision of a “great whore” seated on a bloodred monster—the Antichrist, representing a corrupt, seductive global system—often called “Mystery, Babylon the Great”. It blends false religion, secular humanism, and political power to rebel against Almighty God, the Lord Jesus, and harass and oppress the real people of God.

This religious system is drunk with the “blood of the saints,” since they refuse to adopt the seductive immoral values that rival God, they are brutally persecuted and killed as true followers of Jesus. While it is incumbent upon us to exercise patience now, God will deal with the unfair, murderous, corrupt, decadent, unfaithful conditions of mere earthly religion led by Satan. Not merely because the righteous long for this so greatly, but because God is just in all His ways and His timing is always perfect. God will expose, confront, and obliterate global alliances of political and religious systems opposed to Him. Though such a system seems dominant and attractive, its inevitable destruction by Jesus Christ is clearly promised. Rest assured, saint of God, he will deal with the fakes in due time no matter how universal they may be.

The Cry for Judgment & Vindication will be answered. “Judge and avenge our blood”

Revelation 6:9-10, And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: ¹⁰ And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

The great question was not whether their enemies would be judged, but when. "How long, O Lord?" has been the cry of God's suffering people throughout the ages (see Ps 74:9-10; 79:5; 94:3-4; also Hab 1:2). The saints in heaven along with us know that God will eventually judge sin and establish righteousness in the earth, but we do not know God's exact schedule.

Psalm 74:9-10, We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long. [10] O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?

Psalm 94:3-4, Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? [4] How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?

Careful, this is Not a Cry for Revenge.

It is not personal revenge that we must seek, but vindication of God's holiness and the establishment of God's justice. Every believer today who sincerely prays, "Thy kingdom come!" is echoing their petition.

Remember, Romans 12:19-21, Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. [20] Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. [21] Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. The Lord Jesus is fulfilling His kingdom role as the Administrator of justice in the earth!   

QUOTE: “The greatest proof of Christianity for others is not how far a man can logically analyze his reasons for believing, but how far in practice he will stake his life on his belief.”  -- T. S. Eliot 

God hears the prayers of his persecuted, justice is a divine priority, and martyrs will eventually be vindicated.