seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Revelation 17:6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.
When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. 7 Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.
9 “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
12 “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. 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 For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God’s words are fulfilled. 18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”
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Here's a link to the commentary I read. I would suggest you read the stuff I left out.
Drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: The woman not only persecutes, she also revels in her persecution of the godly as a drunk revels in wine.
I marveled with great amazement: John was amazed because this wasn’t pagan persecution (such as he knew in his day), but religious error and persecution. This is a psuedo-church, thirsty for the blood of the saints. “False religion is always the worst enemy of true religion.” (Walvoord)
I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her: The focus of the explanation is on the beast. It appeared that the harlot ruled (rode) the Antichrist’s system, but he is the dynamic factor, using her as tyrants have always used religion — as a mere tool to accomplish their purposes.
The seven heads are seven mountains: Many quickly associate the seven mountains with Rome and the Papacy, because Rome is well known as the city on seven hills. Yet literally, the Greek word means mountains, not hills.
But in the Bible mountains are sometimes a figure of governments (such as in Daniel 2:35) and the city of Rome is built on hills, not mountains.
Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come: This is one of the more difficult passages in the Book of Revelation. Some explain these seven kings, five past, one present, and one to come in the succession of Roman Emperors in John’s era, but there are many historical difficulties with this approach. More likely, it is a reference to:
- Five have fallen refers to the five world empires before John’s day: Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Medo-Persia, and Greece
- One is refers to the world empire of John’s day: Rome
- The other has not yet come refers to the one world empire to come: a revival of the Roman Empire
When he comes, he must continue a short time: This seventh will quickly be taken over by an eighth — and will become the state of the Antichrist (Revelation 17:11).
There are problems with this viewpoint as well (so some have taken the seven as symbolic). This plainly is a difficult passage!
Is himself also the eighth: He is of the seven in the sense that he shares characteristics with all previous world empires, but his fate is clear. Perdition means “destruction,” and the beast will be destroyed.
Ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet: This probably alludes to a ten-nation confederation (as in the toes of the Daniel 2:24-45 image), but some take ten as a symbolic number.
These are of one mind: Many have seen the European Union (formerly the European Economic Community) as the potential fulfillment of this. Perhaps, but now there are more than ten nations in this revived European power, and more on the way.
These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast: Whatever their exact identity, their actions are clear. They join with the Antichrist in the war against Christ, in the battle alluded to in the sixth and seventh bowls (Revelation 16:12-21).
The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits: The harlot presides over peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. This tells us that the harlot’s influence is worldwide, through her connection to the beast. This will be a truly one-world religion.
These will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire: This violence probably takes place at the mid-point of the tribulation period. Here, apostate religion discovers the true nature of the beast.
Burn her with fire: Once his power has been consolidated, the Antichrist no longer needs the help of religious Babylon. He will then work to dismantle and destroy her and her one-world religion.
This has always been the goal of tyrants — and most politicians — to use religion for their purposes, then discard it.
God has put it into their hearts: God directed the judgment against religious Babylon. God will sometimes use a wicked group (here, the ten kings) to be an instrument of His judgment against another wicked group (here, religious Babylon).
To be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast: God will ordain the political support of these ten kings for the Antichrist. God will give the world just what it wants: godless religion and godless rulers.
That great city: In John’s day, there was no doubt which city reigns over the kings of the earth. Rome was the political, economic, and religious center of the world of that time.
That great city: Again, the association of this harlot — of religious Babylon — with Rome doesn’t mean that the Roman Catholic Church is identical to religious Babylon, though apostate Roman Catholics will definitely be a part of this great harlot.
“It is most direct in Paganism; but it is in Mohammedanism, in Papalism, in the degenerate Catholicism of the Eastern churches, and in all the heretical isms, infidelities, and mere goodishness which afflict our Protestant Christianity as well.” (Seiss)
That great city: Rather, Rome was the ready personification of Babylon — the world in rebellion against God — in John’s day. Today, idolatry is just as strong, but more dispersed. Today, which city in the world is most readily identified with the world system? Hollywood? Wall Street? Washington?
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This is some pretty heavy stuff. Mountains v Hills... was, was not, and is again.... burn her up and eat her flesh.... What in the world?!?
Remember, I started with the Book of Daniel, then the Gospel of John, then John's letters, and now I'm in Revelation. I'm following this order of these books in the Bible because John was Jesus' best human friend. I figure Jesus would pick an honest person for His earthly buddy. John has been given a Vision. That's where we are.
We all know the Pharisees, Sadducees, Elders and Teachers in the Temple did not like Jesus. They were amazed by His knowledge of Scripture, but He kept poking at the laws "they" made up to keep the Israelites in line and control the message. They argued that Jesus was just the bastard baby of a whore. Although Mary was betrothed to Joseph, Joseph wouldn't [couldn't] put his name on the census paperwork as the father of Jesus. No one on earth was the father of Jesus. So that messed with the system the Pharisees, Sadducees, Elders and Teachers set up. They just couldn't make Jesus' story go away. He did so many kind things. He performed Miracles. He brought a man back from death. They couldn't explain Him away. They couldn't control the message.
Consider, please, the preacher who became a preacher to make his mommy happy. Consider, please, that this preacher just didn't believe all the Miracles in the Bible. He figured the whole Bible is all full of symbolism. No one can bring someone back from the dead, really. Consider, please, that this preacher didn't have a translation of the Bible he could understand so he never really read the Scripture for himself. He just relied on the lessons he picked up in Sunday School, or Sunday Services, or Wednesday night prayer service. He's the kind of preacher who made his mommy proud, but his disbelief [or unbelief] causes this preacher to take the church into the Apostate realm.
That's how the church turned sour. Humans pretending to be Christian when they really don't believe. They only want to make their mommy or their wife or their accountant very happy. They will tell people.... "God wants us to be rich and powerful. Our wealth and power are an example of wealth and power of God. We deserve to be rich and powerful. We have to make our mommies proud!"
The prostitute represents the Apostate [fake] church. The Beast she rides on is the Apostate [fake] messages the Apostate [fake] spews.
Ever heard the phrase "I could just eat you all up". This is usually said by a mom while holding and "playing" with an infant. "I could just eat you up" really means you are so sweet and adorable... I love you so!
I could just eat you all up....
To be fair... not everyone could get their hands on a Bible until the mid-15th century. So, the ignorant apostate preacher was the only source of Biblical Truth, and they weren't telling it truthfully. They preached the Gospel of the Beast.... not the Gospel of John.
And Verse 16 says the people just ate it all up!!!!
The humans just ate it all up!!!!
