Revelation 17:13-18
The Great Prostitute: The world and all of enemies of God The Beast: Anti-Christ The Ten Horns: Ten Kings or Kingdoms
13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast.
The Beast, the Prostitute and the ten kings all come together for one purpose, to wage war against Christ. The kings and their kingdoms give over their power to the Beast meaning that they all bend the knee and worship the Beast and follow his instructions in this battle.
14(a) They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, 14(b) and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
God does not give us a long drawn out story about this great battle. The only information God gives is Christ conquers the Beast. The reason given for Christ's victory is simple “for he is Lord of lords and King of kings” that is all the information we need to know. Everything else doesn't matter.
The last part of this verse says “ and those with him are called and chosen and faithful”. So the question is, who are these whom Christ called, who are these that Christ chose, who are these that are the faithful of Christ? They are the believers, the Christians, they are no different than you and me.
Now we know again that this will be a great battle. Satan and his flock against Christ and His flock. I can assure you that Satan's flock will prepare themselves well for this battle, you can bet on it. So the next question is what are we doing to prepare for this battle? It will be a spiritual battle as well as a physical battle.
What are some of the things we will nee for battle, let's break it up into two categories, the spiritual war and the physical war.
Spiritual war: Bible, good teaching, study and meditate on scripture, prayer
Physical war: training, the tools of war guns, bullets, knives, swords etc.
In Luke 22:35-38 ~ And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” 36 He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” 38 And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”
Jesus is not against the sword, yes it is a tool for protection and war but still Jesus sees the need for tools such as these because Jesus knows that is how Satan fights at times. Satan fights as well both a spiritual battle and a physical one so we must prepare for both.
Now if scripture says no one knows the time and place how do we know when to get ready? We should always be ready.
The faithful will be ready both spiritually and physically at all times. Those who are not faithful fall back into Revelation three I think, the lukewarm, those who do not love Jesus enough to be prepared. They just go through the motions, they look like believers maybe on the outside but the heart and mind are not in the game.
15 And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16 And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire,
Satan and the Beast in the end will turn on those unbelievers who followed them. The fact is Satan doesn't care about anyone, he doesn't love anyone, he doesn't have mercy and grace for his followers. Satan is a user of people to serve his own purpose and then he cares nothing about them when he is done with them and discards them like garbage.
That's what unbelievers get not being a part of Christ's flock, they get used and abused by Satan.
Scripture says you will have a master either Satan or Christ. Unbelievers may think that Satan isn't their master but scripture says otherwise.
17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
Now this is another interesting piece of scripture. Who put it into the unbelievers hearts to carry out the will of Satan? God It says, this was all for God's purpose. Got put into unbelievers hearts a desire to serve and follow Satan until God's plan was fulfilled.
How do you feel about that? Why would God do this?
18 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”
This great city has developed over time, it will became the hub of power during these times, as things progressed this evil city was I think the last stand for the last great battle. We can only speculate on which city it is.
