Daily Scripture Reading Revelation 17:8 - 18:7

Many Christians believe the United States will not be a player in the end times. They say they don’t see the United States in the book of Revelation. That is true in many ways, but today’s passage contains some references that could refer to the United States. Unfortunately, they are not good references.

John was carried away in the Spirit where he saw a woman sitting on a beast that had seven heads and ten horns. The woman, clothed in purple and scarlet, held a cup full of abominations. She was drunk with the blood of the saints.

Rev. 17:8 ¶ “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.

Notice the beast was, is not, and will be. This will come up again in a few verses.

Look at the phrase “whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world”. This tells us those who will be on earth at this point will be on earth because their name was not written in the book of life at the beginning of time.

There are many Christians who reject the idea that God predetermined the eternal destiny of each human. However, this verse makes it clear that God did that very thing.

Rev. 17:9 Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits,

Rev. 17:10 and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while.

Verses 9-10 tell us there will be a kingdom located on seven mountains. The kingdom will have 7 kings in succession. The sixth one will be in power when this event takes place.

Christians naturally want to know where this kingdom will be. Rome was founded upon seven hills, and is known as the city of seven hills, so many people think this beast will be related to Rome in some way. That is possible, but the seven hills do not necessarily need to be in close proximity to each other. Furthermore, Wikipedia lists dozens of cities that are known as the city of seven hills. There are many candidates for this city. Also, this image may represent a kingdom or alliance that doesn’t even exist yet.

Christians need to be on guard against reading more into the text than is actually there.

Rev. 17:11 And the beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction.

The beast was, is not, and will be again. The beast was because he was one of the first five kings. He is not because he is not reigning during the sixth and seventh kings. He will be because he will be the eighth king.

Rev. 17:12 And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.

Rev. 17:13 These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.

Rev. 17:14 These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and elect and faithful.”

Take note of the words “called” and “elect”. These words refer to those whose name was written in the book of life since the beginning of the world.

Rev. 17:15 ¶ And he said to me, “The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and crowds and nations and tongues.

The harlot represents something that will span the globe. The fact that the word harlot is used indicates the harlot represents something sinful and idolatrous.

Rev. 17:16 And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will lay waste to her and make her naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire.

Even though the harlot and the beast both oppose God, they will be at odds with each other.

Rev. 17:17 For God gave it in their hearts to do His purpose both by doing their own common purpose and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be finished.

God will use the sinful beast to punish the sinful harlot.

Rev. 17:18 And the woman whom you saw is the great city, which has a kingdom over the kings of the earth.”

The woman represents a city which will dominate the earth. At this point in time, Washington DC dominates the earth. Washington DC has seven hills. This does not mean DC will still dominate the earth when these future events take place. The city referred to in this passage may be a city that is not yet known for being dominant.

Rev. 18:1 ¶ After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory.

Rev. 18:2 And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “FALLEN, FALLEN IS BABYLON THE GREAT! And she has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean bird and a prison of every unclean and hateful beast.

I don’t think this necessarily refers to the city in the Mesopotamian Valley known as Babylon. I think the word Babylon is used symbolically in this passage.

Don’t miss the character of this city. It will be possessed by demons and unclean spirits. Unfortunately, in some ways this does describe 21st century Washington DC.

Rev. 18:3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the power of her sensuality.”

This city will be known for sexual immorality. Washington DC in the 21st century is full of sexual promiscuity.

As we have seen earlier in the book of Revelation, contrary to modern culture that treats sexual promiscuity as no big deal, sexual purity is actually very important to God.

Rev. 18:4 ¶ And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues;

Rev. 18:5 for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

Washington DC as it is today fits this description.

Rev. 18:6 Pay her back even as she paid, and give her back double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her.

Rev. 18:7 To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning, for she says in her heart, ‘I SIT as A QUEEN AND I AM NOT A WIDOW, and will never see mourning.’

This city will think she is unbeatable. Many people in the United States think the USA will last forever.

Many Christians believe the United States will not be a player in the end times. They say they don’t see the United States in the book of Revelation. That is true in many ways, but you can present evidence that Washington DC fits the description of the city that is described in today’s passage. There is a chance that Washington DC will be part of future events. Unfortunately, it may not be a positive contribution.

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”