Fulfilled

DEVOTION

THE REVELATION

FULFILLED

Rev 17:15-18

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 give the beast their power to rule, until God's words are fulfilled. 18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth."

NIV

If this prostitute were either the Latin Church or Papal Rome and had its power over all the many nations but is not overthrown by these ten kings, or monarchs this all would make a certain amount of sense, at least human sense. But we have to remember this all calls for a mind of wisdom which only God actually has and therefore we need to see this with the mind of Christ, not men. First if we continue with the thought that this woman, this great prostitute is not the Roman Catholic Church, or Papal Rome, but rather another power that rules over the hearts and minds of peoples of all nations and languages. This may well be that power of riches, wealth, and the struggle for economic authority in the world. At one time some men thought when the European Common Market first was being formed it might be the beginning of the end. Yet there were only six original members then nine and it was looking more like these ten, but then three more joined and it now stands at twelve and its power is rather weak at that. Yet there are ten kings or world leaders who will band together in some sense to destroy the world economy for their own personal and combined gain. Some thought it would be OPEC, the oil producing countries that control costs of oil, but they too have twelve members. These organizations are current, in our lifetime, but will perhaps once again be nothing but history should the Lord tarry and then men will be looking back at them as many do now at kingdoms and powers of the past. Yet this has not been the prophetic fulfillment of this revelation as the end did not come, because God’s words have yet to be fulfilled. What this beast is and whoever these ten kings are, they will rise and fall in power over a period of time. Nations will gather strength on the world stage endeavoring to be the world leader. Perhaps Global climate change is the driving force of their leadership, once again trying to prove mankind is more powerful the God. Maybe it is by military might each king will have his turn at world domination, or at least try. We certainly have had some try that in the past one hundred years, but not ten. It might be possible these kings represent the major religions of the world, and at some time they will move to destroy the economic power of nations in the name of religion, but more than likely their power is in the economic sector, becoming world leaders in trade, each trying their best to bring down the others. Sooner or later they will hate the whole system and try to bring about a new world order, either based on one economic standard, or one world religion. The point is all this will happen some day in order to fulfill the words of God. Then God decides the world will end. The world that we know as earth, with all its inhabitants, which are all that God created in the first place will be destroyed. When we start to focus on our own lives, thinking only in terms of self, and how everything affects us, we might be in danger of losing sight of God. Man cannot replace God. Man cannot exist without God. The world cannot exist without God, yet the great powerful men of ages past and of this age and if the Lord tarries, the ages to come, try their hardest to consider mankind as the power to save themselves and this earth. But God’s words will be fulfilled. Man can do whatever he thinks he can, striving for power as a world leader, bringing the peoples of the earth united for a single cause, but all will fail, because they cannot fulfill their own words, own thoughts and desires, all men, all people are not one hundred percent of the time always truthful, all lie and their words will not be fulfilled. But God’s word will be fulfilled. This is the truth we always need to have at the forefront of our thinking. This is the reason we trust him, we obey him, we look to him for all things, because his word will be fulfilled. 

Called, Chosen and Faithful

DEVOTION

THE REVELATION

INVITED, SELECTED AND FAITHFUL

Rev 17:12-14

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 make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings — and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."

NIV

Our renowned scholars of old would once again peer into the history books to find these tens kings, or monarchs who swear their allegiance to the Papal authority, the beast in this case. If we were to indulge that idea we could see that over the ages, various forces were at play by Papal Rome using its power to dominate both the religious and political lives of people within its grasp. It may also be true that in some case Papal Rome did in fact wage war against anyone who did not pledge their faith to this power. But then we would have to dismiss all this as history and thus it bears no meaning in our lives. If the word of God, all the word of God, including this revelation which was shown to John, is the living breathing word of God, relevant for all men in all ages and all of it is in fact God breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, then we must use it as such.

2 Tim 3:16-17

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

NIV

So then rather than be stuck with history we need to view this with either the present or future in mind, and as we may not see the day of the Lord during our lifetime on this earth and there will be our posterity after we are gone to still be reading and understanding this we need to see all this as future events to take place. Although it may be true some of this is in action, and has been in active for a while as we might just be in the last days. Nevertheless the truth we can hang our hat on, or live our lives by is in the fact that the Lord Jesus will prevail and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers. These are the invited, the selected or in some sense favorite and  the trustworthy followers, as least looking at the Greek words here that is what is conveyed. Are these three different categories of believers or is this a full definition of a true believer?  First we should note that even the Apostle Paul in the beginning of is letter to the Romans says that he has been invited to be an Apostle set apart for the Gospel. He goes on to tell all those who read his letter they too have been invited to belong to Jesus. We know that God desires all men to be saved and thus he invites everyone to belong to Jesus. His call is to all of his creation, all mankind, for Jesus came to save all, not just a selected few. So all of us are invited or called. To consider that fact that God loves us so much he sent his Son to die for us, and thus he invites us to his side, to belong to Jesus, so that his righteousness is ours. Now about this chosen word, this selected word. How are we not to think that God has selected one over another? That would be the implication of that word, to be chosen. When we were children playing a team game, we stood in line until we were chosen by the captain of one of the teams. Some of us were chosen first, some were chosen last, but the fact remains all of us were chosen, none of us were left standing not allowed to play at all. It may be true that some of us were chosen early in our lives, others may not have been chosen until their later years, for whatever reasons, but the fact still remains God chooses everyone, we all get an opportunity to play or in this sense be saved, belonging to Jesus. When we get to this faithful or trustworthy follower word that might be a horse of a different color. Although we all are invited and chosen to be a part of the winning team, it does seem to be up to us to fulfill the part about being faithful, being trustworthy. God can call or invite us, he can choose to have us on his side, but it is up to us to play to the best of our ability. We need to be true to him in every sense. We cannot flirt with the world. We cannot play on both teams. We cannot be enticed to throw the game, so to speak. We cannot do anything other than give our all to him, all the time, doing whatever he determines is the best for us, to play the position on the team which best suits him. We are invited, chosen and must remain faithful and we will be with him as he overcomes all adversaries.

The mind

DEVOTION

THE REVELATION

THE MIND

Rev 17:9-11

9 "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 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.

NIV

Here again we have may who have approached this from a historical point of view seeing the various Caesars who have reigned in Rome or point to the secession of Popes who have ruled over the Vatican. These views, as they have always been, remove any application to the current life or life to come. They eliminate the need for self-examination, but offer, what appears as a scholarly approach. This can only serve to lift the commentator in the eyes of others. When the scripture calls for a mind of wisdom it certainly cannot mean the mind of man for God has already declared that man’s wisdom is foolishness to God.

1 Cor 3:19-21

19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"; 20 and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile."   21 So then, no more boasting about men!

NIV

There is but one wisdom and that is the wisdom of God. In order for any man to have any understanding at all, any form of truth about the scripture he must have the mind of Christ.

1 Cor 2:12-16

12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.   14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:

16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

NIV

This is what is called for here, to have the mind of Christ, to have a spiritual understanding of all this. When we seek to see this as history, observing with the wisdom of man, we are, in the eyes of God, foolish. This is not to say that we have more understanding then men who have spent their lives in study of such things, yet why would God want us to know about ancient history of man, and not about his reign over the earth? It is certain that throughout the course of mankind’s existence there has been and will continue to be struggles for power and authority over nations and people either through governance or religion. There has been and will continue to be reigns that have risen and fallen. The battles of mankind will always be until God brings it to an end. These powers described for us here may well be spiritual battles for the hearts and minds of people. False teachings, false doctrines of faith. Yet if, as we considered, this great prostitute who rides upon the beast with seven heads and ten horns is the ideology of wealth, or secular success, then these hills or kings are various economic ploys to entice man. Some have come along and some are here now, the most current is the accumulation of physical gold. We are being badgered by so many who are trying to sell us some form of gold. Yet this too will pass and some other form or scheme to entice people, even believers, into thinking it is the right thing to secure ones future through wealth. But this may only be in America. Other countries strive to secure their future with oil, or through nuclear gain. Yet we still see many countries today endeavoring to take over as leaders of the world economy. We must always remember man’s wisdom is foolishness to God. God’s foolishness is greater than man’s wisdom. If we are to have the mind of Christ, we should never look to the inventions or ideologies of man for our future, but only look to God, for he is and always has been and will always be our future. Our security has always been and will always be in him. With man there will always be a rise and fall in every aspect of living whether it be of governance or of religious nature. Both governments and religions have had their turns at having power and both have seen many fall by the wayside to give way for another to endeavor to lead. But with God, he has never fallen, he has always been and is now and will continue to be. He is the only source of all power, especially the power within our hearts and minds. No matter what forces of man rise and fall, our future is secure in Christ. We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of that future. This is the wisdom from on high. We need not the mind of man,but the mind of Christ. 

In the Book

DEVOTION

THE REVELATION

IN THE BOOK

Rev 17:6-8

When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. 7 Then the angel said to me: "Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come.

NIV

Although we should include all of the explanation of this angel concerning the lady, the beast, the seven heads and ten horns, there is something here which bears a deeper look first. This beast, which once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction surely seems to describe Satan. He once was Lucifer, but now is no longer him, and he will be put in the Abyss for one thousand years, but let loose for a season, then cast into the lake of burning sulfur. At least that seems to make sense except for his destruction part. From other scripture it appears he will not be destroyed but tormented forever, as well as it says the devil, along with the beast and the false prophet are thrown into the lake. So this beast is not the devil or Satan. But in the rest of this description we will see the seven heads are hills and the ten horns are kings. This beast is not a physical beast as we would think of wild beasts that roam the forests and plains. Again our scholars would have us consider this describes the power of the Latin Church and that pagan Rome was built on seven hills. We have to go back once again into history and name all the rulers and the rise and fall of each power to fulfill this portion of the revelation. Or we could see this as a power, a great influence over the hearts and minds of people. But this is not the greatest or perhaps different point in this portion of scripture. The idea that there are people whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world seems different then what we have thought before. We know from the early part of this revelation in one of the letters to the churches, we see that those who overcome will never have their name blotted out from the book of life. We see that the Psalmist wrote about the wicked having their names blotted out of the book and not being listed with the righteous. So there are people who will have their names blotted out. But here it tells us there are some who it appears never had their names in the book of life from the beginning of creation. How can that be? Did God chose to not include their names in the book of life and thus predestined them to destruction? Certainly some could make that case and thus ascribe to predestination, God choosing who will live and who will perish. This takes all the free will of man completely out of play. This would mean it really does not matter what we do, as God has already determined that we will either be saved or be condemned to perish. If we decided to believe then maybe we are believing in error as our names were never written in the book of life to start with. Are we wrong in thinking that God desires all men to be saved?

1 Tim 2:2-6

 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men

NIV

Yes, that is true, He desires all men to be saved, he has not determined some to be lost, and he has not decided not to write these names in the book of life so they will perish. SO then how can we justify what is said here? Certainly we know some names, our names will never be blotted out, yet some names will be blotted out.

Ps 69:28

28 May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.

NIV

Ps 9:5

5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.

NIV

If God is all knowing, which he is, and there is no time with God, which there isn’t, then he is forever in the present. All what we consider past and future do not exist with God. We are linear with a beginning and an end, at least in this physical life. But God has no beginning nor an end, he is forever. This may be a mystery to some extent for our human minds, but nevertheless it is a fact. So then with that in mind, God already knows those who would chose to be influenced by the power of the beast, the ideologies of man, and therefore they names are not in the book, or blotted out of the book, left out, not in it. What we need to see is not to be influenced by any power other than the power of God. It is always good to remember that God’s grace is sufficient, and this grace, as the Greek defines it, is the influence of the Spirit on our heart and how that is reflected in our lives. Do we give in to the grace of God, or do we give in to the influence of the beast, the ideologies created by man? We want to be in the book. 

Watch out

DEVOTION

THE REVELATION

WATCH OUT

Rev 17:3-6

3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. 5 This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

NIV

Many of those old scholars of past years, with their deep roots in hatred for the Roman Catholic Church, see this as a perfect description of the Latin Church. Which they have also found using Latin numbers in its name as 666. Could it be true? Again for them it was history without the knowledge of what has occurred since their death. It certainly has a resemblance to the great pomp and ceremony of the church with all its trappings in Gold and with its cardinals all adorned in scarlet. They have in the past before the dawn of automobiles road in carriages also adorned with purple and scarlet alone with all the horses blankets being of the same. This is a historical fact and with the dawn of this more modern age, a slightly less display is portrayed. It is also true, historical fact that during certain periods of her grandeur the Church burned heretics alive tied to a stack. But as this may not be the most accurate interpretation it does bear some resemblance to what has happened. Yet again if all this revelation is history then it has no bearing on our lives whatsoever. It is not like the rest of scripture which shows us the truth, giving us insight to how God has redeemed us and set before us a way of life, living by faith rather than sight. But if this is yet to come, it clearly gives us, once again, an insight into how God is going to finish his creation. It also gives us a view of how we are to be on guard against any of the schemes of the devil. Although the Catholic Church has a great deal of influence within certain areas of the world, it does not dominate the doctrines or ideologies of the whole world, as this description would imply. This great mother of prostitutes is the abominations of the earth. This is the mother of all prostitutes, those who commit adultery against God. From her is spawned the worst abominations against God. This is something that can even devour the saints, those of us who bear testimony to Jesus. This is a warning to all the saints of God to be on guard against her seductive ways. Not to beat a dead horse, but this may very well be the whole of the picture of great wealth. We remember how we were warned not to give that person dressed in fine clothes to sit in the best seat while telling the poorer dressed to sit on the floor. We remember that Jesus told the people that they did not go out in the wilderness to listen to a man dressed in fine clothes for they live in palaces. But the most striking evidence of this prostitute being wealth comes later in this revelation.

Rev 18:16-17

"'Woe! Woe, O great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls! 17 In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!'

NIV

Wealth can strike at the hearts and minds of every person on this earth. No matter what type of economy a person lives in, whether it be of great prosperity such as America, or in some remote corner of the world where people still live mostly in poverty, at least by our standards of success and wealth, every person can strive for more. Each person no matter their particular situation can be intoxicated with the desire to have more, to increase their worth. Although it is true we have also been warned about false teachers, false doctrines of faith, even those who use the name of Jesus, which can only apply to the Christian faith. It does not apply to the whole world as wealth does. This beast she sits upon with the seven heads and ten horns simple shows us how invasive this ideology is. It strikes everywhere, everyone, even the believers. Wealth can be at the forefront of many people, either of those who have much or of those who lack it. Wealth, or at least the love of it, is the one thing which scripture speaks about drawing us away from God. That we cannot desire both, it is either one or the other, and we will love one and despise the other.

Matt 6:24
24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money . 

NIV

 How can we not see this great dangerous ideology knocking at our door? How can we be deceived by this? Yet it appears some saints, some believers will be deceived and devoured by this great prostitute, perhaps under the guise of being good stewards. We cannot afford to be incited by her ways, her deceptive practices. We must remain true to God, to believe him, to trust him, to look to him for all things concerning our lives. Nothing, no adulterous ideas are worth being drawn into. We must always see God for who he is. We must always be on guard.  

Intoxication

DEVOTION

THE REVELATION

INTOXICATION

Rev 17:1-2

17:1 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. 2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries."

NIV

We have come to this portion of the revelation in which most of the ancient scholars, as they are all dead now, have certainly had a hate relationship with Papal Rome, or the Roman Catholic Church. They all are calling this great prostitute the Vatican power over the nations throughout the world. But they also have seen this power as already displayed prior to the reformation, when it was perhaps in its peak of religious and political power. Yet here it stands today, most likely with more followers then every before and a far greater ability for its leader to communicate its message. But again this was their view of observing something other then what they might be engaged in. It is always easier to point our finger at someone else then to examine our own lives. This great prostitute does not have to be a religious system at all. It can be an ideology which has captured the hearts and minds of a great number of people. World commerce for example is most likely the greatest single system which has engaged nearly, if not all nations. The desire for wealth is most likely the greatest influence on the hearts and minds of a great number of people, no matter what language they speak. Of course we still have many backward remote peoples who still live the traditions of their ancestors and are not a part of world commerce. Yet this is by far the largest widespread system which transcends all religions or spiritual systems. This influence of wealth has the capability of infiltrating the post-modern churches of today. It can capture the hearts and minds of even those who consider themselves spiritual people. Many believers can be intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries. This goes directly to the word of God when he declares we cannot serve two masters. He refers directly to the desire for God or the desire for wealth, we cannot desire both. Yet this is the most intoxicating of all desires. If we allow this wine, this adulterous desire to take root in our being we have lost everything. We can see the transformation which God speaks about through James. When the desire for wealth takes root, it causes us to take actions to obtain it, and when we have engaged fully to possess it, we have engaged in, or have been intoxicated with her wine and committed adultery against God. This ideology of the world is by far the most grievous of sins, which may be exactly what we are seeing here. This attacks at the very core of our being. We have to be on guard against all forms of intoxication, not simply of wine, as many believers swear never touch their lips, but of the wine of this great prostitute. We need to always look to God for all things, everything, every aspect of our lives and not to any other source. No intoxications other than of God.   

It is done

DEVOTION

THE REVELATION

IT IS DONE

Rev 16:17-21

17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!" 18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. 19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. 21 From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.

NIV

 It never ceases to amaze me as to how those who think of themselves and are thought of by so many as scholars and/or theologians continue to see all this as historical. They note this bowl is widespread because it was put into the air, but they cannot come to terms with the fact God declares it is done. What is done? They see the great city as either Jerusalem, or pagan Rome or Papal Rome and it has all been done before or will happen to the Papal Rome. Some war as it were, a war so great it shakes the earth as never before and the islands were seaports with the mountains being national leaders. It could be, but then if all this has already happened there is nothing to come. Life has no hope, the bible is just history from which we can only learn about how God was and what he did. But the whole of scripture does not match a historical view of this Revelation and therefore those who would view it as such are either radically wrong, or have some purpose of deception. This is why it is wise not to take the counsel of the ungodly. That is not to say they are ungodly as they profess to be godly, but how can a person be led by the Spirit see this revelation as historical? If a person is not led by the Spirit then they are led by the flesh, it seems that simple. So then what are we to do with what is to come? This is an event which no person on the planet has ever experienced before. When the whole sky is filled with lighting, everywhere there is heard rumblings, peals of thunder everyone in every nation will see and hear them. Then the whole earth will be shaken with a quake never before felt. If this does not get the attention of those who refuse to acknowledge God, what will? The great cities of the world will collapse under the movement of this quake. We are talking about a huge earthquake that brings down huge buildings, buildings mankind built with quakeproof designs. This Babylon is simply all the pagan cities of the world, the great cities built to show the greatness of mankind’s achievements. But this quake also brought much destruction to the planet itself. We have to remember that God is going to destroy this planet and create a new earth, with a new city of Jerusalem where we who believe will spent eternity with him. So then what is the difference if this quake is so strong that it brings down the great mountains? What difference is it if the quake creates such a tsunami that islands are flooded over being lost? This is the end, God declares it is finished, this is the last time man will have an opportunity. Yet in the midst of all the lighting, thunder and quake he brings the largest hailstorm mankind has ever recorded. Just think one hundred pound hailstones. If there were anything left standing from the quake these huge stones would demolish them completely. Where could any person hide from these? But do they repent? No! Instead they continue to curse him, curse his name. What can we learn from this that applies to our lives? The simple fact that we will not have to experience this is enough. But we also have to see once again there are people who we care about who have yet to accept Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior. Are we content with knowing we will escape all this? Are we content with thinking this is so far in the future that not one person we know will ever see this happen, and thus it really does not matter if they get saved or not? What if all this started next week, or next month or even next year? Which of them would think why didn’t we tell them, they could have accepted Jesus then and escaped as we did. The destruction of this earth is inevitable, the perishing of the wicked is just as inevitable. But every person has the choice between being among the saved or among the perishing. It certainly appears some will never come to God, no matter how much he tries to get their attention. But that does not release us from the great commission Jesus gave us. Sometimes when we think we are in hard times we pray, “Come Lord Jesus, and come quickly”, but then we might be condemning someone we should have told about Jesus, if he answers our prayer. No, God has the perfect time table and we need to be about his business until he declares, “It is done!”