Revelation 17 portrays another representation of those things that had been revealed before concerning the wickedness and ruin of antichrist. It also describes the coming judgment of God on the religious system that has enslaved the human race in superstitious darkness for centuries.

 This antichrist had been before represented as a beast, and is now described as a great harlot. And here, I. The apostle is invited to see this vile woman (v. 1, v. 2). II. He tells us what an appearance she made (v. 3-6). III. The mystery of it is explained to him (v. 7-12). And, IV. Her ruin foretold (v. 13, etc.).

Revelation chapter 17 identifies this woman as a “harlot” (verse 1) “with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication” (verse 2). The great prostitute represents the seductiveness of the governmental system that uses immoral means to gain its own pleasure.

The woman of this chapter is described as being “arrayed [dressed] in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication” (verse 4).

The point behind being dressed in purple and scarlet is that the woman appears to be a woman of wealth and authority. This color of clothing complements her also wearing gold, precious stones and pearls and her use of a golden cup. The contrast to this beautifully impressive exterior is that her cup is filled with “abominations and the filthiness of her fornication” (verse 4). In other words, she deceives many by her appearance. Although she looks beautiful and has the trappings of wealth, luxury and authority, her actions are an abomination to God.

Additionally, we are told that this woman is responsible for the deaths of the faithful “martyrs of Jesus” (Revelation 17:6) and that this woman “is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth” (verse 18).

The woman's drunkenness shows her pleasure in her evil accomplishments and her false feeling of triumph over the church. Persecution of Christians is not  a thing of the past, nowadays still many believers around the world know that being a Christian represents a death sentence. Believers who live in places free of persecution must not forget to pray their brothers and sisters in Christ in those difficult parts of the world.

Many have taken this to mean that the woman represents the capital city of Antichrist's kingdom, but this cannot be, for Antichrist himself rules over the kings of the earth.

If then, the woman is not the Antichrist, what other possible explanation can we have for such unanimous world dominance? The only answer is the one system before which all kings, dictators, and nations have been forced to bow down throughout history, that is, the Babylonian religion of idolatry. One cannot go anywhere in the world without being confronted with some semblance of the idolatry.

No system in the world's history has enslaved more people than this awful religion. It should not take us by surprise that this prostitute woman, the religious system, is referred to as a city. When used symbolically, a woman is always intended throughout the Scripture to signify a spiritual or religious movement. If a good woman, it is "Jehovah's wife" or "the bride of Christ". If an evil woman, such as "a prostitute," it represents the evil religious system of idolatry.

Since the woman who rides the beast gets her authority from the beast, the Holy Spirit uses this description to show how religious Babylon and governmental Babylon are so intertwined they are presented together. However, they are destroyed at different times. The prostitute (religious Babylon), is destroyed by the "beast and the kings of the earth," who "hate the prostitute" and kill her.

An unholy alliance is an uneasy alliance because each partner puts its own interest first.

This clears the way for Antichrist to fulfill the lifetime dream of Satan to get people to worship him. She is destroyed in the middle of the Tribulation; Babylon the governmental system will be destroyed at the end, when commercial, political Babylon is destroyed (Rev. 18). With "Mystery Babylon, the Mother of Prostitutes" out of the way, "all inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast, all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world" (Rev. 13:8).

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.- Revelation 17:17

No matter what happens, we must trust that God is still in charge, that God overrules all the plans and intrigues of the evil one, and that God's plans will prevail and happen exactly just as He says.

We must remember that God even uses people opposed to Him as tools to bring His will forth. Our hope as His children is that although  He allows evil to permeate this present world, the new earth will never know sin! Glory to His name!

Have a blessed weekend! xx

'till next time!!

Angie

By Lisa Moore

This chapter in Mark is a very important prophetic chapter, because it contains detailed prophecies made by Jesus concerning future events.

It begins with Jesus leaving the Temple in Jerusalem where He had been teaching.  One of the disciples who was obviously overwhelmed by the temple's beauty said to Jesus, "Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!" (v. 1).  But instead of agreeing, Jesus tells him that this magnificent structure would instead be completely destroyed.  This came true in 70 A.D. when the Romans under the ruler Titus ransacked Jerusalem, killed a million Jews, and demolished the temple.  Titus's soldiers set the temple on fire and then literally pried stone from stone to recover the gold leaf that had melted from the roof when the temple was burned.  What only remained, were huge foundation stones that formed footings for the retaining wall under the entire Temple Mount.  It is a portion of the western side of that retaining wall which today is called the Wailing Wall. 

Jesus and His disciples then climb the Mount of Olives where they find a spot to sit which overlooks the city and the temple.  Peter, James, John, and Andrew question Jesus asking, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?", (v. 4).  Thus begins a great sermon given by Jesus known as the Olivet Discourse in which He mentions the many signs and wonders that would point to His soon return.

Jesus begins by warning us to "shamar", or to take heed.  In fact, Jesus echoes this warning thought out the Chapter.  He's telling us to keep our eyes and ears open for, "Many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He!' and will mislead many." (v.6).  The only way we can defend ourselves from deceit is by knowing the truth.  The Bible contains the only whole real truth.  We need to check everything against what Jesus has to say about it.  Many false religions and prophets will try to deceive us claiming to be the answer to all of our problems.  Some will claim to me the Messiah Himself.  We must trust in the truth of God's Word.

Next Jesus tells us of wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines, and natural disasters which He refers to as the "beginning of sorrows", or as "birth pangs".  Just as birth pangs are infrequent at first and then intensify as just before delivery, so it will be in the world before Jesus' return.  Believers will be persecuted, betrayed, hated, and killed.  But Jesus tells us to stand strong. To draw near to Him, and trust Him regardless of the storm around us. There is no doubt that there will be times when we will suffer because of our love for Jesus, but the glory and grace that is ours in Him for eternity outweighs every trial we may face.  And Jesus promises in verse 13, "You will be hated by all  because of My name, but the one who endures will be saved."

We are then told to beware of the sign of the "Abomination of Desolation."  In 167 B.C. Antiochus Epiphanies, a Greek ruler, set up an alter to Zeus over the altar of burnt offerings in the temple in Jerusalem.  There he also sacrificed a pig.  This event was called the"Abomination of Desolation".  Here in Mark, Jesus is warning of another Abomination of Desolation in which the Antichrist who has established a covenant with Israel for seven years, then breaks it by doing something similar in the Jewish temple in the city of Jerusalem.   This will set off a chain of events that Jesus says, "....will be a time of tribulation such has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will.  Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, who He chose, He shortened the days."  We are told that the sky will be dark, for neither the sun nor the moon will provide light.  Stars will fall from the sky, and the heavens will be shaken.  And after all of this, "Then they will see The Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory." (v. 26).

Those will be terrible times indeed. We as Christians are promised freedom from such punishment.  1Thess. 5:9 says, "For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ."  But even so, we are called to be spiritually alert and living productive lives for the kingdom of God.  We are to, "to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age , looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and a Savior, Christ Jesus..." (Titus 2:12-13).   Although we know not when, we know Jesus will return.  Are you ready?  Do you have things you plan to do but haven't gotten around to yet?  Maybe it's to read your Bible more, or start attending Church.  Maybe it's sharing your faith with others or forgiving someone who has hurt or sinned against you.   Whatever it is, don't wait waste another second.  Do not take for granted that you have tomorrow for as Jesus warns, "...you do not know when the appointed time will come." (v. 33).