Today’s Reading: Revelation 17:1 – 19:10
As John’s vision continues in chapter 17, God’s Temple has been thrown wide open. He is no longer holding back His judgment because He is both a just God and a holy God (Rev. 15:5; 16:5).
And I heard a voice from the altar, saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, your judgments are true and just.” – Revelation 16:7
The world tries to entice us with all it has to offer. Society tries to pull us into a new concept of what is socially acceptable and moral. The enemy tries to tempt us to leave our life of righteous living to experience “the fun life”. But if we choose to experience all this world is bribing us with, if we choose to share in all it has to offer, we will also share in the judgment that will come down on the earth.
One of the seven angels who had poured the seven bowls came over and spoke to me. “Come with me,” he said, “and I will show you the judgment that is going to come on the great prostitute, who rules over many waters. The kings of the world have committed adultery with her, and the people who belong to this world have been made drunk by the wine of her immorality.” – Revelation 17:1-2
This world tries its best to appear beautiful, like the woman described in John’s vision when the angel carried him away in the Spirit to the wilderness.
There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that had seven heads and ten horns, and blasphemies against God were written all over it. The woman wore purple and scarlet clothing and beautiful jewelry of gold and precious gems and pearls. In her hand she held a gold goblet full of obscenities and the impurities of her immorality. A mysterious name was written on her forehead: Babylon the Great, the Mother of all Prostitutes and Obscenities in this world. I could see that she was drunk — drunk with the blood of God’s people who were witnesses for Jesus. – Revelation 17:3-6
The angel went on to explain that the scarlet beast who once was but now isn’t will come out of the bottomless pit and go to eternal destruction. The seven heads represent the seven hills where the woman rules, and they also represent seven kings — five who have already fallen, one who currently reigns, and one who is still to come (whose reign will be short). This beast on which the woman sits will be the eighth king. The ten horns represent ten kings who will each reign over a kingdom while the beast reigns. They will give their power and authority to the beast, joining him in battle against the Lamb.
“Together they will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him.” – Revelation 17:14
The beast and its ten horns hate the prostitute, yet they give her authority. God has placed a plan into their minds, a plan that will carry out his purposes. They will strip her naked, eat her flesh, and burn her remains with fire. This woman, this prostitute, is the great city that will rule over the kings of this world.
Then an angel came down with great authority and the earth grew bright with his splendor. He announced that the great city had fallen. This city had become a home for demons and a hideout for every foul spirit. Merchants had become rich and nations had fallen because of her passions.
Today’s culture portrays this as the good life, but in reality it is grotesque and cruel and uncaring. Those who drink of her passionate immorality and those who have committed adultery with her will fall with her. But there is a heavenly song calling all to flee from the sins of this world and the glory of its riches:
“Come away from her, my people.
Do not take part in her sins, or you will be punished with her.
For her sins are piled as high as heaven, and God remembers her evil deeds.
Do to her as she has done to others.
Double her penalty for all her evil deeds.
She brewed a cup of terror for others, so brew twice as much for her.
She glorified herself and lived in luxury, so match it now with torment and sorrow.
She boasted in her heart, ‘I am queen on my throne.
I am no helpless widow, and I have no reason to mourn.’
Therefore, these plagues will overtake her in a single day — death and mourning and famine.
She will be completely consumed by fire, for the Lord God who judges her is mighty.” – Revelation 18:4-8
While the merchants grieved the destruction of their profit center, an angel picked up a boulder the size of a huge millstone and threw it into the ocean. Just like that, the great city will be thrown down and never found again. The light of its lamp will go out, never to shine again.
The world with all of its riches tries to make itself appear so pleasing and wonderful, but it is evil and cares nothing for those who get trapped by its pleasures. The world invites us to sit at its banquet tables but there is another banquet table worth turning down the indulgences of the world for. I long to sit at the wedding feast of the Lamb and hear a thunderous voice from the throne say:
“Praise the Lord!
For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns.
Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him.
For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself.
She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.”
For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people. – Revelation 19:6b-8
Lord, thank you for showing us the beauty of ALL you have to offer us. The treasures of this world pale in comparison to YOU. Lord, show us what you have next for us. Reveal to us the good deeds you want to accomplish through us and ignite a fire in us that draws others to you and away from the world. Praise the Lord, for the Lord our God reigns. Let us experience His joy and rejoice in all He has done for us, giving honor to the Lamb of God! Amen.