Revelation 17:12-18

Turn with me to the book of Revelation chapter 17. I’m going to read verses 7 through 18. Our focus is going to be on verses 12 through 18 this morning. Revelation chapter 17, beginning with verse 7, and the angel said unto me, wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman of the beast that carieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horn. The beast that thou sawst was and is not and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition. And they who dwell on the earth shall wonder whose names were not written in the book of life and the foundation of the world when they behold the beast that was and is not and yet is. And here is the mind which hath wisdom. the seven heads are the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitteth and there are seven kings five are fallen one is and the other is not yet come when he cometh he must continue a short space and the beast it was and is not even he is the eighth and is of the seven and goeth into perdition. The ten horns which thou sawst are ten kings which have received no kingdom as yet, but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind and shall give their power and strength under the beast. These shall make war with the lamb, and the lamb shall overcome them. For he is Lord of Lords, and king of kings, and they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful. And he saith unto me, the waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked and make her desolate. shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will and to agree and give their kingdom unto the beast until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman which thou sawst is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth. May God bless to us His sacred and holy words. this morning. Now, we deal with revelation sometimes, as I said last week, it’s sort of like plowing snow. We have to go over the same ground sometimes in order to clear all the snow away. We’re trying to clear away some of the difficulty in some of these passages. We have the vision of the Great Harlot in chapter 17, verses 1 to 6. The second part of the chapter is the mystery of the harlot explained in verses 7 through 18. Now we talked last week about the recovery of the beast. It was a difficult passage, verses 8 to 11. Briefly, we will go over this. There’s a cause to wonder as verse 8 speaks above. The ungodly marvel at a second cut recovery of the beast. this time after the death of Nero Caesar. This recovery is related to the emperor Vespasian, who is an eighth head, according to verse 11. And Vespascian brought the Roman Empire back from the brink of destruction, from a chaotic state, the brink of disaster near collapse with civil wars and vying for power. forth. But we see that Satan is still going to use the Roman Empire to persecute the church. And thus it is said to come out of the bottomless pit. But the church is assured of the Roman Empire’s final destruction by God because it goes into perdition. Then we looked at the heads of the beast in verses 9 through 11. The text provides both a geographical identification. They are seven mountains on which Rome sits. And a historical identification, the first seven Caesars. Five are fallen. We said that was Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar, Tiberius Caesar, Caligula Caesar, Claudius Caesar. The one that is is the Nero Caesar. And then Gauv, the one that is, well, John writes. is Nero Caesar. And then Galva Caesar is the one that has not yet come that will only last for a short time, like six or seven months. We talked about the two interlopers, Otho and Vitalius, who reigned only eight months combined, and the Bible sort of discards them as being true emperors. The true eighth Caesar, we’re told here, is Vespasian, who recovered. the empire, which is mentioned, as we said, in verse 8. Now that takes us to the battle with the Lamb, and verses 12 to 14 here in our text. The ten horns give their power under the beast. We see that in verses 12 and 13. The ten horns, which thou saw us, are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet, but receive powers kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and she’ll give their power and strength under the beast. We’ve talked about this in the past, that the ten horns represent here. Kings are really rulers of the ten provinces of the Roman Empire. They have no kingdom of their own, really, because they do not have. absolute power. Caesar has the absolute power. The way the structure of the Roman Empire is. The horns had local rule in their own provinces. They’re sort of like governors of our states. But then you have the federal, like the Caesar and Rome that governed as well. However, they submitted to the authority of the emperor who held the true power. He was the supreme power of the land. During the year of the four emperors, there was great division. There was rebellion that broke out throughout the empire. There were various generals from the various provinces who wanted to take control, and so there was this uproar. With the rise of Vespascian, however, which we saw in verse 11, that is mentioned to us. This is still prophecy here because it has not happened as of this point in John’s Day. But this is what’s going to happen. But with the rise of Nero’s demise and the rise of Vespasian, the provinces all eventually gave their power to the beast and submitted to the new emperor. So the ten horns have authority to rule over the provinces of the Roman Empire. It’s a short time that they share. the reigns of power with the beast who has the supreme power. Now, united behind Vespasian are these provinces so that they are of one mind. They gave their power and support to him. The Bible talks about their strength here in verse 13. They gave their power and strength under the beast. Here we might think about their military support. and their armies work with this passion. Then we see the victory of the Lamb in verse 14. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the land shall overcome them, for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings, and they there with him are called and chosen and faithful. Now, one of the purposes of giving authority and military support to the emperor was to destroy Judaism, Jerusalem, verse 16. But as a side issue with regard to this, they are also, they want to destroy along with it, Christianity, because they looked at Christianity as an offshoot of Judaism. Solpidius Severus, a Roman historian, relates the mindset of the Romans in his history, the sacred history that he had wrote. Titus is said after calling a council to first deliberated whether he should destroy the temple, a structure of such extraordinary work, for it seemed good to some that a sacred edifice edifice distinguished above all human achievements ought not to be destroyed, and as much as if preserved, it would furnish in evidence of Roman moderation. But if destroyed, would serve for a perpetual proof of Roman cruelty. But on the opposite side, others, and Titus himself, thought the temple ought specially to be overthrown, in order that the religion of the Jews and of the Christians might more thoroughly be subverted. For that these religions, religions, although contrary to each other, had nevertheless proceeded from the same authors, that the Christians had sprung up from among the Jews, and that if the root were extirpated, the offshoot would speedily perish. So they were looking at getting rid of both of them, and so our text actually talks about war against the Lamb, the kingdom of God, and their desire to just. destroy Judaism. However, in fighting against the church, what they perhaps do not recognize, but they should, is they’re fighting against the land. They’re fighting against the exalted Christ. So Christian were viewed as traitors, you recall. We looked at this in chapter 13, enemies of Rome because they would not submit to the worship of the emperor. and so all the provinces of the empire are united to eradicate Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. So in this massive conflict, you are assured that the lamb and his army are going to be victorious over their enemies. And we’ll get to looking at this in more detail in chapter 19 when we feed you the beast destroyed and his army. false prophet. But Jesus Christ is the Lord of Lords. He is the king of kings. He rules over all with complete authority. And as mighty as the Roman Caesars and the rulers were, they must answer to him. Christ’s army, we’re told, is composed of people who are, effectually called, out of the world in United to Christ, Christ, so that they are as separate people. from the world. They are eternally chosen by God unto salvation, and thus are Christ’s special people. Their names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life from the foundation of the world. And they are enduringly faithful to Christ, even unto death, if necessary, as Chapter 2 and verse 10 mentions. So we have the battle here with the Lamb. The Ten horns give their power under the beast and we have the victory of the Lamb. Any questions on this section? Yes, Ross. I agree. Keith. Maybe you already explained about that, but I missed it. With the Ten Kings being the rulers of the provinces, why does it say they’ve received no kingdom as yet, indicating as it, you know, like a time indication that they would receive a kingdom in the future? I can’t answer that question. specifically. I’m not sure about that. The way I took it that it was referring to the way that the structure of the empire is set up. They don’t have the overall power, but they have power. And so they’re not total control. Now, some of them may gain power in the future because they’ll do somebody else will become an emperor down the road. But, I can’t answer that question specifically this morning. I don’t have any, I don’t have an answer to all that. Yes. Well, from all what you said, I guess, I mean, we think of kings of being sovereign. And in a, because you’ve got the emperor who’s, you know, treated as God, I mean, he’s sovereign. And you really, you know, really, they aren’t, you know, fully kings, I guess, and more like governors or something. They’re kings, but they’re not, they don’t have supreme rule, which is, but over their area, whether they’re over Spain or whatever, Gaul or whatever it is that they’re, their providence that they’ve been given, they have power. And I don’t know, there may be, you know, this will have to maybe, maybe need more study in this area. I just don’t, this is the best I could understand, passage and there are there are always going to be a few things that we may not have all the answers to and that, you know, that’s one of the things that would have to be way more carefully. Anything else? All right, then we have the, the, the battle with the land, and then we want to go on to the next section here, which is the destruction of the harlot. When we, we have the great city of Babylon, mention. in verse 15, he saith unto me, the waters which thou saw us, where the horse sitteth, are peoples and multitudes, and nations and tongues. And verse 18, and the woman which thou sawst is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth. So the great city of Babylon. Revelation calls the city Babylon the city Babylon, Babylon, the great. the great city that’s mentioned here. Now what is important in Revelation is to know that the Bible carefully defines this great city for us. And we’ve looked at this many times in Revelation 11-8, indisputably, it refers to Jerusalem. The phrase there in that passage in Revelation 118, where our Lord was crucified gives us a specific identification of the city. It can only refer to Jerusalem. Jerusalem was great because of the special relationship she had with God, because of the temple that was in her midst. Twice Jeremiah calls Jerusalem, great. In Lamentations, chapter 1, verse 1, how does the city sit solitary that was full of people? How has she become as a widow? She that was great among the nations. and princess among the provinces, how has she become tributary? He also mentions it in Jeremiah 228, and many nations shall pass by this city, and they shall say every man to his neighbor, wherefore have the Lord done this under this great city? Josephus, the Jewish historian, describes the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans in this way. This was the end. which Jerusalem came to by the madness of those that were for innovations, meaning revelation, rebellions. A city otherwise of great magnificence and of mighty fame among all mankind. And where is now that great city, the metropolis of the Jewish nation? That’s from book 7, chapter one verse one, paragraph one, book seven, chapter eight, paragraph seven. Remember the best interpreter of scripture is scripture? Yes. Same chapter, but two separate places for those, those two quotes. So when the Bible gives us a specific identification of the great city as Jerusalem and 118, I think it, We have to follow its guidance on that. Any question about the great city? Okay. The rule of Babylon. We’ve already discussed how Jerusalem extended its influence over the Roman Empire. We looked at verse one and connected it with verse 15 and how it had synagogues in every city. People from every nation under heaven were devoted to the Jewish faith, and so forth. Philo of Alexandria says, concerning the holy city, I must say what is necessary. It, as I have already stated, is my native country in the metropolis, not only of one country of Judea, but also of many, by reason of the colonies, which it is sent out from time to time into the bordering districts. And he mentions Egypt, Phonnesia, Syria, and many, many other nations. that he says, and then he says, I, he mentions also all the celebrated islands, too, and they mentioned Cyprus and Crete where the Romans or the Jews also had colonies of people. I say nothing of the countries beyond the refrates for all of them except a very small portion in Babylon and all the, said, trappies around, which have any advantage of them. whatever of soil or climate have Jews settled in them. So he’s saying even beyond the Euphrates River, the Jews had influence in colonies of people and so forth. If the phrase the kings of the earth are understood as the kings of the land of Israel, as we looked at Acts 4 and Psalm 2 in that connection, then it would refer to Jerusalem’s political in influence in verse 18. The Roman rulers in the land were trying to please the Romans and appease them in order to keep them pacified because they were a rebellious people. So Jerusalem had this religious leadership and dominance heavily influenced the Roman government officials. And so we see their influence. throughout the empire and so forth here. So the rule of Babylon is mentioned. Any questions about that? We’ve sort of covered that already. Babylon is made desolate, verse 16. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire. The rulers of the provinces of the Roman Empire give their support and their armies to destroy Jerusalem. The horror shall be made desolate. And we’ve looked at this in the past. That phrase desolate comes from Daniel chapter 9, where Jerusalem is said to be made desolate. And also, Matthew chapter 23, verses 37 and 38, where Christ talks about, you know, your house being left under you, desolate and so forth. Eat her flesh. This sort of reminds us of the fate of Jezebel, who was devoured by wild dogs in Second King’s Chapter 9. Just as there was barely anything left of Jezebel to bury. Remember just her ankle bones and her wrist bones, and her hands, everything else got eaten up by the dogs, just sort of saying, this is the way Jerusalem is going to be. There’s going to be hardly anything. left of the Jews in the area. Naked. You know, one of the punishments for a convicted adulterists in ancient times was publicly humiliation that they would have to go naked, stripped naked through the streets. Ezekiel 16, verses 37, 39, God talks about stripping Israel and Jerusalem naked. That was, with regard to ancient Babylon conquering them, but the same idea here is going to happen when the Romans conquer them. All her beauty, all her fine clothing, all her jewelry, there you mentioned here, will be stripped away. And she’ll have profound humiliation. He will burn her with fire. Now this is exactly what Jesus said, what happened to Jerusalem in Matthew 20. in the parable of the king who gives the wedding feast for his son, and those who were first invited wouldn’t come, and they made excuses. And when they were called, actually commanded to come by the king. And so what does he do? In his anger, he sends forth his army, and burns their city with fire. So you see that in Matthew 22, verses 2 to 7, where that is explained, and that’s exactly what occurs here, as the scripture reveals. Josephus relates how the Romans burned the temple, the great houses, and the various sections of the city, even the gates with fire. I’m quoting from his wars. Book 6, Chapter 7, paragraph 2. Indeed, when they saw the city burning, they said with smiling that they were cheerfully awaiting the end as the people were slaughtered, the temple in ashes, and the city blazing, they were leaving nothing to their enemy. So Babylon here is made desolate. Any question about this section? Now, verse 17 reveals to us God’s hand in Babylon’s destruction. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will and to agree and give their kingdom unto the beast till the words of God shall be fulfilled. People don’t always recognize the powerful influence that God has over those who even rule this earth. The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord. eternal, whether soever he will,. Just like the water broke. The Bible tells us. God, who is righteous in all his ways, directs the affairs of men, even the sinful acts of men, fulfill his purposes. It was God’s purpose to create enmity between the beast and the woman who at first rode the beast and used the beast. And used the beast for her purposes. Sort of like, what was it, the monkey that rode on top of the alligator to get across the river and gets eaten up. Well, she rides on the beast, but she gets destroyed by the beast. It was God’s purpose here, for the beast to destroy the whore. So the beast is given plenty of support. to bring about the destruction of Jerusalem. Everybody from these different provinces give their power to Vespasian to conquer the Jews. So this happens so that the words of God, his prophecy, would be fulfilled. Not only, you know, do we have God’s prophecy through Christ in the New Testament and the Olivet discourse and so forth? forth, but here in the book of Revelation, what is spoken of is still, in a sense, future, even though it’s written as if it’s going to happen, you know, or it will happen quickly, as the text tells us. But at this point, it has not happened. But it’s going to be fulfilled, and this is why it’ll be fulfilled, because God will move men to fulfill it. So we have the mystery of the great heart, harlot here. The recovery of the beast, the beast battle with the lamb, the destruction of the great harlot by the beast. Any questions on this? Let me just draw some practical observations from this passage, of scripture, this chapter. We see, first of all, that outward religion may appear glorious in the eyes of men. We see here the harlot has fine clothing. She’s bedecked with all the jewelry and the gold and so forth. And while men may wonder after the beast and be all excited here and the harlot has all this power and authority and everybody is marveled, marveling at her as well because of her dominance. God classifies her as a harlot, unfaithful to his word, satanically inspired, and full of iniquid. And so there are religions that we see that have glorious trappings to them, the expensive robes, all the ceremony, and so forth. But we have to remember in God’s sight, if it’s not according to his word, it is evil. It is unfaithful. faithful and it will be destroyed. A second thought is this. Verse 7 indicates to us that even the minds of Christians need divine illumination to grasp God’s revelation. John is not a man who is an ignorant man. He is quite knowledgeable in the things of God. Yet when it comes to this prophecy and the portrayal of the harlot here, he needs help. He needs guidance by God to understand this revelation that is given. Thus, we are always in a situation where we have to pray, as Paul prayed for the Ephesians, that the eyes of our understanding would be enlightened to grasp the truth of God’s Word. The third thing we see is that powerful evil men rise to rule in this world. But ultimately, they go to their appointed place, and that is perdition. Verse 11. When we think about all the powerful people that come onto the human stage and the authority that they wield and the armies that they have at times and what they seem to be able to do and they seem unstoppable perhaps at first. Ultimately, they perish. And they’re gone from the earth and they go to be in the place of torment when it’s all over. So they are toppled from power and fall to destruction, eternal destruction, even, as this passage reminds us, even with men that are as powerful as the Caesar’s in the Roman Empire. The fourth thing we see here is that Christ rules overall. So that he, according to verse 14, is the king of king and Lord of Lord’s. We’re talking about the Caesar’s here. We’re talking about these great men and so forth. But, above them is the Lord Jesus Christ. Above all these kings of all the provinces and the Roman emperors who are also the supreme kings, there is another king. And he, his will, is the one that will be accomplished. So even rulers need, as Psalm 212 tells us, to kiss the sun, lest he be angry, and they perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little. Fifthly, we see the marks of a true child of God in verse 14. First of all, they’re redeemed by the lamb. Jesus is called the lamb because he’s laid down his life and for his people. And so they are a redeemed people. They are chosen to salvation in Christ from before the foundation of the world. They are called people, called by the Holy Spirit, to salvation in time, and they are faithful to Christ. They never cast aside the faith, even in the face of death. So these are the marks here of a true child of God. And lastly, verses 16 and 17, you know, the church has many enemies, which threaten hurt. But isn’t it interesting how God turns one against another so that they destroy each other? We see this sometimes in the different histories of the Jews where there are three nations that band together and they’re going to invade Israel and the next thing you know, they’re killing each other off. And it’s interesting to see how God spares. his people by turning his enemies against one another. So they had two great enemies, but God reduces it down to one, the Roman Empire, because he uses the Roman Empire to destroy the Harlot here. Any other thoughts on this chapter? Any other questions on the chapter? I admit this is quite a, you know, complex chapter. hopefully we were able to shed some light, if not total light, at least some light on the chapter. Well, let’s close with prayer at this time then.