Revelation 17:1-2

This is an interesting chapter not only for the imagery but how it gives an image then interprets it.  If you recall chapter 16, seven angels each with a bowl have poured out destruction upon the face of the earth.  Here in chapters 17 and 18, we’re going to see a picture of the city of Babylon. 

I believe it is helpful to review 2 Timothy 3:1-5:

¹ But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 

Everything the world tells us today is to love yourself.  This is one of the greatest idol worshiping times the world has ever known and the idol is us.  This self-promotion and self-idol worship is the pipe that all the disgusting sins travel through.  We love money because we want what is best for us and so goes each sin described in verses 2 and 3.  Unfortunately these sins are in Christian families and in the church.  We should read chapters 17 and 18 of Revelation with careful consideration of how these characteristics of those who dwell in the “city” or world of Babylon have infiltrated the church which is supposed to be the new “city” of Jerusalem.  The church should not look like the world.  Sadly, too often the church not only looks like the world organizations, it is less functional or beneficial as it tries to imitate the world which is something she was never intended to do.

The writing of Revelation is a continual confrontation to us asking us: Who are you going to worship?  Will you worship God as the one and only true living Lord or are you worshiping something else?  Everything else in the world, everything else, is and can be used to deceive you to worship Satan.  John Piper comments in his book Worship God:

“That’s what the whole book of Revelation is about.  That’s the point of all God’s judgments, all God’s dealings with the world.  All God’s plans for history from beginning to end have this one goal – WORSHIP GOD!  Don’t worship the wealth of Babylon, don’t worship the power of Babylon, don’t worship the pleasures of Babylon, and don’t even worship the holy messenger who brings you the news that Babylon has fallen forever.  WORSHIP GOD!”

¹ Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, ² with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”

In verse 15 we are told that the waters are the peoples of the world.  So, we can conclude that this harlot is a worldwide culture of influence and those who live in it and promote it are judged.  The earth’s leaders and all the people who followed them in this effort to not follow God are judged.  These people are committing fornication against worshiping God by worshiping something else. 

It is way too easy for us to get caught up in this without realizing it.  Maybe it’s just chasing the American dream, or maybe it’s our Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter page that lifts us up as a god.  We are supposed to only worship God and point people so they worship God.