The Mystery of the Woman and the Beast
Revelation 17:7-18
In the previous six verses we discussed the people in whom the beast and the woman represents, but there is also an system that is involved here also in which they will command with the powers and wonders of Satan the dragon.
Here John writes about the past and present that will eventually become a future world system.
See: Vs.8 When they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is
1. The City
See: Vs.7 I will tell thee the mystery of the woman and the beast that carrieth her
See: Vs.9 The seven heads are the seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth
The description of Rome is often “The city of seven hills”
Vs.18 The woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
The indication here is easily understood in John’s day as the Roman Empire
2. The Kingdoms
See: Vs.10 There are seven kings…
Kings= Kingdoms
As you study history in the Bible you will discover that before the four major world empires there were two other minor empires (Egypt and Assyria). In considering this biblical truth lets apply it to our text.
Vs.10 five are fallen (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece)
“And one is” Roman
“And the other is not yet come…”
This is speaking of a future kingdom or world empire to come and the question would be, what is this kingdom or empire?
Mention: Rev. 13:1-3 tells us that this kingdom suffered a deadly wound, but somehow was healed or revived back into existence.
Daniel 2:36-43, 7:1-8 The description of the four major world empires
See: Rev. 17:8
Then: Rev. 17:11 we find that the eight here is actually of the seventh
See: Daniel 7:8 This eighth could be understood as the final ruler of the seventh empire which we understand to be the Roman Empire.
See: Rev. 17:12-13 These ten kings or kingdoms will be the confederation formed by the antichrist.
See: Daniel 8:24-25 They will speak against God and begin to destroy His followers
See: Rev. 17:14-16
a. They will make war against the Lamb
They will find out that the Lamb is “Lord or lords, and King of kings”
b. They will only use religion as a temporary platform
Point: the intent of establishing a one world religious system is to attain world power
I am not amazed anymore of how the political system of our society uses a false religious ideology to win over the people.
See: Vs.16 The ten kingdoms will eventually do away with the false religious system
3. The Purpose of God
See: Vs.17 for God hath put in their hearts to fulfill His will…until the words of God be fulfilled.
Listen the world’s political and false religious system is to the fulfilling of God’s purpose and there will come the day when the Lord will judge the kings of this earth for rejecting Him.
See: Psalms 2:1-12
Rev. 17:14 The true servants of the Lord will not be buy into the political and religious lies of this world.
See: Acts 17:30-31 In His time everything will be brought into judgment
