TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Part
I
Revelation 17
Verse 1
Verse 2
Verse 3
Verse 4
Verse 5
Verse 6
|
Part
II
Verse 7
Verse 8
Verse 9
Verse 10
Verse 11
|
Part
III
Verse 12
Verse 13
Verse 14
|
Part
IV
Verse 15
Verse 16
"Ten Horns and the Beast"
Verse 17
|
Part
V
Verse 18
|
|
Part IV
Verse
15
"And he
[the angel explaining the judgment of this
woman, THE TIME IS AT HAND, Chapter IX, p. 267-362 ] saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore
sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations and tongues." |
It is important that we learn the source of this
"woman’s" power and influence. The main reason the "seven kings"
[emperors] found themselves enamored with this woman was because of the tremendous
influence she had on the people.
This apostate "woman" would bless the armies of the
"kings," so they gladly supported the endless carnage of war. The nations were
made drunk with the "wine of her fornication."
The people believed they were serving God when they went to war, while
the priests blessed them marching off to battle. The worldly rulers knew it always helped
when the church put a religious edge on swords being wielded in battle. Holy(?) wars have
been the stock and trade of all religious fanaticism.
"Holy (?) Wars"
|
None were more talented in intoxicating the peoples and nations than
this "woman." Soldiers were made to believe the gates of heaven would be open to
all who died in holy (?) war.
Christianity’s sole purpose is to serve in the call, selection and
development of God’s New Creation. It was the ultimate desecration for the church to
prostitute Christianity to serve earthly ambition.
Both Catholics and Protestants profess to serve both God and country.
That is like trying to serve God and Mammon.
Verse
16
"And the ten horns which thou sawest upon
[and] the
beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat
her flesh, and burn her with fire."
|
What a savage end for this splendidly adorned "woman."
This whole chapter has been given to us so we may know the precise time and the
foreordained way this evil religious system comes to its end. Nothing can save it. It will
be destroyed suddenly and effectively. "Strong is the Lord God who judgeth her."
(Revelation 18:8)
We notice something of importance here. This "woman" is
killed and consumed. She is not thrown into the "lake of fire" or the second
death. When she is consumed and "burned with fire," it indicates the end of this
church system. This does not mean the end of all church authority in the earth. Only the
unfaithful church will be destroyed with "fire" and cease to exist.
The Christ of God, the true Church of God, will then ascend to power
in the earth. However, when describing the "leopard-like beast," we are told:
"The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet…. These both
were cast alive into a lake of fire."
Never again will there be a false religious government in the earth.
The "lake of fire" will consume the papal government forever. Satan will also be
consumed in the same "lake of fire."
However, there will always be a Church of God or a true religious
institution to represent Him. Only the false church will be terminated.
It is interesting to notice that the "woman" is destroyed
with "fire" whereas the papal "leopard beast" will be cast "alive
into a lake of fire" (Revelation 19:20), the second death.
The "lake of fire" pictures second death
—not
eternal torment.
|
"Ten Horns and the
Beast"
We now address whether it is the "ten horns upon the
beast" or the "ten horns and the beast." This is critical to our
discussion.
There is a certain logic to the "ten horns" being upon the
beast. Where else would they be? We cannot deny this logic—the "horns" are upon
the "beast."
Those believing this "scarlet beast" is in some way
identified with the Papacy need the first reading: "And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast." Obviously, if the
Papacy were identified as being the
"scarlet beast" it would be unthinkable for it to rend and destroy the
"woman," for the Catholic Church is a part of the
Papacy.
If, however, the "scarlet beast" in its final appearance is
the "Roman peoples" form of republican government it should read: "And the
ten horns which thou sawest and the beast." Let us check for the correct
reading.
Most authorities read: "And the ten horns which thou sawest and
the beast."
THE NEW TESTAMENT,
Von Tischendorf—English by Samuel
Davidson on Revelation 17:16 (printed in 1872, the eleventh and last text of Tischendorf):
"And the ten horns which thou sawest and the beast, these will hate the whore,
and will eat her flesh, and will burn her with fire."
MURDOCK'S TRANSLATION OF THE SYRIAC TESTAMENT,
Bethune—Revelation
17:16: "And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast of prey, will hate
the harlot; and they will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh, and burn
her with fire."
TREGELLES ON REVELATION,
by Samuel
Tregelles on Revelation 17:16: "And the ten horns which thou sawest and the
beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat
her flesh, and burn her with fire [bold supplied by us]."
GREEK TESTAMENT WITH NOTES BY WORDSWORTH,
in
his comment on Revelation 17:16 says: Some Cursive MSS., and some early MSS. of the
Vulgate have (upon the beast). "But, and, is found in the A, B and in twelve
Cursive MSS. Cited by Scrivener, p. 533; and the best MSS. of the Vulgate, and in the
Syria Version, and the Arabic and Aethiopic and in Hippolytus, p. 18, ed. Lagarde; and
Ireneus seems to have so read the passage (v. 26). This reading is received by Griesback,
Scholz, Bengel, and Winer, p. 128, Lachmann, Tischendorf, Tregelles. There seems little
doubt that this is the true reading."
If the "scarlet beast" and the "ten
horns" rend this woman, the "beast" is obviously not the
Papacy, but rather
a "beast" similar to the one that rose from the "bottomless pit" in
the French Revolution and created such havoc for kings and priests in France.
Up until Constantine’s time this pagan "beast"
persecuted the Christian Churches even though they lived and prospered in the pagan
kingdom of Rome. Therefore, we need not think that this "scarlet beast" will
immediately turn on the "woman" when it comes to power.
Satan made that mistake in the French Revolution. He incited the
revolutionists against the Catholic Church of France. Satan hoped the extreme bloodiness
of that revolution would frighten people back into a church and state bond.
Overdue Reforms of the
French Revolution |
However, reform was so overdue and the people so distressed and angry
that they rather enjoyed their new freedoms and were in no hurry to welcome back the
Catholic Church.
This time around, Satan modifies his strategy. He wishes to engage
the "ten kings" to attack the "King of kings." In Revelation 12:17 we
see what Satan tries to accomplish in employing the "ten kings" to make war on
the "Lord of lords." We read:
"And the dragon
[Satan] was wroth with the woman, and
went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and
have the testimony of Jesus Christ."
Here is a clear declaration of Satan’s ultimate purpose toward
those who "have the testimony of Jesus Christ." That is his clear and
stated purpose. Make no mistake about it. We believe Revelation 17:14 is the fulfillment
of Satan’s last and final attempt to consummate his "war" against the
"seed" of the "woman" (the faithful Gospel Church).
Satan made a disastrous mistake when he cast out a "flood of
water" after the "woman" in the French Revolution. He "shot himself in
the foot," as the expression goes. He will shoot himself in the other foot when he
engages the "ten kings" to make war against the "Lord of
lords."
When Satan attacks the "called, chosen and faithful" saints,
his last game plan is over, for standing behind them is the "King of kings." He
may indeed succeed in putting some "saints" to death, but his cause will go down
in certain defeat.
Forthwith, Satan will find the "woman" that he made to be the
mistress of the nations, become scorned and hated.
Verse
17
"For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will,
and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be
fulfilled."
|
Here Satan and his queen, this dreadful "woman" of our
story, find their "Waterloo." The "ten kings" who for a time were
without a "kingdom," never really had any affection for this "woman."
As long as they prospered, they let the "woman" have a place with them to secure
their "kingdom."
John the Baptist
Beheaded |
Just as "Herodias" succeeded in getting Herod to behead John the Baptist, he
nevertheless was angry with "Herodias" for how she manipulated him into killing
one of God’s prophets.
Herod knew that it was a grave mistake to kill a "holy" man
of God.
|
We are not told how God will "put in their hearts to fulfill his
will" in turning on this "woman" and burning her with "fire" and
eating "her flesh." It will not take a whole lot on God’s part to get
people to "hate the whore." She has been very wicked.
You can only fool the people so long. As the truth becomes known, and
when the people begin to suspect who the true people of God really are, it will
automatically cause them to despise the "whore."
Jezebel’s end was a type of how this "woman" of
Revelation seventeen comes to her end. Jezebel was betrayed by her servants. The
"eunuchs" gladly threw this "cursed woman" from her lofty chamber into
the street below. The "dogs," the Gentiles or heathens, consumed her flesh.
Jezebel's eunuchs threw her
out of the window. |
Dogs ate Jezebel, leaving only her hands and feet. |
So it will be with this Revelation "woman." The godless pagan
forces will consume the resources of the false church.
Click to go to the following:
The Man of Sin--Antichrist
Topical Studies on:
The Scarlet Colored Beast Part I - Part
II - Part III - Part IV - Part V
Chapter/Verse by Verse Study on:
"The Scarlet Beast" Study
Topical Study Home Page - Chapter Study Home Page
- Sinaitic Manuscript - Questions - Glossary.
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