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3. The Angel of Judgment Testifies to the End of the Antichrist (Revelation 17:7-9a)
REVELATION 17:7-9a
7 The angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction. Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present. 9 Here is the mind that has wisdom.
A Mystery is Explained (v 7): The angel reluctantly shook his head when John marveled at the sight of the enchanting harlot. The angel of judgment was neither surprised at the sight of the woman, nor of the beast from the sea. He saw beyond all ages and recognized the dreadful end of both (Psalm 73:17). Many mysteries lay openly spread out before the angel. He wanted to instruct the prophet and make clear to him the essential events of the past, present and future. He said to him: I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her (Revelation 17:7).
Strangely, following this brief introduction there came no immediate further statements about the woman, but only about the beast. That, again, is an indication that the woman and the beast are to be recognized as a single unity, one in which the beast first inspired the woman, and not vice versa. The beast wanted to improve its poor reputation. Therefore, it placed the woman with the name “Babel” (the door of God) on its back. The beast remained the motor, progenitor and inspirer in this satanic unity. Therefore, the angel of judgment impressed it upon John to understand that this mystery of the woman and the beast should be uncovered. The Satanic son and his woman were to be exposed and overcome in the name of Jesus. Only by so doing could the true mystery, “the Kingdom of God”, be implemented (Revelation 10:7; 11:15).
In order for no doubt to arise that this beast draped in scarlet is the same beast that had already risen out of the sea (Revelation 13:1) the angel expounded upon the seven heads and ten horns as his main feature. The dangerous dragon had wanted, through his tender rider, to appear friendly and alluring. In like fashion, politicians appear together on television with representatives of world religions or with church dignitaries to polish up their image.
A Short Biography of the Beast (v 8): The angel of judgment spoke of the beast and of its spiritual end in four periods of time: It was, and is not, and will ascend and go again to perdition (Revelation 17:8).That is a short summary of the personal life of the beast. In short and similar fashion God is described in Revelation: Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come (Revelation 1:4, 8; 4:8). He remains the unchangeable, Faithful One, just as the name Yahweh attests: I am who I am. I will be who I will be (Exodus 3:14-15). Jesus, too, made Himself known to John in concise short- form: “I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death” (Revelation 1:18; 22:13).
The three actual last words of these short biographies are the most important, since they reveal the goal and end in the existence and life of the one concerned.
It is obvious from the short representation of the beast that nothing happens in the universe outside of the will and plan of God. The beast from hell must be turned loose to hunt down all those that reject or disregard the Lamb of God and His salvation. So great is the wrath of God upon the rejection and disregard of the atoning sacrifice of His beloved Son that, in the place of His Lamb, He sends a beast to the despisers. The coming end time period will be a time of sunder. It will put the residents of our planet to the ultimate test, and end with their final judgment.
The beast in Revelation had previously risen out of the sea of nations (Revelation 13:1). In his world conquest he had suffered a mortal wound and died. Persecuted Jews and Christians had rejoiced, thinking they were finally free from their oppressor! But the son of perdition had healed well, and once again visibly ascended from out of the underworld. He wanted to mimic the resurrection of Jesus and propagate his own immortality, as sign of his glorious victory over death. He revealed himself to mankind as the one who had overcome death (Revelation 13:3, 12, 14). The apparent triumph of the beast, however, would show itself to be short lived. There was little time before he was cast into damnation for eternity (Revelation 19:20; 20:10). The descent of the beast into hell and its torment is one of the decisive events belonging to the period of the seventh trumpet's sounding.
After long and patient waiting, God put an end to the offensive flood of clever lies and vile blasphemy that had bubbled from the mouth of the enemies of the cross. Their end had been sealed when they bound themselves to the son of the evil one. But the witnesses of Christ preferred death over worship of the antichrist. They awoke in the eternal life of their Lord.
PRAYER: Our Father in heaven, we thank You because Your Son Jesus walked humbly among us as Your meek Lamb, and redeemed the world from the anger of Your judgment. Help us to commit ourselves completely to Him and not to open ourselves to the insinuations of deceiving spirits, or obey the wicked antichrist. Keep us from the temptations of the kingdom of hell, and establish us in the kingdom of Your peace and in Your certain forgiveness. Amen.
QUESTIONS:
- Which ruling was, and no longer is, but will certainly again be?
- What is the purpose of the devil's lies and the temptations of the Evil One?