Year 6, Day 360: Revelation 17

Theological Commentary: Click Here

As we look at Revelation 17, we get an opportunity to study the fall of Babylon.  As I spoke of yesterday, I find the juxtaposition of this chapter overtop of the Christmas holiday a bit on the jarring side.  In a season where the focus is celebrating God’s plan of salvation, we read portions of scripture about the judgment of those who do not believe.

What we see when we study the prostitute is interesting.  Yes, she is being judged for her sinfulness.  Yes, she sits upon the waters, which is a symbol of all the people in the world who do not believe. But take a closer look at what the scripture says.

First, we find out that she has committed fornication with the leaders of the world.  In other words, this woman called Babylon has seduced the leaders of this world.  What is it that the leaders of the world desire?  Many things, honestly.  There are far too many to list.  But we can summarize them in a pretty quick list: fame, power, financial security, health.  Babylon, the woman who sits in judgment, tempts people by offering fame, power, prestige, financial security, health, etc.  She tempts us with things that our flesh desires but does not give lasting satisfaction.  This is reinforced by the fact that she is clad in wealth garments and jewels.

As we look more deeply at her, we see that she holds a cup.  That cup is full.  That cup is full of abominations.  Those abominations are called sexual immorality.  Remember what was said before about the fornication with the leaders of the world?  Remember that from a Biblical perspective sexual immorality is a symbol of sin against God.  When we sin, we are lusting after the desires of our hearts.

Therefore, we can look at Babylon and see that she is guilty of helping us sin.  As we said earlier, her lure is in her temptation.  Sin seems so pleasing.  It seems so attractive.  At times, it seems so innocent.  But we don’t see the harm of sin until it has its claws in us.  We don’t see how sin can destroy relationships until the relationships are being damaged.  That’s what this chapter is fundamentally about.  Our lust for sinfulness is what causes us to be guilty of condemnation and deserving judgment.

In that sense, perhaps the Christmas season is the best time to talk about this chapter.  Without Christ, we would all be judged and found wanting.  He is the difference.  He is the only reason that we can know life instead of judgment.

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