Revelation (Written)

Sunday, 23 May 2021

I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. Revelation 17:6

The previous verse found John revealing the name written on the forehead of the great harlot. Now, he will continue to describe her. However, the description goes from physical things like purple and scarlet and gold and precious stones to her conduct. In this, John says, “I saw the woman.”

As stated before, this is a city (17:18) being compared to a woman. This is found in the Old Testament as well, as was previously noted. Of this woman, John next says she is “drunk with the blood of the saints.”

The terminology speaks of great slaughter, as if the blood were wine, and the amount is so great that those who spill it become intoxicated with it. This is seen, for example, in the sword of the Lord being drunk in this manner in Jeremiah 46 –

“For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts,
A day of vengeance,
That He may avenge Himself on His adversaries.
The sword shall devour;
It shall be satiated and made drunk with their blood;
For the Lord God of hosts has a sacrifice
In the north country by the River Euphrates.” Jeremiah 46:10

Remembering that this is a city, the location is what is first being highlighted. Rome, the center of the Roman Empire, killed innumerable saints of the early church. It doesn’t matter that this was conducted prior to its conversion to Christianity. It is the city that is being described.

The city of Rome (aka the Vatican) claiming Christianity is no more significant at this point than it is that Jerusalem followed the Lord at times and completely fell away from the Lord at others. It is the city that is described (meaning the people within it) throughout the Old Testament. Understanding this, John continues. She is not just only drunk with the blood of the saints, but also “with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.”

The word translated as “martyrs” signifies “a witness.” It is someone who testifies to something. The word eventually became synonymous with one who dies for his witness because this has been the lot of Christian witnesses throughout the church age.

The “witness” is what becomes the reason for their death. The cause of it, however, is that the witness is not accepted by the great whore who rejects the simplicity and truth of the witness. It is true that Christians have been martyred throughout the world and by countless other cultures and religions, but that is neither a mystery, nor is it unexpected.

However, what is revealed in the mystery of Rome is that it not only martyred the saints prior to its claim to Christianity, but it continued to do so throughout most of its history. Anyone who determined to follow the word of God, apart from the heretical doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, has been considered anathema by them. And in their declarations, they have killed countless faithful Christians in the process.

Albert Barnes says, “How applicable this is to the papacy, let the blood shed in the valleys of Piedmont; the blood shed in the Low Countries by the Duke of Alva; the blood shed on Bartholomew’s day; and the blood shed in the Inquisition, testify.”

Along with them are the accounts of both martyrdom and persecution of many of those of the Reformation. As a single example of those countless witnesses for Christ at this time who were persecuted and martyred for their faith, take time to read up on John Hus. The city of Rome (eventually the seat of the Roman Catholic Church) has a long history of being drunk with the blood of the saints and of the martyrs of Jesus. But who would think! John couldn’t imagine, and he says, “And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.”

Here the verb, thaumazó, and its cognate noun, thauma, are both used. In essence, it says, “I was astonished with great astonishment.” It is the same verb that was used in the Greek translation of Daniel 8:27 after he beheld a vision that completely overwhelmed him –

“And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king’s business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it.” Daniel 8:27

The appearance of this harlot stunned John. The finery, the extent of her reach (many waters), the names of blasphemy, and the filthiness of her fornication – all of these, along with her drunken state because of the volumes of blood of those who confess Jesus Christ was literally shocking to his eyes.

She is a great contrast to the woman of Revelation 12 who fled from persecution, whereas this harlot actively persecutes. And those saints of the end times will be in the sights of this vile whore.

Life application: This harlot – a spiritual entity who has mixed idolatrous worship with the truth of Jesus Christ – has also been instrumental in killing those who have held to His word and His testimony alone.

One can look back through the church age to see what organization it is that has been the leading proponent of killing those who disagree with their theological position. The Inquisition is just one evidence of the brutality exercised against the saints of God. The reason for these martyrdoms is seen in those who reject hierarchal levels of authority or anti-biblical teachings in order to faithfully follow the true Leader of the church – Jesus, and the one source of church doctrine – the Bible.

Anytime a body stemming from the Christian faith mixes in extra-biblical rites of worship which are contrary to the Bible, they commit spiritual harlotry. An example of this is the practice of praying to Mary or the saints. There is no biblical justification for this, and, in fact, it is anti-biblical in practice.

Increasing the guilt occurs when statues are given reverence and petition – a practice known as idol-dulia – the veneration of an idol. This is supposedly acceptable to those who promote the practice because they say it is in contrast to latria – meaning “worship” which is granted only to God. In fact, however, there is no distinction between the two. Both words are translated in the same manner from the Latin – to serve. The same is true with the translation of the Hebrew word avad (to worship) which is translated as both dulia and latria. In other words, there is no actual distinction between the two.

Why is this important? Because certain groups and individuals proclaim that grace can be obtained from practicing idol-dulia – thus it is a practice of harlotry. Any worship, service, or veneration provided to any being or image other than God is spiritual prostitution. Any worship, service, or veneration offered to the wrong god is also. There is one God, and He has revealed Himself in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. This is the reason why Hebrews 3:1 states we are to “fix our thoughts on Jesus” (NIV) and Hebrews 12:2 asks us to “fix our eyes on Jesus” (NIV). Any other spiritual attention that is granted is spiritual harlotry.

Throughout the church age, those who have held fast to the message of Jesus have suffered for their refusal to bow the knee to any lesser god – many becoming martyrs. Countless others have been led astray by these false modes of worship and their fates have been determined because of their actions.

No wonder John marveled at the great harlot in amazement. He saw the absolute perversion of the beauty and glory of the message of his Lord in the wicked dealings of men who were given charge over helpless sheep. He must have been overwhelmed at the thought of what had come about within the very church he was writing to.

Let us hold fast to our faith in Christ, and let us also be sure to reject any form of worship that is not sanctioned in Scripture. Let us hold fast to the truth of God as revealed in our precious Lord JESUS!

Heavenly Father, forgive us for any past offenses against You where we have wrongly petitioned anyone or anything other than You. We know now that we cannot pray to Mary, to the saints, or to any other person or object, except for Jesus. We understand that Jesus alone is the Mediator between us. Therefore, we will pray to You through Him alone. Amen.

Saturday, 22 May 2021

And on her forehead a name was written:
MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,
THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS
AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS
OF THE EARTH. Revelation 17:5

This is referring to the great harlot John has been describing. Of her, he says, “And on her forehead a name was written.”

Scholars of the past have noted that prostitutes of the past actually had their names tied in a circlet which was then displayed on their foreheads as a label. This would be similar to how people at a store will wear a name badge today. The forehead is the most prominent and visual place where anyone can see the identification plainly and immediately.

In other words, nothing is hidden about this. It is obvious and clearly exposed. The forehead is also the place of acknowledgment, such as in vows.

The High Priest of Israel wore a turban as he performed his duties and the passage from Exodus 28 notes the adornment of it –

“You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet:

HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

³⁷ And you shall put it on a blue cord, that it may be on the turban; it shall be on the front of the turban. ³⁸ So it shall be on Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things which the children of Israel hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall always be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord.” Exodus 28:36-38

There is a marked difference between the forehead of the high priest and that of the great harlot. Holiness and true worship are replaced with what is abominable and false. Where the High Priest (a picture of Jesus as our Mediator) bears the sins of God’s people, the great whore bears her own sins and leads others into her abominations.

As noted earlier, the forehead is also the spot where the mental assertion of something is made. For this reason, Moses gave this instruction to the people of Israel concerning the laws they had received –

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. ⁸ You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ⁹ You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:6-8

Rather than mentally asserting that God is the Creator and worthy of holy reverence, the only mental assertion in the mind of this whore is fornication, idolatry, lust, and abominable practices. She identifies with the name next to be stated and acknowledges its position openly. And that name is:

MYSTERY – This is either a part of the name, or it is a way of saying, “This is a harlot, but it is unknown except to whom it is revealed,” or it means that the name is to be understood in a spiritual sense. One (or both) of the latter two options seems more likely. In other words, this is a city and a body that is a harlot, but those who have not had the mystery revealed to them do not know it is so. Further, this is not a literal female woman who is a harlot, but she is being used as a metaphor to describe the city. This harlot has been working out her practices in a way that people don’t even realize that they are following the wrong path. What they think is right is not, and yet it is hidden from them.

BABYLON THE GREAT – The name itself signifies complete confusion. Babylon comes from the Hebrew babel, meaning confusion. The deception of the whore is complete. What she proclaims as truth is actually a confused and twisted substitute. Following the word babel back to its origin, one scholar notes that its plural form means “gate of the gods.” The term was therefore used to denote all supposed avenues which led to the gods – sorcery, astrology, occult practices, humanism, idolatry, etc.

Babylon was later an empire composed of a government, a religious identification, and that warred against Israel (the people of God) through both spiritual (Ezekiel 23:11-21) and actual (innumerable references) means. This harlot will emulate ancient Babylon and will be considered a superlative example of it, the last and greatest example of the ideal of it.

THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS – Of all of the harlotry that occurs, this harlot is the preeminent one. Her name signifies that from her stems all false religion which is opposed to the truth of God. It is the one that is the beginning, or source of the others, and one which rears up all the others to act in her manner. She sets the examples for all the others in her doings. Remembering that harlotry in this sense is a turning away from God and to false religion, idolatry, and so on, this entity counterfeits right faith, but then turns its congregants away through subtlety, guiding them into apostasy.

AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH – Matthew Poole says of this title, “And abominations of the earth; a place in which not only idolatry reigneth, but all abominable things committed in the world; carnal whoredom tolerated by them, and sodomy, &c.” It is a place where there is vile wickedness of the heart, perversion, lusts for power, control, and (as Poole notes) sodomy. These “abominations” are unclean, perverse, filled with wickedness, and the doctrines of demons. The practices she promotes cover all “of the earth,” and people from every shore are involved in her wickedness.

Looking at the description above, one can clearly identify a place that exists on earth, right now, that fits this description. It may or may not be all that is inclusive of what MYSTERY BABYLON is comprised during the tribulation, but this place, this city, is the head of it. Look at the world around you and the identification of her should be clear.

Life application: In the Bible, we are told to think on Jesus and to look to Him. Anything that takes our attention off of Him, or which falsely portrays His gospel message, is to be completely rejected.

We can ask ourselves, “Is there such an entity on earth that resembles Christianity and yet has departed from the truth of the gospel?” “Has this entity taken people’s eyes off Jesus and directed them towards other things?” “Are practices of this entity filled with idolatry, demonology, sorcery, and occult practices?” “Has such an entity arisen which fulfills a role unintended by the Lord when He established this church?”

If one reasonably and in an unbiased manner evaluates these questions, the answer is “Yes.” And as the days progress, Mystery Babylon will be seen for what she truly is – apostasy and wickedness.

It is our obligation as believers to turn from anything that is not focused on Jesus Christ. He alone is to be our hope and our highest joy. God has appointed Him to be our one and only path to salvation. Let us rejoice in Him. Yes! Let us rejoice in JESUS!

Lord Jesus, You alone are due my reverence and my worship. No other being is worthy of any praise or prayer directed to them. Help me to be a light to others who may be caught up in the untruth of the lies of the great whore who steals men’s souls away from coming to a saving knowledge of Your glorious majesty. Amen.

Friday, 21 May 2021

The woman was arrayed 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. Revelation 17:4

The great harlot named in verse 17:1, meaning the city being described in the vision, is described further in this verse. Of her, John says, “The woman.” This is repeated from the previous verse where he said, “And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast.” As noted then, this term is used to describe a city. That will be stated explicitly in verse 17:18 –

“And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

Therefore, the imagery given here is metaphor and needs to be evaluated from that perspective. Of this woman, John says she “was arrayed in purple and scarlet.” The two words have a close enough appearance that both are used to describe the robe placed upon Christ. First is porphurous, or purple. That is seen only in John’s gospel (twice) and here in Revelation (twice). One instance from John says –

“And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe.” John 19:2

The other word, kokkinos, or purple, is found in Matthew when referring to the robe placed upon the Lord –

“And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. ²⁹ When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’” Matthew 27:28, 29

Whether this is the same robe in both accounts, as some assume, or whether it is a different robe placed upon Jesus (one by Herod as is seen in Luke 23:11, and the other by the soldiers of Pilate), the point of using both words in Revelation is probably to show that this woman identifies with Christ. Both the scarlet color (war, blood, and judgment) and the purple (nobility/royalty) were used to describe that which was placed upon Him. This woman is an entity that appears to be emulating Him by being arrayed in both colors.

John next continues with, “and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls.” The word translated as “adorned” signifies to be gilded with. Gold speaks of purity, holiness, royalty, and divinity. Next, the Greek says, “stone precious.” The singular stands for the plural. The same idea was presented by Paul in 1 Corinthians 3 –

“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³ each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.” 1 Corinthians 3:11-13

Obviously, Paul is using the term to refer to works worthy of reward. The margarités, or “pearl,” is used in parables by Jesus to refer to the precious teachings (spiritual truths) of the gospel. That is seen, for example, in Matthew 7:6 and 13:45 –

“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” (7:6)

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, ⁴⁶ who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (13:45, 46)

One can see that this city is supposedly identified with Christ. It is adorned with robes as He was, it is a city basing its splendor on works and upon the wisdom found in the gospel. However, it is a harlot – meaning it has prostituted itself – betraying its calling and scorning the One she is identified with. Only in pretense is she aligned with the things of God. However, in reality (as John continues), she is “having in her hand a golden cup.”

This takes the reader back to the description of Babylon from Jeremiah 51 –

“Flee from the midst of Babylon,
And every one save his life!
Do not be cut off in her iniquity,
For this is the time of the Lord’s vengeance;
He shall recompense her.
⁷ Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord’s hand,
That made all the earth drunk.
The nations drank her wine;
Therefore the nations are deranged.
⁸ Babylon has suddenly fallen and been destroyed.
Wail for her!
Take balm for her pain;
Perhaps she may be healed.
⁹ We would have healed Babylon,
But she is not healed.
Forsake her, and let us go everyone to his own country;
For her judgment reaches to heaven and is lifted up to the skies.” Jeremiah 51:6-9

The harlot of Revelation is not unlike Babylon of old. She has a golden cup in her hand, signifying wrath and judgment, and this will be brought down upon her as well. Of this cup, John says it is “full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.”

The Greek word bdelugma, translated as “abomination,” signifies an accursed thing. It is that which emits a foul odor. Thus, figuratively, it is a moral horror. It is something that is a stench to God. It reflects those who refuse to listen to and obey His voice.

The word translated as “filthiness” signifies something that is not pure because it is mixed. Morally, it is that which is tainted by sin.

Finally, the word “fornication” means sexual impurity and that which is idolatrous. There is a selling off, or surrendering, of purity.

The question to consider concerning this woman is, “Is there a city that fits the description of this harlot in the world today? One that identifies with Christ, bases itself on good works and the pomp and majesty of the Christian faith, and yet which is filled with abominations and idolatry?”

Life application: This great harlot bears little resemblance to the woman depicted in verse 12:1, 2 – “Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. ² Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.”

Whereas the woman in chapter 12 is clothed with the sun – something created by God and without change by man – the great harlot is arrayed in purple and scarlet. These are materials that require forming and shaping by man’s hands, and then they have dyes applied to them. Rather than bearing the radiance and glory of the Creator, they reflect the things that are lusted after by the world.

These garments and their colors indicate wealth, status, and royalty. The great harlot is also “adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls.” The adornment of the woman in chapter 12 is “a garland of 12 stars.” Again, the stars are created by God; the adornments of the harlot are materials that are cut, melted, set, and/or shaped by the hands of men. They are external refinements that hide the true state of who she is.

Remember, this harlot is symbolic of something else and not actually a person. This entity has all the appearance of finery, status, and majesty; and yet it is an abomination to God. The idea of fornication is used throughout the Bible when speaking of the intermingling of false religion with the truth, or false religion completely substituting the truth in God’s people. This harlot is a religious entity that has completely compromised itself to filth, abominable practices, and apostasy. It has taken the truth of the gospel and changed it. This is something Paul calls “anathema” in Galatians chapter 1.

What city is there today that fits this description? Be advised that the gospel is not based on works, but on faith in Jesus Christ. Acceptable works are derived from faith in Christ. Let us remember that God alone has done all that is necessary for man to be saved. It is only faith in what He has done that this comes about. The gospel is about God’s provision as is found in the giving of JESUS.

Lord, here we are – given the beauty of Your truth in the pages of Your word. And yet, we change it and pervert it. We mix in falsity with it and then pass that on to others instead of simply trusting that what You have given us is right, proper, and sufficient. Turn our hearts to Your word alone and let us rest in that. Amen.

Thursday, 20 May 2021

So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. Revelation 17:3

John is now given a new direction in his vision which explains who is the “great harlot” that verses 1 and 2 referred to. In this, it says, “So he (meaning the angel of verse 1) carried me away in the Spirit.” This is thus an explanatory vision. It is what occurred with Ezekiel several times. One such time was –

“And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell upon me there. ² Then I looked, and there was a likeness, like the appearance of fire—from the appearance of His waist and downward, fire; and from His waist and upward, like the appearance of brightness, like the color of amber. ³ He stretched out the form of a hand, and took me by a lock of my hair; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the image of jealousy was, which provokes to jealousy. ⁴ And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the plain.” Ezekiel 8:1-4

As can be seen, Ezekiel was among others. His physical body remained, but he was taken in a vision to see events selected by the Lord for him to then relay. This is the same now with John. In his vision, John is taken “into the wilderness.”

The wilderness in Scripture is a place of trial and testing. It can also be a place of closeness to God or separation from God, depending on the subject. For example, Charles Ellicott notes –

“The woman clothed with the sun (Revelation 12:1), persecuted by the dragon, finds a home in the wilderness into which she is driven. She is persecuted, but not forsaken; she can joy in tribulation. The scarlet-clad woman, amid all her dazzling surroundings, is still in a wilderness.”

What John next sees is a rather remarkable thing. He says, “And I saw a woman.” The angel has already called this woman “the great harlot who sits on many waters.” He also has said of her that it is she “with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication” (17:2).

At the end of the chapter, the angel will explicitly say that this woman, “is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth” (17:18). Of this woman, it says she is “sitting on a scarlet beast.” Due to the description that follows, it can be inferred that this is the same as the “beast out of the sea” of Chapter 13.

Taking the symbolism from the Old Testament, scarlet, or red, in the Bible pictures and symbolizes war, blood, and/or judgment. Thus, it can be inferred that this beast is an entity that is warring, bloody, subject to judgment, or delivering judgment (see vv. 13:4 & 13:7). Further, this beast is “full of names of blasphemy.”

This corresponds to verse 13:1, which described the beast as having, “seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.” The names of blasphemy are recorded there, but so also are the continued parts of the description now being given, which says, “having seven heads.”

Later in this chapter, the seven heads are said to be “seven mountains” (17:9) and also seven kings (17:10). The word for “mountains” can simply mean “hills.” Either is an acceptable translation. The word can also be taken literally, or it can be taken as a metaphor for a government entity. Finally, the verse ends with, “and ten horns.”

The ten horns are specifically said to be ten kings in verse 7:12. The description is now given, and it will be built upon in the verses to come.

Life application: The things John is seeing in his vision are identifiable as to what the things mean – scarlet, a beast, horns, and so on. The meaning is generally clear from such things already found in Scripture. However, the actual identification of them is not explicitly stated. Further, whether some are literal or are metaphors (such as the mountains) is unknown. Therefore, what is presented can be turned into countless points of conjecture.

Being dogmatic about a single interpretation is not the wise path to follow. And yet, an analysis must be made with one’s best interpretive guesses. In the end, time will meet up with the prophetic utterances, and the two will come together, revealing the truth of all of the symbolism. When it happens, the truth of Scripture will be seen.

For now, let us consider the words of Revelation as God’s inspired word. It is showing us, in advance, that He already knows what is coming and how it will all pan out. Because of this, we can be absolutely confident that what it says about the victory ahead is certain. In the end, there is victory, because at the end there is JESUS.

Heavenly Father, You have revealed future events to us in Your word because You want us to study them and stretch our minds as we think them through. Help us to see clearly into what You intend for us to see and help us to not fight over the things which are yet hidden from our view. May our studies of Your word be edifying to us and bring glory to You. Amen.

Wednesday, 19 May 2021

with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” Revelation 17:2

The words of this verse should be combined with verse 17:1 to get a full view of what is conveyed –

“Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, ‘Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, ² with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.’”

Having the context, John begins verse 17:2 saying, “with whom the kings of the earth.” The kings of the earth speak of the world system of government. The nations have their own governmental structures, and they are not united with the Lord in any particular manner, even if some of their citizens are. They are simply the governments that exist and by which the people of the earth engage in their affairs.

Of these kings of the earth, John says that this great harlot has “committed fornication.” Of this thought, Vincent’s Word Studies notes –

“The figure of a harlot committing fornication with kings and peoples occurs frequently in the prophets, representing the defection of God’s Church and its attachment to others. See Isaiah 1:21; Jeremiah 2:20; Jeremiah 3:1, Jeremiah 3:6, Jeremiah 3:8; Ezekiel 16:15, Ezekiel 16:16, Ezekiel 16:28, Ezekiel 16:31, Ezekiel 16:35, Ezekiel 16:41; Ezekiel 23:5, Ezekiel 23:19, Ezekiel 23:44; Hosea 2:5; Hosea 3:3; Hosea 4:14. The word is applied to heathen cities in three places only: to Tyre, Isaiah 23:15, Isaiah 23:16, Isaiah 23:17; to Nineveh, Nahum 3:4; and here.”

Due to the nature of this concept, that of fornication referring to “God’s Church” an overwhelming number of times, this is an immediate indication that it is referring to a body claiming to be aligned with the Lord, but which has defected from what is right, sound, and proper.

But more directly, these instances cited by Vincent’s speak of people groups (such as Israel) and cities (such as Jerusalem, Tyre, and Nineveh). There is the merging of what is profane into what occurs in them – idolatry, turning from the Lord, and so on.

As will be seen, the final verse of the chapter identifies this harlot, Mystery Babylon, as “that great city which rules over the kings of the earth.” This is explicit, and there is no reason to assume that the word “city” means anything other than an actual city. Of this city, John next says, “and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk.”

The inhabitants of the earth include, but are not limited to, the kings of the earth. This city, which is a great harlot, has influence around the world and among people within many governments. These people have participated in her adulteries, being led not to the Lord, but astray from the Lord. This, even though the city claims to be aligned with the Lord. This is evidenced in the words, “were made drunk.”

The idea of drunkenness is that of spiritual waywardness, pursuing idolatry, and the like, all of which is leading to punishment. The theme is seen especially in the prophets. A notable example is seen when speaking of Judah in Ezekiel –

“For thus says the Lord God: ‘Surely I will deliver you into the hand of those you hate, into the hand of those from whom you alienated yourself. ²⁹ They will deal hatefully with you, take away all you have worked for, and leave you naked and bare. The nakedness of your harlotry shall be uncovered, both your lewdness and your harlotry. ³⁰ I will do these things to you because you have gone as a harlot after the Gentiles, because you have become defiled by their idols. ³¹ You have walked in the way of your sister; therefore I will put her cup in your hand.’
³² “Thus says the Lord God:
‘You shall drink of your sister’s cup,
The deep and wide one;
You shall be laughed to scorn
And held in derision;
It contains much.
³³ You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow,
The cup of horror and desolation,
The cup of your sister Samaria.
³⁴ You shall drink and drain it,
You shall break its shards,
And tear at your own breasts;
For I have spoken,’
Says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 23:28-34

This is what is now being portrayed by John. And so, he finishes with, “with the wine of her fornication. This city is responsible for leading the inhabitants of the earth astray from the Lord through her actions of idolatry and spiritual prostitution. Wine represents a cultural expression where the mingling of things occurs. In this case, there is the mingling of what is supposed to be true religion with that which is idolatrous. In giving this wine to the inhabitants of the world, they become drunk with the idolatry of the harlot.

So, the question to be put forth before continuing on in this chapter is, “Can you think of a spiritual body, supposedly aligned with the Lord, based in a single city, which is filled with idolatry, and which conducts its affairs on a global scale, including making alliances with the leaders of nations? If so, you can then see if the pattern in the verses ahead continues to describe that religious city that you have in mind.

Life application: There is one God and one way to approach Him. It is the Bible that reveals this one way. Therefore, any other religious system on earth, no matter whether it contains snippets of truth or not, is false. And, it is certain, even some religions which stem from the Bible are false because they manipulate it in ways that twist the truth it contains. Mormonism and the Jehovah’s Witnesses are two of the many cults which have sprung from the Bible, but which bear no resemblance to the truth contained in it.

Because the Bible is God’s revelation of Himself to the world, it is the source of how to have a loving and close relationship with Him. In it, we find that God desires this type of intimate relationship. However, this beautiful relationship is violated when we participate in religious or philosophical systems which pull us away from what He has ordained. And so, the metaphor of harlotry is used.

Just as a harlot seduces us and draws us away from our marriage partner, false religion pulls us away from our God. This type of spiritual fornication is unacceptable to God. Today we see the world heading towards a worldwide system of false religion. Indeed, the whole world is moving towards this system.

Add in a charismatic world leader, the antichrist, and there will be almost universal idolatry of him and the following of whatever religious system he espouses or aligns with. Add in the false prophet who will lend credence to this thought, and you can see how easily the world will be duped into its plunge into perdition. What is coming will be so far from the truth of the Bible that there will be no remedy. Instead, God will judge this great harlot and destruction will come upon her.

The way to avoid this is to have one’s mind aligned properly with God as He has revealed Himself. And the way to do that is to read and know the Bible – His inspired and breathed out word to us. What it says is coming is already in the works, and countless masses will be led astray – all because they failed to check the word. It is all there, and it is a message that tells us to fix our eyes on JESUS.

O God, You have held out Your hands to the people of the world and beckoned us to come and fellowship with You. You’ve given us everything we need to do so, and You alone have paved a spacious highway for us to follow. But we, like straying sheep, look for any other avenue other than the right one. Lead us, O great Shepherd, and keep us from straying. Amen.