Revelation 17 Commentary
In Chapter 12, the woman was the holy church of the Lamb. In this chapter, the woman is the evil system, or systems which must be punished.
Babylon may easily represent Rome. But it refers to world systems opposed to the rule of the Lamb.
Yes, Babylon will be punished, but the timing of her punishment isn’t exactly detailed. We want to believe this punishment is the comprehensive punishment reserved for everyone opposed to the rule of the Lamb. We want to distinguish this comprehensive punishment from the physical punishment that proud kingdoms and systems suffer in real-time.
Human kingdoms never last. Of course, it has something to do with pride and general ungodliness. There is judgment that the LORD pronounces on ungodly systems. So world systems come and go. But we expect judgment on the evil systems – past, present, and future.
No “criminal” case dissolves in time. No ungodliness escapes punishment. Only in Jesus Christ can forgiveness be found.
“And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.” Matthew 23 verses 35 and 36.
You get the impression that the suffering of the saint ends at death but the case is never closed! Resurrection happens to all, some only to be punished for their disobedience; others to receive a reward for believing the Lamb.
This chapter reminds us that powerful systems will one day face judgment from the LORD. Of course, just like the seven churches provided context for the Body of Christ, Rome (nicknamed Babylon) provides context for the powerful world systems.
Behind the woman or the evil systems of the world is the beast – lest we forget! The saint shouldn’t be shocked that LGBTQ+ issues are powerfully pushed by world systems even when logic fails. The beast is behind, hence the strange energy for wrongdoing!
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