I am currently delving into a deeper understanding of the true meaning of the cross of Christ, how it relates to salvation and how it reveals God's heart.

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Marvelous Beast - Rumor notes 184

 Revelation 17


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. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits. 10 They are seven kings. Five have fallen, the one is, the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must continue a little while. 11 The beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goes to destruction. 12 The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour. 13 These have one mind, and they give their power and authority to the beast. 14 These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings. They also will overcome who are with him, called and chosen and faithful."



Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world


Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. (Revelation 3:10)


It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed. (Revelation 13:7-8)


In what way does name and book relate to the foundation of the world?


He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name. (Revelation 3:12)


What might it mean that Jesus has His own new name that He can write on others?


Is this simply about noting whose in and whose not? Is this a boarding list for getting on heaven’s plane destined for eternity? Is having the name of Jesus a pseudo-name we acquire through some transaction in order to secure our ticket, or does this name go far deeper than an external label we use?



We have discussed several times what the phrase
those who dwell on the earth means in prophecy. It is a mindset of viewing reality and God through the perceptions of the flesh as Paul would put it. So how might this affect the meaning of the word name here?


Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more. (2 Corinthians 5:16)


In what way do we interpret a name not being written in the Book of Life?

How does anyone’s name get into that book in the first place?

Is everyone’s name there at some point, and if so, how does it come up missing at this point?


The phrasing from the foundation of the earth can be misleading depending on the disposition of those who translate the Bible. Does this mean that some names get written into that book when the world was created, while others are left out? If so, it would support Calvinism and predestination where in reality no one has any actual freedom to choose for themselves whether they will be saved or lost, but they don’t even know which side they are on until the day of judgment. But if this were the case, then without real freedom to choose, agape love also is a fraud and God is nothing more than a puppet master, a robot maker but not the loving Father Jesus presents Him to be.


What is it that exists at the foundation of the world?

Is that the publishing date of the Book of Life?

Is that when the names who will be saved are written into it?

Or is this related more to the Lamb?


All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast-- all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. (Revelation 13:8 NIV)


This makes it more clear that the time stamp of the foundation or origin point of this world is here connected to the slaying of the Lamb, not necessarily the writing of the names in the book. Of course that raises even more questions, for historically we presume that the Lamb of God as Jesus the Messiah, was slain only 2,000 years ago, much later than the creation of the world 6,000 years ago. What this challenges the serious learner to do is to expand our thinking to perceive reality and truth in a much larger perspective than the narrow confines of how we perceive history sequentially and particularly how God experiences this war between light and darkness, evil and love, Satan and Christ.


This also challenges how we interpret what is meant by the death of the Lamb. Without a heavenly perspective about the cause of that death, it will be nearly impossible to make sense of what this is referring to here. This makes a big difference in how we perceive reality, the gospel and how we come to interpret what this is really conveying. Our appreciation of the reality that everyone is always free to respond to His love positively, yet will ever remain free to reject it absent any threat of recrimination from God, affects significantly how we perceive what this verse means.


Is this verse stating when or how names get written into the Book of Life?

Does this inform us at all about how names in that Book might somehow come up missing here?


In the Greek the word written also means described. The word translated name also means character. This might be better translated as those whose character is not described in the Book of Life.


At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who shall be found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1)


I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation 20:12)


When we examine other passages referring to this Book of Life, it becomes more clear how names that once were in there can come up missing later on.


He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (Revelation 3:5)


Moses returned to Yahweh, and said, "Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made themselves gods of gold. Yet now, if you will, forgive their sin – and if not, please blot me out of your book which you have written."

Yahweh said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. Now go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless in the day when I punish, I will punish them for their sin." (Exodus 32:31-34)


Charge them with crime upon crime. Don't let them come into your righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous. (Psalms 69:27-28)


While David was a man after God’s heart, he also had immature perceptions about God’s methods and motives. God had to block David from building the temple he so wanted to do for God, citing that David’s penchant for killing people disqualified him from being that closely linked to the place of worship that would affect how people thought about God for many generations to come.


This whole chapter in Psalms is something of a rant of David wanting God to use His power to punish people who were against David. Its like he is trying to think of every way possible to return evil for evil to them, and one of the ways he imagines would serve to give them what they deserve is to make certain they are not listed among the righteous in God’s Book of Life. Of course David considers himself as one of the righteous whose name should remain there, and David was certainly on the path to a better understanding of God’s graciousness. But he was not yet aware of the far greater revelation of the radical gospel that would be revealed to the watching and stunned universe through the Son of David who would far supersede David’s dim reflection of God’s heart.


David’s perception of how the Book of Life functioned is parallel to how many today perceive it. Most view this book as a passenger list of those who will be admitted into paradise predicated on how well they behave while living on earth or if they get the right formula in place to secure a safe pass despite their sins. Yet this view misses the truth almost entirely, partly because it presumes that God is the one deciding who is in and who is out. With this mindset, the emphasis becomes focusing on what it takes to affect God’s disposition towards us when in reality the whole issue of salvation is all about changing our disposition towards God so we can enjoy being in His fiery presence.


the book of life belonging to the Lamb


Those who think of the result of hastening or hindering the gospel think of it in relation to themselves and to the world. Few think of its relation to God. Few give thought to the suffering that sin has caused our Creator. All heaven suffered in Christ's agony; but that suffering did not begin or end with His manifestation in humanity. The cross is a revelation to our dull senses of the pain that, from its very inception, sin has brought to the heart of God. Every departure from the right, every deed of cruelty, every failure of humanity to reach His ideal, brings grief to Him. {Ed 263}


I believe it is important to keep in mind that the suffering witnessed at the cross of Christ is merely the externalization of how the entire Godhead has felt ever since the foundation of the world. This has led me to think that possibly this phrase foundation of the world may actually refer to when Satan seized the dominion over this world from Adam at the fall and displaced God’s style of government with his own system of imposed laws reinforced by his externally imposed reward/punishment design that misrepresents God’s government so profanely. This is what he promised to Eve in his enticing words, declaring boldly that God knows both good and evil. When Adam choose the system of governance that uses fear of death to control and manipulate people rather than love, the world as we know it now had its foundations laid. And it was into this kind of world that Jesus came to expose its illegitimacy and break open the prison of hopeless despair so that humanity could once again choose which system they would embrace for themselves.


What is the relation between this thing called the Book of Life, and the Lamb that it is so closely associated with? I find it hard to believe it is a literal book with paper pages or even a papyrus scroll. I don’t imagine our technology is what they are limited to in heaven. After pondering this for many years, I have come to the conclusion that the Book of Life is nothing less than the memory bank of Christ Himself. It is the list of all those who have chosen to embrace their true identity in Christ and allowed His Spirit to have access to the throne of their heart, transforming them into being a part of the very temple of God. The Book of Life is composed of all who are willingly a part of the body of Christ. There is no need for any external inscriptions, for all such language is adaptations heaven uses to convey to us realities beyond our physical existence we rely on to define what we imagine is real.


Clearly at this point in the sequence of Revelation, there are only two classes of people left alive at this point in the war: either their name is in the Book of Life or it is not. This is in no way due to any arbitrary decision on the part of God or anyone else in heaven for that matter. It is entirely the outcome of the choices that every person on planet earth has come to make concerning how they have chosen to relate to the gospel fully exposed by this time through the outpouring of the bowls. There will be no other category, not because God arbitrarily forces it to be so, but because circumstances described in the past few chapters have polarized every person on earth who have made their final choice as to whom they will trust, worship and emulate, whose image has shaped their character. That now determines how they react when exposed to the intense glory of God’s presence before the Lamb and holy angels. It is this factor that is revealed by how each person reacts during events that test the entire planet, and this revelation of character is vividly described in the previous couple chapters leading up to this. Testing here means a time of discernment, judgment, revealing what is hidden deep inside each individual that is exposed for all to see.


Which class each person will be found in, hinges on the central issue of freedom on the part of each person to choose. God never forces the will of anyone, for that directly contradicts who He is – agape love that has no hint or shadow of darkness whatsoever. Judgment is how people react to the light Jesus brings to this world. What we are seeing here is the outcome of judgment.


will marvel when they see that


One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast. (Revelation 13:3)


I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great amazement. 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. (Revelation 17:6-7)


We covered this pretty exhaustively in one of our recent studies. This is the mindset of all who allow the beast mentality to shape their disposition and character as first noted in chapter 13.


was, and is not; and shall be present


This refers to what we looked at previously when we studied verse 8 and shows up several times in this chapter. While I don’t yet have a strong definitive understanding of what all this might mean, it seems to clearly involve the 3 ways we relate to time – past, present and future.


The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction. (Revelation 17:8)


The beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goes to destruction. (Revelation 17:11)


"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8)


The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around about and within. They have no rest day and night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!" (Revelation 4:8)

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Mystery Beast - Rumor notes 183

 Revelation 17


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. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits. 10 They are seven kings. Five have fallen, the one is, the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must continue a little while. 11 The beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goes to destruction. 12 The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour. 13 These have one mind, and they give their power and authority to the beast. 14 These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings. They also will overcome who are with him, called and chosen and faithful."



The beast that you saw


He carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored animal, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 17:3)


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. (Revelation 17:7)


Another sign was seen in heaven. Behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven crowns. His tail drew one third of the stars of the sky, and threw them to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. Her child was caught up to God, and to his throne. The woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that there they may nourish her one thousand two hundred sixty days. (Revelation 12:3-6)


We must not miss the synchronous symbols that link these passages. In chapter 12 the dragon stands before the woman with diabolical intent. This dragon is identified mainly by the number of heads and horns that uniquely define it. This raises serious questions over what these numerous references relate to in these chapters. Here in chapter 17 the woman is seen riding on top of the dragon. Does that mean she has subdued it? Not likely. Rather, given the radical transformation that has transformed this woman’s disposition and appearances, it appears she is now synchronizing with him.


In chapter 12 the wilderness was a refuge where the woman fled, a place of nurture prepared for her by God. Yet we find the great prostitute in the same place, but whose nurture has she received?


When the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. Two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, so that she might be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. The serpent spewed water out of his mouth after the woman like a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. The earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon spewed out of his mouth. The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep God's commandments and hold Jesus' testimony. (Revelation 12:13-17)


In chapter 12 the dragon is the woman’s protagonist. In 17 the dragon is portrayed in a very different relationship with her, more as a coconspirator as the woman has turned prostitute.


In 12 the waters are spewed from the mouth of the dragon with intent to sweep her away with them. In that description the waters were absorbed by an earth apparently in sympathy with the woman. In 17 the woman is described not only as sitting on the dragon but also sitting on the waters, later defined as peoples of the earth. Might this be a counterfeit of the ark of Noah safely sitting on top of the decimating waters? It might also resonate with the messianic prophecy of Psalm 18 describing Jesus trusting God to rescue Him from the peoples/waters. This had been His experience repeatedly up to the time He was ‘handed over’ by God to allow His enemies to do whatever they desired to Him.


He sent from on high. He took me. He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me. (Psalms 18:16-17)


The Lamb’s loyal followers near the end will likely experience similar feelings as well.


Then I [or the dragon] stood on the sand of the sea. I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads. On his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads, blasphemous names. [ever shifting identity] The beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast. They worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"

A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him. He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his dwelling, those who dwell in heaven. It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. (Revelation 13:1-9)


This is where it appears the dragon conjures up a clone of sorts to mask the fact that there is very little difference between him and the beast who operates just like him.


was, and is not; and is about to come


This is likely a mimicking of one of the trademarks of the Son of God. Here are some of the passages referring to the original that is here likely being counterfeited.


"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8)


The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around about and within. They have no rest day and night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!" (Revelation 4:8)


While this beast and its originating dragon, very much lust after the power of the Almighty, they deny the validity of the true character that possesses that power. They grasp for power without love. Ironically the very essence of true power is ignored in their lust for selfish, exploitive power.


But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof. Turn away from these, also. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)


This description clearly mimics the eternal nature of Christ and His Father. It also shifts away from the descriptions about the time of persecution of the woman and her seed, here using a different measure. This could be part of the continual shifting identity of this deceptive player in the war between righteousness and evil, where counterfeits multiply to deceive the entire world to worship the dragon, despite his previously losing his war with Michael in heaven.


Alternative interpretation


This may well be an assessment of the span of effective existence of this beast, past, present and demise. It parallels similar descriptions of God which this beast so violently opposes and seeks to defeat. Yet from heaven’s perspective from beyond the confining restriction of time awareness, God declares the end from the beginning and informs us of how this is all going to play out. In short, this is a good example of the power of God’s prophetic perspective, not to make thing happen to suit Him but simply to inform everyone ahead of time of just how things are going to transpire.


come up out of the abyss


When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them. Their dead bodies will be in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. (Revelation 11:7-8)


This raises interesting questions that should have attention. Clearly an identical phrase links these two passages.


Is this referring to the exact same actor? Very likely.

Is this referring to the very same events? Not necessarily.

Does this provide a useful pattern to see how the enemy operates? Very likely.

How likely is this beast identical to the one described in 13:1?

It appears nearly identical, yet so does the dragon who raised up this beast.


In the previous verse this description also included this same ID (the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns), linking it with the dragon described in chapter 12.


Another sign was seen in heaven. Behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven crowns. His tail drew one third of the stars of the sky, and threw them to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. (Revelation 12:3-4)


A few verses later we find one of the most extensive positive IDs in the book, to be sure we don’t mistake who this is actually talking about.


The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. (Revelation 12:9)


These constitute a trail of clues about this entity connected by references that link it with the abyss.


The fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from the sky which had fallen to the earth. The key to the pit of the abyss was given to him. (Revelation 9:1)


They have over them as king the angel of the abyss. His name in Hebrew is "Abaddon," but in Greek, he has the name "Apollyon." (Revelation 9:11)


I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. He seized the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him for a thousand years, and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were finished. After this, he must be freed for a short time. (Revelation 20:1-3)


As we connect these together, we can compile a dossier for this case:


Someone seen as a star fallen from heaven to earth is given the key to the abyss.

How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, who laid the nations low! (Isaiah 14:12)


A few verses later we find a king, one called the angel of the abyss, positively ID’d as Satan.


A couple chapters later the beast that comes up out of the abyss wars with, overcomes and kills the two witnesses of heaven.


Here this mystery beast is about to come out of the abyss but is headed into destruction.


In chapter 20 another angel (clearly not the same one) comes down out of heaven (not fallen from heaven) now possessing the key to the abyss. This angel seizes the one again ID’d as the dragon/serpent/devil/Satan and casts him into the abyss, this time locking him securely there for 1,000 year until the next transition demands he be released.


Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be, unless the departure comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction, he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God. Don't you remember that, when I was still with you, I told you these things? Now you know what is restraining him, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season. For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way. Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and destroy by the manifestation of his coming; (2 Thessalonians 2:3-8)


While the word abyss is used in these previous verses, it is not the same word used to describe where a nearly identical beast comes up out of the sea. Yet that doesn’t mean there is no connection, for the sea in ancient times was often viewed as synonymous with the abyss. The dragon Leviathan in Job lived in the sea and it likely represents Satan. The ancients generally viewed the vast deeps of the ocean as the mysterious unknown region and often referred to it as the abyss.


And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. (Revelation 13:1 NAS95)


to go into destruction


The beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goes to destruction. (Revelation 17:11)


If anyone has captivity, he will go. If anyone is with the sword, he must be killed. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints. (Revelation 13:10)


It appears the destruction alluded to here will be at the hands of those the beast has manipulated.


The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. The rest were killed with the sword of him who sat on the horse, the sword which came forth out of his mouth. All the birds were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:20-21)


This lake of fire as defined from Scripture, is not about God punishing with literal fire, but can mean living under intense fury and vicious retaliation and shame heaped on someone after they are exposed as the main cause of problems that brought so much pain and destruction to others through deception.


The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)


But you are cast away from your tomb like an abominable branch, clothed with the slain, who are thrust through with the sword, who go down to the stones of the pit; like a dead body trodden under foot. You will not join them in burial, because you have destroyed your land. You have killed your people. The seed of evil-doers will not be named forever. (Isaiah 14:19-20)


I saw at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke; I saw even until the animal was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire. (Daniel 7:11)


But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end. (Daniel 7:26)


He shall plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:45)


Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and destroy by the manifestation [epiphaneia] of his coming; even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn't receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Because of this, God sends them a working of error, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be judged who didn't believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12)

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Unsafe Wonder - Rumor notes 182

 Revelation 17


5 And on her forehead a name was written, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." 6 I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great amazement. 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.



When I saw her, I wondered with great amazement


There are two words here that are key to understanding this passage and the angel’s reaction to John. The both mean to have in admiration, marvel, wonder. But there are 2 versions of this here.


A more literal translation of this would be, I wondered with mega-wonderment. Curiously the last Greek word here is used only once in the New Testament. But there is another clue that may be overlooked that could shed light on what may be important here. In the book of Job filled with dueling arguments that makes up most of the book, we find this word two more times in the Septuagint. This makes a total of three times it is used in all of Scripture. So its use in Job could be very significant in discovering insights as to what might be transpiring here.


The first time this word appears in Job it is in a strong reaction from Job in intense frustration with intensifying accusations against his integrity by the three friends who showed up ostensibly to comfort him. After several rounds of increasing tension, Job finally bursts out in direct strong language, tired of trying to be polite after all the increasing insults. He begins by pouring out his bitter complaint directly to God, telling Him exactly how he feels about his unsympathetic friends who seem to only want to impose their traditional views of how God relates to people.


My spirit is consumed. My days are extinct, and the grave is ready for me. Surely there are mockers with me. My eye dwells on their provocation.

Now give a pledge, be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me? For you have hidden their heart from understanding, Therefore shall you not exalt them. He who denounces his friends for a prey, Even the eyes of his children shall fail.

But he has made me a byword of the people. They spit in my face. My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. All my members are as a shadow. Upright men shall be astonished at this. The innocent shall stir up himself against the godless. Yet shall the righteous hold on his way. He who has clean hands shall grow stronger and stronger. But as for you all, come on now again; I shall not find a wise man among you. (Job 17:1-10)


Job insists that a truly upright, just, equitable person would be astonished at how he is being treated. He has had his fill of their allegations and slander and is ready to discredit them directly by this time. He calls on God to not exalt them, not exonerate their libel against Job. He asserts that anyone who is innocent, free of bias and honest should be stirred up against the godless attacks he suffers at the hands of his supposed friends.


Significantly, the word in Hebrew here translated astonished is most often translated elsewhere as desolate. This adds more dimension to how we might appreciate what John might be feeling in this moment. Considering the shocking contrast between what John had witnessed in chapter 12 with what he is exposed to here, one should not be surprised at this reaction. Desolation of integrity might come to mind as a description of this shocking revelation of what transpired in this woman during the intervening time since she fled to the wilderness.


Job’s outburst in reaction to repeated accusations by his self-pious, religious friends, is not the end of it however. Immediately after Job attempts to straighten out the record of his situation, one of his accusers comes back at him with yet another verbal assault, recycling the same word Job used by throwing it back on him. Here is a summary of his speech.


Then Bildad the Shuhite answered, "How long will you hunt for words? Consider, and afterwards we will speak. Why are we counted as animals, which have become unclean in your sight? You who tear yourself in your anger, shall the earth be forsaken for you? Or shall the rock be removed out of its place?

Yes, the light of the wicked shall be put out, the spark of his fire shall not shine. The light shall be dark in his tent. His lamp above him shall be put out. The steps of his strength shall be shortened. His own counsel shall cast him down. (Job 18:1-7)

His memory shall perish from the earth. He shall have no name in the street. He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world. He shall have neither son nor grandson among his people, nor any remaining where he sojourned. Those who come after shall be astonished at his day, as those who went before were frightened. Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous. This is the place of him who doesn't know God." (Job 18:17-21)


I find strong resonance between the disposition of this attack against the reputation of Job, with the disposition of what we are finding in the great prostitute who is drunk with the blood of saints. It is becoming clear in our studies that the coalition of evil forces in concert with the great dragon Satan whose spirit inspires all of them to further his agenda – that is to accuse, attack, isolate and ultimately exterminate every last person who remains loyal to God and remains true to the principles of the Lamb regardless of the cost. History repeats over and over, and we can learn much from what has transpired in the past to prepare us for what will soon transpire in this war.


The angel said to me, "Why do you wonder?


Why does this angel respond this way to John’s wondering? There can potentially be great danger involved in this emotion, for it can set one up to be sucked inadvertently into wrong worship. This is the same word that describes those who wonder after the beast in chapter 13 and later in this chapter.


One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast. They worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" (Revelation 13:3-4)


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. (Revelation 17:8)


We need to be aware that wonder can involve very real danger, not only for John but for each of us. This amazement, wonder, feeling of awe as we realize that someone once greatly blessed by heaven could become so diabolical, so wicked, so successful in casting a powerful spell over so many people – this feeling itself can become hazardous. Wonder and amazement can involve curiosity to understand how such a situation could even happen. In this case it had to have been a stunning shock for John as he realized the symbolic pure woman he witnessed in chapter 12 could now be so tragically compromised from her previous state. This had to arouse myriads of questions in his mind.


Many today also find this suggestion troubling, even refusing to consider it could be the same woman given the shocking contrast. Yet the angel is acutely tuned to the danger of how this intense emotion could tempt John to pursue how this shocking transformation happened. The angel instantly alerts John’s attention before it progresses too far into the enchanting, seductive atmosphere of the occult.


We need to realize how often we too are tempted similarly, especially in recent months as increasingly credible reports of dark, world-wide conspiracies increase. Every day there are new revelations of sinister forces, individuals and dark schemes so diabolical and ripe with evil, selfish intentions that the rational thinking of even those with little interest in religion are jolted. Yet there is powerful allure to want more details, to get the latest updates, to find the scoop behind the latest shocking news, and this becomes an obsession for many. We must be aware this can easily be a subtle ploy of the enemy to manipulate our emotions and capture our imagination which is a most effective strategy.


Some believe it is their God-given obligation to know the latest ‘signs of the end,’ that this is obeying the words of Jesus who warned us of events that would transpire before His return. Yet is this really what Jesus had in mind when He told us to watch and be ready? What is actually most important to know to prepare for the return of our Savior? What are we to watch? What effect does wonder and marvel have to capture our imagination? How close is wonder to worship?


I will tell you the mystery of the woman


Heavenly messengers are aware of our cravings to know what is behind shocking developments by sinister forces that hijack and distort movements initiated from heaven. God does not ignore our desires to learn why, but what is important to be aware there is a danger involved in trying to figure out mysteries for ourselves. This is how Eve got into a mess in the Garden of Eden, and it is still a present danger today. There is good reason the Tree that got us into this mess was called the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, for it manipulates our desires to want to know the reasons and can deceive us into imagining that knowing the right answers is what can save us from evil.


When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. (Genesis 3:6 NIV)


Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Don't be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil. (Proverbs 3:5-7)


Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He has taken the wise in their craftiness." And again, "The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless." (1 Corinthians 3:18-20)


It is never safe to allow agents of deception to fuel our curiosity to discover what is really transpiring behind the scenes in darkness. This angel from heaven tells John that instead of trying to figure out what went wrong with this stunning transformation by this woman, the only safe course is to focus entirely on God as our only safe source of information. God is faithful, and He can provide as much as we need to know when we need it. What He provides may not answer all our questions, and there may remain gaps in our curiosity to know all mysteries. But what is most important is that we receive and believe what we have given already. Then we must believe God’s word along with His loyal messengers sent to guide us in real time.


If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-2)


This cuts to the core distinction between the forces of deceptive evil who masquerade as representing God, and who may claim to be enforcing His will on earth, in contrast with the Hero of this war, the violently slaughtered Lamb introduced in chapter 5 and highlighted throughout the book. That Lamb is the epitome of love, the very expression of the passionate love the Godhead has for each of us. It is the violent slaughter of this Lamb that exploded the myth that agape love was unreal and untenable. The Lamb demonstrated that when overwhelming evil, shame, abuse, violence, cruelty and betrayal were brought against the God-become-human who perfectly reflected the Father’s heart, the only response that could be forced from Him was radical, unconventional humility, kindness, unconditional forgiveness and pure, unaffected love towards everyone. This is the real power of the blood of the Lamb, despite being grossly misrepresented since that great exposé of truth at the cross. It ever remains the pivotal revelation of truth and love that is the anchor of God’s salvation for all the rest of eternity. Without the internalization of this love, all worship, all wonder, all feelings of awe can be readily manipulated by the enemy to suck us into twisted and dark beliefs about God’s heart.


This is the seductive power beneath all mystery religions and philosophies. Many who are certain they are anchored in truth can still be seduced into worshiping the beast, for so long as the passionate love of Jesus is not allowed to be the dominate motive in our lives, desire to have the right answers can easily displace God’s love for our enemies. The enticement of understanding secret mysteries leads many to imagine they are on squarely on God’s side because they feel are complying with all His rules. Yet without genuine love freely received and freely flowing in real time through our lives to others, it is impossible to avoid being deceived and misled


For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. (Matthew 24:24)


I will tell you the mystery of the beast that carries her


The rest of this chapter relays what the angel unfolds to John about both the character and sinister actions of this great prostitute, as well as the diabolical schemes of the beast and its associates.


I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, something like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs; which go forth to the kings of the whole inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of that great day of God, the Almighty. "Behold, I come like a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his clothes, so that he doesn't walk naked, and they see his shame." He gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew, Megiddo. (Revelation 16:13-16)


Now, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to him, we ask you not to be quickly shaken in your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by letter as from us, saying that the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be, unless the departure comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction, he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God.

Don't you remember that, when I was still with you, I told you these things? Now you know what is restraining him, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season. For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way. Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and destroy by the manifestation of his coming; even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn't receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Because of this, God sends them a working of error, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be judged who didn't believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12)