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)