Everyone Wants to Win...

If you have your Bibles this morning, please take them and quickly find Revelation 17:1-18.  I want to share a message with you entitled, “Everyone Wants to Win…”

 

If you have every competed in a competition, you know that everyone wants to win.  I know that to be true from experience as a high school athlete and an amateur coach.  Everyone wants to win, but everyone doesn’t want to do what is necessary to win. 

 

That which is necessary to win might be more practice or more study.  In our context today, it means commitment to Christ.  If you want to win in life, you must make a personal commitment to Christ and His ways because in the end, Christ wins.

 

In our study of John’s Revelation, we have seen many symbols and signs and figurative language.  Chapters 17 and 18 are FULL of symbols and signs and figurative language, and I will do my best this morning in identifying them. 

 

However, as I have already said multiple times, I am going to share with you what I think and maybe even share with you some popular options, but at the end of the day, it is very difficult to be precise, and any dogmatism is only speculation.

 

Once again, it seems that John as paused in his chronology of end time events.  It seems that he is commenting on the events of seven-year tribulation, both the first half and the second half. 

 

The primary symbol in these two chapters is Babylon.  We see that first referenced in verse 4 of chapter 17. 

 

Let me remind you of some facts regarding Babylon.

1. Babylon was founded by Nimrod, great-grandson of Noah. See Genesis 10:9-10. 

9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

 

2. Babylon was the beginning of idolatry. See Genesis 11:1-4.

1 Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. 3 Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. 4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”

 

3. Babylon was revived under Nebuchadnezzar. See Daniel 1:1.

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

 

4. Babylon is in modern-day Iraq.

 

5. At least one NT writer uses Babylon referring to Rome. See 1 Peter 5:13.

13 She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son.

 

So again, chapters 17 and 18 are difficult to understand.  However, we will do our best.

 

Please keep this in mind.  Babylon may have multiple meanings.  It is more than possible that John could be referring to a system of belief as well as a particular place.  For example, consider how we use the terms Hollywood or Wall Street.  Hollywood is a specific location in Los Angles, California.  However, it is also used in referring to show business or the film industry.

 

Think about Wall Street.  There is a literal Wall Street in New York City.  However, it is also used to refer to our country’s financial markets.

 

This morning, allow me to show you the personification of a city, the identification of the beast, and the subjugation of the Lamb.

 

 

1. The Personification of a City & a System, Revelation 17:1-6

1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”  3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.  6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. 

 

In verse 1, one of the seven angels from chapter 16 speaks to John.  The angel shows John a harlot or a prostitute.  A harlot is one who is sexually unfaithful and immoral. 

 

Obviously, this is not a literal woman but the personification of a city & system.  In other words, a city and a system will be described in human terms.  This city & system has been unfaithful.  She is guilty of spiritual fornication.  Specifically, she is guilty of idolatry.

 

First, notice that her influence is vast in verse 2.  That is what it means when it says she sits on many waters.  She has been involved with kings, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 

 

By the way, fornication is a word that we don’t use a lot in today’s language, but it means living together and sexually active.  Just as the Bible said that fornication was sin almost 2000 years ago, fornication is still sin today even though it is accepted as normal in our culture and unfortunately even in the Church. 

 

Second, as we continue in verse 2, not only notice that the harlot’s influence will be vast, but her character will be vile.  She is a harlot.  She is a prostitute. 

 

The word “harlot” is found four times in this chapter: 1, 5, 15, and 16.  She commits fornication with multiple kings. 

 

In verse 4, her hand is holding a gold cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.  In verse 5, we see that she has name on her head.  She is the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth.  She is a harlot, and verse 6 says she is a drunk.

 

Third, notice also that her actions will be vicious.  In verse 6, she is drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.  These are not two different groups. 

 

The point is that Babylon, this harlot, this city and this belief system will persecute and execute Tribulation Saints.  Those that name the name of Christ during the Tribulation will be sought out and killed by Babylon, the harlot.

 

 

1. The Identification of the Beast, Revelation 17:7-13

7 But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.  9 “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. 10 There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. 11 The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.  12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.

 

In verse 7, the angel who began this conversation with John says that he will tell John the mystery of the woman and the beast.  The beast was first mentioned back in verse 3 as carrying the harlot.  We also see that the beast is scarlet or red and has seven heads and ten horns.  Go back to chapter 13:1.

 

1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.

 

This beast is none other than the devil’s man, the Anti-Christ.  He will be a Gentile political leader.

 

What does it mean that he was, and is not, and is about to ascend?  That is regarding the Anti-Christ’s fake death and resurrection. 

 

Remember that one of his heads had been wounded but healed, and because of this, those who aren’t Christians, who don’t have their name written in the book of life, will follow him hook, line, and sinker.  See 13:3, 14.

 

3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.

 

14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.

 

In verse nine, the water gets a little murky, and as the angels says, we need wisdom. 

 

The seven heads of the beast are seven mountains on which the woman sits.  Let me stop right here for just a moment.  If a first-century Christian heard the term seven mountains or seven hills, he would immediately think of Rome, the city of seven hills. 

 

However, the angel then speaks of seven kings.  Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come.  Many commentators say this is a reference to the great empires of history that include Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece. 

 

The one who is would be the Roman empire that existed when John wrote this book.

 

According to verse 11, the one to come will be the Anti-Christ.  However, he is described as the eighth and of the seventh.   It’s hard to know what John means here.

 

Notice verses 12-13.  The beast will be followed by ten kings, and they will rule with the beast for a short time as designated as one hour.  That is not a literally hour but another to say they will have one purpose in their ruling. 

 

Here it is.  They will give power and authority to the beast.  He will receive much devotion.

 

 

• The Subjugation of the Lamb, Revelation 17:14-18

14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”  15 Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. 16 And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

 

Even though the Anti-Christ will receive much devotion in the last days, he will not have victory in the end.  Subjugation is a word that means to bring under control or to conquer. 

 

In the end, the one who conquers is the Lamb.  Jesus wins.

 

Notice verse 14.  The Anti-Christ and the ten kings will wage ware with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them because He is the Lord of lords and King of kings. 

 

However, not only will the Lamb win, but you will win if you put your faith and trust in the Lamb, Jesus Christ.  You are the called and chosen and faithful who call on the name of the Lord to be saved.

 

Finally, God wins.  Look at verses 16-17.  The ten kings who were following the harlot who was following the Anti-Christ will turn her and follow the Anti-Christ only, and this is strangely part of God’s plan. 

 

The very last verse in this chapter seems to indicate that not only will Babylon be a system of belief, but she will also be an actual city.  Perhaps this city will be the headquarters of the Anti-Christ. 

 

With that being said, that is why some commentators have said that Babylon will be the Roman Catholic Church, and the headquarters will be Rome.

 

 

Conclusion

So what does all this mean?  In order for you to win in life and for eternity, you will need to make a personal commitment to the Lamb, Jesus Christ. 

 

You can do that by admitting you’re a sinner and believing that Jesus died for your sins on the cross, and by calling on Him to save you.