Podcast Introduction
This is Prophecy Friday. We’ll read Revelation 12-17. I’m calling today’s episode”The Dragon, The Beast, The Antichrist and the Lamb.”
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Thoughts on Revelation 12-17
Ephesians 6:12 says, “For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
In today’s reading of Revelation 12, we see more of that spiritual warfare with what John described as “a great sign in Heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”
Most commentators agree that the woman represents the church, the bride of Christ. The sun is Jesus, the crown of twelve stars is the twelve apostles, and the moon is the Jewish people. Of course, the dragon is satan, who has tried from the very beginning of human history, to destroy humanity in general and the church in particular.
This warfare will continue until satan is thrown into the pit. One thing we know is that his defeat is as sure as sure can be. The war has already been won. The battles continue only because of God’s great love as He waits for the fullness of time and the final soul to be added to the roll of believers.
Until then, we proclaim the Gospel, the Good News of a Risen Savior. This is what is meant in chapter 12, verse 11, which says, “They (meaning the believers) overcame him (meaning satan) because of the Lamb’s blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn’t love their life, even to death.”
Yes, there will be martyrs. But as we have already seen, God will dry their tears. The important thing, beloved, is to remain faithful. Whatever we go through here on Earth is temporary and fleeting. Isn’t an eternity with God something glorious to look forward to?
As we read Revelation and try to understand the prophecies contained in it, like the fall of Babylon and the mark of the beast, the 666 which is the number of a man, it’s natural to try to understand them and put them into a familiar frame of reference.
For example, let’s consider the number 666. Throughout history believers have thought that it was Nero to Mohammed to Henry Kissinger, to Barak Obama to George Soros to Klaus Schwab. I’m certainly not going to venture a guess, because until he is revealed, a guess is just a guess. We can know this, the number does represent a very real person, and when the time comes all will know who he is.
Some people are superstitious about the number. If their total at a cash register comes up to $6.66, they’ll buy something else to change it. Athletes who are assigned entry number 666 will ask for a different number or refuse to compete. The list goes on and on. In my opinion, that’s just plain foolish, as all superstitions are.
These prophecies will come about, just as the prophecies of Jesus’ first coming did. The best thing for us to do in preparation for his second coming is to do the work He called us to. Love God with all our heart and soul and mind, love others. and share the Good News until the day of his coming or until we are called home.
So who is this great city, Babylon? This one who sinned greatly, caused others to sin, was rich and brought riches to those who threw in with her, and was drunk with the blood of God’s people?
I don’t know. I can speculate, but I’m not going to. Today, I’m going to bring to your attention something that should bring encouragement to your heart.
As I record this, the civilized world is still reeling from a series of attacks on Paris, Beirut, a Russian passenger jet leaving a city in Egypt, and another in Baghdad. These attacks were done by the group known as ISIS, an extremist Muslim organization. There is no doubt that they are evil incarnate.
