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.
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.
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)
