A really cool young man owned a Ferrari GTO. He took it out for a spin and stopped at a stop light on the edge of town.
An old man on a moped pulled up next to him. The old man looked over at the sleek, shiny car and asked, “What kind of car ya’ got there, sonny?”
“A Ferrari GTO. It cost half a million dollars.”
“That’s a lot of money,” said the old man. “Why does it cost so much?”
“Because this car can do up to 320 miles an hour!” stated the young man proudly.
The moped driver asked, “Mind if I take a look inside?”
“No problem,” replied the owner.
So the old man leaned over the passenger side door and glanced at the instrument panel. The old man said, “That’s a pretty nice car, all right!”
Just then the light changed, and the driver decided to show the old man just what his car could do. He floored it, and within 30 seconds the speedometer read 160 miles per hour. Suddenly he noticed a dot in his rearview mirror. It was getting closer! He slowed down to see what it could be, and – Whoosh – something whipped by him going much faster.
“What on earth could be going faster than my Ferrari?” the young man said to himself. Then, ahead of him, he saw a dot coming toward him. Whoosh! It went by again, heading the opposite direction – and it looked like that old man who was on the moped.
Couldn’t be, he thought, how could a moped outrun a Ferrari?
Once more, though, he saw the dot in his rearview mirror, followed by a thud as the object crashed into the back of his car.
The young man jumped out and saw the old man lying on the pavement. He ran to him and asked, “Is there anything I can do for you?”
The old man whispered, “Unhook… my suspenders… from your side-view mirror.” (Brett Kays, Brownstown, Michigan)
The moral of this story: It is not wrong to have some of these things, but when something has hold of you, that’s when you’re in trouble.
1 John 2:17 says, “The world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
I invite you to review Revelation 17 with me, where we see what happens to those who through life connected to the world system and reject Jesus and His salvation. First, the future on earth will be…
A civilization apart from God.
The first verses of Chapter 17 show the reality of how people will respond to God while living on earth. Their response: They knew God but they did not glorify God but became futile, foolish vain and blind. (Romans 1:21)
Revelation chapter 17 has some shocking sexual language that further describes the rejection of God. This imagery is nothing new in Scripture. The use of sexual imagery to describe unfaithfulness to God has a long biblical history. One commentator (Jacob Smith) said that there are at least 76 occurrences in the OT alone where unfaithful people and even nations are called harlots. The book of Revelation also uses sexual language to describe religious infidelity of an accused woman named “Jezebel,” in the church at Thyatira. She “practiced fornication” and those that followed her committed “adultery with her” (2:20-22).
Revelation 17:1-3 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me,“Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns.
In verses 1-3 there are two main characters. The first character is a woman perverted and intoxicated with her lifestyle.
Notice more of her descriptions in the next verses…
Revelation 17:4-6 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly?
Notice in verse 5, this woman is clothed in wealth and extravagance, gold, jewels, and pearls. She is a symbol of status, power, and affluence. She has written across her forehead a name, “Babylon the great, mother of whores and of earth’s abominations.” This woman is the symbol of the epicenter of economic, religious, and political forces in the world. She is a personification of the world culture!
Allow me to explain this type of personification. The book of Revelation is using imagery of cities to convey an idea. For example, on the one hand in most places in the Scriptures Jerusalem is known as the holy city. On the other hand most places in the Scriptures, Babylon is known as the wicked city. Both cities show a profound connection to either what is right, “good” or what is wrong,“evil.”
Images of cities are still used as an expression of a society or even a nation. A simple mention of a city’s name can evoke visions of a dimension of a particular civilization. If I say “New York City” in places in the world there are people that think that’s what America is like. If I say Los Vegas to some people they think along these lines: “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. If I say San Francisco some people think of an alternate life style.
Before we move further into this chapter, let’s establish some other significant typologies in this chapter.
Notice back in verse 1, this infamous woman sits on many waters. Ahead in verse 15, it is very clear that the waters
stand for the peoples, multitudes, and nations of the whole earth. Therefore she is a personification of the people on earth. However not only are people of the world enamored with this type of governing, in verse 2 “the kings of the earth” have the same attitude to the things of God as she has.
However, in verse 3, we are told that John is carried away to the wilderness. A Bible theologian, Leon Morris said in his commentary that “the wilderness is a negation of all the city stands for, and in the wilderness, one is safe from all that the great city does. In the wilderness one can get a detachment from the city life and only then discover what city life really is.” I guess this is where people get the “off the grid” mindset!
This typology of the city of Babylon in Revelation chapter 17 is to be taken as true. Babylon is a specific expression of the people, nations and tribes of the world, under a sinful rebellious person “the beast” in the last days.
So far in verses 1-6, the woman is identified as the people in the world.
Sadly, in verse 6, notice how the people of the world permit the execution of people confessing Jesus Christ. They will not want any one opposing their agenda. The culture during these final days on earth, is that people will embrace this world system like they are in a hypnotic trance. They are “drunk” μεθύω methúō meaning that they in, a state that they are not willing to do what is right and instead embrace what is wrong.
Yet, there is one stunning statement that I don’t want you to miss in verse 6: John said when he saw her he marveled at the vision! I believe that the Apostle John was dumbfounded seeing the masses of people rejecting Jesus. Maybe these were some of his thoughts: How could it be that people will not trust God? Could it be that people cannot see past all of the attraction and deception of the world? How could it be that the world fell this far into despair?
So far the message of chapter 17 pictures a corrupt culture that exercises dominion over nations and people. However, this chapter is not simply about this woman, but a world blinded to the Beasts objectives at the end of time. Secondly we hear an angel explain these days.
An Angel Explains these last days.
In verse 7 the angel explains the sights to John. Notice carefully an important shift in the symbolism.
Revelation 17:7 But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.
The second character of Revelation 17 is the Beast with ten horns, seven heads, and covered with blasphemous names.
Both of the main characters in chapter 17 are shown using symbology. An important interpretation of this beast is found in Revelation chapter 13. In chapter 13 this beast is described with these symbols announcing Satan’s power and influence over all nations. Satan demands worship, and anyone who will not conform will be his enemy and their fate is to be murdered (17:6).
I need to share these three important observations of verses 7-14.
1. The beast is a critical figure.
2. The beast is represented as an individual.
3. The main focus is his destruction.
(notice verses 8 and 11 “ he goes into destruction”) A theological dictionary describes this destruction as eternal punishment and damnation into which a sinful and impenitent person passes after death.
What is Revelation 17 about? It’s about a world-wide culture that is fascinated with sin and opposition to Jesus Christ.
This is not speculation. This is God’s Word on what the end of the world looks like! The message is that the beast (Satan) will be bad news for people! Sadly, during the last days people will have no clue what they are getting into. Let’s look at some significant viewpoints of this passage.
Revelation 17:8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.
In verse 8 there are some remarkable thoughts imbedded in the text. Apparently, this beast has made some sort of statement of being a god because of how the world marvels and reacts to him. “marvel when they see the beast”
Note the angel’s remark concerning this beast “he was, is not and is to come”
The angel is communicating that this beast “is not” a god.
- “he was” meaning he was cast to earth for a time, (Revelation 12:7-12)
- “is not. ” meaning he will be put into the bottomless pit, (Revelation 20:3-7)
- “is to come” he will bereleased and will cause as much destruction to God’s creation and people as possible. Which is where the world is headed.
Now we come to the prophecy of rulers on the earth. In verses 9-14 where the angel interprets the seven heads and ten horns of the beast.
Revelation 17:9-10 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated. they (i.e., the seven heads) are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while.
The angels first interpretation is clear: “the seven heads” in verse 10. The angel says there “are seven kings, of whom five have fallen, one is living, and the other has not yet come” Our main interest is not the identification of these king’s ability, or power. The main focus is the culture of sin and death that prevails in the last days.
There is another statement given; “seven mountains on which the woman is seated.” The woman is seated on seven mountains to means the culture that represent multitudes of people and many nations.
Notice the symbolic use of the number “seven”. The number seven in the bible often refers to completion. In this case the completion of the end of the world. What is the end for those outside Jesus?
Revelation 17:11-12 As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.
The second interpretation of the angel is found in verse 12. “And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.” But…together, the people and Satan will end up in destruction.
Clearly this is a representation of the lost people of the world and the end. Here are a few thoughts about this vision and interpretation.
We are told that the Beast is the main ruler over all, especially the last ruler which I believe is Satan himself. Please do not get concerned about identification of the ten kings. The passage’s emphasis is on world-wide rebellion and the destruction and evil that is coming in a world without God. For together Satan and people that follow him, will make war with God and be overcome. Importantly, notice where the person who follows Satan and rejects Jesus is headed. The Greek word in verse 11 “apṓleia.” Some bibles use the word destruction or perdition. This a pure description of what hell is. A permanent place without God. The Greek word “apṓleia” means the state after death wherein exclusion from salvation is a realized fact, instead of becoming what he might have been, he is lost and ruined.
This is what Jesus will do at the end.
Jesus will Reign in those Reigning on earth.
We know who the Lamb, the Lord of lords and King of kings is Jesus.
Revelation 17:13-14 “These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with Him are called and chosen and faithful.”
There are few main thoughts left as we close out our time together:
This scene in Revelation 17 depicts the self-destructiveness of people who reject Jesus. Sin does destroy and God has already judged sin through the Lamb. All who believe and obey Jesus are redeemed and called chosen and faithful.
But the important point is that the world is not out of control. God is in control. Notice after verse 15 that this passage takes another shift. We learn that God will direct the end to His purpose.
I also want you to notice this important scene: The conquering Lamb is accompanied by those who “are called and chosen and faithful” 17:14. These are the faithful followers of the Lamb, every person who is under “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” 12:11.
Notice the rest of the world in the next verses.
Revelation 17:15-17 And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 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, 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..
There are two critical statements found in (verse 17). The first critical statement is “for God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose.” This fits with Romans 1:21; 28-32 “although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of destruction…”
The second critical statement in verse 17 “until the words of God are fulfilled…” It is best understood this way “for certain God’s Words will be fulfilled.”
The book of Revelation announces that people are going to run into trouble. Evil and sin will continue and get worse. The future of the world’s government will not head in the right direction. As verse 9 states “this calls for a mind with wisdom.”
The hope and message of the book of Revelation is that all people need to learn
to see the world as it is and know that God is in control, this is wisdom! All
people are to trust in Jesus’ provision of salvation from this world and its
consequences. We are to know that the culture of the world and all its
pleasures is coming to a self-destructive end.
Revelation 17:18 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”
To those who believe in Jesus Christ that means we know: “greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.”
Anyone who is unsure about Jesus Christ, according to the book of the Revelation, is on a path to this type of deception and destruction that we read in chapter 17.
But the exclusive terms at the end of verse 14 are special, “those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.” The words chosen and faithful are very personal. Jesus Christ came to rescue all who believe in Him from Satan and destruction.
The message of Revelation chapter 17 discloses a world-wide culture exercising dominion over the world’s population of people. This chapter is not simply about Babylon or the Beast, but a world blinded by God as a result of rejecting Jesus at the end of time, after repeated opportunities to repent.
A prominent US business man visited Argentina and was asked, “Why has South America gotten on so poorly and North America so well? What do you think is the reason?”
The businessman replied, “I think the reason is found in the fact that the Spaniards came to South America seeking gold, while the Pilgrims came to North America seeking God.” (Bible Illustrator #2131-2133; 12/1994.23)
The Book of Revelation exalts Jesus Christ and warns people against rejecting Him, because of what the world offers. In the end people will self-destruct following Satan.
Right now it may seem like we are losing ground against ungodly people and ungodly philosophy, but never forget you are on the winning team if you have trusted God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16