Revelation 17 and 18

                                                   Revelation 17 and 18 Overview

One book, one story. At the tower of Babel the nations were scattered and put under the dominion of gods who were in rebellion. This created a world system in opposition to God and His plan. God chose Abram and declared that He would make a nation out of Abram. The Babylon economic and religious world system continues to this day. It must be judged and done away with in order for restoration to come. Different empires have at different times embodied this system, but it is key to see that the statue of the dream from the book of Daniel was one statue.  No matter what nation or system is heading this up at the end of the age, it is the system and the powers behind it that are being judged and eliminated.  Babylon is portrayed as being in the wilderness but on many waters. (Rev. 17:1,3)  Babylon is said to be supported by peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. Many are deceived and cling to her for material success and security. It appears to be an economic religious system that believers are warned to come out of. The beast appears to be a political-military system. These two systems are married, the kingdom that is ruling becomes the driver of the economy. Only at the very end of time does God cause a division among these two systems and the beast turns on and destroys the Babylon system. Since the two systems have been “hand in glove” from the tower of Babel onward it is easy to see how the woman personifying the systems would say, “I will never…”  The picture of God causing enemy armies to turn on each other is not a new one in scripture and so it happens again at this last time.

Large portions of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel 7 and Jeremiah are brought to mind by all that we see in these two chapters. 

Economic alliances equated with idolatry Isaiah 23:1-18; Nahum 3:4 Ezekiel 16:1-36

Isaiah 21:1-10 the prophet is given a vision in the desert that speaks of the fall of Babylon.

Daniel 7 the heads the horns the 10 kings, the rise and fall of the beast.

Jeremiah 51:7-8 Babylon intoxicates the earth and falls suddenly.

“Any institution or facet of culture that is characterized by pride, economic overabundance, persecution and idolatry is part of Babylon.”  

“Mystery” often involves the fulfillment of prophecy in a reverse or ironic manner.

Part of the portrayal of Babylon comes from the portrayal of Jezebel in 1 Kings.

Protection from deception is given for those seeking God and understanding Daniel 11:33, 12:10.

Verse 11 7th 8th, Proverbs 6:16, Eccl. 11:2, Micah 5:5.  Numbers can and are used symbolically at times.

Ezekiel 16 and 23 have judgement coming on Israel for playing the harlot with the nations.

“Come out of her” Isaiah 48:20, 52:11; Jer. 50:8, 51:6,45

Revelation 18 

Babylon and Edom’s destruction. Isaiah 13:21; 34:11,14;

Tyre’s destruction Ezekiel 26-28

Verse 6 being paid back double may not be a good translation it may be “given the equivalent of her work” Isaiah 40:2; Jer. 16:18;

Verse 7 Isaiah 47:7,8

Verse 8 Isaiah 47:9,14;

Verse 9-11 Ezek. 27-29-36; 26:16

Verse 12-13 Ezek. 27:7-25;

Verse 17-19 Ezek. 27:28-33

Verse 20-21 Jeremiah 51

Sorcery, fornication and Idolatry are often mentioned together in the prophets.

The Marks of the New Birth a sermon by John Wesley

 So I will post this here and make it my goal to come back and listen to it soon and/or read it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntmUzpg0Cik

http://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-sermons-of-john-wesley-1872-edition/sermon-18-the-marks-of-the-new-birth/

GO AGAIN!

 Then the LORD said to me, “Go again; show love to a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, just as the LORD loves the Israelites though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.”   Hosea 3:1

The gift and the calling of God are irrevocable.

SILENCE!   

I say to all the voices that proclaim otherwise.

You are lying about the faithfulness of God.

CEASE!

DESIST!

KNOCK IT OFF!

Cyrus and the Treasures of Darkness

 I wonder if there is more to this section than meets the eye or if it is just saying, "Part of my proof to you Cyrus that I am the God of all the gods is that I will give you secret and hidden treasures." Just a very practical, down-to-earth acknowledgment that as part of his plunder when he conquers other lands, God will reveal to him where the people tried to hide their treasures and his kingdom will be richer and stronger because of it.   It is such a powerful section of scripture, given to the prophet Isaiah before Cyrus was even born.  Cyrus a foreign king, given the designation "anointed" Messiah!  Wow.

Isaiah 45 Thus says the Lord to Cyrus His anointed,

Whom I have taken by the right hand,
To subdue nations before him
And [a]to loose the loins of kings;
To open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:
2 “I will go before you and make the [b]rough places smooth;
I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars.
3 “I will give you the [c]treasures of darkness
And hidden wealth of secret places,
So that you may know that it is I,
The Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.
4 “For the sake of Jacob My servant,
And Israel My chosen one,
I have also called you by your name;
I have given you a title of honor
Though you have not known Me.
5 “I am the Lord, and there is no other;
Besides Me there is no God.
I will [d]gird you, though you have not known Me;
6 That [e]men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun
That there is no one besides Me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other,
7 The One forming light and creating darkness,
Causing [f]well-being and creating calamity;
I am the Lord who does all these.

Footnotes

1. Isaiah 45:1 Lit I will loose
2. Isaiah 45:2 Another reading is mountains
3. Isaiah 45:3 Or hoarded treasures
4. Isaiah 45:5 Or arm
5. Isaiah 45:6 Lit they
6. Isaiah 45:7 Or peace

Let's talk about it, this is a conversation starter!

Revelation 16 Verses and References

 Revelation 16 Verses and References

Verse 1 - Jeremiah 10:25; Ezek. 14:19: Psalm 69:24; Zephaniah 3:8 Psalm 79:6,12; Leviticus 4:7,18,25,30,34; “Just as the pouring out of the sacrificial blood represented the cleansing of the tabernacle from the defilement of sin, so the pouring out of the bowls cleanses the earth from the defilement of sin through judgment.”

Verse 2 - Exodus 9:9-11; Deut 28:27,35 Those who have taken the mark are punished with severely painful sores. 

Verse 3 - Exodus 7:17-21; The 2nd trumpet had a partial effect (8:8,9) but the bowl has a wider effect. The sea is associated with the anti-christ system. “Life” in this verse is “soul” so there is some reason to think people are dying not just fish.

Verse 4 - Psalm 78:44; 

Verse 5 and 6 - The description “Who is, Who was”, now finishes with “the Holy One”. This emphasizes God’s sovereign uniqueness to execute end-time judgment. Deut. 32:4; Psalm 145:17: He is righteous, He is Holy. We can trust Him that the punishment will fit the crime. Isaiah 49:26; Psalm 79:3,10; Again this is an angel, with the perspective of an angel saying “They deserve it.” (Obviously saints and prophets were still on the earth in order to be persecuted by others.)

Verse 7- Since this voice comes from the altar it takes us back to Chapter 6 and those under the altar crying out for justice. Daniel 3:27; Psalm 119:75,137;

Verse 8 and 9 - Our minds are taken back to Rev. 7:16 where the redeemed have been freed from “the sun striking them, nor any heat.” Deut. 32:24 connects the curse of burning heat with famine.

Verse 10 - The throne represents the beast’s sovereignty over his realm. Exodus 10:22; This affects his ability to rule. Darkness comes and brings with it the pain of knowing your own wretchedness.

Verse 11 - Not repenting of the “work of their hands” was mentioned previously in 9:20 and was followed by a list starting with idolatry and including murder, sorcery, sexual immorality and stealing.

Verse 12 - Exodus 14:21,22; Isaiah 11:15,16; The Red Sea and the Jordan both come to mind but many passages proclaim deliverance through drying up a sea or a river. 

Verse 13 - The first time the term “false prophet” is used in Revelation. This puts his realm of influence in the Body in order to deceive. Frogs associated with the Exodus plagues. Exodus 8:2-11 and Psalm 78:45. Loud but meaningless croaking - confusion and deception.

Verse 14 - The demonic spirits have a purpose to gather the kings of the earth. Zech. 12-14 and Zephaniah 3 speak of God’s gathering the nations for a final war.  The day of the Lord reference makes it final! Ezek. 38:2-8; 39:2; Joel 4:2,12 

Verse 15 - Nakedness is associated with participation in idolatry. Ezek. 16:36; 23:29; Nahum 3:5; Isaiah 20:4;

Verse 16 - Many battles have been fought in this plain. Many prophecies speak of the battle being around Jerusalem which is about a two days walk away. There is a battle at the end of the 1,000 year reign that takes place around Jerusalem.  Are the prophecies speaking of two different battles? We shall see.

Verse 17 - Since the voice is from the throne, God is speaking and proclaiming the finality of the judgments.

Verse 18 - Exodus 19:16-18 is God’s appearance at Sinai. Lightning, thunder, earthquake all are there. This final bowl is being associated with that event. The wording is also like that in Daniel 12:1 The latter-day earthquake at the final judgment. Haggai 2:6; Zech. 14:4; Hebrews 12:26,27;

Verse 19 - Babylon and all the cities fall. The cup of wrath is forced upon them.

Verse 20 - 6:14 was the earlier mention of the earthquake with this same power.

Verse 21 - Exodus 9:19-35 The plague of hail finds all those who oppose God. Joshua 10:11; Ezek. 38:19-22; 

The following chapters will fill out what was happening during these bowl judgments. Once again the reality of the judgment of God and the wrath of God, leads believers to never hold unforgiveness. Seeing the devastating reality we walk the earth as a people who forgive and cry out for mercy, joining with the heart of God and not wanting any to perish.