Wrap yourself in the unconditional love of God by understanding the Making Of A Blood Covenant. BOOK OF REVELATION. copyright 2001 by Glenn Davis

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1 Wrap yourself in the unconditional love of God by understanding the Making Of A Blood Covenant. BOOK OF REVELATION copyright 2001 by Glenn Davis LESSON 37 Chapter 17 Verse 7 The angel said to me "Don't you understand? Now I will tell you the meaning of this woman, and of the beast she is riding, with the seven heads and the ten horns." [JB] John must have been confused with this vision because the angel offered to explain what it meant. The purpose of an explanation is to make something clear - not to bring further confusion. So the explanation we are about to receive will either confirm our belief about the beast and the harlot or destroy it. We much be very careful when studying the Bible not to put our own "pet" theories above the Word of God. Our beliefs must line up with the Word of God, we must never try to make the Word of God line up with our beliefs! Verse 8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. Now here we have an interesting concept. The beast was, is not, and will be again but is heading for destruction. We have already covered this concept in our comments on Rev. 13:3; however, to refresh our memories... If the beast represents Rome, as we believe, it will be necessary for it to have existed, be brought to the brink of total chaos, to come out of the pit of chaos in victory [and to the surprise of the world], but ultimately to head to perdition or destruction. The question is: Does history confirm this or must we search for another beast? Rome was the world empire. Nero was the last of the Caesar blood line. When he was forced to committed suicide, Rome was plunged into a bloody civil war. Three men in one year tried to take the leadership and each in turn was murdered. Rome was in a nightmare of violence, destruction, and chaos. The nations observing this blood bath saw in it the death of the Roman Empire. Then Vespasian left the Jewish War to return to Rome and he was able to restore Rome to law and order...and Rome lived again. To surrounding nations that was a total shock and was seen as a great miracle. But although he was able to return Rome to a stable world empire, Rome ultimately was doomed to destruction. Only those who had read and understood the Book of Revelation would not be surprised by Vespasian's restoration of Rome.

2 Verse 9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. The angel cautions John it will take wisdom to understand these things. It certainly takes greater wisdom to understand things yet future, than in our day, to look and see its conformation in history. Here we see the beast identified in plain, simple language. The seven heads are seven mountains. Rome was famous as the city built on seven hills, it was their landmark and it is used here to identify them for the wise reader. No one in the First Century would have missed the connection. We have already shown that Jerusalem sits on top of Rome because spiritually Jerusalem is the leader. Also, Jerusalem is linked with Rome because she delivered up the Holy Son of God to the Roman government and demanded a Roman crucifixion. Jerusalem and Rome had become one in spirit. Verse 10 And they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one still exists - and is reigning; the other [the seventh] has not yet appeared, and when he does arrive he must stay [but] a short time. [Amp.] Now we see the duel aspect of the beast explained. First, "the seven heads are seven mountains" - Rome itself. Second, we see the seven heads also represent seven rulers - the first seven rulers or emperors of Rome. Here we have a very strong case for the date of the writing of the Book of Revelation because the sixth "one still exists - and is reigning." Therefore the Book of Revelation must have been written during the reign of the sixth emperor - Nero. The first ten Caesars and the dates of their reigns are as follows: Julius Caesar BC Augustus 31BC-AD14 [reigning when Christ was born] Tiberius [reigning at the death of Christ] Gaius [Caligula] Claudius Nero [last of the blood-line] Galba Otho 69 Vitellius 69 Vespasian We can see then the Book of Revelation must have been written between AD 54-68, and from other clues we can make an intelligent guess at about AD 64. Also note the seventh king or emperor would continue only a short time. Galba reigned less than 7 months - by far the shortest of any emperor to that time - and his death issued in the terrible, bloody Year of the Four Emperors.

3 Verse 11 As for the animal which once lived but now lives no longer, it is an eighth king which belongs to the seven, but it goes to utter destruction. [Phillips] First, we need to know some versions read "the eighth". The better translation is "an eighth". "But the definite is conspicuously absent in a literal translation of the reference to the eighth head/king in Revelation 17:11...The definite article...vanishes before the eighth is mentioned." [The Beast of Revelation, 76] The difference is important because "the eighth" would have to refer to the emperor immediately following Galba, i.e. Otho. However, "an eighth" does not necessarily mean the immediate successor. Now that we have passed Nero, the one with whom John was especially concerned, the rest of the emperors are melted together into "an eighth" unto the ultimate destruction of the Roman Empire. Dr. Gentry [The Beast Of Revelation] differs slightly in that he believes "an eighth" refers to Vespasian - the emperor who revived the Empire from its death wound. David Chilton in Days of Vengeance has this view: "Eight is the number of resurrection in the Bible. St. John is warning that even though the Empire will seem to disintegrate after the rule of the seven kings, it will be 'resurrected' again, to live on in other persecutors of the Church." [Pg. 436] Even though Nero was the first and most vicious persecutor of the Church, other emperors would also persecute the Church until finally Rome itself was destroyed. The Church would come through victorious! Verse 12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. Here we have ten rulers of kingdoms or provinces serving Rome. They are under the power of Rome and reign in her authority. The ten provinces were: Italy, Achaia, Asia, Syria, Egypt, Africa, Spain, Gaul, Britain, and Germany. Verse 13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength to the beast. They are in agreement and submission to Rome. They operate in unity with Rome. When Rome attacks the Church, they follow her leadership. Verse 14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful. Not only were they involved with Rome in the destruction of the Jews but also as a group they will persecute the Church [those who belong to the Lamb - in whom the Lamb dwells]. But the Church will not be destroyed because Christ is the Almighty God and King, and His Church is totally committed and faithful to Him. Only when the Church follows the example of natural Israel and is unfaithful can she fall. See Psalm 2:2 and Acts 4:27-28.

4 Verse 15 The angel continued, "The waters you saw, beside which the prostitute was sitting, are all the peoples, the populations, the nations, and the languages. [JB] Because the Jews were spread throughout the known world they could have been a great influence for good or for evil. Acts 2:5 testifies that the Jews were in every nation. "All in all we may reckon 7,000,000 Jews in the Empire - some seven per cent of the population, twice their proportion in the United States of America today." [Christ and Caesar, 546] Yes, Jerusalem and the Jews could have been the focal point of turning the nations to God, but they declined the responsibility. Verse 16 But the time will come when the ten horns and the beast will turn against the prostitute, and strip off her clothes and leave her naked; then they will eat her flesh and burn the remains in the fire. [JB] The ten kingdoms will not only persecute the Church, but also they will turn on Jerusalem and destroy her. Jerusalem was destroyed and burned with fire in AD 70 by Roman armies which included auxiliary units from almost every nation in the known world. The fire which destroyed the temple was set against the orders of the Roman general, Titus, who was anxious to spare the temple from damage. 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. Notice this was to fulfill God's purpose. Even Josephus recognized this as he watched his nation being destroyed. "...it is God therefore, it is God Himself who is bringing on this fire to purge that city and temple be means of the Romans, and is going to pluck up this city, which is full of your pollutions..." [Josephus 6:2:1] The judgment of God may be delayed by mercy but it can never be subverted. Verse 18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. As far as God was concerned, Jerusalem was the great city which spiritually ruled over all the earth. Up to that time it was in her alone the nations could have looked for true spiritual life. Jerusalem - the city which refused her destiny - deceived the kings of the earth away from God instead of leading them to Him. They thought [like some Christians even today] that they were chosen because of who they were. They thought they were important in and of themselves. They forgot they were chosen simply as an instrument of bringing Christ into the world so that everyone, through Christ, could be welcomed into the presence of God! This chapter predicts both Rome and Jerusalem would be destroyed, as eventually they both were. It would be a repealing of the unchangeable, Divine law if either of them were to rise to world dominion and importance again. They both opposed Christ and His

5 Church and they were both eternally crushed. The same fate awaits any organization or nation which opposes the true Church and her King. Are there conspiracies even today? Probably. In the long run; however, they are doomed to failure. Like the beast, they will go to destruction. Read Psalm 2. Christ stands victorious over all. Chapter 18 Verse 1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. Now we have another vision. An angel of great authority comes down. As we saw in comments on Rev. 1:7, the words "earth" and "land" can have a specific reference to the Land of Israel and doesn't necessary mean the entire world. The angel had come down with God's authority and the Promised Land was lit up with his light. This shows the searching judgment of God. Nothing, good or evil, will be hidden. No wickedness will be overlooked, no good deed left unnoticed. Even today the world is lit up with the light of God authority. There is nothing which is beyond the scope of His knowledge or His power. He speaks and it is or it ceases to be - according to His will. No one succeeds who opposes Him, no authority can override Him. He alone is God and there is none other. Also, He can delegate His authority to whomever He pleases - heavenly or earthly - and to the degree He desires. He alone is in absolute control. In Lesson 38 we will see the depravity and downfall of Babylon the Great. Like her, all God's enemies will one day be destroyed. God Bless.