Today’s reading is Revelation 17.
Conquering and to Conquer
When the Lamb broke the first seal on the scroll back in Revelation 6:1-2, a rider on a white horse went out conquering and to conquer. He was given a victor’s wreath and a bow.
We had actually already been told who the conqueror was back in Revelation 5:5: “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals” (ESV). The new David, the Messiah, the Son of God, the Lion was the conqueror.
Of course, when John turned to see the Lion, he “saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain” (Revelation 5:6, ESV). The Lion is the Lamb is the rider on the white horse is the conqueror.
But, of course, sometimes it doesn’t look like He’s conquering.
The Lamb Always Wins
For an hour, it looked like the beast was going to win. Ten kings sided with him. They reigned and had authority. But only for an hour.
They make war on the Lamb. Even just making war on the Lamb doesn’t seem like it should happen. The fact they can make war at all seems like the Lamb isn’t conquering. But before we can get too worked up about it, John tells us:
…and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful (Revelation 17:14, ESV).
A Kingdom Divided Against Itself
The Lamb will win because that is what the Lamb does. He went out conquering and to conquer. We are not surprised when He conquers. However, we find an interesting statement in Revelation 17:16: “The ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire” (ESV).
I’ve read some authors declare this can’t be about Rome because this didn’t happen to Rome. First, let’s not forget this is a vision. The point is not to tell us with one-to-one correspondence of some historical or future event.
The point is to demonstrate how unstable it is to enlist in the army of the beast and the prostitute. If we decide to compromise with the beast and the prostitute, don’t be surprised when we get burned up by the beast and the prostitute.
Perhaps the great point to remember here is Jesus’s teaching on divided kingdoms. In Mark 3:24-26, Jesus explains a kingdom divided against itself will fall. If Satan rises up against Satan, “he cannot stand, but is coming to an end” (ESV). That is precisely the point in Revelation 17:15-18. Satan has risen up against Satan and is coming to an end.
The Lamb wins because that is what the Lamb does. He wins because He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He also wins because His enemy by its very selfish, self-indulgent, self-promoting nature cannot stay united. That kingdom is divided against itself and the Lamb will conquer it with His host of called, chosen, and faithful saints. Let’s be part of that host.
Praise the Lord!
Next week’s reading is Revelation 18.
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PATHS:
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