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Revelation - Part 10

Today's reading was in Revelation 17 through 19.

It starts out with a depiction of Babylon. One of the seven angels which held the seven vials comes to John and shows him the great whore.

The symbolism in this chapter is virtually unmistakable. Not only is it vivid and clear by itself, but we are given specific details as to the meanings of the symbols. To begin with, the whore sits upon many waters. A whore is someone who sells virtue and purity and chastity for money. The value of this virtue is only what the market will bear. Thus, things of a sacred nature become a commodity to be bought and sold, usually to the highest bidder. That which is beautiful and pure and special becomes cheap and tawdry and mundane.

This is symbolic of the churches of the world who sell sacred religious rites for money, power, or influence. While this has been associated with one particular church in the past, to me it indicates any organization (even secular ones) that sell or barter or trade influence or things of a sacred nature for compensation - usually money. In our world, money equates to power and influence. The golden rule has become those who have the gold, rule.

The purple she wears is a very direct reference to the aristocracy and/or oligarchy. It is a clear reference to the secular power and authority to rule. The scarlet mentioned is a direct reference to prostitution. As mentioned above, I tend to think that this is more of a reference to selling sacred things for money, but it could obviously be a reference to sexual promiscuity also.

It is interesting that she holds a gold cup. Gold is a symbol of purity, yet her cup is full of abominations and filthiness...

The scarlet beast she's riding has seven heads and ten horns. The seven heads are noted to be the mountains on which the woman sits and the seven kings - five of which have fallen, one currently reigning, and one yet to come. This could be symbolic of each thousand years and the reigns of each ruling period. The ten horns are said to be the kings which have not yet received power but would get power as they spent time with the beast. These ten kings make war with the church of the Lamb, and which will eventually turn on Babylon and destroy her.

It makes mention that the whore is the great city which rules the whole earth. Some have interpreted this to mean a specific church. I tend to view it more in secular terms - that it represents any and all organizations which are designed to get gain, power, and control over governments and people. There are many such organizations - everything from oil cartels to pornography peddlers to mainstream media outlets to multinational corporations. With this vast array, attention is diffused from one particular source to many varied and sundry places. Like the heads of the hydra, it is impossible to destroy them. Eventually the beast will be cast into the fire, which is how the hydra was dispatched also.

Chapter 19 is memorable because it provides the text for Handel's famous Hallelujah Chorus. KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS!

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