Revelation Study 22. Revelation 17:1-18, pgs 141-150 (part 1)

 "God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath" (16:19). Babylon's fall was promised in 14:8 and glimpsed in 16:19, but it is so important to the message of the Revelation that two chapters are now devoted to it."

Chapter 17 and 18 expand on the effect of the seventh bowl

 

Why is prostitution wrong?

It disconnects pleasure from everything else the the totality of sex act is meant to include: intimacy/relationship, responsibility, spiritual union. The act of sex is inappropriate reward for payment of money.

An artist who 'prostitutes' himself/herself compromises creative vision, or personal values in exchange for money, fame, commercial success or social approval. Something deeply personal has become a commodity. 

 

These 2 acts have in common the giving up of something of great significance for an inappropriate price. The 'great prostitute' (v.1) is not an innocent victim. She revels in her status and lures 'kings' and 'dwellers' (v.2) on earth into 'sexual immorality' (v.1, 6, cf 2:14, 2:20). She has led them to adopt her own values about what is sacred and ultimate.

 

For Thought and Discussion: 

a. Why do you think idolatry is described as adultery?

God is a Husband to His people, both in the OT and the NT. Unfaithfulness to Him is like breaking of our exclusive covenant with Him.

 

 b. Why is materialism a form of idolatry?

Materialism is a love for things and pleasures of the world. It involves values and priorities based on the idea that only the material is real and significant.

 

How are we as Christians tempted to prostitute ourselves or to engage in prostitution?

• Any form of idolatry
• Any compromise of faith for worldly reward
• Transactional religion, in the prosperity gospel: offering of what is not naturally consummated in a reward e.g. fame, approval, relationship more money, spiritual and physical security, influence over another person.
• Use of spiritual gifts or spiritual status for personal profit  

For Further Study: Study the history and symbolism of Babylon In the Bible:

the city's foundation as Babel, "gateway to a god" (Genesis 10:8-12, 11:1-9) through the prophets (Isaiah 13:1-14:23, 47:1-15; Jeremiah 20:1-6, 25:1-14, 50:1-51:64) to Revelation. Use a concordance for other references.

• Genesis 10:8-12, 11:1-9  - a symbol of human effort to reach God, exaltation,  and rebellion
• Isaiah 13:1-14:23, 47:1-15; Jeremiah 20:1-6, 25:1-14, 50:1-51:64  -  a symbol of pride that will be judged
• Revelation 14:8, 16:19, 17:5, 18:1-2, 10, 21 - a symbol of great wealth, influence, oppression and murder

Babylon has always sought to destroy God's people, first in 587BC, in the person of Rome, and in all of history. 

 

For Thought and Discussion: What is the point of the way the beast's "resurrection" parodies Christ's (17:8)? 

 The dwellers on earth marvel because "it was and is not and is to come". It never dies for good. The world system is resilient; it seems immortal. It invites trust.

 

For Thought and Discussion: When you've decided who you think the great prostitute is, then decide who are her prostitute daughters (17:5). For example, are the Protestant churches the daughters of the Roman Catholic Church? Or, who are the daughters of the world system?

cf. the 'children' of Jezebel in 2:23. Those who are like her and who perpetuate her values and practices. These likely are specific individual false religions, apostate churches, or compromised spiritual institutions. As the 'daughter of Zion' symbolizes the people of Zion, it can also mean all those individuals and organizations who follow her and depend on her for security and identity.

 

1. Compare the women of chapters 12 and 17 

their location	12:1,14 In heaven he wilderness	17:3 Sitting on a scarlet beast
their clothing	12:1 the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars	17:4 arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls
their offspring	12:5,17 a male child, one who is to rule all the nations	17:5 prostitutes and of earth's abominations.
who loves them	12:6 God	17:2-3 kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk
how they are sustained	12:6,14-16 the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished	17:3,6 a scarlet beast the blood of the saints
who hates them	12:13-17 the dragon	17:16; 18:8 the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast the Lord God

 

2. What can we learn about the whore's character and identity from what 17:1-18:24 tells us? 

 She is:

'great' (17:1)

her influence is worldwide, amongst those in authority and ordinary people (17:2, 15)

she depends on Satanic political power (17:3)

she is rich and well-provided for (17:4)

she represents something that rebels against God and substitutes for Him (17:5)

she enjoys the death of God's people (17:6) 

she will fall out with the political powers that sustain her (17:17)

she is a city (17:18)

she will be judged for her actions (18:1-3)

she is not to be lived in by God's people (18:4)

she feels secure (18:7)

she drove commercial enterprise and gave profit (18:6-11)

she will be judged with sudden judgment (18:8.17) 

 

 

3. Would you describe the prostitute as attractive, repulsive, or both? Why?

Both. Depends on who is looking at her.

4. Is she someone to be feared, respected, ignored, loved? Why do you think so?

She is to be resisted.

Respect is recognition of some sort of worth. Love involves emotional connection and commitment.