Revelation, Part 34
Revelation, 17:12-18
Introduction
Tonight we will finish Chapter 17 and look ahead a bit in history.
Read Rev 17:12-18
Pray
As we discussed last week, the 10 horns represent 10 future kings who will give their power over to the anti-Christ, but more importantly – this final turning over of power is the only thing that allows the anti-Christ to gain complete control over this nation, and allows him to assert himself as ultimate ruler.
Remember, that the Book of Daniel also covers this time period in Ch 7:24-25:
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 confirm the information in the 17th chapter and give us additional details about this final kingdom. One, we find inner conflict which in which 3 of the 10 kings are actually subdued before they relinquish power.
Thinking back to the events in this nation, it is important to remember that everything happens for a reason – everything happens because God has ordained it to be so, and the control that the anti-Christ will have is God ordained, and God given.
The waters that the woman sits on represent everything that we currently know as the world today – it represents how humanity has been diluted and the focus taken off of God, and something that the church has a responsibility to stand against and stay alert to protect against.
Do you know that today we have an obligation to ensure that the Gospel is preached?
In Children’s Church, another soul was saved because of the determination to continue witnessing – but the church cannot be the only place this type of witnessing needs to take place.
There is a promise that the woman described in Chapter 17 will be destroyed – but not before she has consumed the resources of this world and taken hostage each person that gives themselves to her.
Destruction of the Woman (v16-18)
Because of the ultimate allegiance that the nations of the world have pledged to the Beast, the world will fall under one religion and Satan will demand worship from every living creature.
Once the woman has convinced the world to give itself over to her ways, the Beast will no longer have use for her.
This is a very important lesson for this world to learn.
Satan uses the resources, people, and even the religion of this world to exact one thing – HIS control over it.
Once you are no longer useful to the Beast, you are discarded. Right now, Satan is seeking to use you – he is seeking to take from you anything that he can utilize for his selfish reasons, whereas God is seeking to use you for His Glory!
The woman is an idol that the devil used, and when she has outlived her usefulness she will have her flesh eaten and burned.
The irony is that God will be using the Beast to accomplish his judgment on the Harlot who from the time of Babylon through the use of religion and state was able to subdue and seduce nations.
The devil’s use of religion to control is something that he has been trying to do since the beginning of time, and it is important to understand that our church is in the middle of this fight today.
Do you see around us where the devil has used excuses and nonsense to keep people from working for or being involved in the church?
This woman is symbolic of everything that the devil has used against mankind from the beginning of time, and now, we see her usefulness is fulfilled and she is killed off.
Personally, I think it is time to remove her glamour by exposing who and what she is. The bible uses the word “harlot” to describe her, and I believe it is appropriate.
Church, our understanding of what she is trying to do is paramount to understanding what we have to do today.
It is easy to talk about things in a future tense, but what about today?
Over the next few weeks, I have one plan in my heart: To pray.
I will be out of the pulpit but taking time to pray and seek a renewal on my own life because I see a need in our church. I see potential here to fight against the woman and the Beast, and not allow their ways to enter this Sanctuary.
I want to challenge each that is here tonight to do the same.
Take the time to set aside on Sunday nights to seek a renewal, understanding how Satan has used (and will continue to use) religion as a means of separating people – and then ask God how we can overcome it right here at home.
I believe the nations will grow to hate the woman because of the position she has put them in – but what about us? Do we see how the woman is using us today?
Are we being dazzled or deceived?
Have we believed something that is not entirely 100% biblical?
This is the challenge of the church.
We are called to stand against what is not biblical, and what is not of God. Keep watch against the woman that you are not deceived, and if we will do that – the church will prosper and we will be victorious.
In a few weeks when we resume on Sunday nights we will look at the economic structure of the anti-Christ, and of course the final battles that will occur.
Pray
Research taken from Truthnet.org
