Angie Benjamin

The scarlet woman and the beast {Revelation 17}

10:30 PM



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

Becky Austin

Bowls of Wrath {Revelation 16}

3:24 AM


“Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.””(v1)
As I read this chapter I thought about the iconic and devastating natural disasters I have seen in my lifetime or read about in history. These events have been shocking and had far reaching effects.  For example, there is still a shortage in America of certain medications because of the impact of the hurricane that struck Puerto Rico. In addition, many families are still displaced and enduring economic loss. The plagues and devastation that occur from the bowls described in this chapter will have even more far reaching and catastrophic impact.  It will be unlike anything known before.

As the 7 bowls are dispensed, terrible events occur and the targeted recipients are those who have embraced the Antichrist. This is God's great stored up wrath unleashed in full force against evil. 
1: Harmful and painful sores
2: The sea is contaminated resulting in massive death of sea creatures
3: Fresh waters are also contaminated on a large scale
4: Scorching by the sun
5: The kingdom of the beast plunged into darkness
6: Drying up of the Euphrates river- armies are able to assemble at Armageddon
7: Grand scale earthquake and massive hail

  Why, you may ask would God utilize such harsh and extreme measures? 2 reasons revealed are 1) to bring repentance for those who heed such a " wake up" call and 2) to dispense judgement on those who choose to let their hearts stay hardened. These judgements become a true litmus test of the human heart. Though harsh, the judgements against evil are fair and just. ....“For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!””(v6)
The truly evil nature of their hearts is revealed ...“and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.”(v9). God knows the deepest nature of the human heart. He is looking for a sincerely repentant heart. 

Spurgeon contrasts true repentance and repentance that is merely circumstantial.
 "Judgment may produce a carnal repentance - a repentance that is of the flesh, and after the manner of the sinful nature of men. In this repentance the depravity of the heart remains the same in essence, though it takes another form of showing itself. Though the man changes, he is not savingly changed: he becomes another man, but not a new man. The same sin rules in him, but it is called by another name, and wears another dress. The stone is carved into a more sightly shape, but it is not turned into flesh. The iron is cast into another image, but it is not transformed into gold. This carnal repentance is caused by fear. Does not every thief repent of robbery when he is convicted and sent to jail? Does not every murderer repent of his crime when he stands under the fatal tree?" (Spurgeon)

"This is real penitence, when the man gives glory to the justice of God, even though it condemns him. O my hearer, do you thus repent? Is sin really sinful to you? Do you see its desert of hell? If not, your repentance needs to be repented of." (Spurgeon)

What will God find when he examines your heart?  God wants us to be always prepared, clothed in the righteousness of Christ.  
“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)”(v15)

End of Times

The Preliminaries before the Last Seven Plagues {Revelations 15}

12:00 AM






As I researched these last few chapters I thought back to my days of childbirth and thought it all seemed very similar, though I couldn’t find any “male” theologian to admit to this! But then the Lord reminded me that He, Himself likened the time of tribulation to labor pains in Matthew 24:8, "But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.”

During the time I was having my children, natural childbirth was very popular and I had decided early on that I wanted to be awake and alert to witness my children first come into the world! My labors were longer than most women, but through breathing techniques and such, I was able to sail through much of it until the final stage of “transition” began. In transition the contractions begin coming one on top of the other with really no break in between and they are far more intense; preparing my body to deliver some of the most precious gifts I’ve ever been given! Fortunately, for women enduring natural childbirth, this part of labor is shortened, and just when I thought I couldn’t endure anymore, it was time for my children to be born!

What is about to take place in chapter 16 with the seven angels spilling the seven last plagues from the golden bowls onto the world will be exactly like the transition stage of a women’s labor; the plagues will come quicker, be more intense, but the duration will be shorten, and just when there seems no one will be able to endure it any longer, Jesus will come to the rescue for the final battle!

Chapter 15 gives a glimpse of heaven and God’s glory and wrath just prior to the final stage of the tribulation.

First, the Period of Waiting (15:1-4):
Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.
2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. 3 And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
“Great and marvelous are Your works,
O Lord God, the Almighty;
Righteous and true are Your ways,
King of the nations!
4 “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy;
For all the nations will come and worship before You,
For Your righteous acts have been revealed.”


            1.  Seven angels carrying seven bowls full of judgment. I found it interesting that the only other time we see seven golden bowls was in Revelations chapter 5 that I wrote on a few weeks ago. In that chapter the seven golden bowls were, “full of fragrant incense, which are the prayers of the saints”. (5:8). I haven’t been able to read anything about the significance of both sets of bowls yet, but I thought it was worth noting.

            2.  A gracious God whose wrath is about to be poured out on the world. His patience and mercy has come to an end.

            3.  The tribulation saints; those who did not bow down to the beast are standing on a sea of glass (God’s Word) and fire (judgment) and they begin to sing the Song of Moses in Ex. 15 - A Song of Physical Redemption and The Song of The Lamb - A Song of Spiritual  Redemption.  They’re singing of God's greatness, goodness and His glory!

Second, A Place of Worship (15:5-8):

 After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened, 6 and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes. 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.



1.  The angels come from the very presence of God! They are dresses in linen which speaks of holiness, purity and divine righteousness. They are also girded with a gold sash, which speaks of divine restraint.  I found it so interesting that they stepped from the place of absolute holiness to execute judgment upon the place of absolute wickedness and rebellion.
           
2. One of the Four Beasts; the cherubim who guarded the holiness of God, and because they’ve represented the totality of God's creation, it seems fitting that one should be involved in the redemption of God’s creation (Rom. 8:19-21) 

3. I found it very interesting that the way into God is barred during this time as His wrath is poured out against a world that has rejected Him and His Son Jesus.  I can’t say for sure why this occurs, but I did think of several times in the Old Testament when God’s presence is described as a cloud filling the temple. (2 Chron 5:14; 7:1; 1 Kings 8:11; Ezekiel 43)

I remember while in the transition period of labor actually asking my husband if we could just forget about all this and go home, as if that were possible! (You tend to say things you don’t mean during the transitional period J) And just as it was too late to turn back then, it’s too late to stop the outcome of all God has planned, though we can make sure we will be spared from God’s wrath now through the sacrifice Jesus has already made on our behalf. His blood has opened a way for us into the very presence and heart of God. 

And one day all who have accepted the gift of His sacrifice for us, will celebrate forever!