sign in sign up
<<
Home , The Sheep and the Goats

1 Schedule Slide

2 3 Clip.8 – Luther.Here.I.Stand

4 Before we begin our study of the sixth vision it would be good to note the change in the final sections of Revelation. Whereas the previous five visions have been laid out in a fairly distinct pattern of repetition, the remaining sections focus more on specific parts of what John has previously seen. Our study will also transition at this point to reflect this change. Now we will spend less time identifying the symbols and devote more time to the activity John witnesses. This format will also allow for more discussion/application of the events described. Once more let’s remind ourselves that we are still dealing with a vision. What John now sees is not meant to be a literal chronological time-line of events in history so we will need to be careful not to try to attach specifics to the symbols (this will become clearer especially in the latter part of the first section of this vision).

5 Transition – 1> Revelation 17: 1 one of the seven angels = This is one of the angels from the previous vision of the . We do not know which one of the seven, but now this angel is more of John’s “tour guide” through this vision. This introduction also verifies that we have moved on to the next vision. This transition is not quite the same as the fade technique used in previous transitions but is still an effective identifier that what John is about to witness is not something new in content but rather different in perspective.

2> Revelation 17:1 the great prostitute = There is a play on symbols here. It has to do with the symbol of the woman. In chapter 12 (the first sub-vision) we were introduced to a woman who gave birth to the Son. There we identified that woman as the true church which would spread the Gospel. Now we have another woman who is just the opposite. She attempts to imitate the true Church but is an imposter. She is not the bride of Christ but rather a prostitute. This is a symbol of the false church, the ungodly portion of the visible church on earth through the New Testament era. In this section she is also identified as Babylon. In chapter 14:8 we were introduced to the concept of Babylon and the language of sexual immorality and drunkenness. The concept of Babylon draws on the idolatry and ungodliness of Israel, making what the prostitute has to offer a symbol of apostasy and false teachers/teachings.

6 The cooperation of the great prostitute, the false church, with the kings of the earth, civil governments, is exactly what John had seen in the vision of the seven sub-visions. There he witnessed how the guided the two beasts (government and the ) to work closely together with each other. From the previous vision we know that the woman sitting on the waters (Babylon) is the false church’s influence, under the direction of the antiChrist, as she works with civil authorities. The names prominently displayed on the woman’s head show the false church’s pride in not only fighting against Christ Himself, but in spawning so many of the evil temptations against Christ’s true Church (previously this had been displayed as the and the slaughter of the saints).

3> Revelation 17:3 into the desert = How John saw these things would be better translated with the small “s” - spirit. He did not physically leave this vision and go to another one. His context is still heaven and now he is simply shown a vision within this vision (a technique that we had learned God used with Daniel). In “the desert” John gets a closer look at the false church – it would rule in, with and through civil governments (sitting on a scarlet beast), it would appear as royalty (scarlet and purple), and it would become rich through her deceptions (gold, precious stones and pearls). Her golden cup is the instrument through which she offers her false teachings to the world. False teaching often look as if they are valuable and satisfying, but in the end they are deadly poison.

Discussion: What teaching of the false church is accepted and promoted by worldly governments (the most basic of all false teachings)? Answer: (This will be discussed again in slide 15).

6 1> Revelation 17:6 the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints = John once again sees the effects of ’s evil agents and their persecution of the true Church. He witnesses the devastating effects when part of the visible church becomes adulterated with false teachings and false teachers. Even though John had seen this all before it still blows him away to realize just how effectively satan uses the false portion of the visible church to attack the true portion of Christ’s church. But each of these scenes is meant to set the context to fulfill the purpose of this sixth vision as established in the opening verse of this vision (17:1): “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute.”

2> Revelation 17:7 I will explain to you the mystery = Once again we encounter a device that we became very familiar with in Daniel’s visions. The explanation to the symbols of what John sees is given within the vision itself. And much like we saw in Daniel’s visions the explanation is as difficult to understand as what it is explaining. The reason for our struggle is because the explanation is a vision within a vision and the figurative nature of the symbols is doubled. Interpreters often forget this fact and it is at this point many of them try too hard to equate literal events with the symbols of the vision.

7 3> Revelation 17:8 , because he once was, now is not, and yet will come = It is at this point I would prefer to depart from even some of the more well-known interpretations, even from our own fellowship and circle of pastors. I do not mean to say their interpretations are wrong. It is simply a matter of most interpretations attempting to over-explain what John sees. The decision to go with a simpler interpretation is primarily based on our study of Daniel and the trouble one gets into by working too hard to connect actual historic events with the symbols of his visions. Another reason to avoid a complicated interpretation has to do with the mountain effect we have learned about with these visions. At this point , through one of the angels of the seven bowls, has John standing smack dab in the middle of the mountain range. Many of the things that John has previously seen begin to “blend together”. An example of this would be the term for the beast described in this section. While it clearly defines the work of the antiChrist as the false church effectively persecutes the true Church, the symbol of the beast is based on a combination of many things we have seen in the previous visions. The beast from the Abyss (chapter 12 sub-vision number one) is now combined with the beast of the sea (chapter 12 sub-vision number two) and the beast of the land (chapter 12 sub-vision number three). It clearly is a representation of the devil working through the antiChrist cooperating with civil authorities. John is now so close to the mountains, and they tower around and above him, that it is difficult from a human perspective to clearly define each mountain. In Biblical translating as well as in interpretation there is a general rule that the simpler explanation is usually the correct one. That is the case here. Jesus is not attempting to define specific historic events where, at times, the antiChrist is winning the battle (he once was), where he is losing the battle (now is not), and will once again appear to be winning (and yet will come). This section is a description of the ebb and flow of persecution that will take place throughout the New Testament era. This more simplistic approach becomes important in the following verses. As an example of how confusing an overly complicated interpretation can become, I should tell you that the two most knowledgeable resources I have been using (Becker’s book on Revelation and Mueller’s book of the People’s Bible on Revelation) do not agree with each other at this point. Since even these two experts on the part ways here, it is obvious that if we now over-define the vision we will be robbed of the very comfort this vision was intended to offer. Instead of trying to “count kingdoms” and figure out where we are at chronologically in this vision, it seems wiser to simply look at it as a whole picture and know that in the end Christ’s true Church (the invisible Christian Church) is victorious.

7 1> Revelation 17:9 this calls for a mind with wisdom = There is an old saying… “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”. Based on this vision’s perspective it is obvious the angel is attempting to quiet John’s fears from what he is witnessing. To do this the angel, in this section, is offering several different illustrations to help John understand what’s going on. Personally I very much understand this format of teaching because when I am trying to explain deep Scriptural concepts to students I often tend to use several illustrations. I will use two or three different pictures of the same thing to attempt to make the point clearer. The angel is simply showing John, by means of several descriptions, that there is no need for worry or fear. The angel shows John the outcome – victory of the Lamb and the true saints.

2> Revelation 17:9 seven heads… seven hills = This, and the other descriptive phrases like this in this section, are the reason for the simpler and more general interpretation. Some interpreters read these words and begin attaching literal places and events to the vision language (making for a very complicated interpretation that gets itself into trouble). For instance, some speak about Rome being built on seven hills so then they decide this must be a reference to the city of Rome (sometimes even referred to as Babylon). Others attempt to attach this description to the city of Jerusalem where the false church really began. That interpretation too is made by claiming

8 Jerusalem is built on seven hills. Also, the section speaking about the seven heads are then correlated to seven historic kings based on five kingdoms that conquered Israel in the Old Testament. Then Rome is made to equal the sixth head and the seventh head, a seventh kingdom, is undefined as some future political power. But the problem with attaching specifics to the symbols is that for every interpretation that can logically lay out historic equivalents to the seven hills, the heads, and then the ten horns of the next section, there are just as many logical counter-arguments that make just as good of a case for any number of alternative explanations. It is far more preferable to interpret these numbers, and the symbols to which they are attached, in the same way Revelation has been using numeric designations to this point (we found the same thing to be true in our study of Daniel). When we interpret in the same fashion as we have been doing up to this point, then these are the things that John is seeing and this vision clearly describes for us: A> Of the previous visions we have seen so far this one seems to mirror most closely the vision of the seven sub-visions (unit 5). B> The beast/dragon from the Abyss is the devil and he uses/controls the two other beasts (the civil authorities and the antiChrist) to persecute and attack Christ’s true Church. C> The ten horns are representative of civil governments working in cooperation with the false church as directed by the antiChrist. D> The seven heads (and then the 8th) represent the office of the antiChrist, which through time appears to have less and more control. The office is passed on from one antiChrist to another throughout the New Testament. E> The visions have fit very well with the pattern of Jesus’ end-times prophecy in . This section coordinates with Christ’s warning in verses 23-25: At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time. F> The numbers of this section serve two purposes – they reveal the attempt by the false church, primarily the antiChrist, to continue to masquerade as the true Church and as Christ Himself. While the antiChrist is able to deceive many, the numbers suggest his deception is for a limited amount of time (one hour) and a limited amount of people (those who are not called, chosen and faithful followers).

Finally, seeing this section in a simpler, more general, big picture kind of way

8 works far better when we get to the next section describing what happens to the woman, the false church.

8 1> Revelation 17:17 to accomplish his purpose = It is at this point in the vision where the over-definition by some interpreters falls flat. John sees that at a certain point in the New Testament this marriage made in hell, the cooperation between the antiChrist and civil authorities, is going to go through a divorce. Though for a long time the devil effectively uses both beasts to persecute Christ’s Church, it is part of God’s purpose that eventually governments will even turn against the false church (verse 16 hate the prostitute… bring her to ruin and leave her naked… eat her flesh and burn her with fire). When the interpretation is left more general we see God’s comfort more clearly. John is shown just how important it is that the saints of the true Church not attempt to find comfort in being able to predict where in the New Testament era they might find themselves. Christ’s true Church is not to attempt to find comfort in human institutions such as by electing certain governmental officials or passing laws that facilitate morality but get in the way of the Gospel. It is far better to come to grips with the reality that governments will serve the devil, parts of the visible church will become corrupt, and persecution will be a reality until Judgment Day. But that said, God has a plan and He is working it to perfection – not to make our lives so comfortable here, but to cause us to long for our heavenly home which He has already secured and guaranteed to us.

9 For this discussion it is valuable to consider just how often Scripture uses the illustration between faithful God and His people as a husband and a wife, as a bridegroom and a bride. Just a few examples would be…

The book of Hosea and his unfaithful wife Gomer. The of the ten virgins (:1-13). Wives & husbands (Ephesians 5:22-33).

10 1> Revelation 18:1 I saw = John’s vision within this main vision continues. Now he sees another one of God’s good angels begin the work of rescuing the saints and condemning the false church. As before, this section mirrors what we saw in the vision of the seven bowls. Now John sees a more detailed description of the seven bowls vision where God brought to bear His judgment against the general wickedness of mankind but also specific judgment against the false church. John’s perspective in this section is the same as before, he is in the midst of several tall mountains attempting to get a clearer view of what is going on, especially as Judgment Day draws closer.

2> Revelation 18:2 Fallen is Babylon = Now the vision draws on the imagery of the Old Testament example of Judah’s 70 year captivity coming to its end and the eventual downfall of Babylon. The once proud, strong city/nation eventually became little more than ruins. This imagery pictures the downfall of the prostitute, the false church. Though for a time she was able to deceive many and persecute the Church with the help of civil authorities, eventually her power fades and the world realizes she has nothing of value to offer.

11 1> Revelation 18:4 Come out of her = The next section finds its greatest fulfillment on Judgment Day itself. We were witness to this progression of judgment in the previous vision of the seven bowls. We have also seen again and again how the sequence of judgment events follow the description of Jesus’ parable of the sheep and the goats of Matthew 25.

2> Revelation 18:7she boasts = The false church does not see herself as the false church. There is always a level of arrogance when human reason and morality replaces God’s divine standard of truth. Now, along with John, the members of the true church hear a warning not to get caught up or swept along with the adulteries of the false church in the days leading up to Judgment Day. We have, on several occasions, reminded ourselves of the warnings Jesus gave throughout His New Testament that while we are secure in our salvation, faith is not something to be taken for granted. To that end, if time permits, it might be valuable to have a discussion on the following passages and the truths they represent to God’s children:

Isaiah 52:11 - Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the vessels of the LORD. Matthew 7:15-16 - “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s

12 clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them.” Romans 16:17-18 - I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.

Some questions for discussion: 1> How important is it to practice proper Christian fellowship (that is not joining in worship or mixing ministries with those who are not orthodox in their teachings)?

2> How important is it to practice proper Church discipline when we are aware of Christians who are caught in sin without regard for their eternal salvation?

3> How important is it that as we take care not to open ourselves up to false teachings or false teachers that we avoid legalism and self-righteousness (even if certain forms of it are approved of by certain sectors of the visible church)?

12 1> Revelation 18:10 your doom has come = This section now reaches the parallel point of the seven bowls relating Judgment Day events. When the end finally comes (in one hour your doom has come) the world will mourn along with the false church. Not only will those who have been mislead by the antiChrist and the false church realize they have been deceived, but all the things they thought were of value they will discover are truly worthless (cf. Matthew 7:21-23 - “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’). The illustration used to help John see how this will occur is that of worldly merchants approaching the city of Babylon hoping to still do business there and continue building their worldly wealth. But as they approach they realize she has been destroyed and now the things they had been selling are just as valueless as she is. This same illustration is often used in Scripture where non-Christians come to learn what is truly valuable come the moment of judgment. (cf. the in Luke 12:13-21 and the admonition to early Christians in James 4:13-17).

13 As the vision continues John witnesses more and more of God’s judgment against the false church and those who followed her lies. This section brings up an interesting question... will God judge so harshly those who in the false church were deceived by the antiChrist? And, will God judge so harshly those in the world who were deceived by the false church? The same question could be asked of the original people upon whom the symbol of this section is based – Babylon. In the Old Testament God warned His people that if they did not repent and they did not keep themselves pure from idolatry then He would allow them to be taken into captivity to discipline and correct them. Of course they did not, and so God used nations like Babylon as His means to carry out His discipline. But then God turned around and punished the captive nations for their part in harassing and harming His chosen people. Humanly speaking it hardly seems fair, after all, Babylon was a pagan nation. They were not given the truth the way Israel had it given to her. But what most people miss is the grace of God in having Judah held captive in Babylon. That was their opportunity to hear the truth. And some of them actually did listen and were saved (i.e. the ancestors of the magi who later came to honor the Savior). But what about all the others? From a human perspective it seems unfair for people who were introduced to a false gospel, or were kept from the truth, to receive such harsh judgment – eternal damnation. Is God’s just judgment against not only the false church, but also

14 the non-Christian world, fair?

Before you answer it might be of value to read through and discuss Romans 1:18-32: The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities— his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

14 1> Revelation 18:21 never… again = The progression within this section of the vision is now complete. Just as in the vision of the seven bowls what began as God’s just judgment in the time of the New Testament has now reached its conclusion with the final Judgment. As the vision of the bowls clearly indicated, so also here God’s judgment is shown to be complete and final on one single day.

2> Revelation 18:23 By your magic spell all the nations were led astray = Now John sees how this vision has come full circle. The very cooperation of the antiChrist with civil authorities is what has caused both their downfall and has brought about God’s just judgment. What appeals to both “beasts” is the magic spell that somehow man can do something to save himself or get himself back to paradise (Eden). Though governments reject religion, they are the biggest promoters of the false religion of the antiChrist. For discussion sake it might be worthwhile to view this reality from the paradigm of some of our present situations. Can you identify the self-righteous and false religious nature of certain political and social movements of today?

1> Political correctness:

15

2> Saving the planet (global warming):

3> Animal rights:

4> Abortion:

5> Freedom from religion:

6> Evolution:

15 Transition – 1> Revelation 19:1 After this = We have transitioned from the fall of Babylon, God’s judgment of the false church (the antiChrist) and all those he has deceived to the triumph of the true Church and the saints who have endured the prostitute’s evil ways. This, like the many times before, is a Judgment Day event where we witness the beginning of our heavenly celebration. (Please forgive the smallness of the font size – it is important to keep all these events of this celebration together as a unit).

2> Revelation 19:10 At this I fell = This section of praise at the throne of God requires very little interpretation or explanation. Not only have we seen this several times before, but the words of the song are self-explanatory. However, there is an interesting interaction at the end of this section. We will come across this again in chapter 22. John is so moved by what he sees he feels compelled to bow down and worship the angel whom God had chosen to show John all these wonderful sights. God’s purpose of revealing all this to John is coming to fruition. John is able to look past all the difficult times of the New Testament and receive the comfort God intended. But even such joy does not permit the angel to claim any of God’s glory. He commands John not to bow down to him. He reminds

16 John that he too is a created being of God and a fellow servant along with all the saints, though of a different nature. He reminds John that none of what he sees is possible without the testimony of Jesus and all He did to make these words come true.

16 1> Revelation 19:11 white horse = This is NOT the same white horse of the second vision (the ). Not only is the time sequence in this vision different from that vision, but this rider has a completely different name and purpose. This is Jesus Christ who is judge of the world – the one who delivers the victory which leads to the celebration of the saints. Every descriptive feature of Jesus in this section we have viewed in the previous visions. But there is one thing we ought to note, even on the day of Judgment, even as eternity begins, even as all the saints celebrate, it is Jesus’ Word that makes all this possible. The very thing God used to bring life and this world into existence is the same thing He uses to judge His creation and bring this world to its conclusion.

17 1> Revelation 19:18 you may eat = This is a fairly graphic description of judgment against all those who opposed Jesus and His word, but remember this is a vision. This is one of the many ways in which Jesus shows John that His Judgment takes place on a single day and that it is final.

2> Revelation 19:19 Then I saw the beast = The best way to understand the concluding portions of this vision is to go back to the previous unit and reread the section on . This is yet another description that the world does not end in a huge apocalyptic war between the forces of earth and the church, but is in fact the final Judgment. This not only perfectly correlates with what has been presented in previous visions, but also with Jesus’ parable of the sheep and the goats (cf. sequence of Judgment events provided as extra materials in the original lesson).

18 19 20