Ralph Porter

© 2002

    "How could God allow bad things to happen to people He loves?" Why do bad things happen to good people?" Some people think there is no answer to such questions. They give up in despair.

    "A loving, all-powerful God couldn't let it happen!" they say. Therefore, God must be less than loving. Or, God must be less than all-powerful--or at least He has decided to act that way!

    The book of Revelation was written to answer such doubts. It was addressed to God's people in the midst of suffering for His sake. They were struggling with these issues. The book gives us a glimpse of the throne room. We can see the Judge. There's no question about His power! It also shows us the end of the story. There's no question about His love! There's no question about how it all turns out! Now we can see the rest of the story.

    In the midst of our suffering John writes to the churches to encourage God's people when we suffer on account of our faith in Him. He writes to inform us of the outcome of the conflict  we're participating in. He writes to motivate us to remain faithful in spite of our affliction.

    In order to accomplish these purposes, John shows us Christ, as Judge over the Universe, seated upon His throne, judging His creation. God is in control! He wins! Although His people may suffer, God is even in control of those who are in rebellion. In the end, He will be victorious. Those who are faithful will participate in His great victory.

    In accordance with the summary outline John presents in 1:19, he describes:

        The things you have seen:              Christ the Judge                                  1

        The things which are now:              The Judge judging the churches    2-3

        The things which shall be later:     The Judge judging the nations        4-22

    As he depicts the future, chapters 4-11 describe God's program for the world. He tells us how God will protect His people and judge all peoples for their rebellion against Him. As he goes back over the story again in chapters 12-18, he reveals the cause of God's judgment: Satan's program to interfere with God's plan and destroy His anointed One and His people.

    Since people have chosen to submit to Satan's authority rather than God's, the divine program requires judgment.

Satan's program presented   12-13

    Previous messages revealed Satan's opposition to God and to the people of God. He attempts to destroy God's "anointed One" before He is even born. Failing at that attempt, he creates havoc among the celestial forces. That attempt results in Satan's expulsion from heaven and his attempt at vengeance on earth. His program centers around his own "anointed one," the Antichrist, and his prophet, who promotes his chosen representative on earth.

Satan's program recompensed   14:1-18:24

    God's response to Satan's program is described. The participants in Satan's program are judged by God. After the revelation of this great judgment on all mankind, the angel takes John to see two specific effects of God's judgment (17-18:24).

    The first judgment deals with Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes. Who is supporting her? What happens to that support system? This chapter answers the key question God's suffering people are asking. God gives an answer to the suffering church: Where's this affliction coming from? What is God going to do about it?

    The messenger calls John to come see what God is about to do to the prostitute. God judges the great prostitute who commits adultery with pagan kings and peoples.

    This judgment parallels other passages that point to Babylon (Shinar) as the special object of God's judgment. This was the point of origin of all human religions which oppose God's plan and substitute a plan that glorifies man for an appropriate response of gratitude and praise to the God who created it all. Throughout history its role has been significant (cf. Gen. 10:8-10).

    Whether you consider this city to be a restored form of a literal Babylon--as Saddam Hussein has proposed to rebuild--or some other modern city, this prostitute city proposes to establish a tribute to man--a self-centered religion which exalts our abilities and leaves God out!

    This prostitute city is seduced by power. It is seduced by possessions and pleasure. It's seduced by worship of self and an "I-can-do-it-myself" philosophy. Therefore, God ultimately judges the prostitute!

    The prostitute is supported by the pagan world system introduced in Daniel and Revelation as the beast (3). She is all dressed up in fancy garments (4a). Her external appearance looks great! Her wealthy supporters have treated her well! She holds in her hand a fancy gold cup. But when you look at it closely, you discover that, for all its wealth, it is full of abominable things (4b).

    Her title identifies her as mother of all abominations religious and otherwise (5)! It isn't clear whether the "mystery" refers to her title, or the city itself. Is it the name that hasn't yet been revealed? Or is it the nature of this Babylon that people don't yet understand? Whatever you do with the word "mystery," there's a lot of confusion about what world religion is really all about. What's the role of religion in world history?

    The most significant description in the mind of the suffering church, as they read John's words, is that she is drunk with the shed blood of martyred saints (6). She's a religious system, composed of the ecumenical and syncretistic union of world religions. But she has been identified with the slaughter of the faithful. Their witness was sealed with their blood! The prostitute--the world religious system--is the source of the suffering of those who have been faithful.

    The system that is causing their suffering is under God's control and will be judged by the Judge introduced at the beginning of the book! He is still walking in the midst of His churches. He's still in charge. He has seen what the prostitute has been doing. She has had her fill of the blood of faithful people--but now, the Judge has the last word!

    John is amazed by what he sees (7a). So the messenger comes alongside to explain its significance ( 7b-18).

The prostitute is supported by the pagan world system   7b-14

    The political alliance of pagan nations descended from Rome supports the man-centered religious system (7-8). The beast which represents the political system once existed, then ceased to exist, but will ultimately be restored to existence (8a). 

    A careful study of this passage seems to reveal a contradiction. In some places we are told that it does exist, and in others that it doesn't exist, in John's day. It's position in the sequence of nations indicates that it must be describing Rome. While the Roman empire was still in existence in John's day, it's impact on God's people was diminishing and was seen as waning from John's generation into the future.

    However, it is clear that the beast will rise again! Satan's power energizes the beast and it comes back to afflict God's people again. The beast comes out of the abyss (8b). His authority and power are satanic in origin. While he arises again with great power, the beast will ultimately be destroyed (8c).

    People are impressed by the beast (8d). They're impressed by the sequence of events surrounding his demise and restoration. They can't believe that it has been restored to its former glory, much less to an even greater role in world history. What it has managed to accomplish is impressive! One group isn't impressed, however. There is one group that isn't deceived: those whose names are written in the book of life! They have access to God's interpretation of these events and realize that this is a satanic attempt to overcome God's program for the world and to destroy His people.

    Once again the seven heads of the world's political system are introduced. This is the third biblical reference to this figure (Dan. 7; Rev. 13; and Rev. 17). The beast's seven heads represent seven pagan empires that have ruled over the earth and caused God's people to suffer (9-10). 

    John tells us that to understand the significance of this part of the revelation requires special wisdom--the kind that only God can provide. The seven heads are described as seven hills which support the prostitute. They also represent seven kings. In Daniel 7, these were described as mountains, and the seven kings represented seven empires, referring to Gentile nations that have ruled over Israel.

    In the light of the affliction these empires have caused to God's people throughout history, it is understandable that different generations have related them to the specific empire which provoked suffering in their day. First century readers would have naturally related the seven hills to the popular concept that Rome was a city built on seven hills. Thus they would have easily related the prostitute to the city of Rome and the power of the Roman Empire.

    During the middle ages, and even throughout much of the twentieth century, that same concept was applied to the prostitute and many derived from that base the idea that the prostitute represented the Roman Catholic Church. In more recent years most have expanded that idea and proposed that it was a reference to the ecumenical movement and a post-modern syncretism, uniting all world religions. Since "9/11" some have been inclined to apply the description to the growing influence of Muslims, especially in the light of their historic link with Babylon, and with modern Iraq. Future events may bring other candidates in the minds of future generations. Ultimately it may be that we discover that the prostitute is called "Babylon" because it does in fact refer to a man-centered religious system established in Babylon--a restored center, as proposed by Saddam Hussein.

    John divides the empires into several parts. Five main pagan empires have existed that have ruled over God's people and have threatened Israel's survival and then fallen by John's day. These would include: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. One nation is in power during John's time. That would have to be Rome. A seventh empire is yet to come. This prophecy would refer to an alliance of nations descended from Rome as predicted in Daniel 2 and 7. One additional king--an eighth impressive king--will arise in the future (11). The eighth king will descend from the seventh empire and will establish his own rule.

    This final world power involves a cooperative alliance of ten kings (12-14). The ten horns depict independent nations of a future confederation of nations. They weren't yet in existence when John wrote. They reign for a brief time (12a). Their authority is associated with the beast (12b). They share one united purpose and desire to develop a great one-world government structure to resolve all the world's problems (13a).

    These nations eventually voluntarily give their authority to the beast (13b). Motivated by the beast's impressive leadership skills, and following his lead, they attempt to defeat the Lamb (14). They make war against Him (14a; Ps. 2). They join together in the attempt to destroy Him and all His faithful followers. In spite of their best attempts, they aren't able to destroy them! Ultimately the Lamb defeats them (14b). He defeats them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings! He's greater than all the kings of the earth!

    Most significant in the light of the fact that they are suffering at the hand of this great world religious and political system, is the fact that in the end, those who remain faithful triumph with Him (14c).

    The nations that have united against the Lamb will be destroyed. Before that happens, however, God will use them as an instrument to judge and destroy the religious system (17:15-18).

The prostitute is destroyed by the pagan world system   15-18

    She is seated peacefully in the midst of the pagan peoples of the world, having been supported by the beast for generations (15). But then a surprising thing happens: the beast turns and destroys her (16). The very source of her power and wealth turns on her. 

    Though they have had a mutually beneficial relationship until this moment, once all the nations give their authority to the beast, he is in charge and no longer needs her. The beast has never been especially fond of religion. He wants all the glory for himself. Since she has nothing to offer, he's through with the prostitute. So he turns on her and destroys her.

    Thus the beast becomes God's instrument to fulfill His purpose to destroy the prostitute (17; Zech. 5). Their agreement to give full authority to the beast provides the means by which God judges the prostitute-man's great religious system. Even the self-serving purposes of the beast are used by God to accomplish His purposes! His will is done! He destroys man-made, self-centered religion. He wins! The prostitute who seduces and controls the kings of the world will be destroyed by the kings of the world (18).

    That's it! That's the answer to the nagging question: how could an omnipotent God allow His people to suffer like that. Remember? That was Daniel's question too! How can the beast overcome God's people--even for a little while?

    God's plan to overcome the world includes this beast. God is still in charge! The world's political system becomes the means by which God judges man's religious system. It turns on itself!

    In the end God wins-and those who are faithful triumph with Him! This temporary affliction we may be going through isn't the end of the story. In comparison to the eternal glory which will be ours, the momentary light affliction--though it seem so incredibly hard, and seems to go on forever, in contrast to that glory, is nothing!

    The conclusion to this passage ought to make us alert to the danger of being sucked in by the world's religious system. It always looks impressive. It is wealthy, powerful, and very seductive. But, it's end is destruction. It doesn't pay to join the system, however appealing it may appear.

    By way of contrast, those who are faithful to the Lamb will be opposed and oppressed by world religions and by political pressure for a while. It would be easy to throw in the towel--to give up. But, ultimately, the Lamb wins! The prostitute and the world system are destroyed. Those who are faithful triumph with Him! So how should we respond? Don't give up! Hang in there! Even when you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. There's only one logical response in the light of His ultimate victory: FAITHFULLY FOLLOW THE LAMB!