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, – Revelation 17:16
Did you ever wonder how the beast and kings of the earth would strip the prostitute down and make her desolate and naked? How could they devour her flesh and burn her up with fire?
I am just throwing this out there. This is simply a hypothetical outlook. When I read and study Revelation I do so with the view in mind that Revelation is a picture book, more than it is a puzzle book. Revelation is filled with symbols such as colors, numbers, and animals. Behind these symbols are great spiritual truths. I am sure that many people are wondering in 2020 if these days leading up to the return of Christ. Perhaps or perhaps maybe not.
But for a moment consider this: In the span of a few short months the world has been shut down because of Covid-19. The kings of the earth have torn the prostitute down by shutting her down. Everything has been shut down! The prostitute in my eye represents the entirety of the world’s population that is not saved and in Jesus Christ. It is more specifically the “seduction of the world” and all of its lures and enticements including sexual sins, lust for power, greed for money, etc. The beast (who I see as governmental powers that persecute God’s people, the church /elect, and who do not give honor to the Lord or His word, but who oppose God and His word) uses the prostitute to help keep the world in darkness and in sin. The beast will persecute when necessary.
The apostle Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 2 that the mystery of lawlessness was ALREADY at work in his time. Still is now at work until destroyed by Christ. Perhaps this “man of lawlessness” is being revealed or about to be revealed? An instititution, a people, a movement? Maybe simply put “the humanity of lawlessness”. But it is definitely in accord with the working of Satan and by false signs, power, and deception.
Then in 2 Thess 2:11 God sends them a strong delusion. So now the people (unbelievers) are trapped between the strong delusion that God sends and the deception that the man of lawlessness (fueled by Satan) has already brought. Talk about being stuck between a rock and hard place?
Then the kicker…
“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.”- Revelation 17:17
And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.” – Revelation 17:18
The great city? Has she been destroyed? Is she being destroyed?
Casinos, strip clubs, movie theaters, live sporting events, and church all gone! Hospital workers laid off in the midst of crisis, police officers murdering and being murdered. The President being advised by his secret service to hide in a bunker and there is rioting and looting in the streets. Is the stock market next? Interent next?
God says to the church, “Come out of her!”(Rev 18:4) That is, church, come out of Babylon. Come out of the prostitute. Come out of the world system lest you partake in the prostitute’s plagues that will come upon her.
“For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.” – Revelation 18:8
21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more;
22 and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more,
23 and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.” – Revelation 18:21-24
The picture that Revelation paints is exactly that, a picture. A portrait. And a grim portrait at that.
The church needs to come out of Babylon and share the Gospel with the world. The church must be prepared for God and service in His kingdom despite the evil taking place in the world at large. The church must make disciples of the nations.
Come Lord Jesus! Save Your People! Glorify Yourself!
Wisdom Walk 