The Book of Revelation - Part 24 - The Whore

Revelation 17 describes Babylon the Great, The Mother of Harlots and Abominations on the Earth. While many debate even today who this is I think the people in the seven churches would have known very quickly who this is -- it is Rome. Now I am also going to say it is Rome of the time the book was written not necessarily the Catholic church of today as some have interpreted this passage.

The reason I say this vision and perhaps the whole of Revelation needs to be kept in its first century context is that there is no evidence that it should be applied to any other time period. This woman is symbolic of all Rome stood for at the time and the symbolism is obvious:

1. Scarlet and Purple: Religious and Political power.
2. Rich, powerful and drunk with the blood of saints
3. Seven mountains -- seven hill of Rome.
4. Fornication with every nation on earth. Fornication and the idea of idolatry go hand in hand and it is well known that Rome would accept any worship of any god so long as it promoted the prosperity of the Empire.

I could go on but the fact is the vision practically stumbles all over itself in giving us the identity without saying the simple name - Rome.

One of the interesting things I saw was verse 10 where it talks about seven kings: five who were, one who was and one who was to come. The one who was to come was to remain only a little while.

It has been long held by scholars that the book of Revelation was written during the reign of Domitian under which some of the most heavy brutal persecution of Jews and Christians took place. Domitian revived Imperial veneration and unless a person worshiped he Emperor, they would be killed. For both the Jews and Christians this was a losing proposition.

Before Domitian there were indeed five emperors of note: the four emperors in one year (AD 69): Galba, Otho, Vitellius and Vespasian. This was caused by the turmoil that followed Nero's death. Vespasian ruled Rome until AD 79 and then his son Titus ruled but was killed in a plague that struck Rome in AD 81. That's when Domitian, who was also the son of Vespasian, took over. When Domitian is assassinated by court officials in AD 96, Nerva takes over but he indeed only 'lasts a little while' and dies in AD 98.

This history fits very well to what is being talked about here in Revelation 17. I suppose other things could fit, but if you look at it from the first century saint's perspective this is a very likely scenario for understanding this vision.

This possibility for the first time offers up an interpretation of Revelation completely grounded in the first century and leads to a possibility that some of these visions are not about future events but symbolic descriptions of past ones.

Another thing this also may do it point to Revelation being a) a prophecy that did not come true because of changing conditions (Nerva's reign is characterized by doing the exact opposite of Domitian and that included an end to persecution of Jews and Christians) or b) does not have the whole world as we understand it as it's focus. Perhaps, only the first century saint's understanding of 'whole world' is meant which would have been the Roman Empire and that which lies just outside it. In any case, this would localize all the plagues of God's wrath and change the interpretation of Revelation entirely.

Next: The Fall of the Whore

The Book of Revelation - Part 23 - The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath

Chapter 16 of Revelation is so cataclysmic that you actually start to feel very sorry for the bad guys. The seven angels who received the bowls of God's wrath are now ordered to pour them on the earth.

Bowl #1 - This puts a sore on every person that worshiped the beast. The sores are described as 'loathsome' and 'malignant'. Which means the sores are disgusting and they hurt people badly.

Bowl #2 - This turns the sea waters into blood and everything in them dies. Yipe.

Bowl #3 - This one turns the rivers and springs into blood. This bowl has some commentary because an angel affirms the righteousness of God in this one saying God is right to do so because the people this hurts spilled the blood of saints. For the seven churches this would have shown them that God will bring vengeance to those who harm His own.

Bowl #4 - Fierce Heat. It scorches those who blasphemed God.

Bowl #5 - Darkness specifically on the kingdom of the beast. It causes pain and they gnaw their tongues. Still no repentance.

Bowl #6 - The Euphrates River is dried up to prepare the way for the King of the East. This is interesting because as a bowl of God's wrath it means that the king of the east will be an instrument of that wrath and God is just removing all the obstacles.

At this point the bowls are interrupted in the text to describe and comment on some things (verses 13-16):

1. The unholy trinity send forth three frog spirits to perform signs in order to prepare the nations for the last battle.

2. Verse 15 is a parenthetical note about God coming as a thief and that people should be prepared by having their cloths so people will not see their shame. This is probably directly addressing the seven churches so they will be watchful and ready.

3. Goes back to verse 13 and 14 and makes not of where the unholy trinity was going to gather its army - Har-Magedon in Hebrew. Armageddon in Greek.

Bowl #7 - This bowl marks the end and it does a whole bunch of stuff: 1) It causes massive thunder and lightning 2) It causes a great earthquake such as no man has ever seen which destroys mountains and islands. 3) The earthquake splits the Great City in three parts. 4) Hail comes that is so severe that causes men to blaspheme God. This also is a place where Babylon the Great is mentioned and called 'her' and it is 'her' that is the focus of God's wrath in His remembrance. The details of who she is will be given in the next chapter.

Next: The Whore

The Book of Revelation - Part 22 - Back to the Throne

Revelation 15 is preparation for what is to follow. God's throne room is returned to and seven angels are given bowls containing the wrath of God. What John describes is preparation of these angels by God for the outpouring of his final wrath

If there is one feeling here, it is of anger. God is ticked and this is the final preparation for the Last Battle with Satan by pouring out His wrath on Satan's followers on earth.

It is an awesome scene that would given anyone who takes it seriously some real fear of the wrath of God.

Next: The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath

The Book of Revelation - Part 21 - Doom and Reapers

OK, now a third angel appears and pronounces doom on those who receive the mark of The Beast (back in revelation 13) and worship his name. People start to talk about eternal torment in this passage but there are two problems with this idea. 1) The torment is connected to a specific group of people, not universal punishment for all sinners and 2) It does not say they will be tormented but that THE SMOKE of their torment goes up forever and ever. I am simply saying there is enough doubt to raise an eyebrow or two.

Going back to how the seven churches would have looked at this, I see specifically verses 12 and 13 where the emphasis is on perseverance, obedience and faith. All things that Christ stressed back in chapters 2 and 3.

The next section chronicles two harvests 1) the first is the earth and 2) the second is the grapes of God's wrath. In each case, both are commanded to reap but the results are different. One thing is for sure, nothing good is about to happen, God is about to let loose with something terrible. Terrible to the point of bridle high blood for 200 miles.

Next: Back to the Throne of God

The Book of Revelation - Part 20 - 144,000 Again

When we get to chapter 14 we see another reference to the 144000 that were originally seen in chapter 7. The vision shifts back to heaven and the throne area. I made the comment that in chapter 7 that these men are clearly identified as Jewish men: 12,000 from each tribe. But in this passage they are remarked on, not because of who they are, but how righteous they are. They are chaste, blameless and lie free.

I also want to remark at this time about the two angels. One spreading the gospel in verses 6-7 and the other talking about the woe that will befall those who follow after Babylon who is fallen in verse eight. The whore of Babylon does not appear until later and it seems odd to place a reference to it here unless we concede that some visions are not in chronological order at all. It also means that it also could be that the whole thing is possibly not in chronological order either.

What gets interesting is that themes appear, disappear and reappear and if we are honest there does not seem to be any rhyme or reason to it at times. The effect is that the message of Revelation may simply be one of hope, correction, encouragement and faith to the seven churches. If so how much still has to do with the future and what has been already fulfilled may not be known. We may as interpreters be left only to speculate.

Next: Doom and Reapers

The Book of Revelation - Part 19 - Two Beasts

Revelation 13 is undoubtedly the most troubling to some people most because of verse 18 and the 666 thing. That is not what is most troubling to me. What is most troubling to me is who these or what these beasts represent. It is not as easy as you might think.

What gets interesting here is most people's interpretations. For the most part these symbolic representations can either represent persons or political entities or both and the problem is I believe the symbolism is deliberately designed to conceal these things to all but those who understand the symbolism. The problem is those that probably would have understood it are long dead.

What's left; I mean, what can we then know?
1. Neither of these beasts are good guys. They defy God and worship Satan (The Dragon).
2. Secondly there is a hierarchy in this relationship: The Dragon over the Beast from the Sea; The Beast of the Sea over the Beast from the Earth. A kind of unholy trinity.
3. They are on a mission to destroy the saints and exalt the Devil.
4. They have real spiritual power.
5. The have both political and economic power.

The whole number of the beast issue has lead some to believe that the Beast is every thing from Nero to George W. Bush. The problem is that the people who would have truly understood this are dead and so what ever it will be or is, I think will be made apparent when genocide is declared. What the actual number 'is', has been speculated to be anything from micro chips to tattoos. No hard clad answer on any point is really available as all we really can do is speculate. It does make for good Chrisitan science fiction but it is all completely specualtive.

Next: The 144,000 Return

The Book of Revelation - Part 18 - The Woman, The Dragon and the Man Child

Wow! has it really been over a year since I stopped working on this series. I quit mostly because I am now even more convinced that to understand it fully we need to know what the seven churches knew as far as symbolism and some of that has been lost.

Revelation 12 has three symbolic characters and reports a war between them.

The Woman is not identified and theories abound as to whether she represents Israel, the church or Mary or whatever. The best guess I can give is Israel seems best based on what the seven churches would have known. The twelve stars representing the twelve tribes seems likely. Out of Israel comes Christ.

The Dragon is identified in the chapter itself: it is Satan.

The Man Child being Christ is most likely given the context of 'ruling with a rod of iron' which is mentioned of Christ earlier and later in the book. The child is caught up to heaven to be with God while the woman is left to face the dragon.

This vision is complicated further by the fact it seems to be an interruption to what had been going on up to this point.

What seems to be symbolized is the war between Satan, Israel (as the bride of God) and Christ and it may be a symbolic representation of Israel's history, not a future action. Taking the real events of Israel producing Christ by God's power and the war over it with Satan and putting it in symbolic form to conceal to readers what is being talked about except those who understand the symbolism is a hallmark of apocalyptic literature.

Michael and the angels drive the devil to earth and then the devil tries to kill the woman -- every attempt fails and the woman is both preserved and unharmed. The the vision abruptly stops.

Next: Two Beasts

The Book of Revelation -- Part 17 -- The Seventh Trumpet

The seventh trumpet ends in climactic fashion as it starts a vision of worship -- all of heaven worships the LORD. The twenty four elders, all the voices of heaven, etc., join in to praise the Lord.

One interesting thing is the mention of the ark in the temple surrounded by acts of power both great and terrible.

The seven trumpet simple ends this phase of the book and open the door to a very different vision.

Next: The Woman, the Dragon and the Man Child.

The Book of Revelation -- Part 16 -- The Two Witnesses

The more I look at this passage the more I am convinced the symbolism is deliberately designed to conceal the identity of the two witness -- we are not supposed to know who they are. What is supposed to be significant is what they do:
1. The prophesy for a great length of time
2. They are called by God the two olive trees and lamp stands that stand before God on the earth.
3. Every time someone tries to stop them they are destroyed by the fire that comes out of their mouth
4. They engage in major prophetic acts that are designed to bring people to repentance but no one does.
5. It is not until they are finished that the Beast is allowed to kill them in Jerusalem
6. They rise from the dead and the whole world see them do so.

It is only after the last action do the people glorify God.

What can you say about this? Not much there is no recorded historical action that fits this vision and no clear answers as to who they are.

What is clear is that these two witnesses are powerful prophets who defy everything to do God's work.

Next: The Seventh Trumpet

The Book of Revelation -- Part 15 -- The Angel and the Little Book

Revelation chapter ten is all about one thing the mighty angel and his little book.
Two significant things happen in this chapter:
1) Seven thunders utter something that john is told not to write because they are for the end. What then becomes interesting is John knows this stuff but no one else will but God and the angels.
2) John is asked to eat the little book in the hand of them mighty angel which he does -- it tastes as sweet to his mouth but bitter in his belly. He is then told to prophesy.

Now the angel is never named but I am sure some have tried --Michael would make sense but ultimately who knows and his name is not as significant as what he holds. The significance of the little book being eaten I partially understand because I am a preacher. Preaching or teaching is always sweet in them mouth but bitter to the belly. God's Word is always good to speak but harder to make a part of your life.

I think this vision has significance to John most of all but to the seven churches it was one of acknowledging John spiritual right to speak and know God's Word.

Next: The Two Witnesses

The Book of Revelation -- Part 14 -- The Sixth Trumpet

If the fifth trumpet was devastating, the sixth is catastrophic in comparison. It is an army like no other released on the rest of mankind -- it destroys one third of mankind by plain old violence. Probably one thing that is mentioned here is the fact that even though this plague was so devastating, people still do not repent of their idolatry but instead continue in it.
I find this not completely amazing becasue the nature of mankind is rebellion, but even after such devistation -- nothing. No change of heart.

Next: The Angel and the Little Scroll

The Book of Revelation -- Part 14 -- The Fifth Trumpet

What gets interesting here is that after four trumpets in rapid succession and taking up only a few verses; suddenly the book focuses at length on a couple trumpets. An additional title is given to them as well -- the first two woes.

The Fifth Trumpet has more speculation and controversy on it than much of the rest of the book -- What the heck are these things? Deformed demons or something that John could only describe in terms he could understand but is seeing something entirely different? Don't know. Don't know how machines could come from the bottomless pit. I also doubt the original hearers would have looked at this as anything other than a supernatural force or event.

What is clear is a) This is very bad -- worse than the previous trumpets. and b) they do something far worse that kill -- they torment with terrible pain for a specific time period -- five months.

Next: The Sixth Trumpet

The Book of Revelation -- Part 13 -- Trumpets One Through Four

When the seventh seal is opened it, seven angels step forward with seven trumpets. Before a single one of them sounds a vial is given to another angel that contains the prayers of the saints that is poured over the altar of God. It is an addition vial to the prayers already before God and it causes these events to start.
1. Trumpet 1 -- Hail and fire that destroys one third of the world's vegetation.
2. Trumpet 2 -- mountain thrown in the ocean -- third of the world's water -- blood
3. Trumpet 3 -- Wormwood star that makes the fresh waters bitter -- people die.
4. Trumpet 4 -- Strikes third of the lights in the sky darkened.

Now there are two notes to make about this:
Firstly, that it is the prayers of the saints that start the ball rolling here.
Secondly, there is still no time table in this from the book itself.

In the end an angel speaks woe about the trumpets still to sound.

Next: The Fifth Trumpet

The Book of Revelation -- Part 12 -- The Seventh Seal

OK. I am ready for Revelation Again. Revelation 8:1-2
The only thing that can really be said about the Seventh Seal is that it ends the opening of the Scroll and initiates two things -- Silence for a half hour and trumpets are distributed to angels for the next act. It does not really say what these things mean it just says they are done.

Next: Trumpets One Through Four.

The Book of Revelation -- Part 11 -- The Great Multitude

Revelation 7:9-17. Now if you are looking at the future of things I suppose you could see it as a future scene in heaven around the throne -- but why can't it be a current scene?

If I was writing to seven churches --- some good, some bad, some ugly I think this picture of the saints around the throne in worship would inspire them all regardless of what time this is. Now I know some make a big deal of the phrase -- "these are they that have come out of great tribulation", but I want to note that, it does not say THE great tribulation -- it says great tribulation which can and has happened at many times and places in the history of the world, not just here in the book of Revelation.

Otherwise the passage speaks for itself. it is who is worshiping around the throne and we could be one of them someday.

Next: The Seventh Seal.

The Book of Revelation -- Part 10 -- Interlude and 144,000 sealed.

The Vision of the Lamb opening the Seals is interrupted because the final seal on the scroll will usher in a great woe and there is a need for a few actions to take place first. Nothing is to be harmed until the chosen of God are sealed.

The next thing that happens is the sealing of 144,000 Jews -- note to you Jehovah's witnesses it says those of the tribes of Israel not of the Jehovah's witnesses. One weird thing -- the half tribe of Manasseh (part of the line of Joseph) is listed but Ephraim is not but replaced with the tribe of Joseph. I wonder if John considered them the same. The other weird thing -- the tribe of Dan is completely missing. The purpose of the sealing of these Jews is protection from the wrath of God to follow.

To the original readers it would have indicated that god has not forgotten his people and that he would protect them.

Next: The Great Multitude

The Book of Revelation -- Part 9 -- Seals Five and Six are Broken

As the Book of Revelation continues two more seals are broken.

The Fifth Seal is actually a promise of vengeance by The Lamb for the martyrs. They cry out for vengeance for their deaths and the Lamb Promises it to them. To be honest this idea of God is love is put to the test here as the lamb seems to be offering no quarter to those who killed his saints but instead tells the martyrs to wait until there are more of them. More killed for Christ and joining them at the throne. I suppose any one of the seven churches undergoing persecution would have been comforted by this thought. In fact it is probably for their benefit it is written.

The Sixth Seal is summed up in one word. Fear. What the seal does is cause darkness, earthquake and signs in the heavens. It reminds us of the great power God has to inform us of his judgments and that his wrath is always their for the disobedient. The churches with problems would have taken note that this Lamb thus speaking to others could speak the same way to them.

Both seals demonstrate the justice of God that is coming. Those wronged will be avenged and those that are in the wrong should fear the Just One and his wrath. Lessons that the world should learn again and again even today.

Next -- Interlude and 144,000 Sealed

The Book of Revelation -- Part 8 -- The Seals are Opened -- The Four Horsemen

Now I want to make a few observations about traditional evangelical interpretations here: 1) there is nothing in the beginning of chapter 6 that says -- 'The Great Tribulation Starts Here" All that really happens is that the Worthy Lamb before God's eternal throne begins to break seals on the scroll. Many say a new vision starts here because of the words and 'then I saw' but the fact remains that this is still part of the vision of the Lamb breaking seals. It does lead to John seeing something outside of God's throne. The Four Horsemen.

The Four Horsemen of Revelation have long fascinated people and conjured up all kinds of art and literature. They even have been the nicknames of certain sports and military groups over the centuries including a stable of wrasslers from the old WCW. The text however does not indicate a timetable -- that is each one of these is released every half year at the beginning of The Great Tribulation. In fact, it does not really say this is a future event. Christ, the Worthy Lamb is the one doing the releasing by breaking each seal. This shows his authority over the horsemen. he controls both their release and their actions. But what are they?

Each Horseman represents a force or power that does certain things.
1. The Rider on the White Horse is a conqueror. If he is the Anti-Christ, John does not say so and I find that strange seeing John has spoken of the Anti Christ before in his epistles. The power released is the desire to conquer the add on to conquests.
2. The Rider on the Red Horse is one that takes peace and brings war. He represents the forces of War the forces that cause people to desire to kill one another.
3. The Rider on the Black Horse is one that brings hunger and famine. He represents the forces that bring famine -- injustice, greed and the forces of nature beyond control.
4. The Rider of the Ashen Horse is actually given a name -- Death. Hades -- the grave -- follows in his wake. His power is killing people -- by murder, hunger, war, disease, and beasts of the field. His dominion is set as a forth of the earth. I would like to note that is is incorrect to say that he kills a fourth of the earth's population -- what is said is that his is given authority over a fourth of the earth to act.

I would like to make a few observations at this point:
1) All of these forces are alive and well on planet earth --RIGHT NOW!!!
2) The picture of Christ opening the seals and releasing them indicates His taking authority is over them.

My thoughts are these things is that they have already taken place and these forces are released right now and under the authority of the Lamb. They are already at work in our world and moving. They are however, under the authority of Christ. As we look at the other seals I think this theme plays out as well.

To those of the seven churches suffering under some of these forces it would be good to understand they are in Christ's control and to those at ease it would put fear into them to take action.

Next: The Seals are Broken -- Seals Five Through Seven

The Book of Revelation -- Part 7 -- The Worthy Lamb

Revelation chapter 5 is a continuation of the vision that starts in chapter 4 but the focus then turns to Christ -- the Worthy Lamb.

The vision starts with a scroll with seven seals. As each seal is broken it would reveal more of the contents of the scroll. If we were reading this for the first time we would not know what the contents would reveal. The scroll is in God's hand and he is looking for someone worthy to open it. Nobody is found to do this and John weeps about it.

This brings up an interesting question of when this happens. I don't think it is a future event based on John's involvement -- this vision seems to be an actual event in heaven with John witnessing it and having real responses to it at that moment. The vision also has no future tense to the events. It is not necessary for this to be the case because the issue is the worthiness off the Lamb.

What ultimately happens is the lion of the Tribe of Judah is declared the worthy one -- the Lamb and He takes the scroll then the whole of heaven worships Him.

As turn to the original readers all of them would be struck by one thing -- the Christ that everyone of them was supposed to be worshiping was the only one worthy of worship. The other thing is that those that worship him have been exalted. No matter which of the seven churches they were in they would have been in awe of who their Lord was and who they the should have been giving their full devotion to in the first place. The vision makes it exclusive to one being in all the universe who is worthy and deserving of their full devotion and worship.

Next: The Seals are Opened -- The Four Horsemen

The Book of Revelation -- Part 6 -- The Throne of God

Boy oh , boy. Have you ever looked up charts concerning the book of Revelation? There are quite a few including ones I have seen all my life where the various dispensational views of the future are superimposed over the actual contents but I did find one that was just the contents which is seen below. What makes this one different is there is no interpretive model put on it at all it is quite simply the book diagrammed out. I love it.


Now on to chapter 4. There is line in the first verse that sets all this futuristic looking up: "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things" Now I have no doubt that the book of Revelation, based on this line has something to do with the future. The problem is does anyone notice how vague and nebulous this line is about the future. It only says: 'what must take place after these things.' No time frame is given. Other versions say 'what must shortly come to pass." Shortly is never defined.


Here is an approach based on the fact that the book itself never defines a time or times at all; it just puts things into visions as an order based on those visions:


1. Given that over 1900 years have passed since its writing it is quite possible that the 'shortly' may have taken place in some of the visions and they have already taken place.


2. It is also conceivable that some of the visions have not taken place because they are conditional on other events taking place. There is an order to the book but ... there is no mention in the book itself that that order is to be shoved into a seven year time period called the Great Tribulation (by the way this is another phrase, like 'seven years' that is not in the book).


3. It is also conceivable that many of the visions are constant, that is they are being fulfilled all the time -- past, present and future.


4. Looking at the chart above the visions may be more of a guide to interpretation along with what the seven churches would have understood about the book than anything else.


Chapter 4 is the first half of a vision concerning the throne of God and the scroll with seven seals. To be honest it is a very now vision and John speaks of himself as if he is participating in the now. I believe this vision of which chapter 4 is the first half falls under the constant fulfillment -- it is fulfilled at all times. It is a vision of the eternal and ever constant throne of God that has not changed ever.


1. God is always there sitting on his throne

2. The four angelic beasts are always there saying 'holy ,holy, holy'

3. The four and twenty elder are there even now and worship and serve God at all times as well


Bring back our seven churches into the mix, why would this vision of god's throne be significant to them?
To all the seven churches it would have reminded of the eternal sovereign God who is on his throne. The mighty Roman Empire they lived in suddenly becomes a pale shadow of nothing in comparison to this vision of glory and power and holiness.

1. Ephesus sees who should be their first love
2. Smyrna sees the source of all strength in tribulation
3. Pergamum sees a higher throne than Satan's where Christ has said they live and a motivation to throw off all that is unholy for the sake of the holiness of God
4. Thyatira sees the source of the authority they should be serving not the authority of Jezebel that they should remove from themselves
5. Sardis sees why they should rise from the dead to serve the living God
6. Philadelphia sees the one who has opened the door for them that no one can shut.
7. Laodicea see who it is they should be coming to for gold, eye salve and clothing instead of trusting in their own strength and abilities.


In short all of them should see the god who is High and lifted up and to whom they owe their absolute allegiance. That is a message not only for the future but for the now that even we need to hear.

Next: The Worthy Lamb