Revelation 17:9-18 – “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction. 12 “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.” 15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. 16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God’s words are fulfilled. 18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”
“but the Lamb will triumph over them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers.” Jesus indeed is the Lord of lords and King of kings. He is not coming back as the Suffering Messiah. Some assign Him as a meek and not strong person. But in the Bible He is portrayed as someone who is indeed strong (Ephesians 6:10), but who withholds showing His mighty power during His time on earth (Philippians 2:7, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Matthew 20:28). When He first came He came to make the way for us to once again have shalom with God (Colossians 1:20, Ephesians 2:14). He came to pay the price for our sins (Matthew 8:17). When He comes back He comes back to evict the enemy and to reclaim what was created by Him. He comes back as the Mighty Warrior. Nothing can resist His power or His righteous judgement (Revelation 19:11-16). And we who love Him shall be there to witness the unleashing of His divine power and that none can resist Him. Like proud children who see their father step between them and danger, so we will be in awe of our Lord, proud of Him, and certainly in awe of Him.
“Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.” As previously discussed, the waters represented the people of the world.
“The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.” The devil and the beast hate the prostitute. The prostitute is one who once was with Christ, but received within herself many filthy false religions and false practices that are abhorrent to God. The prostitute thought it permissible to commit adultery with what is ungodly, what is not from God, to try to entice them to God. But deceiving oneself that it is okay to become one with the ungodly for a good reason is only allowing one to join the ungodly as ungodly. The Spirit of God does not reside as one with those who oppose God. Still, to the Devil and the Beast, the prostitute is detestable to them also. They not only have no respect for her, but they cannot stand the stench of her. The prostitute, trying to be both one with God and one with the World, ends up being repugnant to both God and to the enemy she sleeps with. She is used by devil and the beast as long as she is beneficial to their rise and power. Once their purpose with her is done, they will, with great distain and antipathy, expose her and tear her apart. She who thought herself so wonderful and so loved will find that there is no love in the arms of the devil and the beast. Evil only has affection for itself and once the purpose of the devil and the beast for the prostitute is done, they cast her aside. Now, the world has come to point of worshiping the devil and his beast, the harlot is no longer of use. The harlot’s patron is done with her and despises her. Like Jack the Ripper, she is butchered in the streets. Remember Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”
2 Kings 9:30-37 “Then Jehu went to Jezreel. When Jezebel heard about it, she put on eye makeup, arranged her hair and looked out of a window. 31 As Jehu entered the gate, she asked, “Have you come in peace, you Zimri, you murderer of your master?” 32 He looked up at the window and called out, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked down at him. 33 “Throw her down!” Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot. 34 Jehu went in and ate and drank. “Take care of that cursed woman,” he said, “and bury her, for she was a king’s daughter.” 35 But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing except her skull, her feet and her hands. 36 They went back and told Jehu, who said, “This is the word of the Lord that he spoke through his servant Elijah the Tishbite: On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs will devour Jezebel’s flesh. 37 Jezebel’s body will be like dung on the ground in the plot at Jezreel, so that no one will be able to say, ‘This is Jezebel.’” This prostitute also dies an ignominious death.
“For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God’s words are fulfilled.” What this is saying is that it is God who controls. The devil and those who follow him shake their fist at God and think they have accomplished something have accomplished only their doom. They think they are freed from Him. They find out that what they call freedom is merely proof of their condemnation and bondage. Their manacles tighten and at this point their hope of escaping is gone (Proverbs 29:6). Sad. Eternally sad.
“The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.” At the time that Revelation was written the great city that ruled was Rome.
Thinking of the prostitute the Word from Galatians 6:1-10 comes to life: “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Family, “let us not become weary in doing good.” At the proper time, at the perfect time that God has preordained (Habakkuk 2:3, Proverbs 3:1,11), we shall stand before the Lord and be found blameless thanks to the sacrifice of the Lord. By His blood we are made clean (1 John 1:7). Let us persevere now and reap the reward of doing so, and that being true, living forever with our God and in His love. What a great and sure hope we have! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.