The Book of
Revelation 17
18 verses≈ 4 minBSB
Images are artistic interpretations.
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Where we are
- 1–3Seven churchesChrist among His lampstands
- 4–11Seals & trumpetsThe Lamb opens the scroll
- 12–16The great conflictThe dragon, the beasts, the bowls
- 17–20The King comesBabylon falls; the Lamb winsChapter 17
- 21–22All things newA new heaven and a new earth
The Woman on the Beast
Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”
0:17
Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.
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Reflect
Seeing through the glitter
Babylon looks magnificent: “dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls.” But the golden cup in her hand is “full of abominations.” What in the world around you looks beautiful on the outside but would draw your heart away from God? Ask Him to help you see it clearly.
The Mystery Explained
I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.
“Why are you so amazed?” said the angel. “I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns.
The beast that you saw—it was, and now is no more, but is about to come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. And those who dwell on the earth whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet will be.
This calls for a mind with wisdom.
Revelation 17:9
The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.
There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. But when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.
The beast that was, and now is not, is an eighth king, who belongs to the other seven and is going into destruction.
The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive one hour of authority as kings along with the beast. These kings have one purpose: to yield their power and authority to the beast.
What the angel explains
Whiteboard
John is amazed, and the angel promises to tell him “the mystery of the woman and of the beast.” These are the keys he gives, in his own words. The seven heads are “seven mountains” and “seven kings.” The ten horns are “ten kings” with “one hour of authority.” The waters are “peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.” The woman is “the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.” And over all of them stands the Lamb: “the Lamb will triumph over them.”
Question
Quick question
The angel says the ten kings will receive authority along with the beast.
How long does the angel say their authority will last?
The Victory of the Lamb
They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”
Revelation 17:14
Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.
And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
And the woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”
He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones
Revelation 17:14
Pray
Lord of lords
Worship Jesus as “Lord of lords and King of kings.” Thank Him that every power set against Him lasts only “a little while,” and that “the Lamb will triumph over them.” Ask Him to keep you among His “called and chosen and faithful ones,” and to give you a mind with wisdom to stay loyal to Him when the world’s glitter pulls at your heart.
You’ve experienced
Revelation 17
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A verse to carry with you
They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.
Revelation 17:14
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