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“The Great Prostitute and the Scarlet Beast” Revelation 17

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“The Great Prostitute and the Scarlet Beast” Revelation 17 Sunday, September 13, 2020 “The Great Prostitute and The Scarlet Beast” Revelation 17 Idea: Humanity rides atop the Enemy in its war against God. Intro: We have been working through The Revelation for several months. Today’s message will be the thirty- first sermon in our “Get Ready” series. The title for this series comes from Revelation 1:3. There John says: Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. – Rev 1:3 We must get ready. Scripture is replete with the warning that the end of history is coming quickly. The warning is given to believers and non-believers alike. It is a call to the faithful to be ready and presentable when the Lord returns. It reminds believers they are not left alone and without hope in a world that is increasingly antagonistic toward them. It is also a warning of judgment to those who reject the gospel and war against God and His people. As we move into chapter 17, the judgment of God against evil and the idolaters of the world continues to take shape. The Revelation is structured in four visions. The first one contains the vision of Christ and His letters to the seven churches (Rev 1-3). The second vision contains the breaking of the seven seals of the scroll, the seven trumpets, and the seven bowls (Rev 4-16). The third vision, which we begin today, contains the revelation of the consummation of God’s redemptive purpose (Rev 17-21:8). Then, the fourth vision describes in detail the new Jerusalem (Rev 21:9-22:5). Let’s begin this third vision by reading through chapter 17. Read Revelation 17. Inquiry: There are three main characters in this section of the third vision. We will look at and work through the activity surrounding them in this vision. Then we will draw some application for us today as we wait for this vision to become reality. The first character is that of the great prostitute seated on many waters and seated on a scarlet beast (vs. 1, 3). 1. Babylon the Great, the harlot who seduces the nations. One of the seven angels who poured out the bowls of judgment now shows John the vision of God’s judgment against the great prostitute. In the Old Testament, the metaphor of adultery was frequently used of Israel as God’s faithless wife who had proved unfaithful by turning to false gods (Ezek 16). Here the harlot is Babylon, the symbol of human civilization with all its pomp and circumstance organized in opposition to God (vs. 18). Babylon was a mighty empire who ruled the known world. It was wealthy and powerful. Babylon spread its idolatry and immorality throughout the nations through its promise and enticement of lavish, indulgent living. This symbol of seduction and harlotry has been present in every generation. In the Old Testament it was Egypt, Babylon, and Persia. During the days of the early church, it was Rome. This rebellion and wickedness has been reproduced many times throughout history. It will consummate in a final manifestation of all the evil of godless nations at the eschaton. Babylon, Rome, and the like were all characterized by gross idolatry, immorality, and luxury. These pagan peoples chased after every idol known to man. They worshiped lifeless articles of wood, stone, and gold. They sacrificed children to demons. Their worship often involved sexually immoral acts of lewdness such as homosexuality, orgies, and pedophilia. Their immorality did not just take place behind closed doors, many times it was part of their outward worship. It was out in the public. It was celebrated in the culture. This sounds a lot like America today. They also promoted lavish lifestyles of ease, which is always alluring to people whose lives are hard. Why set your hearts on the pleasures of heaven when you can have pleasure and your passions satisfied today? The great prostitute is adorned with purple and scarlet, reflecting the splendor of her wealth and prominence (vs. 4). She is adorned with gold, jewels, and pearls. She has in her hand a golden cup, which promised the most delicious wine, but instead it was full of repulsive corruption. The allurement of wealth and luxury entice men and women away from the worship of God and into idolatry and immorality. She sets on many waters (vs. 1). This is to say, she controls the nations (vs. 15). As the mother of prostitutes, she reproduces herself among the nations, spreading her filth among the peoples of earth (vs. 5). If this wickedness were not enough, she wars against the people of God. Babylon is drunk on the blood of the saints (vs. 6). Her hatred of those who worship the Lamb and her love for evil things come from her close connection with Antichrist. The great prostitute sets atop the scarlet beast, which is the second main character in this saga. 2. The scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns. The beast is described as being scarlet in color, connecting it with its master who is Satan (12:3). He is full of blasphemous names (vs. 3). The beast does not necessarily speak blasphemous words against God. The idea is that of self-deification (13:1, 4). The Antichrist demands the worship of his subjects. He acts as if he is God. Like in chapter 13, one of the beast’s heads is killed and then resurrected (vs. 8, 11). He mimics the resurrection of Christ in order to lead the earth dwellers away from God and the gospel. He may look like Jesus, but he arises from the abyss. He arises from the realm of evil. He may look godly, but he is anything but godly. Thankfully, this beast is headed for destruction (vs. 8). This final manifestation of evil will be short-lived. His destiny is a state of final and eternal doom. Until then, however, he will control the nations (vs. 13). The great prostitute sets upon a succession of empires who lead the world into idolatry, immorality, and against God and His people (vs 9-10). They are historical Babylon, historical Rome, and at the end of the age in eschatological Babylon. The beast it seems will appear in history as the head of the seventh empire. He will be slain and arise again as the eighth head (vs. 11). Through his resurrection, the beast will cause the earth dwellers to marvel and worship him. Kings and leaders of nations will swear allegiance to him. He will give authority to ten kings who will possess it for one hour (vs. 12). During that hour they will unite behind the beast in war against the Lamb (vs. 13-14). This will be the battle at Armageddon (16:16). The war the nations and the beast bring against the Lamb introduce the third character. 3. The Lamb who conquers evil. The nations have been devastated through the trumpet and bowl judgments. Millions have been killed as a result. The people who remain all agonize and suffer the effects of those judgments. Rather than repent and turn in faith to God, they curse and war against Him. They coalesce in their rebellion and fight. In the face of such hostility and organization, the Lamb of God never wavers. John marvels at what he sees in the great prostitute and seven-headed beast, but heaven never does. The angel asked John in verse 7, “Why do you marvel?” Heaven does not stand in awe of Satan’s and humanity’s attempt to overthrow Christ. Their eyes are fixed on Jesus, their champion. He will conquer the evil ones (vs. 14). The outcome of the battle is sure. In fact, it is sure because it is the Lord who directs evil to fulfill His purpose (vs. 17). Satan has no power or ability to hurt God. He can do nothing. Therefore, he turns to hurt God’s created beings in an attempt in some small way to hurt God (vs. 16). He and the ten kings destroy Babylon. Satan has no affection for human beings. He wants to do nothing but steal, kill, and destroy them (John 10:10). Therefore, in one last vain attempt to harm God, he turns on the very ones who have followed and worshiped him to their own demise. What we see here is a vivid example of the destructive power of evil. It destroys everything around it, even itself. Throughout the scene, Jesus rules supremely. He directs the affairs and orchestrates the battles. Not one time is the Lord hampered, boxed-in, or flanked. He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings (vs. 14). The evil nations surrender their authority to the beast and war against the Lamb to their destruction because they carry out the Lord’s purposes (vs. 17). In the end, sin is destroyed and the evil are conquered. Practical Applications for Today 1) Recognize that the ever-increasing immorality of America is fueled by hell and reject it. Sin has no place in the life of a believer. The seductions of the harlot are strong. Sexual sin is great in America, but not just in American culture. It is great in the American church today. Adultery, pornography, and immorality of the kind that even lost people often reject is too often found within the church. The controversary surrounding Jerry Falwell Jr. is not an isolated situation.
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