Revelation 17:6-14

When I saw her, I marveled greatly.  But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.  The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.  This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while.  As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction.  And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.  These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast.  They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

John’s vision is of the judgment of the idolatrous religious system that is so influential over the beat during the tribulation.  This section takes the time to describe the beast on which the harlot rides.  This is a sort of review of the nations that have dominated Israel as well as a preview of those who will come in the future.  As impressive as the beast may seem, it is doomed to destruction by the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ.

THE RESURRECTION OF THE BEAST: There is no doubt that Satan and his fallen angels have power.  That power is not to be compared with the power of God, but it is real power.  The beast who is Antichrist will at some point during the tribulation suffer an apparent fatality.  That death will be followed by a supernatural resurrection from the dead.  This will be another contributing factor to the idolatry that will take place in this context.  It is possible that these events will be fabricated as Satan is a deceiver, but this will be the perception and in John’s vision it is described as the beast was, is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit or just is to come.  Those who are not believers will marvel at these events and celebrate the deceptive power of Satan.

THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE BEAST: The beast is described as seven mountains that are seven kings, five of which have fallen, and having ten horns.  The five fallen kingdoms are likely the different nations who have dominated Israel throughout history: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece.  The one that still is, would be the Roman empire which was in power during John’s day and will at some point in history be revived in a confederation of ten horns or rulers that will be in power during the tribulation and from which the Antichrist will rise.

THE CONDEMNATION OF THE BEAST: These kings make war against the Lord Jesus and they will be in full cooperation with the beast and the dragon.  The world and its systems have always been in rebellion against God and have been striving to thwart the mission of God to destroy sin and redeem the world from all the consequences of sin.  This battle of the ages will culminate in the tribulation and at the return of Christ there will be a battle in which the kings of the earth will unite against Jesus, but these efforts will fail.  Jesus will be revealed as King of kings and Lord of lords.  The rebellious leaders of this world will be conquered and believers in the Lord Jesus will be revealed as faithful because they were chosen by God to be saved from sin and redeemed for His glory.

APPLICATION: Do not disrespect the power of evil that is in this world but also do not live in fear of it.  God’s power is always greater.  Know that the history of this world is in the hands of the Lord and He sets up rulers and takes them down.  Rejoice in knowing that evil will be defeated and we will be revealed as faithful because of God’s plan of redemption.

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