Revelation, Part 33
Revelation 17:5-11
Introduction
Last week we began to outline the woman who sits on the beast, and we discussed her role and importance in John’s vision.
This week is a teaching lesson vice a preaching lesson.
It is important to understand how the religious system will be setup in the coming time so that today we can watch for signs of it forming, and perhaps have enough wisdom to help educate others to avoid it.
Pray
Point 1 – The Name of the Woman (v5-6)
The true identity of the woman is written on her head for the entire world to see and understand what she is and what does for a living.
The religious system was set in motion in Babylon and has continued to this very day in one form or another throughout the world.
After tower of Babel, when man tried to build a tower out of rebellion, and the Lord scattered humanity by families, through the earth. These tribes took with them, the religious system established in Babylon. The various religions of the earth have similarities because they have a similar origin, Babylon.
As mentioned last week, this woman is being represented as the entire religious system which has sought out to destroy those who are hunting down and making martyrs out of God’s servants today.
It is imperative that the church understand that this woman represents all that is corrupt about this one world religion. The world has believed her lies, and now we see the results of falling for beauty and lies rather than the worship of Jesus Christ.
The two categories of saints are: those killed before Jesus, and the martyrs of Jesus, those killed for their witness of Messiah. Both groups were/are killed by this satanic religion that operates in opposition to God’s word.
John was amazed because up until now, he had not really put together that this woman had been working on destroying what belonged to God since the Garden of Eden – he now understood how much destruction this woman had caused.
Point 2 – The Origin of the Woman (v7-8)
It’s almost as if the angel is asking John why he is so impressed with this woman.
Many times, we are impressed with the works of this world as well. Anything that removes our attention from the work of the Lord is something that Satan can use to distract us.
John is marveling at the woman and the angel tells him not to marvel – that it is no big deal and that honestly, he should not be impressed with her (expound).
The entire world will be unified under Satan’s power as we know, and in just a verse or so we will get the understanding of these 10 horns and heads in just a moment.
The inhabitants of the Earth will marvel at the beast – they will stand in awe of the anti-Christ and be amazed at everything he does in the name of “god”.
Anyone who makes the conscious decision to not follow Jesus will belong to Satan and eternally shall be separated from God. Interestingly enough, the Book of Life is mentioned seven times in Revelation – again reflecting God’s number of perfection.
Rev 20:15 – Anyone whose name is not found written …
Point 3 - The seven heads (v9-11)
Those who have wisdom on a spiritual level must understand this.
I believe that John is not talking to the average Sunday-only Christian, but to those who would seek after God’s Word to understand and to be changed, and these few verses apply directly to those who would seek to know more than just the surface.
If you are to understand this enough to apply these words, then being a casual Christian is not going to cut it. We have to study and learn – in order to teach others.
In 3 of the 4 descriptions of the Beast we are shown a beast with seven heads.
In 4 of the 4 descriptions there are 10 horns. Here the angel is about to describe the meaning of the 7 heads. The seven heads mean two things.
First the seven heads represent 7 mountains.
A mountain is symbolic with a seat of power. In Daniel 2:35 the rock became a mountain which filled the earth. This refers to the kingdom of the Messiah.
We are told the woman sits on these 7 mountains, meaning she dominates 7 kingdoms.
Second, the seven heads represent seven kings. We know from the context of Daniel 7:17 that there are 4 kingdoms from Daniel’s time till then end of days.
Dan 7:16-17 says, “I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: ‘Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth.
Those 4 kingdoms are:
Babylon (625-539 BC)
Persia (539-333 BC)
Greece (333 BC- 55 BC)
Rome (55 BC-132 AD)
There were 2 Kingdoms that dominated Israel were Egypt and Assyria both before Daniel’s time. These would make up the 6 till John’s day, where we are told, “One is”, which would be Rome (yet to happen when John was writing this). 4+2+1=7
The other has not yet come would be the 7th of the coming Antichrist. The anti-Christ will make an agreement with Israel during the first half of the Tribulation. Satan who will incarnate the Antichrist is the “Eighth” who will be of the 7 yet distinct because he will be indwelling the 7th.
The 7th is the one world order – which is begun by the anti-Christ, and once he is fully revealed actually becomes the eighth because he is his own.
Point 4 – Ten Horns of the Beast (12-14)
The 10 horns represent 10 future kings who will be the ones responsible for turning over all of their power and authority to the anti-Christ for his rule.
There is no clear understanding of who these nations are at this time, but it should be noted that it would make sense to believe these would be powerful nations who have authority and power to give.
Daniel 7:24-25 says, “The ten horns are ten kings, who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; he shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time."
These verses in Daniel are the confirmation of Revelation Chapter 17 (or vice versa) and also lend weight to the final kingdom on this Earth, which is run by the anti-Christ.
All of these nations are of the same mind, and will be given power and authority to take on the Saints and make them martyrs under Satan’s leadership.
Conclusion
Next week we will finish with the religious system of the anti-Christ and move onto the economic situation that this world will fall under.
Pray
Research provided by Truthnet.org
