Day 255, Revelation 17
The whole of God’s revelation (the totality of scripture) reveals God’s purpose to be the union of two parts: God and humanity, man and woman, Christ and His Bride. This revelation (the book we are reading) is no different.
And just as any faithful marriage is corrupted by fornication or adultery, so God’s perfect plan has been tarnished by the satan’s evil and selfish sinful human power structures. In this revelation, John uses the image of a prostitute, but beware of letting misogyny steal the powerful truths of this chapter. Although John’s harlot is female, she is symbolic, and male prostitutes could substitute with equivalent symbolism. Remember, also, the prophetic symbolism of Hosea marrying the harlot and loving her as God loves unfaithful humanity.
The trap of the harlot is that she seems so attractive and desirable, until you are captured, and then escape is almost impossible, while death is almost certain. In N.T. Wright’s “Revelation for Everyone” he uses the apt analogy of a lobster pot. Sin has baited and trapped us, and we need to be rescued.
This chapter is hard to read for all the brutal imagery, but we see the harlot for what she truly is: a filthy abomination. Just as the beast we met a couple of chapters ago was numbered 666 indicating complete imperfection, so the prostitute of chapter 17 is Babylon personified (and thus Rome exposed) as attractive corruption. Babylon is this world’s system – the power and deception of imperialism and religion. Babylon is just as powerful in today’s world as she was in Roman times. Capitalism and Communism are attractive to different mindsets, but both can be corrupt at the core. Likewise, Babylon hides in the cultural shibboleths of gender politics, pro-choice propaganda, and social media self-righteousness forcing free speech to take a back seat.
We need to know that filthy corruption will be defeated. This chapter shows us it will.
For all the warring against the Lamb, these heads, and kings, and beasts will be defeated by the Lord of lords and the King of kings, together with His companions: the chosen ones and faithful ones.
Rather than getting a headache trying to figure out who the seven, five, ten and eight represent, focus on the prophetic symbolism message: the Lamb wins, and we win with Him.
Have a great day!
Mark.