Revelation #54

Lets finish chapter 17 today:



Revelation 17:15-18



15And the angel said to me, "The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16And 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, 17for 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. 18And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth."



In verse 15 we read that the angel tells John what the waters are that the prostitute (Rome) is seated on in verse 1. The waters are peoples, nations, and languages which are gentile nations. In verse 16 we see that ten horns( ten nation coalition and the beast(anti-Christ) will hate the prostitute(Rome). We are also told in verse 16 that they will totally turn on and destroy the prostitute(Rome). In verse 17 we see the reason for this....for God has put this in their hearts!. Look at Psalm 2:



Psalm 2



1 Why do the nations rage

and the peoples plot in vain?

2The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers take counsel together,

against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,

3"Let us burst their bonds apart

and cast away their cords from us."



4He who sits in the heavens laughs;

the Lord holds them in derision.

5Then he will speak to them in his wrath,

and terrify them in his fury, saying,

6"As for me, I have set my King

on Zion, my holy hill."



7I will tell of the decree:The LORD said to me, "You are my Son;

today I have begotten you.

8Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,

and the ends of the earth your possession.

9You shall break them with a rod of iron

and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel."



10Now therefore, O kings, be wise;

be warned, O rulers of the earth.

11 Serve the LORD with fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son,

lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,

for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.



God will complete His plan even in a world that has open rebellion against Him! We are told in the rest of verse 17 until the words of God are fulfilled. Many times God uses others to even who are not followers to complete His purposes and that is what we are seeing here. In verse 18 we are once again told who this woman is...the great city (Rome also referred to as Babylon elsewhere) who has dominion over the world for a time....until God says enough!



That finishes chapter 17 and we will pick up again after the Thanksgiving holiday! God bless and remember to give thanks to the only one who deserves it....Jesus!



Tom