1. Today we may have one of the most difficult passages in the book of Revelation. We can read it over and over and still not grasp what it is that we are reading. I hope to offer you an explanation that will not only be clear but help us to understand more fully how God is working throughout history and at the consummation of this age. How all of history has a purpose and how that purpose is fulfilled.
2. Last week we looked at the woman on the beast. We described her as a harlot and a city. We saw how she probably represents the false church throughout the ages. As we continue on today we will see how her identity is closely tied in with the beast. We will look at who the beast is in greater detail. And we will see the beast turn against the woman and destroy her.
3. After calling the woman a mystery in vs. 5.we would expect the angel to further describe her. In vs. 7 the angel says that he will show the mystery of the woman and the beast. However he goes on to describe the beast. This is because the mystery or identity of the woman is found in the identity of the beast. There is one mystery that includes both of them.
4. We have already met the beast in chapters 11 and 13. We have already identified him as the antichrist, as the antichristian world-powers, especially from a political perspective.
5. Previously the beast arose out of the waters - from out of the people and nations of the earth. T- this time we read that he comes up out of the abyss. Both of these are correct. The beast finds it origin in the abyss, the kingdom of darkness or the mind of Satan. But the devil realizes his kingdom by using men top raise up this beast in the course of history. And as we read again in vs. 8, people are led to worship the beast, at least all but the saints.
6. As we consider the beast we are looking at him historically. This is not just an event at the end of time but a historical progression or development. And we are told some interesting things about the history of the beast.
7. Three times we are told that the beast once was, is not and yet will come- vs. 8, 9, 11. Since we are told this three times this must be very important. Remember the beast represents political power throughout history, in its various forms. And in its development it becomes a unified political power were all are of one mind. Hoeksema gives a reasonable explanation. He says that there was only one time that the peoples of the earth were unified. And at that time they were challenging God. That happened at Babel when they built a tower which they thought would reach to heaven. This joint effort was a manifestation of the anti-Christ or antichristian power (the beast). But God stopped this by giving them different languages and by scattering them. And so in it ultimate or highest form, the beast was and no longer is. At the time of John writing this, there was the Roman Empire, but that was a empire formed by power not by all being of one mind. And yet this unified political power will come again at the end. When the nations of the world are unified together under the reign of the beast whose image they worship. And of course, the woman, or false church, directs people to worship the beast.
8. We are also told more about the seven heads that the beast has. Some have said these heads are the hills of Rome, but that is highly unlikely. Hills or mountains are symbolic of kingdoms. And in vs. 10 we are told they are seven kings. But rather than individuals the term kings probably refers to kingdoms. The four beasts of Daniel 7 were also said to represent 4 kings although we know they were kingdoms. We are told that five of these heads, these kings or kingdoms have fallen, one is and the other has not yet come. We must remember that God institutes the governments of the world. But these governments seek absolute control and want to rule the whole world. And so these 5 kingdoms that were are manifestations of the beast seeking to set up his world government. They probably are Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia and Greece. The kingdom that is would be the kingdom that existed at the time John saw the revelation and that would be the Roman empire.
9. There is one kingdom that remains to come. And when it comes that kingdom will remain for a little while. This kingdom will show its power as separate from the other kingdoms of the earth, as did the first six. This kingdom will exist near the end time. As the kingdoms are seduced by the beast and the woman, they all become of one mind. They become a world power. But in this process, this one nation, the seventh head will dominate and be more powerful. In fact that kingdom will be used by the beast as the instrument by which he forms the world confederacy.
10. But after a little while, the other nations, indicated by the ten horns shall give or add their power to the beast, along with the seventh to form the final antichristian world power we have been talking about. That is why the angel says that the beast is the eighth king but that he belongs to the seventh. The eighth will be the full manifestation of antichristian power. But it comes out of the seventh (which represents the beast) and to whom all other powers join their force with.
11. The ten horns are these nations that will form this confederacy. Together with the beast they will rule. This confederacy is the one we saw at Armageddon. Their purpose is to give over their power and authority to the beast and to make war against the Lamb.
12. This is much to think about but it shows how Satan has been using political kingdoms for his own means and at the end he will have finally have succeeded.
13. However, throughout our passage we are given hope. In vs. 8 and 11 we are told that the beast is going to his destruction. And in verse 14 we are told that the Lamb will overcome because He is the Lord of lords and the King of kings.
14. In verses 16 we read about a great turn of events. Remember the woman is both a woman and a church. As a woman she represents the false, apostate church. But as we will see, this false church will be done away with. The end of this church will happen when there is a unification of all so-called religion. This will be the religion of the beast, but without the existence of any church as such. And the leading centre of this unchurched religion will be the city of Babylon, the woman as the church. e.g. Like we could say humanism is a religion without a church, even a false church. A religion that worships mankind.
15. In chapter 17 we see the destruction of the woman as the false church and in chapter 18 the fall of the woman as the city of Babylon. The woman had been sitting on the beast. She had an intimate relationship with the beast. The false church propagated the false teachings of the political beast and for his purpose. The false church becomes political and is more interested in the things of the world than in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Amazing how often preaching today is based on human wisdom rather than on the word of God. A church that so compromises itself to the world that it no longer is any different from the world. This is a sign of the false church. In return, as we saw last week, the false church, the harlot is rewarded by the world’s kingdoms for supporting them/
16. In verse 16 we are told that the beast and the kings of his confederacy will hate the prostitute.
Rev 17:16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
17. Why will those who slept with the woman now destroy her? Our passage says that God has put this into their heart in order to accomplish His purpose. And that purpose is the destruction of the beast and the woman. This is a first step in that destruction. Both the woman, the false church and the Kingdoms will share great power. They used each other to build up their own power. The church to gain support from the kingdoms. And the political kingdoms used the woman to lead the people to follow their ways and to worship them. But after a time the kingdoms will no longer need the woman. She will have fulfilled her role. A harlot is their only to be used for a time. And that time will be past.
18. In fact they will become jealous of her influence and power. Power corrupts and cannot be shared. After a while, one wants all the power for one’s self. That is why Satan rebelled against God in the first place. And so they utterly destroy this false church.
19. The institution, her outward manifestation will disappear. But what will remain are her teachings, her false doctrines. But instead of residing in a separate institution called the church these teachings will be blended into the world power itself. The true church had been raptured. Now the false church is no more.
20. All that is left is the antichristian kingdom. And the harlot now exists as the great city, Babylon, the capital of the kingdom. And next week we will see her destruction.
21. Again we see how the evil forces that arise against God and His true church will end up being instruments used by God to destroy themselves. We need to be aware of the forces at work in the church and in governments. I do not believe that there is always an awareness that they are being used by Satan to destroy the kingdom of God. Often they believe they are doing the right Christian thing. But they are being deceived and we need to point this out. Bt we need not to think it is our mission to destroy them. God will do that. We cannot change these institutions. But we can remain true to our God.
22. May God give us the wisdom and perseverance to be true to Him. And may we always be aware that God’s kingdom will come. Through us today as we remain true and one day in its fullness. Praise be to God!
