Monday: The Harlot Riding on the Scarlet Beast
Read Revelation 17:3. One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues offers to show John the judgment of the harlot who sat on many waters. When John sees her, she is riding the scarlet beast. In what ways do the symbols of water and beast suitably describe the supporters of Babylon?
Image © Phil McKay Goodsalt.com
As John is carried in vision into the wilderness, he sees a woman on a scarlet beast. While the harlot represents a religious entity, the beast symbolizes a political power. The picture of religion riding the secular and political powers points to two separate entities, something that was not the case in the past, when religion and politics were integrated. The prophecy shows, however, that these two entities will join together at the end time. The concept of riding a beast denotes dominance; as the rider of the scarlet beast, this end-time religious system will dominate the secular and political powers.
Which characteristics of the harlot point to the dragon, the sea beast, and the beast coming out of the earth in Revelation chapters 12 and 13?
The harlot is pictured as extravagantly arrayed in purple and scarlet and adorned with ornaments of gold and precious stones and pearls; such adornment was a practice of harlots in antiquity to enhance their power of seduction (Jer. 4:30). As the color of blood, scarlet corresponds to the oppressive character of this religious system.
The harlot’s dress counterfeits the attire of the high priest in the Old Testament, attire that included the colors purple, scarlet, and gold (Exod. 28:5-6). The blasphemous inscription on the harlot’s forehead also replaces the priestly inscription, “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” on the miter of the high priest (Exod. 28:36-38). The cup in her hand reminds us of the vessels of the sanctuary from which Belshazzar, king of Babylon, and his guests drank wine (Dan. 5:2-4). The cup in the harlot’s hand uses the appearance of truth to conceal the wine – the falsehoods of Satan’s end-time religious system – in order to seduce the world away from God.
The harlot Babylon is further described as drunk with the blood of the saints and the martyrs of Jesus who died as a result of their witness to Christ. This bloodguiltiness links end-time Babylon to medieval apostate Christianity, which was led by the papacy and responsible for the deaths of millions of Christians who remained faithful to the gospel.
| The description of the harlot Babylon reflects the image of Jezebel in the church of Thyatira (Rev. 2:20-23). How do the parallels between these two women elucidate the character of end-time Babylon? |
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I have mentioned this experience previously but it provides evidence related to today's topic that is useful. Some time ago I read Bill Clinton's autobiography, "My Life". While it was a long and very egocentric view of his time as the President of the United States, and quite inaccurate at times, the book showed me the enormous impact that religion has on politics. Clinton refers frequently to the development of policy to ensure that those who were religious would endorse him. Policies that were affected included foreign policy (particularly with respect to Israel).
It was an eye-opener to me that the USA, the so-called champion of the separation of church and state, would be so blatant in its consideration of religious attitudes in determining policy.
I am sure that similar church-state considerations happen in other countries but maybe not in the same way. Australia is a very secular society and generally, Australians regard those who make a profession of Christianity as nutters. It comes as no surprise then, that when Scott Morrison, who belongs to a popular charismatic congregation, became Prime Minister, questions were asked about his fitness for the job. I remember a photograph of him standing in church with his hands in the air, published in the media with a caption questioning whether we wanted this person as our Prime Ministership.
I mention these incidents because some of us are very unaware of the somewhat covert relationship that exists between church and state already. In most western countries there are well-developed "Christian" lobby groups that spend large sums of money influencing politicians and public opinion to their perceived notion of Christianity, often appearing as the champions of high moral values.
John paints a somewhat confusing picture of the relationship between church and state and I rather suspect that he is trying to get the message across that while the church-state union will be united in its attack on those who belong to the remnant, their relationship with one another will be messy. Perhaps it is useful to read the history of church-state relationships in England during the period from Henry VIII to the time of Cromwell to see a period of history that gives an insight into the future. (Note: it is not nice reading by the way)
In all this, we need to keep our eyes firmly on Jesus, only those who have a strong, "persistent" relationship with him will remain unswayed by the turmoil of this period.
Thanks for your comment. The relationship between church and state is at best messy as you stated. This is because,as Daniel (the prophecy) tells us, it is the amalgamation of CLAY and IRON of the feet and toes.
Now, iron and clay are very different elements and don't bond at all. It is by no surprise then, we note in Revelation 17:16 tells us that the union is short-lived, and in the amazing classic - The Great Controversy chapter 40, we find this bond falling apart, and Papacy's support base is decimated, and actually fought by the civil authorities.
Does God recognize both form of authorities (civil and religious)? Yes, He does. As a matter of fact, both are said to wield a sword (or authority). We know the church's sword is the Bible, but the civil authorities too have a sword, recognizable by the Bible. Romans 13:1-3.
But whenever a sword in the hand of the civil authorities is used to enforce the realm of the religion, a problem always arises. For instance, Christ was killed by the state for a purported religious crime! John 19:7.
but will it happen? Spirit of Prophecy states "We have come to a time when God's sacred work is represented by the feet of the image in which the iron was mixed with the miry clay. God has a people, a chosen people, whose discernment must be sanctified, who must not become unholy by laying upon the foundation wood, hay, and stubble. Every soul who is loyal to the commandments of God will see that the distinguishing feature of our faith is the seventh-day Sabbath. If the government would honor the Sabbath as God has commanded, it would stand in the strength of God and in defense of the faith once delivered to the saints. But statesmen will uphold the spurious sabbath, and will mingle their religious faith with the observance of this child of the papacy, placing it above the Sabbath which the Lord has sanctified and blessed, setting it apart for man to keep holy, as a sign between Him and His people to a thousand generations.
The mingling of churchcraft and statecraft is represented by the iron and the clay. This union is weakening all the power of the churches. This investing the church with the power of the state will bring evil results. Men have almost passed the point of God's forbearance. They have invested their strength in politics, and have united with the papacy. But the time will come when God will punish those who have made void His law, and their evil work will recoil upon themselves." (MS 63, 1899)
William, from what you are saying in your comment, I wonder if you would be in favor of a "Sabbath law" - a law that would forbid businesses operating on Saturday, for instance?
No I would never be for such a law! (English is not my first language, I hope I never gave such an impression).
BUT the fact remains, that regardless of what I would be in favour of, the 'ultimate anti-Sabbath law' will be enforced, because Sabbath remains the one sign of allegiance to God.
Your English is just fine. 🙂 I was just wondering how you might interpret this part of the quotation: " If the government would honor the Sabbath as God has commanded, it would stand in the strength of God and in defense of the faith once delivered to the saints."
Sabbath is a given from God to one people the Jewish.
It belongs to the old garment and old vessel.
Jesus never ordered his disciples to hold the Sabbath.
The sabbath is gone when the Temple is destroyed for good by the Roman empire soldiers.
When you return back to the Jewish system, you disdain Christ's work and His Blood.
Thank you for your comment, Abraham.
Do you believe that the Ten Commandments "belong to the old garment" and are no longer relevant today. Do you believe it is all right to murder, steal, lie, worship other Gods, etc?
The interesting interplay between church and state are a historical feature of our country from its inception. The principle of separation has proven to work well, but there has always been a dance between politicians and pulpiteers and have influenced the other along the way since the Constitution was ratified and the Bill of Rights attached.
Today we have seen just how far the church will support the state to get what she wants for herself. It is rather blatant in America.
The union of church and state.
The time is coming when the nations of the world, symbolised by the scarlet-coloured beast will support the harlot by using the power of the state to enforce her wrong religious practices.
They both have a similar message coming from their mouth. Global warming, peace, refugees etc.
Pope seems to do better in this situations than president Donald. Wherever he goes all other denominations meet him our Muslim brothers welcome him and meet him as well.
He is the best leader to lead the world. He seems to be innocent, humble and a peace maker. He can visit war torn areas and bring peace. He is not biased and he can address even the US parliament. He can attract great multitudes from all denominations.
But he doesn't have the army like during the dark ages that's why he needs the State.
It might be noted that, even "during the dark ages" the papacy had no real army, but enlisted the power of the state to do its bidding. A quick review of the May 31, 1998 papal encyclical, Dies Domini is quite revealing in its "obligatory character." There is nothing new under the sun—especially for the church of Rome.
As the lesson acknowledged yesterday, the image of a harlot is repeatedly reflected in God's references (via various prophets) to the experience of Israel.
However, are these references to a harlot primarily or merely a reflection of God's concern that Israel was involved with an 'apostate' religious entity?
Or was there a much broader issue/concern? [As a hint, I would offer Isa 5:7 as but one example reference.]
Similarly, is the main point of the passage that is being studied this week to warn me not be involved in an 'apostate' religious entity that is backed up by a political/state power?
Or is there also a much broader issue/concern that is of direct relevance to me even - if I am not a member of an 'apostate' religious entity.
I think you hit upon an important point about a "much broader issue/concern" in this portrayal in Revelation of the woman and the beast. I do think it warns against religions and states that conform and support that are intertwined to do each others bidding. There are many nations today in which this takes place and religious persecution results. (76% of the worlds' population do NOT have religious liberty.)
What is given to us is the image of the woman riding the beast—in control of the beast—the church working in union with and controlling the state. This was the practice during the 1260 years of papal supremacy from 538AD to 1798AD which practice will be re-established when the "deadly wound" is finally healed—an unholy union of church and state.
Perhaps we are seeing characteristics of the major players in these symbols that John is relaying to us. If I may, it seems we are narrowing the identifying characters and their modus operandi. Could it be that if an effort by anyone, including everyone, using coercive tactics are allied with the beast, even if they claim to be preaching salvation? How will those who persecute be able to identify the remnant? Does it matter to which of the thousands of denominations/religions one belongs to if one exhibits the character of Jesus of Nazareth...or not?
A good question. Since the Lord looks on the heart, it seems to me that "harlotry" would include a divided heart - a heart not loyal to the Creator. It seems to me that that would include life practices at odds with God's law of love. Indeed, the prophets often warned against the self-serving practices that demonstrated such "harlotry."
Is it possible that we may be involved in a similar situation today?
Not that Revelation lacks variety, but more often, Revelation REUSES the symbols, so that we do not have to suffer too hard trying to decipher symbols used in later parts of the book.
Today's lesson deals with a HARLOT... There are a number of questions, once we answer them, we shall be in a pretty good position in understanding this chapter:
When do the events of Revelation 17 take place?
1. Which angel is speaking to John in this chapter, out of the seven, who are pouring out their plagues?
It is the 6th angel, because of the great 'whore'sits upon many waters - the Euphrates, which was dried up by the angel's plague.
2. Where else do we find a 'harlot' in Revelation?
'JEZEBEL'- during the reign of the church of Thyatira, "Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols." Revelation 2:20.
3. Who are other PROTAGONISTS in the typological parts of the Bible who accompany this harlot?
ALWAYS, whenever Jezebel is mentioned, one MUST look out for a weak civil ruler (Ahab), prophets of Baal (also variously called her DAUGHTERS), and ELIJAH the prophet of God.
4. What other Bible book(s) talk of this same harlot?
We have the HISTORICAL Jezebel of the Old Testament 1 Kings 18 etc; the PROPHETIC Jezebel (Matt 11:14 - where Jezebel is Herod's wife, she has a daughter who DANCES before a weak king, and the king does her bidding by cutting off John the Baptist's head); the JEZEBEL of the church of Thyatira (we of course expect a weak civil authority which does the bidding of apostate Roman catholic church in the middle ages to persecute God's people, representing 'Élijah', and her daughters were apostate protestantism which persecuted God's people as well.); and then we have the END-TIME JEZEBEL - the harlot of Revelation 17:4-6. We of course expect civil leaders (the mountains) who do her bidding, the daughters - who cause God's people to be persecuted - all the 4 protagonists.
5. What is the dragon upon which the harlot rides? This refers to the totality of the DRAGON kingdoms. Now, in one of the days, Egypt, Syria, etc are given; but in this very same lesson, the same dragon beast has been rightly identified as that one of Rev 12 - the devil himself. But are we right to trace back his activity (in this context at-least) to Egypt? The very next chapter, Rev 13 has the answer one would look for: It gives us extra features which help us identify the 7 headed dragon beast. Lion - Babylon, Bear - Medo-persia, Leopard - Greece, Eagle - Pagan Rome. We shall identify the last 3 heads, and the 4th, which is really the third (remember the mortal wound, which healed?).
6. SO, has 'JEZEBEL' - the epitomy of syncretism of Church and state, described in the Bible as harlotry, or Babylon, been there since the historical Babylon? YES. Nebuchadnezzar tried to enforce a civil decree on a religious conviction in putting the 3 Hebrew boys in the fire; Darius' decree of the Medes had to do with enforicing a civil purnishment on Daniel's convictions; Artaxerxes (Ahasuerus) was to enforce the decree through Naaman of executing Jews on religious grounds... and many more.
The HARLOT's name is given as MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Rev 17:5. This is BABYLON my friends, not God's true church that had gone to the wilderness in Rev. 12:6 "...where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days."
Babylon is the church changed from true to apostate (a narrative of the great "falling away" that Paul speaks of in 2 Thess. 2). It is also the combination of all false religions that at some level is apostate from the true. And Babylon is not just a church in these chapters, but also a system (as emphasized in chapter 18). There are several layers of meaning in these passages.
Hello Kevin, Babylon has never been the church of God, if you trace its history from the literal Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom was the first head of the dragon, how can any other head of the dragon ever possibly be a church of God?
Babylon is a system as you called it, which is opposed to the church. While Babylon is a harlot (syncretism of church and state), God's church is called a virgin (Rev 12:1-3).
People may compromise, and fall away from the true church and join Babylon, but that does not mean the true church has become Babylon. Individuals are exactly that, individuals. Yet God has his church, which is diametrically opposed to Babylon.
EG White says "God has a church on earth who are lifting up the downtrodden law, and presenting to the world the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world...
There is but one church in the world who are at the present time standing in the breach and making up the hedge, building up the old waste places...
Let all be careful not to make an outcry against the only people who are fulfilling the description given of the remnant people, who keep the commandments of God and have faith in Jesus... God has a distinct people, a church on earth, second to none, but superior to all in their facilities to teach the truth, to vindicate the law of God... My brother, if you are teaching that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is Babylon, you are wrong.—Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 50, 58, 59 (1893). [The book of Revelation focuses on two sets of God's people—the visible remnant (12:17) and “My people” in Babylon (18:4). This chapter deals with the former, and chapter 14, “The Loud Cry,” deals with the latter.] " LDE 43:1 onwards.
Hello William:
I realize this is a bit difficult to see. It wasn't the first thing that popped out at me in reading Revelation, but there came a time in my study that I noted incredible similarities between the women and began putting the story together. Babylon is the apostate church. It is God's church gone wrong. That is all the narrative in Revelation is saying. It doesn't do any damage to our message, but it does enhance it. The woman in 12 is the Christian Church as faithful. The woman in chapter 17 is the Christian Church in apostasy. It's historically accurate all the way.
We call ourselves the remnant, not the bride in the wilderness, so there is no damage to the message of Adventism or our identity. Just like Isiah said about Israel in the very first chapter: she is a harlot, a whore (in fact, Sodom and Gomorrah), for having left God and following false teachings, etc. It is the same story in Revelation. This is only repeating what history has sadly shown us all along. God's movement gets sideways and leaves God, and in that process God has only a remnant left (same in Isaiah and during the time of Elijah as well). This is the theme being shared in Revelation, too.
Paul clearly teaches us that a great falling away or apostacy will come. It did come. We acknowledge that it has come. That is what the story of the women are saying. The Church in apostacy is the woman in Revelation 17. It is definitely a church or religious entity as the woman is that in Scripture. The system is described in the symbols of the city. That isn't calling the SDA Church Babylon.
The focus of the ire of the Dragon is upon the Remnant, not the church in the wilderness. Why? Because eventually the church in the wilderness is overcome by apostacy, as described in chapter 17. We are being warned about and made aware of the great falling away. That period of perilous times that Paul shares with Timothy.
I know it is hard to wrap the head around it because our evangelism has made sure the women were distinct, and they are, but our evangelism has failed to reveal the story of apostacy that we as a church preach about. That is the only difference as I see it. But you can't fail to see the clear connections in the narrative: remnant signaling apostacy, not just the last part; last seen in the wilderness and then seen in the wilderness later looking much different; the counterfeit of the high priest attire, the astonishment of John and so forth. It is the apostate Christian church that rained down persecution on God's faithful and so forth, emphasizing that at times in history we have more to fear from within that without.
I realize it is very new material to most. I don't see as any threat to Adventism's identity or message. It makes it more fleshed out in my view. But I have shared what I can in this forum on it and that is about all I can do. I am not wanting to go back and forth on the matter nor create a stir. We can leave it as an agree to disagree and go from there. It isn't a salvific matter.
Blessings.....
Kevin, I've never seen it put that way, but your idea has merit. The woman in the wilderness represents the pure church, i.e. those believers with pure doctrines, during the time of Roman control of the visible "Christian" church. The best-known people belonging to the wilderness church are probably the Waldensians, but there are others. These planted the seeds of the Reformation which brought a mighty revival and reform through a study of the Bible. But, you are correct, after beginning well, the Reformation foundered and the churches stagnated and got corrupted, some going so far as to go all the way back to Rome. (Even most the Waldensian people that survived adopted Sunday worship.)
So, yes, the offspring of the woman in the wilderness turned into Babylon. It is interesting that the dragon is said to go after "the remnant of her seed" (i.e. the seed of the Reformation?) - those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus.
We don't usually think of the pure woman turning into the adulterous woman, but in a way, that is what happened. Otherwise, we can consider that the pure woman died and left offspring, some of whom keep the commandments of God.
Inge: I am certainly not trying to introduce something "new" as something against our message. It has been years that I have been looking at this, and I am not the only one who sees the connection and have reached the same conclusions. The setting and the language (especially as we realize that in the 404 verses of Revelation some 276 of them are derived from the Old Testament) connect the two women in a way that hasn't been emphasized due to our evangelistic efforts focused on making the women distinct (and they are), but have failed to tie the message together. Again, we preach about the great falling away and talk about the adoption of foul doctrines that change the Christian Church over time. So we already have the message of Revelation, we just haven't put it together in a way that further empowers our eschatology and in an exegetical way.
The similarities that jump out immediately is the fact of women, wilderness and red dragon/beast. Then there is the remnant, for which, and rightly so, we have looked at the "last part" as the meaning. But it also signals an apostacy. Isaiah chapter one speaks of all of these components about Israel in her apostate state. Then the water from the mouth of the serpent (the name change isn't irrelevant in chapter 12) that keeps us in a mode of Garden story. Water can be a symbol of the Word of God, and the devil has always twisted the Word of God for deceptive purposes as he did Eve. This is another clue, though helped in chapter 12 initially, that suggests something is up.
The focus is turned away from the woman and placed squarely upon the remnant. We lose sight of the woman in 12 in the wilderness. John is reintroduced to a woman in the wilderness in chapter 17 and he is stunned. Why such a shocked reaction? He hasn't forgotten the woman in 12 and this one is no longer being chased by a red dragon, but is sitting on top of a similar red beast. Not only that, she mimics the high priest, a priestess if you will (reinforced in the fact of the way she dies, burned with fire Lev. 21:9). The woman has emerged in the wilderness very much changed in character, which reinforces why the focus upon the remnant.
Since Revelation is written in light of the truth as it is in Jesus, it, in part, also points out deception and counterfeit (as this is Jesus' main concern for His people in the last days, "let no man deceive you") so that the reader will know and act upon it. This narrative is a natural fit because it is part of the overarching message in the book. We just have to trace the history, learn from it, and seek to embrace the pure faith. Revelation is always pointing the reader back to the truth.
But I have nothing to push here. It isn't salvific in nature. I just feel we miss something when we miss this point as far as how much more enriching our message is when we see it. The message of Revelation flows better when they are seen as the same woman, but at two different times in history.
Thanks for your commentary, William.
I'd like to suggest some more food for thought: What struck me reading through Revelation this time is that the Lord addressed the church of Thyatira as His church. (Rev 2:18-29) Remember that was the church at the height of Roman control. The Lord had good things to say to that church, as well as a warning against "that woman Jezebel." Perhaps the symbols don't always exactly match a visible entity? It seems that God's people were part of Thyatira, the church that had apostatized.
We know that at the same time, there was a "church in the wilderness" - people that lived apart from society. But it seems that many of God's people must have been right within Thyatira, just as they are within Babylon right now.
The condemnations against Babylon are harsh but must be true because they come from the Bible. We must remember Babylon is made up of pagan, demonic and perverted so-called Christians – not just one church.
We are warned not to have the mark/name/characteristics of the beast because that is as bad as worshiping the beast.
We are warned not to “worship” the civil/military power of the Image because that is as bad as worshiping the beast.
Consider the meaning of “the wine of the anger/wrath of her fornication?
Babylon makes nations drink of her wine so God makes her drink of His wine of the anger of His wrath.
Her punishment - her plagues will come in one day/one hour and she will be consumed with fire.
Are these figures literal or symbolic? What do they mean?
Why is Babylon angry?
What does fornication represent? - illegal union?
Rev 14:8 The great city, Babylon, has fallen, has fallen; because of the wine of the anger of her fornication; she has made all nations to drink.
Rev 16:19 And the great city came to be into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the anger of His wrath.
Rev 17:1-4 great harlot sitting on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and became drunk with the wine of her fornication, those inhabiting the earth... having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication.
Rev 18:1-10 Babylon the great has fallen, has fallen! And it has become the dwelling-place of demons, and a prison of every unclean spirit, ... 3 because of the wine of the anger of her fornication which all the nations have drunk 8 Therefore her plagues will come in one day, death and mourning and famine. And she will be consumed with fire, for the Lord God who judges her is strong. For in one hour (her) judgment came.
Why is Babylon angry?
Because her corruptions and fornications have been exposed by those who preach the 3 angels messages. So Babylon looks for allies - the Image/scarlet beast - and ways to convince the civil and political and military powers to turn on those who exposed her.
Maybe blame them for upheavals in nature or link them to acts of terror?
One reason she is angry, I think, is that she has taken on the character of the dragon who is also angry. And, indeed, that anger is cast toward the remnant and always has been. Evil has never been at peace with the good that exposes the machinations of the former.
A point often overlooked here is John's astonishment. Why so surprised? Where was the last time he saw a woman? Back in chapter 12 and she was in the wilderness having been chased by a red, seven headed, ten horned dragon. Now the woman is again in the wilderness, mimicking the high priest and riding atop a red, seven headed, ten horned beast drinking the blood of the saints. He is shocked because he is beholding the completing of the Great Apostacy mentioned by Paul in 2 thess. (the Falling Away). It is the same church as in chapter 12, but at a different time and in a much different character.
The author did well to detail here the mimic (or counterfeit) of the high priest. Two more worthy points to make that I did in last week's lesson, I believe. The high priest had a blue ephod that the breastplate of judgment rested upon. Blue is associated with the commandments and obedience (See Numbers 15:38-39). She isn't obedient to the word of God, and absolutely not truthful (she is deceptive, remember). She also has pearls for which the high priest didn't have. We note that Babylon is portrayed as a woman and a city. The true City, New Jerusalem, has the gates of pearl. A word study of "babel" will reveal a connection to precedent words that carry the notion of "the gate of God." She has pearls as a counterfeit of the gate to God.
This theory, my brother, at best is a figment of human imagination, as it does not tie to any pillars of prophetic interpretation. Strict Adventist Historicist interpretation can not reach such a conclusion as this.
May be the authors of the lesson can do a series on 'Principles of Prophetic (apocalyptic) Interpretation' so that we can all be on the same page.
It is actually very well grounded in a Historicist interpretation.
What we need is a good course on exegesis, a huge part of biblical interpretation, especially for prophetic portions. Maybe they will do that some day with the SS. It would be something worthwhile, and beneficial, I think.