King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19)

King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19)

The enemies of the Christians have refused to repent.  The whole purpose of God’s retribution was to try and bring the Roman Empire to repentance.  They have refused to leave their idolatrous and lascivious lifestyle.  History records that the Roman Empire was one of the most decadent societies ever to inhabit a place on the earth.  Homosexuality, fornication and adultery were the earmarks of their society.  And to cap that off they worshipped every manmade God imaginable including men on earth as Gods.  In an effort to foster public approval for the emperors, the Roman Empire forced the populace to worship them as Gods on earth.  The nations making up the empire were eager for the money and support of Rome and gladly went along with it.

From the viewpoint of the Romans this seemed like quite a tidy little arrangement and it was successful for a great many years.  However the fly in the ointment for them was that the Christians refused to have anything to do with worshipping their emperors and for good reason.  The Christians serve a jealous God who demands He be the only object of worship.  So offended by idolatry is our God that He compares it to fornication.  Christians are regarded by inspiration as the bride of Christ.  An idolatrous Christian is no different in the eyes of God than an unfaithful spouse and this is well known to all Christians.  Therefore worshipping a false God is absolutely forbidden and carries with it the consequence of spiritual separation from God.  The Christian is expected to die if necessary to keep from bowing down and worshipping an idol and the Revelation makes this crystal clear.

Of course the Roman Empire cared little for this.  To them the God of the Christians was nothing more than a silly superstition.  After all, they were well practiced in inventing Gods, why would they think the God of the Christians was any different than the manmade Gods they invented and pushed down the people’s throats?  All they knew was that the majority of the Roman citizenry went along with it and the Christians who were by far the minority refused at all cost.  Christianity was outlawed.  It was considered treason against the empire if one refused to bow down to the emperor.  The ability to buy food, work and live within the empire was made next to impossible for anyone refusing to worship the emperor.

Unfortunately for the empire, the enigmatic, invisible God of the Christians was a lot different than all of the many pagan Gods they served.  The God of the Christians was the one true and living God out of all of them.  None of the God’s of the Romans existed.  They were figments of the imagination oftentimes contrived for the purpose of controlling the population or bleeding money out of them.  The God of the Christians does exist and He is absolutely holy, just, loving and all powerful just to name a few of His attributes.  He gave mankind freewill in the Garden of Eden and not once has He ever revoked that privilege.  He gave the Roman Empire and its citizens every chance in the world to repent of all the time suffering the persecution and death of His faithful children.  One can only imagine the wrath of a Father who for the sake of His righteous nature watched the suffering of His children in order to maintain all of mankind’s freewill and give every lost soul the chance to repent and come to the truth.

Chapter 18 saw the point at which God has declared enough is enough.  Rome has not fallen yet but it is so sure to fall that it’s destruction is mentioned in the past tense.  The actual destruction of the empire begins later on in chapter 19 when we see the battle of Armageddon fought.  But before we see the final destruction of Rome we will see a picture of the champion of the Christians as He prepares for the judgment.

Revelation 19:1
“After these things I heard as it were a great voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, Hallelujah; Salvation, and glory, and power, belong to our God”

This multitude envisioned here is the collective souls of those we saw beneath the alter in Revelation 6:9-10 who were asking God how long it would be before their blood was avenged against their oppressors, mentioned again later in Revelation 7:9 worshipping God on His throne.

Revelation 19:2
“for true and righteous are his judgments; for he hath judged the great harlot, her that corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.”

Once again we see the judgment of the Empire spoken of in the past tense.  Their judgment had been ongoing for some time now pictured in the bowls of wrath but the final judgment was yet to come.  The final judgment would see the Empire destroyed from the earth for all time.

Revelation 19:3
“And a second time they say, Hallelujah. And her smoke goeth up for ever and ever.”

The saved dead in Christ are rejoicing now that God’s righteous judgment has come.  The imagery leading up to this supports that these rejoicing are the souls of the slain who overcame to the end.  They were stedfast till their death and now their murderers are going to get their just rewards.  Those who died for Christ have every right to expect the judgment of their oppressors.  They gave their lives so that their enemies could have a chance to repent and be saved.  They loved their enemies to their own graves.  And for those who refused to repent, they got what they had coming to them.

We are starting to see now the picture of the final judgment yet to come.  The enemies of the Christians died physical deaths to be sure but that is not the end of their suffering by any means.  It was only the beginning.  In the account of the rich man and Lazarus we learn that the rich man went straight to a place called Tartarus in the Hadean realm which is the abode of the dead.  Tartarus is a place of torment for the lost when they die.  There they await the day of the Lord where they will receive their final sentencing and be cast into the lake of eternal fire and darkness.  The rich man cried out to Abraham that he was tormented in flame.  When the enemies of the Christians died, they went to the same place the rich man went and are suffering in the same fire he is suffering in.  Truly it can be said that their smoke goeth up for ever and ever.

The words “smoke goeth up for ever and ever” are reminiscent of the fate of those who worshipped the beast in Revelation 14:9-11.

Revelation 19:4 “And the four and twenty elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God that sitteth on the throne, saying, Amen; Hallelujah.”

The vision here switches back to the beginning of the throne scene in Revelation 4.  We see here the same twenty four elders and the same living creatures around the same throne.  This serves to tie both series of visions in Revelation to a common event.  Keeping in mind that the visions John is recounting now are the contents of the little book given to him in Revelation 10.  We now see here and in the following elements of the vision things which tie everything together into one grand vision with one grand purpose.

Revelation 19:5
“And a voice came forth from the throne, saying, Give praise to our God, all ye his servants, ye that fear him, the small and the great.”

To try and assign this voice coming from the throne to a particular source is fraught with frustration and difficulties.  The fact that it comes from the throne indicates that it is a directive from God.  It is easier to think of this as a singular voice of authority coming from the throne of God.  This directive from the throne is applicable to those on the earth in particular.  The saved who died in Christ are represented in the next verse making the picture complete.

Revelation 19:6
“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunders, saying, Hallelujah: for the Lord our God, the Almighty reigneth.”

And here we have a picture of the whole of righteous creation praising God who reigns perpetually.

Revelation 19:7
“Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.”

The redeemed have every reason to be glad and to rejoice.  If not for the sacrifice made on our behalf our fate would be eternal destruction.  For that we should all be grateful, giving all the glory to God who had no obligation whatsoever to save us.  The saved here are pictured as the bride of Christ, chaste, pure and Holy.  The relationship between Christ and the saved is comparable to the relationship between a husband and a wife.  This is certainly a picture seen elsewhere in scripture and there is not a better commentary on this than what is written in Ephesians 5:22-32.

Worth mentioning here is that the bride has made herself ready.  This means that the redeemed have taken those steps and done the things necessary in order to prepare themselves for this relationship.  The words of Peter speak succinctly to this fact, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth…” (1 Peter 1:22).  The redeemed prepare themselves as brides by being obedient to the word of truth.

Revelation 19:8
“And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright (and) pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

The words of John in 1 John 3:7 come to mine when reading this verse.  “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.”  The bride of Christ adorns herself in fine linen and John goes on to explain exactly what the fine linen is.  It is the righteous acts of the saints.  Those who act righteously adorn themselves in white linen which is the same thing as righteousness.

Revelation 19:9
“And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they that are bidden to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are true words of God.”

This is one of seven beatitudes found in Revelation.

1.Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand (Revelation1:3).
2.Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them (Revelation 14:13).
3.Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame (Revelation 16:15).
4.Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9).
5.Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years (Revelation 20:6).
6.Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book (Revelation 22:7).
7.Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city (Revelation 22:14).

It is quite obvious from a reading of these seven beatitudes that those who are bidden to the marriage supper of the lamb are only blessed if they

1.  Heed and keep the commandments written within Revelation.
2.  Die in Christ
3.  Keep their garments clean.
4.  Participate in the first resurrection. (Baptism)
5.  Keep God’s commandments.

Jesus taught, “Many are called, few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14).  All people are called by the gospel to Christ.  But in comparison of all who are called, only a few will be bidden to the marriage supper of the Lamb.  Only a few will become the bride of Christ.  Only those who adorn themselves in righteous acts of obedience to the will of God will be bidden.  Righteous acts being represented as fine linen in verse 8.

Revelation 19:10
“And I fell down before his feet to worship him. And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren that hold the testimony of Jesus: worship God; for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

There is some discussion about who this is who told John not to worship Him.  This individual is a servant with John and his brethren.  Jesus is mentioned in the third person.  If this person were Jesus, he would have said “my testimony” instead of “testimony of Jesus”.  This could only be an angel speaking to John in His vision.  And this is consistent with the rest of the visions.  Angels were doing most of the communicating with John.

Revelation 19:11
“And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon called Faithful and True; and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.”

White is the color of purity.  A horse is figurative for war or for riding out to battle.  Notice the words “and make war” at the end of the verse.  In John 5:27 we see that God the Father has given Jesus the authority to “execute judgment“.  The war that Jesus makes is described later on in this vision.  It is a war against the beast and the false prophet.  Identified in chapter 13 as the Roman empire personified in the emperors and the religious cult known as the Concilia who enforced the worship of the emperors.

The time for the judgment of Rome is at hand.  The champion of the Christians is mounted on His war horse and is about to carry out God’s righteous judgment on the enemies of the Christians.  Following is a vision of Jesus Christ which only those familiar with scriptures would be able to understand.  Identifying the following characteristics of the Son of God is easy for someone familiar with scripture.

Revelation 19:12
“And his eyes (are) a flame of fire, and upon his head (are) many diadems; and he hath a name written which no one knoweth but he himself.”

In Daniel’s vision of of the pre-incarnate form of Jesus Christ we see these familiar words, “His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire , and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude” (Daniel 10:6).  And then again in Revelation 1:14-15, we previously saw these words, “His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

The name that no man knoweth is the name of God.  The tetragrammaton YHWH is unpronounceable.  Man has given the pronunciation “Jehovah” to this but no one knows for sure this is correct.  The pronunciation of “Jehovah” is at best the educated guess of scholars.  By inspiration John writes that His name is unknown.  The status of Christ as God in the New Testament makes it altogether reasonable and logical that His name is “YHWH” however it is pronounced in our language.

Two things of significance come to mind  First, we must recognize the unity and oneness of the Godhead.  Jesus as the word of God shares the name of the Father.  It can be reasonably inferred that all three persons of the Godhead share the same name.  We have God the Father as the head, we have God the Son, the Word, and we have God the Holy Spirit.  All three sharing the same name.

God has purposefully been enigmatic when the topic of His name arises, choosing language such as “I AM” or “YHWH”.  God’s name is most holy.  worldly mankind has a tendency to profane the name of God to the ability they can.  All kinds of slanderous profane expletives have been contrived and applied to “God” through the centuries.  It is little wonder that our most Holy Creator would not want His name associated with such things.  We have been given enough of Him to know that He exists.  We do not need to know exactly what His name is in order to follow Him.  Some day when the saved come into His presence, His true name will doubtless be then revealed.  Until then, we serve God, the great “I Am”.

Notice in the language that the angels are excluded from knowing the true name of God as well.

Revelation 19:13
“And he (is) arrayed in a garment sprinkled with blood: and his name is called The Word of God.”

Blood is the sign of the covenant.  The blood on the garment in this vision is Christ’s own.  Jesus Christ is known in scripture by a number of different names.  In John’s gospel account, Jesus Christ was introduced as God and as the word of God.

Revelation 19:14
“And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white (and) pure.”

The armies in heaven is figurative for all the saved who follow and serve Jesus Christ.  They are described in the vision as being clothes in fine line, white and pure, which means without spot and without sin.

Revelation 19:15
“And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.”

We have new testament scripture which speaks to the word of God being like a sword,

Hebrews 4:12-13
12 For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 And there is no creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Earlier in the introduction of Jesus in the Revelation, we see these words describing John’s vision, “And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength” (Revelation 1:16).

Jesus rules the nations with the word of God.  It is unchangeable, it is eternal and it will not fail.  This is the rod of iron.  The worldly people of the nations may not submit to His authority but they are governed by it and will be judged by it nonetheless.  In this context it is the immediate enemies of the Christians which are about to be treaded out in the winepress of God’s wrath.  But the application is for all living past, present and future.

Revelation 19:16
“And he hath on his garment and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

To the first readers of John’s Revelation, the mighty Roman emperors looked like the most powerful kings on earth.  But unknowingly, they were living under the rule of a king far more powerful than they ever imagined.  They demanded the worship of the nations as gods on earth while in their ignorance they were but vassals to the King of Kings themselves.

God gave mankind freewill in the Garden of Eden.  This freedom has never been revoked.  All mankind is given freewill to choose whether or not they will follow righteousness.  In the execution of this freedom, it is often perceived that our King of Kings is not in charge and is not ruling.  However this is not the case.  In the course of mankind’s freewill, God will not interfere.  Our King of King and Lord of Lords is indeed ruling and His rule is a reign of iron.  One of the most significant lessons we can take from the Revelation is that God will not usurp man’s free will choice.  It is so important to God and so much a part of His rule that even when His saints are being slain for their righteousness, He will not violate man’s free will choice.

But those who choose to reject God will be judged in the end.  And this is what the Christians living under the great persecution needed to know and this is what they were told.  Yes, they were going to suffer, yes many of them would be slain.  Yes there will be great tribulation, pain and suffering.  But God is in charge and He will not violate the gift of free will to man.  In the end, all will be judged in righteousness and receive their just rewards.  The people of the first century and beyond in the Roman Empire had a horrible cross to bear and God insisted they bear it.  The application for us today is that there is no cross given to us that we are not expected to bear.  God has not changed and neither have the terms of the new covenant.  We today are as bound to the terms of righteousness as the Christians who lived through the great Roman persecution were.

Revelation 19:17-18
“And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid heaven, Come (and) be gathered together unto the great supper of God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of them that sit thereon, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, and small and great.”

An angel sends forth an invitation for all the birds of prey to come and eat of the carnage and destruction of the kings, military captains, mighty men, horses, and of all men both free and slaves.  The devastation is going to be absolute.  Nothing will remain but vultures and buzzards eating what is left.  The vision is one of grim imagery.  One can almost picture the smoking battlefield littered with the bodies of horses and men with nothing left alive except the scavengers eating the flesh of the dead.

Revelation 19:19
“And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat upon the horse, and against his army.”

In Revelation 16:16 John left the vision of the evil allies about to do battle with God’s forces at Har-Magedon.  Recall to mind that the ensuing war was not between the Christians and the Romans, rather contextually, the actual battle was going to be between the enemies of the Christians and their external enemies from without the empire.

Revelation 19:20-21
“And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone: and the rest were killed with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, (even the sword) which came forth out of his mouth: and all the birds were filled with their flesh.”

And here is the battle of Armageddon fought.  The sea beast, which was the Roman Empire, and the false prophet which was the land beast in Revelation 13, identified as the Roman Concilia are defeated and thrown into the lake of Fire.  History records that the Roman Empire was attacked and defeated from a number of external forces.  They were weakened from within by natural disasters and the consequences of their decadent lifestyle.  This left them a vulnerable target for the Parthians from the east and Germanic Goths from the North.  The Roman Empire was broken and destroyed from within and from without by numerous forces over a period of time, all of which were used by God to achieve His purpose.

The Christians never fought against their enemies directly.  They never picked up physical weapons as an organized force and engaged in any holy war or battle against the forces of evil.  God used the enemies of the Roman empire to exact His judgment on it and bring it to destruction in a similar way that He brought Babylon down by the Persians under the rule of Cyrus.

When the battle of Armageddon was over, the enemies of the Christians were defeated.  Christianity prevailed in the end.  And it will continue to prevail until the end of time on earth.  For as long as earth stands, there will be Christians and the weapons of their warfare will always be the word of God.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh
4(for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds),

Revelation 19 Paraphrase

And after these things I heard what sounded like a mighty shout of a great crowd in heaven, exclaiming, Hallelujah, praise the Lord! Salvation and splendor and majesty and dominion and authority belong to our God! Because His condemnation and sentences of destruction are true and sound and just. He has convicted and pronounced sentence on the great idolatress nation who corrupted and poisoned the earth with her lewdness and fornication. And He has avenged on her the penalty for the blood of His servants at her hand.  And again they shouted, Hallelujah and praised the Lord.  The smoke of her burning torment shall continue to ascend forever and ever throughout all eternity.

Then the twenty-four elders of the Israelites and the Christians and all the creation from the four corners of the earth fell prostrate and worshiped God who sits on the throne, proclaiming, “Amen, Let it be so! Hallelujah, praise the Lord our God!” Then from the throne there came a voice, saying, “Praise our God, all you servants of His, you who reverence Him, both small and great”! And after that I heard what sounded like the shout of a vast multitude that sounded like the roar of many pounding waves and like the sound of thunder, praising God saying, “Hallelujah, For the Lord our almighty and all powerful God reigns now! Let us rejoice and shout for joy! Let us celebrate and credit to Him glory and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself.  She has been granted that she may dress in fine linen, for the fine linen signifies the righteousness of God’s holy people.” Then the angel said to me, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb”. And then he said to me, “These are the true words of God”.

Then I fell prostrate at his feet to worship he who spoke to me, but he restrained me and said, “Stop! You must not do that for I am only another servant with you and your brethren who follow the testimony borne by Jesus. Worship only God! For the truth revealed by Jesus is the breath of all prophecy”.

After that I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse appeared. And the One who was riding on it is called faithful, trustworthy, loyal, incorruptible, steady and true.  And He executes judgment and wages war in righteousness, holiness, justice, and uprightness. His eyes blaze like a flame of fire, and on His head are many kingly crowns and He has a name which He alone knows or can understand.

He is dressed in a robe sprinkled with the blood of His sacrifice. And one of the names by which He is called is written on His robes and on His thigh.  This name by which He is called is the Word of God.  And the armies of the saints, clothed in fine linen, dazzling and clean, followed Him on white horses.  From His mouth goes forth the will of God as sharp as a sword with which He can strike the nations. And He will reign over them with a scepter of iron. He is all powerful and will tread the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath in His indignation.  And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Then I saw an angel stationed in the light of the sun, and with a mighty voice he shouted to all the birds that fly across the sky, Come, gather yourselves together for the great supper of God.  That you may feast on the flesh of the slain rulers, the flesh of dead generals and captains, the flesh of powerful and mighty men fallen, the flesh of horses and their riders killed in the destruction, and the flesh of all humanity, both free and slave, both small and great!

Then I saw the beast and the rulers and leaders of the earth with their troops assembled to go into battle and make war against Him Who is mounted on the horse and against His troops.  And the beast was defeated and captured, and with him the false prophet who by his authority  had worked lying wonders and performed fake miracles by which he led astray those who wore the mark of the beast and by those who paid homage and gave divine honors to his statue. Both of them were defeated and thrown alive into the fiery lake that burns and blazes with brimstone.  And the rest were killed with the sword that issues from the mouth of Him Who is mounted on the white horse, and all the birds filled themselves with their dead flesh on the battlefield.

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Fallen is Babylon (Revelation 18)

Fallen is Babylon (Revelation 18)

The scarlet woman, otherwise known as the mother of the harlots has been positively identified as that great city that reigneth over the kings of the earth.  Revelation chapter 18 contains numerous characteristics of the harlot which help reinforce the belief that the Babylon of Revelation is the nation-city of Rome.  To someone living in the first century, there is no other city but Rome which could have fit these characteristics.  As with the first series of visions before the introduction of the little book, we are seeing the imminent downfall of the oppressors of Christianity.  Much more information with much more detail has been given in the second series of visions.  Through the activities of the beasts portrayed in chapter 13 we have seen many of the ways the Christians were persecuted.  They were denied the ability to participate in free trade, they were forced to receive a certificate claiming they had bowed down to emperor worship under witnesses.  The bowls of wrath were similar to the opening of the seals where they pertained to the divine retribution God unleashed on the earth and on its inhabitants in the effort to bring the ungodly to repentance.

In the first series of visions, Rome was brought to her knees and then destroyed.  In the second series of visions which are a culmination of what was found in the “little book” that John received, Rome is brought to her knees and now we have reached the point where we will see her downfall again but this time with much more detail.  The entire chapter of Revelation 18 illustrates in vivid picturesque fashion the destruction and downfall of the Roman Empire.

Revelation 18:1-2
1 After these things I saw another angel coming down out of heaven, having great authority; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
2 And he cried with a mighty voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird.

Babylon here is a picture of Rome.  Peter referred to Rome as Babylon in 1 Peter 5:13.  It is obvious that Babylon was a common term among Christians of the day when referring to Rome.  It was dangerous indeed to name Rome in a bad light publicly.  Rome’s downfall is described in the past tense which represents to the original readership the surety of her fate.  To the first readers of John’s visions, their enemy is as good as dead.

Revelation 18:3
For by the wine of the wrath of her fornication all the nations are fallen; and the kings of the earth committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth waxed rich by the power of her wantonness.
All of the emperor worship, all of the pagan gods, all of of the decadence, promiscuity, homosexuality, decadence, infanticide, gluttony, excess and lascivious living has not gone unnoticed by God.  And because of this and their stubborn refusal to repent, not only did Rome herself fall, but all of the nations who made up the Empire fell with her and were conquered.

This verse is strong internal evidence in support of the Roman empire being the evil object of the Christian persecution.  No other city in this timeframe of the writing saw any of the surrounding nations fall with her.  It is significant here to note that the Babylon of this vision did not go down alone.  Several nations shared in her fate.  It is a historical fact that when the Roman Empire declined and eventually fell, several nations shared in that fate.

Revelation 18:4
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues:
It is not at all difficult to identify the owner of this voice.  He referred to his listeners as “my people“.  This exhortation from heaven’s throne is a restatement of what inspiration has said elsewhere.

Ephesians 5:11
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

2 Corinthians 6:17
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.“

It is no secret that God does not want His children associating with the deeds of worldly people.  He knows that when they do, they are subject to be overcome by temptation.  Nobody likes to see their children tempted to do evil and God is certainly no different.  Christians are called to be separate from the world, pilgrims traveling in a foreign land, with their nationality in heaven.  This is how Christians set themselves apart from the people of the world.  One can observe them and their actions and see that they are not the same as those who live in the world.

The warning within Revelation 18:4 does not go unnoticed.  God does not want His children to suffer the plagues that will be inflicted upon the unrighteous.  Those who do not come out and separate themselves from the sins of the Roman Empire will suffer in her plagues.  The Application for us today is no different.  Christians living today are to be separate from worldly activities just like the Christians living under the Roman persecution did.  We can become partakers of the sins of others by joining in with their activities and in so doing will share in the consequences.

Revelation 18:5
“for her sins have reached even unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.”

Babylon, here used to illustrate Rome, has persecuted Christians and has gone down as one of the most decadent and immoral societies that ever existed on earth.  Her sins were so egregious that they were said by John to have reached even unto heaven.  They had piled up and piled up until they are illustrated here as being a heap of unrighteousness set before the throne of God in His sight.

Revelation 18:6
“Render unto her even as she rendered, and double (unto her) the double according to her works: in the cup which she mingled, mingle unto her double.”

The persecution, pain and suffering she inflicted upon the saints is going to be payed back double and indeed it was.  Her refusal to repent from Christian persecution and idolatry cost Rome her very existence on earth and those who never repented indeed will suffer the fate of the lost on top of the misery that befell them during the fall of Rome.

Revelation 18:7
“How much soever she glorified herself, and waxed wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning.”

In addition to doubling the misery and pain she dealt on the Christians, Rome is also going to be shamed to the level she glorified herself.  Rome thought she was so mighty and so powerful that it would never end.  She thought she was invincible and would never fall.  How wrong she was.

These words are reminiscent of the prophecy of Isaiah concerning the real Babylon: Isaiah 47:7-9
“And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.  Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:  But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.”

Revelation 18:8
“Therefore in one day shall her plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judged her.”

When judgment comes it’s going to be swift, severe and sure.  John is not telling his readers that these plagues will be accomplished collectively in a single day.  Rather, when they do come, they will be swift and devastating.

Revelation 18:9
“And the kings of the earth, who committed fornication and lived wantonly with her, shall weep and wail over her, when they look upon the smoke of her burning,”

And the vassal kingdoms who were part of the Roman Empire who bowed to the emperors and joined in with the pagan idolatrous practices of Rome who thought they were so safe and secure under her protection are going to realize their benefactor and protector is no longer there.  Their rich lifestyles are torn away as nation after nation falls to invading conquerors of the Roman Empire.

Revelation 18:10
“standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.”

Not wanting to share in the fate of Rome, her vassal kingdoms kept their distance as best they could.  They hated to see her fall but not badly enough to go share in her fate.

Revelation 18:11
“And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no man buyeth their merchandise any more”

Many merchants the world over enjoyed great trade opportunities with Rome.  Her many roads paved the way for trade routes all over the empire.  People who lived in and did business with the Roman Empire enjoyed great benefits from Roman commerce.  But when Rome fell, so also fell the trade opportunities enjoyed by the merchants of the world.

Revelation 18:12-14
“merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stone, and pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet; and all thyine wood, and every vessel of ivory, and every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble; and cinnamon, and spice, and incense, and ointment, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and cattle, and sheep; and (merchandise) of horses and chariots and slaves; and souls of men. And the fruits which thy soul lusted after are gone from thee, and all things that were dainty and sumptuous are perished from thee, and (men) shall find them no more at all.”

During the height of the Roman Empire the citizens lived one of the most luxurious opulent lifestyles imaginable.  They had slaves for nearly everything.  Wealthy Roman citizens believed it was beneath them to even lift a finger to take care of themselves.  They had slaves for doctors, cooking, house keeping, working, gardening, etc, etc.  They heaped up for themselves gold and precious jewels of every kind available.  Every substance and object which was characteristic of great wealth was brought in and sold to them.  And now they are gone.
Revelation 18:15-16
“The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning; saying, Woe, woe, the great city, she that was arrayed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearl!”

Those who attained great wealth from Rome mourn her downfall but they won’t come near to the city for fear of getting caught up in her destruction.  It is significant to look at the description of the wealth and the riches and degree of prosperity that this city once enjoyed.  The city illustrated in this vision was a shining, wealthy beyond description city who rose up before the entire world in her splendor and power.  In the timeframe of this writing there is only one city that demonstrated the possession of worldly goods and fortune that is illustrated here.  It can be only Rome.  “That great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth”, (Revelation 17:18).

Revelation 18:17
“for in an hour so great riches is made desolate. And every shipmaster, and every one that saileth any wither, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood afar off”

In an hour suggests the suddenness and unexpectedness for which this all happened.  And again we see those who traded with the great and powerful nation-city of Rome standing afar off and watching her destruction from a distance, not wanting to get too close lest they get caught up in her destruction and perish as well.

Revelation 17:18
“and cried out as they looked upon the smoke of her burning, saying, What (city) is like the great city?”

There was no other city on earth that could compare to the great nation-city of Rome.  There can be little doubt here that the most powerful city on the earth was in view here.  The greatest, the richest, the one that nobody thought would ever fall, the great and mighty city of splendor, wealth and power, the most brilliant, glorious city to ever rule upon the earth at that time; who else is like this great city?

Revelation 17:19
“And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, wherein all that had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.”

Scattered throughout the Revelation like raisins in raisin bread are little clues that we use to positively identify Rome as the great harlot of Babylon.  Here is just such a clue.  The harlot was a port city where trade ships sailed in with goods.  Again the one hour speaks of the abruptness and surety of the event and not to an actual time frame.

Revelation 17:20
“Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye saints, and ye apostles, and ye prophets; for God hath judged your judgment on her.”

During the opening of the seals the souls of slain martyrs cried out asking when their blood would be avenged on their murderers, (Revelation 6:9-11).  They were given white robes and told they must wait until God’s purpose was finished.  They had to wait until their fellow saints fulfilled their roles and duties and all the souls who would convert had done so.

The saints, apostles and prophets who had been slain by the Roman Empire finally saw judgment handed out for the atrocities, the pain, the suffering and the persecution wrought on them by an evil empire who glutted herself in their blood.

Revelation 18:21-22
“And a strong angel took up a stone as it were a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with a mighty fall shall Babylon, the great city, be cast down, and shall be found no more at all. And the voice of harpers and minstrels and flute-players and trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft, shall be found any more at all in thee; and the voice of a mill shall be heard no more at all in thee”

These words are reminiscent of Jeremiah’s prophecy to Seriah of the real Babylon in Jeremiah 51:61-64
“And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words; Then shalt thou say, O LORD, thou hast spoken against this place, to cut it off, that none shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever.  And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates: And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary…”

We see here in these words not only the suddenness and unexpectedness of Rome’s downfall but we see now the finality of it.  Neither Babylon nor Rome will ever rise to power again.  God’s judgment is thorough and final.

Revelation 18:23
“and the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the princes of the earth; for with thy sorcery were all the nations deceived.”

Rome’s merchants were indeed wealthy.  Compared to the princes of the earth.  The power and splendor of the Roman Empire deceived all the peoples and nations into believing she could never fall.  With her power seeming so absolute it was easy for them to be deceived into joining in with her and partaking of the idolatrous worship, the pagan ceremonies and the lascivious lifestyles.  What need had anybody for the God of the Christians when they had the magnificent Rome to embrace?

Revelation 18:24
“And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that have been slain upon the earth.”

It wasn’t enough that Rome partook of the evils of idolatry and lasciviousness.  They would not tolerate the Christians who opposed these practices.  The faithful Christians refused to bow down to the emperors and the other false Gods.  The faithful Christians refused to participate in their wild drunken feasts and celebrations, choosing the way of righteousness and goodness.  They became the objects of ridicule, discrimination and persecution to the point that they were rounded up and slaughtered.  It would be an impossible task to quantify the number of Christians killed by those of the Roman Empire.  Satan is a truly heartless, vicious and cruel enemy of all that is good.

“And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus” (Revelation 17:6)

Revelation 18 Paraphrase

Then I saw another angel descending from heaven, possessing great authority, and the whole earth was illuminated with his radiance and splendor.  And he shouted with a mighty voice, “The Mighty Empire is fallen! She has allowed herself to become a home and dwelling place for demons, a dark habitation of every loathsome spirit, a prison for every filthy and detestable bird. For all nations have partaken of the filth of her fornication and will share in the wrath to come.  Their rulers and leaders have joined with her in committing idolatry and the businessmen of the earth have become rich with the wealth of her excessive luxury and wantonness.”

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out from her, my children, so that you will not share in her sins, neither suffer in her plagues. For her crimes and transgressions against me are piled up as high as heaven, and God sees her wickedness and her crimes.  She will be repaid what she herself has paid to others and her punishment shall be doubled in accordance with what she has done. She will received a double portion for herself of the sufferings she mixed for others.  To the degree that she glorified herself and reveled in her wantonness, to that measure shall be imposed her torment and anguish and tears and mourning. Since in her heart she boasts, I am not destitute; as a queen on a throne I sit, and I shall never see suffering or experience sorrow.  So shall her afflictions and calamities come upon her suddenly and unexpectedly. Pestilence and anguish and sorrow and famine will befall her and she shall be utterly destroyed for mighty is the Lord God Who judges her.”

And the rulers and leaders of the earth who joined with her in her immorality and idolatry, and luxuriated with her will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her destruction.   But they will stand a long way off, in terror of her torment, and they will cry, Woe and alas, the great city, the mighty city, Babylon! How suddenly your doom has overtaken you!  And earth’s merchants will weep and grieve over her because no one is there to buy their merchandise anymore.

Their merchandise is of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet clothes; all kinds of scented wood, all sorts of articles of ivory, all varieties of objects of costly woods, bronze, iron, and marble; Of cinnamon, spices, incense, ointment and perfume, and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, fine flour and wheat; of cattle and sheep, horses and conveyances; and of slaves and souls of men!  So now the ripe fruits and delicacies for which you soul longed have gone from you and all your luxuries and dainties, your elegance and splendor are lost to you forever.

The merchants who sold these articles, who grew wealthy through their business with her, will stand a long way off, in terror of her doom and torment, weeping and grieving aloud, and saying, “Alas, alas for the great city that was robed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, bedecked and glittering with gold, with precious stones, and with pearls! Because in no time at all the vast wealth has been wiped out.”

And all ship captains and pilots, navigators and all who live by seafaring, the crews and all who ply their trade on the sea, stood a long way off watching.  And they cried as they watched the smoke of her destruction, saying, “What city could be compared to the great city?” And they wept and grieved, exclaiming, “Woe and alas, for the great city, where all who had ships on the sea grew rich through trade with her from her great wealth!  So unexpected and suddenly she has been destroyed and has become destitute.”

Rejoice over her Oh Heaven.  Rejoice children of God and apostles and prophets for at long last God has executed vengeance upon her for your sakes. Then a single powerful angel took up a boulder like a great millstone and flung it into the sea, crying, “With such violence shall Babylon the great city be hurled down to destruction and shall never again be seen.”

The music of harpists and minstrels and flute players and trumpeters shall never again be heard in you, and no skilled artisan of any craft shall ever again be found in you, and the sound of the millstone shall never again be heard in you. Never again shall the light of a lamp shine in you, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall never be heard in you ever again. For your merchants were great and prominent men of the earth, and by your deception of security and power all nations were deceived into joining in with your wantonness and idolatry.

And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all those who have been slain by her on the earth.

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The Scarlet Woman (Revelation 17)

The Scarlet Woman (Revelation 17)

Revelation 17:1-3
“And there came one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls, and spake with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the judgment of the great harlot that sitteth upon many waters; 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and they that dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her fornication.“

Chapter 17 opens with one of the angels bearing God’s bowls of wrath coming near to John with the intention of showing him the “judgment of the great harlot that sitteth on many waters.”  The King James version refers to this woman as a “whore.”  There is some dispute in the religious world today as to who is to be the recipient of God’s wrath as pictured in the Revelation.  When looking at the characteristics of this woman and comparing her to what we know of the Roman Empire, there can be little doubt as to who this infamous woman represents.  The angel goes to great lengths to identify her throughout the chapter.  In verse 18, the angel removes all doubt as to who this woman is. 

Revelation 17:18
“And the woman whom thou sawest is the great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.”

There was only one city on earth in the time of John’s letter that fit that description.  The woman can only be the city of Rome.  So with this in mind, we will look at the characteristics of this woman and examine just how closely she really resembles the imperial city. 

She is introduced as a “harlot” in verse 1.  In verse 5 she is labeled on her forehead as the “Mother of the harlots.”  Being the mother of harlots means being responsible for the procreation of harlots.  Harlotry in this case being descriptive of spiritual fornication or unfaithfulness to the Lord (Ezekiel 16, Jeremiah 2:1, Hosea 1:1). Imperial Rome compelled the conquered kings to enter into fornication with her in the form of emperor worship and she tried to force it upon her citizenry.  Thus we have the imagery of a woman who by her actions spawned spiritual harlots who worshipped the emperor instead of Jehovah. 

The “many waters” upon which the scarlet woman sits is explained in verse 15: “And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.”  This leads right into verse 2 where the angel says “with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication.”  The key words being “with whom.”  The imagery here is that the rulers of the people represented by the “many waters” were guilty of fornication with the “mother of harlots” and they were specifically mentioned by the angel, signifying this was coming from the highest levels of government.  The spiritual fornication in view here was mandated from the leadership of the people down to the citizenry. 

Revelation 17:3
“And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness: and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.”

In the vision, the angel removes John from where he was and takes him into a wilderness where he sees “a woman.”  The question immediately arises, is this the same woman previously mentioned?  A closer examination of her characteristics reveals that she is bedecked with those items signifying royalty.  Verse 4 describes her in terms of being “arrayed in purple (meaning royalty) and scarlet (meaning deadly), and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls.”  This is most certainly an image of the top of the hierarchy of Roman authority.  The woman in view here is representative of none other than the Roman emperor himself.

“…[S]itting upon a scarlet colored beast….” This beast bears a striking resemblance to the beast mentioned in Revelation 13:1.  The scarlet color would indicate that the beast was deadly and wicked. Like the previous beast, this one has seven heads and ten horns.  The seven heads are later described in Revelation 17:9-10, “Here is the mind that hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth: and they are seven kings….”  We don’t need to speculate any on what this means.  It obviously refers to the emperors of the Roman Empire. 

The “ten horns” are explained in verse 12: “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings.” The Roman Empire as a republic was organized as a provincial government.  Each province was ruled by a governor appointed by the Emperor.  There were many more than just ten provinces in the Roman Empire, and there were not exactly seven emperors at the time of John’s letter.  A figurative view of the imagery would be that the beast had 7 (perfect) heads and 10 (complete) horns (authority).  The imagery will be something that is easily pictured in the imaginations the first readers.  It is likely the complete sum of all the Roman provinces were represented by the number ten with the seven mountains which were also kings being the Emperors reigning over the kings of the provinces.  The discussion of the ten horns is taken up in more detail later in this study.   

“Full of the names of blasphemy” would be a reference to the names the beast called himself.  Domitian, during his reign issued his decrees as “Lord God Domitianus” and such.  Therefore it would have been unmistakable in the minds of the first readers of John’s letter that he was referring to the emperor.  

Revelation 17:4
“And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations, even the unclean things of her fornication,”

The woman sitting on the beast is arrayed in royal trappings. This imagery is descriptive of the Roman leadership.  She is carrying a “golden cup full of abominations“.  In verse 6 we see that this woman is “drunken in the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus” signifying some of the contents of the golden cup.  The “unclean things of her fornication” would represent all the evils which have come from her idolatry and persecution.

Revelation 17:5-6
“And upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with a great wonder.“

God is giving this description as an identification of the scarlet woman.  She is the main harlot of John’s Revelation, she is the main one responsible for idolatry, referred to as the “mother of the harlots.”  In Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon made a statue roughly 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide.  He set this huge statue up in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.  Everybody is familiar with the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.  They refused to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar’s statue and worship it and were thrown into the fiery furnace (Daniel 3).  The scarlet woman, this mother of harlots, was named Babylon the great.  What did real Babylon and the great harlot named Babylon in Revelation 17 share in common?  They both imposed forced worship of an idol of the king of their country on their citizenry.  Looking back on the lesser land beast described in Revelation 13, we see in verse 14 that the lesser beast, which has been identified as the Roman Imperial cult known as the Concilia, made images, or statues to the greater beast and required these statues to be worshipped.  They had the power to cause those who refused to worship the images to be killed (Revelation 13:15).  This is identical to what happened in Babylon under the reign of king Nebuchadnezzar.   Thus the great whore is identified with Babylon who forced her people to worship idols.

In Peter’s epistle, he made a reference to Babylon in 1 Peter 5:13.   Although questioned by some who would see this verse as a reference to Peter’s wife, the best view is almost certainly that the church in Babylon is meant.  At the time of this writing Babylon had been destroyed never to be rebuilt and was nothing more than an isolated military outpost at best.  There is no evidence anywhere that Peter was literally in Babylon at any time.  There is evidence that Peter did travel to Rome and this evidence predates the apostate church.  Tradition places the death of Peter in Rome by the order of Nero.  At the time Peter wrote this epistle it was necessary to speak in guarded terms about the city of Rome in view of the persecution of Nero.  

There are a number of reasons why Peter would refer to Rome as Babylon.  Ancient Babylon was a center of enmity and oppression of God’s people, so Rome had become in the times of the apostles.  Peter referred to his readers as “strangers and pilgrims” in a foreign land (1 Peter 2:11) as were the Israelites in Babylon.  Babylon was well known to the Jews as being a nation who worshipped many false gods as was Rome.  All these considerations taken together have great weight in indicating that the Peter’s meaning was the city of Rome.  It is most significant here in this examination to recognize the fact that Jerusalem was never referred to as Babylon in scripture.  Peter almost certainly had Rome in mind when he spoke allegorically of Babylon.   His readership would have known this which strongly indicates that it was a well known and commonly understood reference to the city of Rome among the Jewish Christians which the Romans would be unable to understand.  This well known reference to the city of Rome certainly carried over to John’s Jewish readership and there is every reason to believe that when the name of Babylon was given to the harlot, the city of Rome came to the minds of the Christians.  We must keep in mind that what Revelation meant to them is what it must mean to us.  It was written specifically to them, with applications for us. 

In addition to being named “BABYLON THE GREAT“, the scarlet woman is called “THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS“.  A mother is responsible for producing offspring.  She forms a mental image of someone from whom others come forth.  Nebuchadnezzar’s forced idol worship proliferated and produced idol worshippers out of her citizenry.  The scarlet woman, who is identified by name with Babylon, was said to have made the inhabitants of the earth “drunk with the wine of her fornication”  Fornication in this context is representative of idol worship or the worship of a false god.  The Scarlet Woman, the great harlot, was guilty of forced idolatry. 

Moreover, this woman delights to drink or partake of the blood of God’s saints.  This certainly fits the city of Rome and her severe oppression of the 1st century Christians.  She has spilled so much blood and partaken of so much bloodshed that she is intoxicated by it.  The blood of the saints is all over her.   The scarlet woman’s identity is further determined by the explanation given to John by the angel beginning in verse 7. 

Revelation 17:7-8
“And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and the ten horns. 8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss, and to go into perdition. And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, (they) whose name hath not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast, how that he was, and is not, and shall come. “

“and of the beast that carrieth her”
This imagery is of the scarlet woman being born upon or supported by the beast.  This certainly fits the relationship between the city of Rome and the empire.

“The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss, and to go into perdition.”
The beast that was and is not and is about to come and then go is probably a reference to the changing leadership of the Empire.  Emperors came and emperors went.  It is obvious that the imagery here is one of the changing nature of the beast.  The line of evil Roman emperors certainly fits this description.  History records that there was some controversy around the death of Nero.  Many people doubted that he was really dead from suicide.  It was suspected that he actually fled to Parthia where he was gathering an army from among them to return to Rome and unseat whatever emperor was in control and rule over the Roman Empire again.  Domitian claimed in his early years as emperor to be Nero returned so it was a common superstition among the people of the time that Domitian was thought to be Nero either returned or reincarnated.  The allusion to the “was, and is not; and is about to come” certainly appears to fit the text.  We must keep in mind the writer is appealing to the imaginations of his first readers and they would certainly be familiar with the general superstitions and be able to understand what was being illustrated here.   

“And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, (they) whose name hath not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world“

Obviously those who never had their names written in the book of life is a reference to the infidels.  Their “wonder” may be an expression of amazement at the beast’s vitality and ability to die or disappear and then return in another form to continue his deadly designs on the Christians.  Those who do have their names written in the book of life (the faithful) understand that as terrible and tenacious as the beast appears to be, his end is going to be perdition.  The Greek word for perdition here means destruction, utter ruin and loss of well being.  This also fits well with the superstitions of a returning Nero as Domitian who would rule again and then disappear into ruin. 

Revelation 17:9-11
“Here is the mind that hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth: 10 and they are seven kings; the five are fallen, the one is, the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a little while. 11 And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goeth into perdition.“

The seven heads of the beast were seven heads of the Roman empire.  The first emperor who was emperor under constitutional law was Augustus.  He was the first one that was elected by the senate and approved by the military.  Election and military approval were necessary by Roman law.  Julius Caesar was a dictator before Rome was a republic and was only in office because of popular demand.  He was never legally appointed to his position under constitutional law.  So with this in mind, we start our counting with the first legally elected head of the Roman Empire, as a republic, under the government in force at the time of the writing of John’s revelation. 

The first five emperors are Augustus (26BC-13AD), Tiberius (14AD-37AD), Caligula (37AD-41AD), Claudius (41AD-64AD)  and Nero (64AD-68AD).  Verse 10 says these five are fallen thus out of the picture.  “The one is” in verse 10 would be Vespasian, the sixth king/emperor, who ruled from 69AD-79AD.  The “other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a little while” would be Titus who only reigned from 79AD-81.  His reign was short, only a “little while”, and he was the seventh king.  Now we come to the king in verse 11 who is the “eighth”.  This is the first mention of this king, who would have been Domitian.  He is the one that “was and is not” which refers back to Domitian’s claim that he was the reincarnation of Nero. Also the eighth king was “of the seven”  which means that he was related to them.  Domitian was the brother of Titus and the son of Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty. 

Clearly the text appears by all points to date the writing of the Revelation during the reign of Vespasian.  This creates a difficulty in that tradition places John on the island of Patmos when the letter was written, having been exiled there by Domitian himself.  The Revelation is believed by the majority of scholars to have been written toward the end of Domitian’s reign based largely on secular writings. There are some difficulties with John writing the revelation at that time, chiefly that one must ask what good it would do to write the book in 95-96AD, when the fiercest persecutions were almost over?  Additionally, how much time would it take to copy and distribute this letter to the churches in Asia to which the letter was addressed?   

Here is a possible explanation.  Secular writing states that “Revelation was written in the days of Domitian.” It’s hard to tell in the original Greek if that means it was WRITTEN then or SEEN then.  John could have been sent to Patmos by the local authorities there in Ephesus rather than by Vespasian himself sometime during his reign.  The Gnostics in Ephesus felt John was causing problems as he was exposing the error of their thinking.  John being on Patmos during Vespasian’s reign would make the writing of the book in the late 70’s very possible.  John may have still been there during the reign of Titus and then allowed back to the mainland around 81 AD. The book at that point could have been copied and dispersed to the churches in Asia to be “SEEN in the days of Domitian.” Domitian’s worst persecutions started later into his reign, so that would have given the Christians time to read the book and know what was coming “shortly” and help them get ready for the intense persecutions to come. 

Revelation 17:12-13
“And the ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour.  13 These have one mind, and they give their power and authority unto the beast.“

This is an explanation of the of the ten horns of the beast mentioned back in verse 3.  The ten horns represent the power of the empire which was concentrated in the provinces and not in the city of Rome herself.  The ten kings who had not yet received a kingdom were the vassal kings/leaders who ruled over the provinces and received authority from Rome, basking in this authority for a short period of time (one hour).  These vassal kings realizing their power and authority came directly from Rome were eager to please those in power in the imperial city.  This would explain why they were so zealous to persecute Christians.  When recruited by Rome to respond to insurrection they viewed the Christians as easy targets, thus being able to curry the favor of the Emperor easily.  Leaders of Provinces ruled longer with the favor of the emperor.

Daniel prophecies of a great beast in Daniel 7:23, “Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.”  The “beast” of Daniel is the same as the “beast” of Revelation.  This is an unmistakable reference to the Roman Empire.  No other empire fitting this description devoured the whole earth.  Daniel goes on to say that out of this 4th kingdom will arise one who will “speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws” (Daniel 7:25). This can be no other person but an emperor of the 4th kingdom; The beast of Daniel; the beast of Revelation.  No other imagery would come to mind in the imaginations of the first readers of Revelation.

Revelation 17:14
“These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they (also shall overcome) that are with him, called and chosen and faithful.”

The leaders of these provinces rose up against the Christians to the call of the Imperial city.  However, the faithful Christians, against all odds will prevail against them and win in the end.  The lamb in this verse is obviously Jesus who was portrayed in other New Testament as a lamb (John 1:29; 1:36). 

Revelation 17:15
“And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.”

This was the explanation of the waters upon which the harlot sat, given to John by the angel in verse 1.  Commentaries on Revelation are a lot easier when it explains itself from within.  There is little room for error in such instances. 

Revelation 17:16
“And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire.”

The kings of the provinces will ultimately turn against Rome.  One of Rome’s greatest fears was insurrection and turmoil in the provinces.  History records that is precisely what happened to the Roman Empire.  She was defeated from within by her own subjects. 

Revelation 17:17
“For God did put in their hearts to do his mind, and to come to one mind, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished.”

This was John’s way of saying, “God’s will be done.”  To ask how God did this is but an exercise in futility.  Throughout history God used men and nations to carry out His purpose.  He could turn a nation to fighting within itself, as in the case of Midian during the time of Gideon (Judges 7:22), and of the Philistines in the days of Saul (1 Samuel 14:20).  In the battle of Moab and Ammon against Mount Sier, God gave victory to king Jehoshaphat without the army of Judah lifting a sword (2 Chronicles 20:23).  God’s objective of putting in the hearts of the kings in Revelation 17 to do his mind is merely an example of His divine guidance in everything.  God is in charge and His will shall be accomplished.  Not one word shall fail, all will come to pass.

Revelation 17:18
“And the woman whom thou sawest is the great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.”

If one shred of doubt remains as to the identity of this woman, it should here be solved once and for all.  This verse was mentioned at the onset of the study on chapter 17 in order to give a positive identification to her identity for the purpose of firmly establishing who she was in our minds as we work through the text.  The woman is here identified for us as the “city that reigneth over the kings of the earth.”  Rome ruled her empire through a government system made up of several geographic territories called provinces. Each province fell under the control of a provincial governor. The governors of these provinces were completely at the whim of the Emperor and could serve from 1 to 5 years.  There were about 28 imperial provinces at the height of the empire.  All of these provinces were subject to Roman rule.

There is some thinking in the brotherhood that names the Jewish nation as the identity of the great whore and the recipients of God’s wrath in the revelation pertains to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70.  Jerusalem did not reign over the kings of the earth.  Jerusalem was not forcing anybody to worship a false god.  They were worshipping the one true and living God falsely.   The Jews were in God’s disfavor from their rejection of Christ and His Gospel message and found themselves under Roman authority.  They were not ruling over the kings of the earth, rather they were vassal nation within and under the subjection of the Roman Empire and they were crushed because of their revolt against Roman authority. 

In addition to this, the Revelation was written in symbolic language which Jews would have been able to understand.  God always expressed His will in this manner when His people were in distress.  This was the way God used to communicate to His people without placing them in danger from their enemies.  God’s will was revealed to His faithful children in ways only they would be able to understand while keeping it concealed from their enemies.  The immediate problem with Jerusalem being the Harlot is that the Jews still worshipping under the Mosaic Law would have been perfectly well able to understand all the symbols used in the Revelation.  God’s purpose for using Apocalyptic language would have been self defeating if the Harlot was the city of Jerusalem. 

God’s judgment was coming on the “great harlot that sitteth on many waters” (Revelation 17:1); “BABYLON THE GREAT” who forced idol worship on her citizens on pain of death, just like the real Babylon did.  There can be no doubt this is referring to the Imperial City of Rome.  She with “whom the kings of the earth committed fornication” (17:2); She who was “drunken with the blood of the saints” (17:6); and who sits “upon a scarlet colored beast” (17:3); She who was the “Mother of the Harlots” (17:5); and she who is “the city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth” (Revelation 17:18).

The Downfall of Imperial Rome

Such great significance has been attached to Imperial Rome as the center of the persecuting power toward Christianity in the latter half of the first century, that three chapters of the Revelation are given to portray her downfall.  Chapter 17 appears to be intent on identifying Rome as the recipient of God’s judgment and portraying just how evil an adversary she is to the saints.  Verse 14 reassures the Christians that God will be victorious in the end.  Those who are “called and chosen and faithful” will overcome and emerge victorious.

 

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The Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16)

The Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16)

For centuries mankind has been interested in the battle of Armageddon.  Countless books have been written about this topic.  This battle is and has been the subject of so much controversy over the years that entire doctrines have been contrived around it.  It is not the purpose of this study to determine what the battle of Armageddon is not.  Rather, the goal of this study is to shed light on what this battle really is so that informed students of scripture can determine for themselves what it is not.  

First, we must bear in mind that John wrote this book directly to the churches of Asia in the latter half of the 1st century.  At the time of this writing the Lord’s church was undergoing some of the most severe organized persecution it would face in all the Christian age.  In the years soon to come, Christianity was outlawed by the Roman Empire.  Emperor Domitian, the son of the reigning emperor Vespasian, demanded to be worshipped as a god on earth under his rule and any who refused became enemies of the Imperial Roman Empire.  Violators were ostracized from society, forbidden to buy, sell or participate in any kind of government program.  Not only was it illegal for a Christian to buy or sell within the empire, it was illegal for the Roman citizens loyal to Domitian to sell to or buy from them.  All commerce with Christians who refused to worship the emperor was forbidden by the state.   These economic sanctions were focused primarily on the Christians and excluded the Jewish people still worshipping under the Mosaic system.  The Jews comprised such a large part of the Roman economic engine that Domitian permitted them a degree of religious freedom but, they were forbidden to trade with their brethren of nationality who were Christians.   

Those who were even suspected or accused of being Christians or even aiding them were imprisoned, their property seized by the state, their children were often sold into slavery, and the prisoners of the state were often subjected to various tortures up to and including their use in the Roman games for the public entertainment of the masses.  Publicly slaughtered by gladiators and wild beasts they became a grim example to the rest of the citizenry of Rome of the consequences for refusing to bow down to Emperor worship or for helping anyone who refused to obey their authority.  It was a dark time for God’s faithful.  

The conditions under which the recipients of this letter received it forms the backdrop for how we are to understand it today.  Revelation was a book of comfort, exhortation and hope to a severely oppressed group of God’s people.  It is only logical that they would be able to understand John’s letter.  They would know the Battle of Armageddon and what it meant to Christians.  They would be familiar enough with the imagery to understand and apply it to their situation.  Nobody would write a letter of encouragement to a suffering loved one that they could not understand.  So with this in mind, to the best of our ability, let’s look at the Battle of Armageddon through the eyes of those to whom Revelation was written.  What the battle of Armageddon meant to John and the first readers of his book is what it was, is, or will be.  

In the original text, the word Armageddon is “Harmaggedon.”  This is a compound word derived from the Hebrew word “Har” which means a mountain or range of hills, (See Strongs OT 2022).  This word is a shortened version of the Hebrew word “harar”, (Strong’s OT 2042), which means to loom up; a mountain or hill. 

“Meggedon” is derived from the Hebrew word “Megiddown” or “Megiddow”.  These words originate from the Hebrew word “gadad” which means to assemble, gather troops for battle, or to cut or gash oneself.  The latter meaning being of no apparent connection to this context.  The ASV renders this as “Har-Magedon.” which literally means the “mount of Megiddo” or the “looming” or perhaps “rising” of Megiddo.  This would suggest the imagery of the rising presence of an impending battle of particular relevance to Megiddo.   

There are numerous references to Meggido in scripture but nowhere else is this place referred to as a mountain.  The Bible speaks geographically of “Megiddo and its three heights” (Joshua 17:11), “Megiddo and its towns” (Judges 1:27), the “waters of Megiddo” (Judges 5:19), and the “valley of Megiddo” (2 Chronicles 35:22; Zechariah 12:11).  Geographic Megiddo was a battlefield beginning on the Northwest side of Palestine at Mount Carmel, extending across Palestine to Mount Gilboa on the southeast.  Megiddo was a strategic point in the protection of Israel and Judah, since it guarded the northern entrance into Israel.  See Map

Several decisive historical battles were fought in this area.  There were battles between the powers on the northeast and those on the southwest, between the Egyptians and the Assyrians, the Egyptians and the Babylonians, and the Egyptians and the Medes and the Persians.  On one occasion, Pharaoh Necho, on his way to fight the Assyrians encountered Josiah, a good king of Judah.  Pharaoh Necho tried to dissuade Josiah from the battle, but he refused to listen and was killed, (2 Chronicles 35:20-24). Barak and Deborah defeated Sisera and the Caananites “by the waters of Megiddo” (Judges 5:19-20).  Saul and Jonathan fought their last battle with the Philistines and died on the eastern side of plains of Megiddo, (1 Samuel 31:1-6).  It was in the valley of Jezreel, “west of the hill of Moreh.” that Gideon took 300 men and defeated the Midianites, (Judges 7:1).  It was at Megiddo where Ahaziah, king of Judah, in league with Joram of Israel was slain at the command of Jehu, (2 Kings 9:27).  At Megiddo a small army of Israelites defeated an overwhelming force led by Antiochus Epiphanes IV, as prophesied in Daniel 11.  The Hebrews of the first century recognized any reference to Megiddo as a place where countless hundreds of thousands of their countrymen lost their lives in numerous battles over centuries of time in conflicts that often decided their fate on earth.  The best blood of the Israelites soaked that battlefield along with the blood of their mortal enemies since the time of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.

Was the battle of Armageddon a literal battle, fought between the Lord’s people and the forces of darkness, on a literal battlefield, with literal weapons of war?  To answer this question we must first look to what Paul wrote in Colossians 3:17, “And whatsoever Ye do, in word or in deed, (do) all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”  No matter what the Christian does whether it be in peace or at war, they must have authority from Jesus Christ to do it.  So if a Christian is going to wage war with earthly weapons and shed the blood of their enemies then this must be done with proper Biblical authority.  Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds)” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).  Not only is there no authority for the Christian to wage spiritual war against the enemies of God with earthly weapons, their use is prohibited by divine inspiration.

How does scripture teach the Christian to deal with their enemies?  Christians are to love their enemies, (Luke 6:27), blessing those that curse them,  doing good to all that hate them, praying for those who use and persecute them, (Matthew 5:44).  Paul taught:  “If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men. Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath (of God): for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord.  But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:18-21). Paul refers to Christians as soldiers in his second letter to Timothy where he also said that they must contend lawfully, (2 Timothy 2:4-5).  The only scripturally approved offensive weapons of the soldiers of Christ are described in Ephesians 6:13-17, “Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that Ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith Ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil (one).  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”  Nowhere in scripture is the faithful child of God instructed to wage war against evil by taking up a manmade weapon of war and using it to shed the blood of the enemies of God in the post cross Christian age.  

John 18:36
“Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” 

Whatever the battle of Armageddon was, is, or will be, it must be fought with the spiritual weapons of the soldiers of Christ, it must be fought lawfully using only the approved methods and means for spiritual warfare as authorized in scripture.  This battle cannot be a literal conflict where the righteous shed the blood of the enemies of God.  Such an interpretation of this battle would be to create a direct conflict with the rest of scripture which plainly teaches that the weapons and armor which the righteous use against evil is the word of God and their faith, (Ephesians 6:13-17; Hebrews 4:12).

Furthermore, if the battle of Armageddon were a literal physical battle, one would expect to see three literal frogs going out from the mouth of a literal dragon into the world to rally the forces of evil and to lead them in their crusade against the Christians.  Frogs were loathsome and despised creatures to the Israelites.  Their meaning is given in Revelation 16:14, “For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”  So the frogs weren’t really literal frogs, rather they represented something loathsome coming out of the mouth of…  “the dragon” (Satan), the beast (Imperial Rome), and the false prophet (The Concilia).  The Concilia was an imperial cult whose purpose was to enforce the worship of the Roman Emperors.  This false prophet is also identified as the earth beast in Revelation 13:11-18. 

Backing up to Revelation 16:12 we see the sixth bowl of God’s wrath poured out in order to prepare the way of the kings of the east.  The kings of the east were the Parthians who hated the Roman Empire.  The Roman Empire tried on several occasions to conquer them and they were never able to do so.  Contextually speaking, the battle of Armageddon was to be fought between the Roman Empire and her enemies, the kings of the east.  The Battle of Armageddon was not even a battle between the Christians and their enemies as some people try and set forth.  The actual battle had nothing whatsoever to do with the Christians except that they would ultimately benefit from the demise of the Roman Empire.  God was using the enemies of the Roman Empire to execute His wrath and judgment against them in order to bring the Empire down.  The symbolism of Armageddon was simply used by John to indicate there will be a battle against the evil forces of the Roman Empire with God in control.   

To the first century Christians, the battle of Armageddon could only have been a battle between God and the Roman Empire which would ultimately result in its downfall.  They would read John’s letter and relate his writings to their immediate situation.  At the time of this letter, they were engaged in a life and death struggle with the Roman Empire under the reign of an evil emperor dedicated to their eradication.  Their immediate concerns were not some dim and distant futuristic battle to be fought some time in the obscure future.  The spiritual battle of Armageddon for them was being fought in their lifetimes.  They were fighting the Christian fight of righteousness.  They were being persecuted for their beliefs and they were dying for their faith in God.  They lived their lives on the battlefield of oppression and they fought their own battle of Armageddon every single day of their lives and we today owe them a debt of gratitude we can never repay.  Because it is upon their faith and steadfastness that the future of all Christianity hung.  Just like the real battles fought in the valley of Megiddo where the future of God’s people was decided by the outcome, so also did the outcome of the real battle of Armageddon assure for all Christians of all ages yet to come that righteousness will prevail and God’s faithful people will be triumphant. 

The first century Christians who remained faithful till death fought their own personal battle of Armageddon and won.  For us the war between righteousness and evil still rages.  Satan’s hatred of mankind has not abated one bit in the last 1900 years.  Until heaven and earth pass and the great day of the Lord is come upon us, we will fight against the forces of darkness, using only the spiritual weapons of warfare.  There are still plenty of forces out there hostile to Christianity.  Islam is the fastest growing religion on earth right now.  Denominationalism and religious division is running rampant over the globe.  True Christianity is always represented by the minority or a remnant.  In third world countries, Christianity faces poverty and oppression from the government.  In wealthy countries, Christianity faces the problems brought on by opulence and wealth.  The unrighteous in fat and happy societies feel no need for God in their lives, being wrapped in a false security of wealth and ease.   The faithful watch as the unrighteous force God out of their societies inch by inch.  

While the battle of Armageddon may be over for those who lived in the Roman Empire, it rages still today against the righteous, and our enemy is no less opposed to us as he was against them.  God is still waging war against unrighteousness and Christians today are His soldiers in this war against the forces of evil just like in the first century.  Satan’s weapons today are the same as they were then; Trickery, deception, lies, fleshly pleasures, oppression and division.  Satan knows that the kingdom of God divided is like a house divided.  It cannot stand, (Matthew 12:25).  Our battle of Armageddon today is no less important than the ones fought in previous times.  It is on our shoulders that the future of Christianity sets.  It is our resolve and dedication to the truth that will someday have a part in the preservation of the Lord’s church for all future generations for as long as earth remains.  Our duty is solemn and of vital importance to all who may live after us and seek God’s truth.  

So with this thought anchored in heart and soul, let us set our hand to the plough, never looking back and run with patience the race that is set before us.  Let us contend earnestly for the faith, of Jesus Christ, taking heed to and teaching no other doctrine but the one that was received by the apostles.  Let us forget those things which are behind and reach forth unto those things which are before, pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us put on the whole armor of God that we may be be able to stand against Satan, girding our loins with truth, wearing the breastplate of righteousness, having our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, taking up the shield of faith while wearing the helmet of salvation and wielding the sword of the spirit which is the word of God.  Let us fight the good fight to the end, girding up the loins of our minds, with sobriety, finishing the course and keeping the faith, with hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to us at the coming of Jesus Christ.  For we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Therefore let us stand united under the banner of truth and righteousness, holding forth the word of life, using spiritual weapons and fighting the battles of Armageddon wherever they may be, defending the church of the living God which is the pillar and ground of the truth, and laying up for ourselves and for our children, a good foundation against the time to come.   The battle of Armageddon in the first century was the conflict between righteousness and evil.  Those battles are still being fought today. Those who emerge victorious from their battles of Armageddon will win the war and lay hold on eternal life.  (c.f. Luke 9:62, Jude 3, Galatians 1:8-9, 1 Timothy 4:16; 6:19; 3:15, Philippians 3:13-14, 2:16, 2 Timothy 4:7, 1 Peter 1:13, Ephesians 6:11-17)

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The Bowls of Wrath (Revelation 16)

The Bowls of Wrath (Revelation 16)

Keeping in mind that the book of Revelation was written to the oppressed Christians of the time, let’s look at the bowls of wrath.  Seven angels in glorious array were given seven bowls of wrath and directed by God to pour then out on the earth.  There is a lot of figurative language associated with this, no doubt in view of the fact that the means by which God would destroy the Roman Empire is being laid out for all who can comprehend the imagery to see.  Let’s briefly revisit the consequences that would be wreaked on the already oppressed Christians if the imperial authorities could understand this letter.  God’s message of perseverance and hope would turn into a death sentence for the Christians, thus rendering the message of Revelation a hindrance to the Christians rather than a help. 

The bowls containing God’s wrath are obviously symbolic.  Wrath is not a material substance that can be contained in anything and be dispensed like one would pour water out on a flower bed.  The numeral seven represents the completeness of divine judgment upon an ungodly world.  Note that the term “wrath” is an affirmation that God will express his holy and just nature in retribution upon rebellious conduct. 

It is noteworthy that the first 4 bowls of wrath of John’s vision was poured out upon nature but the direct effect was upon the ungodly men of the Imperial Roman Empire.  John used a lot of figurative language to make this vision seem unreal thus disguising the real meaning from the enemies of the Christians.  When the real is separated from the figurative, the bowls of wrath represent the partial destruction of the Roman Empire by natural phenomena.  The Roman historian Edward Gibbon recorded in his book, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, chapter 71, page 891, that one of the major reasons for the fall of Imperial Rome was a series of natural calamities which caused great unrest among the people throughout the Empire.  

The fifth and sixth bowls of wrath are poured out directly on man, indicating that God will use internal debauchery and external invasion to complete the fall of the Empire.  History bears out that this was indeed the case. 

The First Bowl of Wrath

Revelation 16:1-2
1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go ye, and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth.
2 And the first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth; and it became a noisome and grievous sore upon the men that had the mark of the beast, and that worshipped his image.

The first bowl of wrath was poured out upon the earth.  Poured out upon the Roman Empire, it affected only those who bore the mark of the beast and worshipped Domitian.  This plague paralleled the boil plague of Egypt in the days of Moses and caused grievous sores to come upon those who bowed to worship the emperor. 

The Second Bowl of Wrath

Revelation 16:3
And the second poured out his bowl into the sea; and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living soul died, (even) the things that were in the sea.

Immediately following the first plague, the second bowl of wrath was emptied out upon the sea.  The imagery paralleled the plague of Egypt where the Nile was turned to blood.  This is not to be taken literally, as God promised to protect the Christians who made their livelihood by the sea from His wrath.  What was intended here was to illustrate that God would use natural calamities of the sea to orchestrate, in part, the downfall of Rome.  Keep in mind that a significant portion of Rome’s power lay in its trade expansion through conquering territories.  Major trade routes to the east were achieved by sea travel.  Closing these would seriously cripple Rome’s ability to pursue trade in this and other directions.  Looking ahead briefly to chapter 18, we see a reference to the merchants who were said to weep and mourn over the loss of Roman commerce. 

The Third Bowl of Wrath

Revelation 16:4-7
4 And the third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters; and it became blood.
5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying, Righteous art thou, who art and who wast, thou Holy One, because thou didst thus judge:
6 for they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets, and blood hast thou given them to drink: they are worthy.
7 And I heard the altar saying, Yea, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

The third bowl of wrath was poured out on the fresh water.  During this event, a voice was heard that proclaimed God’s righteousness in this act.  The Roman Empire slaughtered so many Christians.  They literally made their blood flow like water.  It could be said that they drank of the blood of the Christians.  This bowl of wrath surely gave comfort to the Christians who had seen their blood spilled mercilessly.  God is assuring the Christians that the Roman Empire will drink of the blood they shed.  God’s final words of judgment to Edom speak similarly of them suffering equally for what they had inflicted:

Obadiah 15-16
15 For the day of Jehovah is near upon all the nations: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee; thy dealing shall return upon thine own head.
16 For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the nations drink continually; yea, they shall drink, and swallow down, and shall be as though they had not been.

The Fourth Bowl of Wrath

Revelation 16:8-9
8 And the fourth poured out his bowl upon the sun; and it was given unto it to scorch men with fire.
9 And men were scorched with great heat: and they blasphemed the name of God who hath the power over these plagues; and they repented not to give him glory.

The fourth bowl of wrath was emptied out upon the sun which then sent out scorching rays to burn the wicked.  Those upon whom the rays fell were so hardened in their hearts that they refused to see this as an act of divine retribution and added blasphemy to their already sin cursed lives.  John gives credit to God as having power over the plagues that were coming.  The Christians to who this was written were here told that God is in charge of what’s going on. 

Of significance also is the wording, “and they repented not to give him glory”.  This reveals that the oppressors were given the chance to repent.  This should bring great comfort to those who believe they have gone too far and can never repent and come back to God.  Even after all the horrible things done to the Christians, the people of the Roman Empire still were given an opportunity to avoid God’s eternal wrath which is far more severe and lasting than His wrath executed on earth.  We can see God’s longsuffering and patience at work here in His efforts to reach those who worshipped under the beast and to present them with every opportunity to avoid His eternal wrath.  This calls to mind God’s reluctance to destroy Nineveh when He sent Jonah to preach to them in hopes of converting them from their evil ways.

But, they repented not and gave not any glory to God.  The subjects of the beast, (Imperial Rome), had so taken in his spirit and absorbed his characteristics that instead of repenting and turning to God, they rebelled against God’s efforts to turn them, hardened their hearts just like Pharaoh and rebelled against His efforts to soften them.  Even the scorching heat of God’s wrath unleashed with the sun could not mellow their rebellious hearts, rather it hardened them. 

The fourth bowl completes the first section of plagues involving earth, sea, waters and the sun.

The Fifth Bowl of Wrath

Revelation 16:10-11
10 And the fifth poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast; and his kingdom was darkened; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
11 and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they repented not of their works.

And now we see the fifth bowl of wrath being poured out on the throne of the beast, (Domitian), and his entire kingdom is darkened.  This imagery is reflective of Psalms 69:23-24, “Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see; and make their loins continually to shake. Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let the fierceness of thine anger overtake them.”  Beginning at the throne, the kingdom is darkened so that the eyes of the leaders lose their ability to see how their kingdom needs to be managed.  They are turning a blind eye to the priorities of managing a world wide empire and turning them instead to the inner pleasures of wicked debauchery.  They feel secure in their power so they become blind to the needs of the empire.  The Roman Empire is by no means the only power on earth that came to demise because of this. 

The Romans who are faithful to the Empire and its emperor worship see it happening, they are in anguish over it, yet in their stubborn pride, they continue to refuse to accept that this internally evil system of government cannot possibly be worthy of their worship so they “repented not of their works,” rather choosing to blame and blaspheme the one to whom they should have turned.

Romans 1:21-25
21 because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves:
25 for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

The Sixth Bowl of Wrath

Revelation 16:12
And the sixth poured out his bowl upon the great river, the (river) Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way might be made ready for the kings that (come) from the sunrising.

The sixth bowl of wrath was said to be poured out directly on the Euphrates River causing it to dry up.  The Euphrates River formed the eastern boundary of the Imperial Roman Empire.  Beyond the river was the Parthian nation which had been in rebellion to the empire throughout its existence.  The ancient city of Babylon was finally destroyed in 539 B.C. when the Persians diverted the Euphrates River and entered the city underneath its protective walls, (cf. Jeremiah 50:38; 51:36).  That historical event formed the imagery that the Christians would identify the overthrow of God’s enemies with.  Again, this imagery is used to conceal the real meaning from the Roman authorities.  The drying up of the Euphrates signified to the oppressed Christians that the Roman Empire was now vulnerable to external invasion by the Parthian kings.  The external invasion did indeed occur, after which, The mighty Roman Empire was reduced to a declining world power. 

The Vision of the Three Frogs

Rev 16:13-16
13 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, as it were frogs: 
14 for they are spirits of demons, working signs; which go forth unto the kings of the whole world, to gather them together unto the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. 
15(Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.) 
16 And they gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew Har-Magedon. 

A break is given between the sixth and seventh symbols.  God has provided a way for the Parthians to attack the Roman Empire.  The Parthian kings were Rome’s bitterest most aggressive enemies.  The text of Revelation 17:14 indicates that the kings of the earth are being gathered to do battle.  Rome recognized the danger of a Parthian invasion and was moving to ally the nations within the Roman empire to battle against this deadly foe.

We read that three unclean spirits in the form of frogs appear through the mouths of the dragon, (Satan), the sea beast, (Domitian), and the earth beast, (the Roman Concilia).  The frogs were not literal and had a significant meaning to the Christians of the day.  A study of Leviticus 11:9-12 reveals that all animals that lived in the water but did not have fins or scales were to be regarded as an abomination to the Israelites.  They were loathsome creatures not to be eaten nor touched in any way.  Thus we see that the three frogs represent to the Christians of the time vile creatures who are to be rejected and viewed as abominations.  

These three symbolic frogs are said to be “spirits of demons” which are sent out by the dragon, the sea and the earth beast to deceive and rally the kings of the world to defeat the coming invasion by the Parthian kings.  They are successful in deceiving the kings and they all unite in a place called “Har Megadon” to do battle against the invading force.  Only the gathering of forces is mentioned here.  The actual battle does not take place until later in Revelation.  

The words “Har-Megedon” more familiarly known as “Armageddon” means the “mount of Megiddo.”  John was describing the mustering of forces at a place called the Mount of Megiddo.  This was a Hebrew battlefield which had historical significance because this was where Gideon defeated the Midianites, King Saul was defeated by the Philistines, Barak and Deborah overthrew Jabin, (Judges 5:12-19), Jehu killed Ahaziah with an arrow, (2 Kings 9:27), and Josiah was defeated by Pharoah-Necho, (2 Chronicles 35:22).  In the minds of the Hebrew Christians, Megiddo was a place where decisive conflicts took place.  Therefore Har-Megedon fitly symbolizes to the Christians of the day, a battlefield where the forces of God and the forces of evil meet in deadly conflict to determine the earthly future of God’s people.  A more extensive study of the battlefield of Megiddo and Armageddon will follow after we have concluded the study on the bowls of wrath.  

Revelation 16:15
(Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.) 

The entire core message of Revelation is for the Christian to persevere against all persecution no matter what the personal consequences to their earthly persons.  God remains in charge and those who endure and remain in righteousness will be victorious in the end.  This message is repeated over and over throughout the text and Revelation 16:15 is a repetition of this exhortation.  The coming as of a thief, (cf Revelation 3:3), was imagery introduced by Jesus during His earthly ministry to encourage constant watch and preparedness for His coming, (cf Luke 12:39).  This imagery was used by the apostles as well in reference to the day of the Lord, (1 Thessalonians 5:2-4; 2 Peter 3:10).  It is therefore impossible to know the day of the Lord’s coming for the final judgment.  

“Blessed is he that watcheth”

Matt 24:42-51
42 Watch therefore: for Ye know not on what day your Lord cometh.
43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through.
44 Therefore be Ye also ready; for in an hour that Ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45 Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47 Verily I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath.
48 But if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord tarrieth;
49 and shall begin to beat his fellow-servants, and shall eat and drink with the drunken;
50 the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not,
51 and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. 

“and keepeth his garments”

The Christian “puts on Christ” or clothes himself with Christ at baptism, (Galatians 3:27).  In scripture, the inspired writers illustrated Christ and God’s righteousness as something the Christian figuratively wears upon His person.  Sin is illustrated as spots and blemishes on one’s garments, (Jude 23).  The Psalmist referred to cursing as being like a garment that clothed the unrighteous, (Ps 109:18-19), so the imagery of garments represents to the Christian that which he adorns himself with be it righteousness or unrighteousness.  A blessing is given to those Christians who keep their garments in the state it was when they clothed themselves with Christ.

“lest he walk naked, and they see his shame”

2 Cor 5:1-3
1 For we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens. 
2 For verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven: 
3 if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 

The present tense of the verbs, “watcheth” and “keepeth” indicate a continuous effort necessitating a daily watchfulness.  The Christians were exhorted to be continuously on guard, watching and keeping themselves clean in all appearance.  The application of this for us today is that since this was required of the Christians to which Revelation was written, so also must it apply to all Christians thereafter.  God is no respect of persons, (Romans 2:11).  God is not going to require Christians who were being slaughtered for their faith to remain righteous and let all the rest of the Christians living afterwards to slide by.  Let us also watch and keep our garments lest we be be found naked and in shame.

The Seventh Bowl of Wrath

Rev 16:17-21

17 And the seventh poured out his bowl upon the air; and there came forth a great voice out of the temple, from the throne, saying, It is done: 
18 and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men upon the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty. 
19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 
20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 
21 And great hail, (every stone) about the weight of a talent, cometh down out of heaven upon men: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof is exceeding great. 

The seventh bowl poured out upon the air symbolizes the complete retribution of God through the use of natural elements, earth water, fire, (the sun) and air.  The previous natural disturbances were not as severe as the ones after the outpouring of the seventh bowl.  There can be no doubt that there is a great deal of figurative language used here and so it would be in that God is describing the downfall of the Roman Empire and must protect the Christians from added persecutions by concealing the real message from the Roman authorities.  

A clue to figurative significance of the outpouring of the final bowl of wrath on the air may be found in Ephesians 2:2, “wherein Ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience;”  The prince of the powers of the air spoken of by Paul is undoubtedly Satan.  In view of the gathering forces for the upcoming battle of Har-Megedon mentioned earlier, it is reasonable to conclude that the final bowl of wrath will be poured out directly on the “powers of the air“, or the powers of Satan.  The fifth bowl was poured out on the throne of the beast, the sixth bowl opened the way for invasion from hostile countries followed by a gathering of forces by the allies of Satan to his evil cause, followed then by the outpouring of God’s wrath upon the entire sphere of Satan’s operation.  Air would be an appropriate symbol representing the prevailing influence surrounding the Roman Empire.  Thus the course of the Empire which was evil to the core, characterized by lives of trespass and sin, ruled by the Satan, (prince of the powers of the air), who controlled his subjects by a spirit of rebellion and disobedience to God, is now going to brought under divine judgment.  

With the pouring of the seventh bowl, the Christians are again reminded that the forces of evil cannot win the battle.  With the outpouring of this last bowl of wrath, we are told that thunder and lightning from heaven and an earthquake unlike any other shakes the earth, all of which are manifestations of divine retribution.  The city of Rome is divided into three parts,  (the divine number) which symbolizes God’s involvement in the overthrow of the city.  When this final action is finished, God’s wrath on the beast and the false prophet is complete.  

The seven bowls of wrath represented three things which historian Edward Gibbons attributed to the ultimate fall of the Imperial Roman Empire: 1) natural calamity, 2) internal rottenness, and 3) external invasion.  All three of these were works of God which ultimately caused the doom of the Roman Empire.  It did no good for Rome to rally help from other nations, for God would destroy Rome irregardless of any help Satan may recruit.  The vision of the bowls of wrath were designed to set forth the assurance of ultimate triumph of righteousness over any and all evil that may be hurled at it.  The message to the Christians of of the day was that God is ruling and they must persevere and keep themselves in righteousness and in so doing they will achieve the ultimate victory.  The message for us is the same.  God cares for us and as long as we live in righteousness we too can triumph over any evil which can be hurled at us.

Romans 8:35-39

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 
36 Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
ASV

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