Last week we learned that the world will prove to be a cruel and immoral mistress
that seeks only to take from and deceive people with her wiles all the way to
their death. This week we are going to learn more about the one who will rule the world for a short time and come to understand just how evil evil
can be. However, thankfully, this sobering message is only offered after an
inspiring promise is made to all who are ultimately not of this world. In Revelation 17:14-18, we are going to examine
TWO VICTORIES that are portrayed and appreciate about how futile and
short-lived any confidence in the world really is compared to the confidence that can be found in the
person and work of Christ.
a. The Lamb’s Future
Victory over the Beast-17:14
The reason for the
assimilation of forces described in Revelation 17:13 is revealed in verse
14—“these will wage war against the Lamb” (17:14a). All the world’s evil powers—particularly
of the ten governors (ten horns) and the Antichrist (the beast)—will join
together in an effort to lodge a final insurrection against the Lamb. This
final insurrection has already been introduced in Revelation 16 and will play
out later in the account of Revelation 19.
Revelation 16:12-14-“The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the
great river Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be
prepared for the kings from the east And I saw coming out of the
mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the
mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits
like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing
signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather
them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.”
Revelation 19:19-“And I saw the beast and the kings of the
earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse
and against His army”
What is introduced
in Revelation 16 and fulfilled in Revelation 19 is predicted here in Revelation
17—a major battle involving the evil world and the Lamb. This is the
culmination of cosmic conflict that this apocalyptic work has been building up
to ever since Revelation 6 with the opening of the seven seals. In one corner
you have the beast and his gang of governors and in the other the Lamb.
Though the forces of
evil will engage in open warfare against God and his people, especially at the
tail end of the tribulation period, “the Lamb will overcome them” (17:14b).
While the Lamb might appear to be an interesting choice to go against a
seven-headed, ten horned beast, consider who this Lamb is. He is the leonine
Lamb introduced in Revelation 5:6.
Revelation 5:6-“And I saw between the throne (with the
four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having
seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirit of God, sent out into
all the earth.”
This Lamb occupies a
place of absolute power (between the throne,…and the elders), unlike the beast
who occupies the earth and operates on borrowed authority. This Lamb has
already conquered death itself (“standing as if slain”) what is a beast and a few
vassal-kings? This Lamb has all authority (seven horns) and is not encumbered
with the weight of three extra (ten horns). The Lamb is also omniscient,
nothing escapes his vision (seven eyes which are the seven Spirits of God). This
Lamb is the humblest and most glorious figure ever to exist and as such is
worthy of worship and deserving of honor. Who better to lead God’s people in
victory over the Lord’s enemies than this Lamb—Christ?
This Lamb—humble,
glorious, powerful, wise, victorious—“will overcome.” The verb is the latest
installment of a theme that rings forth throughout the book. The theme of
“overcoming” would have inspired the original readers, many of whom were
experiencing all kinds of persecution and pressure, to overcome despite their
present circumstances in view of the ultimate victory described here. God’s
people can overcome in any age because they know that the Lamb—their
Savior—will overcome on their behalf in the end.
The Lamb’s victory extends
to those who are on his side—“and those who are with Him are the called and
chosen and faithful” (17:14d). Used elsewhere in the New Testament to speak of
believers (see Rom. 8:28; Col. 3:12; 2 Tim. 2:10), “called” and “chosen” are
paired with “faithful” here in connection to what was found earlier in places
like Revelation 2:10.
Revelation 2:10-“…Be faithful until death, and I will give
you the crown of life” (i.e. the victor’s crown).
The point being made
in Revelation 17:14 is that God’s people (“called and chosen”) demonstrate
their special relationship with God in their enduring faithfulness. Those who
remain faithful in the midst of temptation and persecution, with Jesus (the
faithful witness) as their model (Rev. 1:3; 3:14; 19:11) and their own
faithfulness as the result (2:10; 17:14) prove they have been called and chosen
and counted among those associated with the Lamb and his final victory. What a
promise and preferred destiny—victory with the victorious one!
b. The Beast’s
Temporary Victory over The Harlot-17:15-18
In 17:1-13 the harlot,
beast, heads, and horns were explained in greater detail. In verses 15 and 18,
two more important symbols are explained in the context of the beast’s
temporary victory over the harlot. The first of these is the water—“and he said
to me, ‘The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and
multitudes and nations and tongues’” (17:15). The waters referred to here were
first introduced in 17:1—“’I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who
sits on many waters,…’”. Ultimately, this detail shows that the coming world
order will be a conglomerate of peoples and nations that are united in
opposition to God and in promotion of the world’s system. This world’s system
will enjoy a capitol city in the future—described in verse 18 as a woman.
“the woman whom you saw is the great city,
which reigns over the kings of the earth” (17:18). Just as “Washington” is one
way to refer to the power base of the United States (an example of metonymy),
so too will the woman/harlot and the city she illustrates represent the power
base of the coming world order. All of the world’s powers will be funneled through
this great capitol.
Perhaps this is why
the beast and his forces are so bent on conquering this city and assuming absolute
power in its place. This is what is described in verse 16—“And the ten horns
which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her
desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire” (17:16a).
Though the language is symbolic, what is ultimately described here involves the
world powers (beast and ten kings) turning against the center of power (the
woman). Here, the true feelings of the beast (Antichrist) for the harlot (coming
world order) are revealed and what results is a civil war of sorts in which the
ruling forces (Antichrist and governors/”beast” and “heads”) turn against the
populace (“waters”) and city (“harlot”). Though this city and its population
have devoted themselves to the beast, the actions taken by the beast reveal
that Satan’s forces of evil at this late juncture have no love for any human
beings—God’s people or lost people—as all humans possess the image of God and
are objects of God’s love. By inflicting as much pain as possible on humanity
at large, these evil forces seek to get back at God by wreaking as much havoc
on his greatest creation.
What is described
here is not unlike what Rome feared most in the ancient world (the context in
which this was all written). There were many prior to the writing of Revelation
who believed that the deceased emperor Nero would one day return with a foreign
army to destroy Rome. This played upon the Roman population’s dread of vassal
kings conspiring together against the capitol and seizing power—something that Hannibal
of Carthage attempted around 200BC. Here, the world’s worst fears—a civil war
that overthrows a sitting power—will prove successful and many of the world’s
citizens will pay the ultimate price.
The Bible holds no
punches in describing the nature of this victory of the beast—“will make her
desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire,…” (17:16).
First, “to make desolate” means to suffer destruction with the implication of
being totally deserted and abandoned. Rendering “naked, …and will burn her up
with fire” is taken from Ezekiel 23:25-29 where the destruction of an unbelieving
Jerusalem is described. In that context, Babylon is being used as God’s means
of judging a people that has denied their Lord in Jerusalem. Here, a future Babylon
(this great city and her population) is being judged by evil because of their unrepentant
sin and pride. In describing this judgment on this capitol city, several images
are used. First, “to be stripped naked” builds on the warning to the church of
Laodicea (to buy white garments and cover their nakedness) and the shame
already associated with nakedness mentioned in places like 16:15—“Blessed is
the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about
naked and men will not see his shame.” This imagery refers to the exposure of
one’s sinful deeds. Here, the beast’s victory over the world capitol will
render all of her inhabitance exposed and ashamed. Worse than even this the
text goes on to describe this defeat with “and will eat her flesh,” calling to
mind the fate of people like Jezebel in 2 Kings 9:36-37 whose dead corpse was
consumed by dogs. Finally, “and will burn her up with fire” references both the
smoldering structures that often accompany conquests of this type and the
ultimate judgment of fire that will be revealed in Revelation 20:10 in which
the enemies of God will be tormented day and night forever (Osborne, Revelation,
626-27).
While this
insurrection between the beast and the world capitol appears to be inside
baseball and limited to the earthly domain, the vision reveals that even this
temporary victory handed to the beast is not beyond the scope of God’s control.
First, even this victory of the beast is according to God’s plan—“For God has
put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose” (17:17a).
Not only has God
moved in the hearts of these players to execute this temporary victory for his
greater purposes, he has “given their kingdom to the beast” (17:17b). This is
not new as God has often placed people under the rule of others at various
times and for various reasons. God allowed the Egyptians to enslave the Hebrews
for a time. God gave Jerusalem to the Babylonians in the days of Nebuchadnezzar.
He then handed the Babylonians into the hands of the Medes and Persians and
them to the Greeks and them to the Romans. All of these historical examples
reveal what is said in places like Romans 13:1, “For there is no authority
except from God, and those which exist are established by God” and Daniel 2:21,
“It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and
establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of
understanding.” God alone can do this kind of king-making as the King of kings
and the Lord of Lords.
And this he will continue
to do—that is orchestrating world affairs according to his will—“until the word
of God is fulfilled” (17:17c). In the most general sense this refers to all the
promises concerning the last days in the end and the final judgment that will
condemn the world and usher in a new heaven and a new earth. Interestingly, this
temporary victory of the beast over the capitol will contribute indirectly and
ultimately to the demise of evil itself as part of God’s plan to bring about a glorious
destiny for all who belong to him.
So What?
This future
temporary victory of the beast over the capitol city demonstrates what happens when
evil leads to self-destruction. “The repulsive immorality, idolatry, luxury,
and misuse of power” that will characterize the future world order will
ultimately leave this power susceptible to destruction by evil at the hands of
the beast (Osborne, Revelation, 628). What is portrayed here (pride and
idolatry preceding a mighty fall) is, in many ways, the same thing that
happened to Rome in the ancient world and what has proven to be the case of
many world powers since. Evil doesn’t just destroy good things; it destroys
corrupt things as well. Thankfully, as God’s people, we are “with the Lamb” and
as such look forward to a victory over the forces of evil forever. If in
Revelation 17:1-13 we learned that being the bride of Christ is to be preferred
over being a lover of the world, here we learn being with the Lamb of victory
is infinitely better than being counted among those who will prove to be the
biggest losers—those who will be desolate, naked, eaten, and burned up. Are you
standing with the Lamb in victory today? Or are you counted among the ranks of
this world and her temporary systems. Make no mistake, the world that promises
everything will one day be ruled by an evil one who will turn on a dime to
destroy you without batting an eye. Just as the harlot (world system) will woo
only to use, so too will the Beast (Antichrist) come to rule the world just to
watch it burn. Christ, the Lamb, came to save the world and will come again to
remake the world. Our confidence ought to be placed in Him.
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