Revelation 17; Psalm 56

Revelation 17
You will remember that Revelation contains many symbols. In this chapter and the next, "the great prostitute" represents false religion and Babylon represents a political and economic system designed to control people. Actually, these symbols can be applied to any age, including our own, though they speak specifically about the end times. A false religion is a "prostitute" who is unfaithful to God and worships a false god or gods. Likewise an oppressive and controlling political/economic system is the enemy of God and His people.

vv. 1-6 show us what John saw in this vision after the angel carried him away in the Spirit into a desert. v. 3 John was "greatly astonished" when he saw the woman "sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names." She was dressed in elaborate and expensive garments. "She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and filth of her adulteries." She was "drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus."

vv. 7-18 actually tell us what these symbols mean.

• The woman. She is identified with a city that practices a false religion. v. 18 She pollutes the nations as seen in the cup she holds. v. 4 She persecutes God's people. v. 6
• The beast. He is scarlet, the color of Satan. He was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. v. 3 He will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. v. 8 The 7 heads are 7 hills on which the woman sits. This probably symbolizes the city of Rome, built on 7 hills. They also symbolize 7 kings or kingdoms. vv. 10-11. Five of the kingdoms had already passed away in John's day. One was in power at that time (the Roman Empire), and the other had not yet come. The future kingdom will that of the "beast." The 10 horns are ten leaders or kings who will help the beast come to power. v. 13 They will make war against Jesus, the Lamb, but He will defeat them. We, His faithful followers, will be with Him. v. 14
• The waters represent great multitudes of people. v. 15
• The beast (Satan) will use the prostitute (false religion) for his purposes, but he will eventually turn on her and destroy her. v. 16

Notice in v. 14, John points out that true believers are not deceived by the "prostitute" or the "kings," but are true overcomers.

Psalm 56
David wrote this psalm when he was in danger from an enemy. Let's notice what we should remember when we're in "trouble" of any kind.

• We can admit when we're afraid, and we can trust God. vv. 3, 11
• He sees where we are and knows how we feel. He sees and records our tears! v. 8
• He hears when we call. v. 9
• We should never fail to give our thanks. v. 12

For our meditation:
"In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise--God I trust; I will not be afraid."