Revelation 17 & 18

Do you ever just get tired of the war?

1 John 5:19 reminds us that the kingdom of this world lies in the power of the evil one.

Revelation 11:15 reminds us that the kingdom of the world had become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.

The day is coming in which we will see the conflict come to an end.

John is helping us see in this conflict that rages between the “dark trinity” and the Trinity of Father, Son, and Spirit and how the Triune God is in control and how the Triune God will destroy the cheap imitation of the Trinity.

There is a hellish conflict between the “dark trinity” and the real Trinity. We are in this conflict and we are usually casualties in this conflict. And we must remember that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood.

The dark trinity is building the city of idolatry with all of its prostitution (shiny and idolatrous pursuits that draw man’s heart away from the Lord of glory) and the Lord himself is building the city of the Kingdom of God (in which Jesus is the object of all joy and the source of all joy).

Chapter 17 and 18 shows us how the Trinity overwhelms and destroys the dark trinity.

Jesus will deal with the beast and the prophet and finish off the dragon.

Remember, the meaning here is not like meaning mined out in other parts of Scripture. We must see the intended meaning of the author from the Spirit.

Woman – political power, rulers, that influence all other political rulers (17:18)

Dragon – Satan

Beast – the incarnate work of Satan through Satan’s chosen political and national force

Horns – kings under the influence of the Dragon, and the woman

Babylon – the city of Satan’s choice that will wield control over the earth through its various means, not necessarily Rome, but definitely applicable to the church during the time of Rome’s rule. Like Rome was an instrument in the hands of God in allowing Satan to control Rome until the time came, the Lord will grand Satan access to accomplish the purposes of his Kingdom.

Babylon is also any influence of that kingdom and produced by the kingdom that draws the attention of the saints away from Jesus to anything that would kill the soul of the Christian.

Babylon is all over the place, and if you have eyes to you can see Babylon and it’s influences all over the place.

Sexual Immorality – idolatrous pursuit of and worship of anything other than the Triune God of the universe

1. Look behind the throne to see what the real influence is and don’t become intoxicated with sexual immorality of idolatry 17:1-14

A. Politically, the source of anything contrary to truth is the dragon, Satan, through his beast and

prophet

B. Socially, the source of anything contrary to truth is the dragon, Satan, through his beast and

prophet

C. Economically, the source of anything contrary to truth is the dragon, Satan, through his beast

and prophet

D. Personally, the source of anything contrary to truth is the dragon, Satan, through his beast and

prophet

2. Look to see the rule of and judgment by Jesus Christ over the Dragon and the Dragon’s instrument 17:15-18, 18:1-24

3. Look and see the destruction of the kingdom of this world 18:1-24

A. The kingdom of this world is full of the demonic and is camouflaged as luxurious 18:3, 7

B. Come out from this façade of a kingdom so as to avoid being part of this kingdom 18:4

1. Watch you life and doctrine closely 1 Timothy 4:16

2. Enjoy all things holy but be careful with stuff that woos the heart from Jesus

(could preach a month on be in and not of the world)

(1 Corinthians 5; Ephesians; Colossians; Galatians)

Idolatry = good things that become “God” things and that becomes a bad thing.

a. This requires discipline (discipleship / knowing Jesus and what he has

said)

b. This requires discernment (to know what is good and what to avoid

through the indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit)

c. This requires living among the kingdom of this world while not being

part of the kingdom of this world (you are salt and light for this)

d. This requires setting people free who are enslaved to this kingdom’s

bad philosophy (love of wisdom) Colossians 2:8

4. Live today in light of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ that is and is coming to be visible at the completion of the Great Commission

“Those who make an impact on this world are those who are consumed with a passion for another world they don’t yet possess.” (paraphrase of a thought by C.S. Lewis)