Podcast Episode 29 (Condensed)
Happy New Year! Welcome back to Wytinsea Writes. We’re here with a new blog on Revelation 17. I hope that you enjoyed your holiday season and found joy in spending it with the people you love. I’m excited to be back. It’s a new month. It’s a new year. It’s a new opportunity to grow closer to God. We’re so close to be being done with our studies on the book of Revelation. For the times that are ahead, we’re going to need studies like these to refer to for preparation and encouragement. Our nation is headed in a direction that needs more studies on the book of Revelation. Contrary to popular belief, we’re living in the last days.
So, if you’re new to my blog, I encourage you to start with Revelation 1. The blog, YouTube, and podcast version is available. If you missed last month’s bible study, click here to read or listen to Revelation 16.
John the Revelator has been caught up in the spirit. The Lord is showing him great and mighty things through prophetic visions. Up until this point, there has been a lot of turmoil, chaos, judgement, and wrath of God being released upon the earth. And it will only continue until God’s judgement is complete.
Let’s begin. Revelation 17:1-2 NLT states, “One of the seven angels who had poured out the seven bowls came over and spoke to me. “Come with me,” he said, “and I will show you the judgment that is going to come on the great prostitute, who rules over many waters. 2 The kings of the world have committed adultery with her, and the people who belong to this world have been made drunk by the wine of her immorality.”
In these verses, we don’t know who the specific angel is, but the angel’s invitation is to show John this evil, symbolic figure sometimes known as “The Whore of Babylon”. The waters that this prostitute is seated on really represents people, nations, languages, and etc. Judgement is about to fall upon these wicked beings.
As the scripture continues, verses 3-6 says, “So the angel took me in the Spirit into the wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that had seven heads and ten horns, and blasphemies against God were written all over it. 4 The woman wore purple and scarlet clothing and beautiful jewelry made of gold and precious gems and pearls. In her hand she held a gold goblet full of obscenities and the impurities of her immorality. 5 A mysterious name was written on her forehead: “Babylon the Great, Mother of All Prostitutes and Obscenities in the World.” 6 I could see that she was drunk—drunk with the blood of God’s holy people who were witnesses for Jesus. I stared at her in complete amazement.”
So, John has been called to watch this wicked beast. This particular beast is the ruler and leader of the Antichrist and all those with the Antichrist spirit (1 John 4:3).
The pearls and jewelry that this great prostitute is wearing symbolizes the wealth and powerful status of Babylon. This means that many people support it, follow it, and uplift this corruption in the world.
Remember, the history of Babylon dates to Noah’s descendants (Genesis 11:1-9). The people of Babel were rebellious and disobedient to God (Genesis 9:1). Babylon is known for its idolatry and blasphemy. Therefore, whenever Babylon is mentioned in the bible it represents these sorts of acts and terrible behaviors (read Ezekiel 8:14, Jeremiah 7:18, and Jeremiah 44:17-19).
Hatred for the true gospel will run rampant in these last days. It is still happening today. Christians have been persecuted for their loyalty and belief in God. Therefore, the prostitute “drinking the blood of God’s people” signifies that Babylon tries to destroy those who have faith in Jesus. There are people who worship God (people who carry the Babylonian or Great Prostitute spirit hates these type of people) and those who worships the beast (those with the Great Prostitute and Babylonian spirit love these type of people).
Today, our world is divided with people who are against the gospel, for the gospel, and lukewarm. The ones who are for the gospel and live by it belongs to God and those who don’t belong to Satan (John 10:1-9 & John 15:19).
As Revelation 17:7-10 continues, it states, “Why are you so amazed?” the angel asked. “I will tell you the mystery of this woman and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns on which she sits. 8 The beast you saw was once alive but isn’t now. And yet he will soon come up out of the bottomless pit and go to eternal destruction. And the people who belong to this world, whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made, will be amazed at the reappearance of this beast who had died. 9 “This calls for a mind with understanding: The seven heads of the beast represent the seven hills where the woman rules. They also represent seven kings. 10 Five kings have already fallen, the sixth now reigns, and the seventh is yet to come, but his reign will be brief.”
People will be amazed at the beast’s revival of life. People will think the beast is miraculous or powerful. The only way people will believe this is if they have no discerning spirit. Today, many people lack a discerning spirit which causes them to fall for the okey doke, stumble, and be misled. We don’t know the exact hills or kings. But during the tribulation period, the beast arises as a strong political leader who deceives people into thinking he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
Several theologians, preachers, and other people studying the bible have proposed their beliefs on who the Great Prostitute represents, the exact location, and etc. We don’t know and we shouldn’t allow differing opinions on that to cause division or strife because the truth is that the bible doesn’t tell us exactly.
Now, as the chapter continues, verses 11-15 states, “The scarlet beast that was, but is no longer, is the eighth king. He is like the other seven, and he, too, is headed for destruction. 12 The ten horns of the beast are ten kings who have not yet risen to power. They will be appointed to their kingdoms for one brief moment to reign with the beast. 13 They will all agree to give him their power and authority. 14 Together they will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him.”
Many scholars and theologians believe that the eighth king is the Antichrist or the Roman Empire. The fact is that it is “headed for destruction” which meaning nothing good is coming his way. No one has ever knocked God off his throne. Therefore, Satan and everyone empowered by Satan to go against God will be defeated once and for all. They will lose the battle against Jesus and His army. No one can or will ever win a battle against God.
Some people may wonder why the Great Prostitute, Antichrist, beasts, religious people, kings, and etc. show so much hostility and rebellion against God? Well, that is because they are all empowered by Satan. They live by a false doctrine. They do not believe in submission to God only submission to the world and evilness. Those behaviors go against God’s word, so they go against God and His people in return.
Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He will carry this wonderful title on His robe when He shut down the enemy by defeating all who works for the devil once and for all (Revelation 19:16 & Revelation 17:14). We can praise God right there for the victory that is already won.
Towards the end of the chapter, verses 15-18 states, “Then the angel said to me, “The waters where the prostitute is ruling represent masses of people of every nation and language. 16 The scarlet beast and his ten horns all hate the prostitute. They will strip her naked, eat her flesh, and burn her remains with fire. 17 For God has put a plan into their minds, a plan that will carry out His purposes. They will agree to give their authority to the scarlet beast, and so the words of God will be fulfilled. 18 And this woman you saw in your vision represents the great city that rules over the kings of the world.”
The Great Prostitute’s evil religious system includes false doctrine all over the world. In 1 Timothy 4:1-2, Paul made it clear that many people would depart from their faith and give in to Satan’s tactics, teachings, and deceitfulness. The end times will expose many people who depart from their faith to follow Satan (the world). There are powerful, political leaders who will carry the Antichrist spirit. Although God delays His judgement for period, He will not delay it forever.
He used Pharoah to showcase His glory and power with the Red Sea (Exodus 14) just like He will use the kings and beast to reveal His glory and dominion when He judges them. The prostitute has great power over the kings of the earth, but not more power than God. On the other hand, Babylon was famous for its idolatry worship (Daniel 1, 3, and 5) and Jeremiah 50:1-2. The day that God judges Babylon, her great power will end. The Great Prostitute represents those who refuse to repent, reject God’s Word, loves to sin, and enjoys rebelling against God. The message of this chapter is that the day is coming when God will punish those who carry the Babylonian spirit.
This chapter is a warning and anytime God warns us, He demonstrates His love for us. We are being warned against spiritual adultery and reliance on earthly systems. This bible study highlights God’s final judgment on evil.
God loves us and He wants a relationship with us. John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Therefore, God loves all His creations, but all His creations do not love Him back. Because of this, some people choose to do wicked things and live sinful, dangerous lives (like those with the Babylonian spirit).
Hebrews 12:6 reminds us that God chastises those He love. That means, God corrects and disciplines those He love. The good news is that if you respond to the chastisement with repentance, you won’t experience God’s wrath upon your life. Our reward is great.
But those who reject the chastisement of God will be doomed and sent to eternal damnation (Luke 13:3). Therefore, take heed to this chapter and the specificity of what will cause the Great Prostitute (representing evil, unrepented sinners) to experience the wrath and judgment of God.
Don’t let this be your story. Don’t be deceived. Cling to the Word of God and the instructions of the bible on how to live. We’re not perfect and we fall short (Romans 3:23). But when we fall short, we have to get back up again. We have to repent with a true heart (1 John 1:9). God sent His son Jesus to die for us, despite us being sinners (Romans 5:8).
I pray that this bible study has served as a warning for you. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” Therefore, we all must stand before God concerning the way we lived, our lifestyle choices, and all other decisions we made. Now is the time to repent. Now is the time to get it right with God. Don’t wait another day or hour to turn to God. I urge you to do it now. Today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2), meaning today is the perfect day to embrace God’s grace and forgiveness through surrendering, repenting, and dedicating your life to God.
If you’re reading this and you don’t know the Lord, repeat after me:
Dear Lord, I confess my sins and acknowledge my failings before You. I am truly sorry for all of my sins. I repent of all of my sins. I ask for Your mercy, as promised in your Word. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Remove the guilt and wash me clean. Help me turn away from my old ways and sins live according to Your truth. I surrender it all to you today. I lay everything at your feet today. I believe that Jesus died for my sins on the cross and rose on the third day.I want to live for you, please you, and spend eternity with you. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you said this prayer, I believe that the angels are rejoicing at your decision to dedicate or rededicate your life to God (Luke 15:7). When I rededicated my life to God 8 years ago, it sparked a new beginning for me. God cleansed my soul, purged out all my iniquities, and delivered me from a lifestyle of sin. If He did it for me, He can certainly do it for you too. Welcome to the family (for the first time or again), I pray many blessings over your life. I encourage you to share this blog with someone you love. It could change or save a life. Until next time with, Wytinsea Writes!
