The Description of the Harlot (Rev. 17:3-4)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 09/23/2005

 

My Worship Time                                                Focus:  The description of the woman

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Revelation 17:3-4

 

            Message of the verse:  “3  Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.  4  The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.”  (NIV)

            John begins to describe what he sees as the angel carried him away in the Spirit into a desert where he sees a woman.  This woman is described as a harlot and she represents the pagan religious system that began in Babylon with Nimrod that is recorded in Genesis 10 and 11.  The woman is sitting on a beast and the beast had seven heads and ten horns.  The beast is the antichrist and he will make it a practice to blaspheme God as seen in the description of him here.  This woman, or religious system, will ride into power on the back of the beast, but as seen later on the beast will no longer need this religious system and make one of his own.  The dress of this woman and the beast represent someone who is both rich and powerful, and in the woman’s case the dress of a prostitute, for she will take many peoples hearts from the worship of the One true God.  The last part of verse 4 speaks of the abominations she does.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  The things in these two verses, because of God’s grace, are not a big problem for me, as God has been kind and gracious to me showing me the truth of worshiping Him through His Son Jesus Christ.  However I have, as most men in the world today who are believers are more tempted by lustful things, which in some cases in pagan worship have their place.  God has been very gracious and forgiving through all of these temptations and also has strengthened me to overcome them on many occasions.

 

The Word of God has challenged my heart as I studied it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I must continue to trust the Lord through out all of these trials that He is leading me through, trust Him that they will accomplish what He desires to through these trials.  I want to trust the Lord to write the script for my life that will bring honor and glory to Him.

 

Memory verses for the  week:             Psalm 27:1-4

 

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

 

When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh;

My adversaries and foes, it is they who will stumble and fall.

 

Though an army encamp me, my heart shall not fear;

Though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.

 

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after;

That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life;

To gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple.