1 時間42分
CH 17 - 18 Revelation is not as weird as you might think
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- キリスト教
Session 9 – chapter 17-18
· John is a witness to the judgement and exposing of the kingdom of this world
· The kingdom of this world is represented by a relationship between a great prostitute and a beast
· This kingdom is defeated, under judgement, and heading for destruction, but can ensnare God’s people
· John calls for wisdom in understanding the mystery and exhorts God’s people to not be seduced by worldly wealth and power and the filth of worshipping idols
Background to Babylon
· Babylon represents the great counterfeit city; powerful, idolatrous, impressive, wicked
· The prophets recognised that at Babylon’s heart was a civilisation set up to usurp God’s place and draw the world into false worship of idols
· This spirit of idolatry was connected back to the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11)
> Babel was not an outright rejection of God; it was a religious act. An attempt to make a name for themselves (grasping for something that was meant to be a gift from God) and to approach and worship on their own terms
> This is the heart of idolatry
The Mother of Prostitutes, Babylon the Great
· A picture drawn from the Old Testament prophets
· Adultery = participating in idol worship
· Isaiah 1:21-22, Ezekiel 23
· Throughout history the Great prostitute is carried by the power of the Beast
The Scarlet Beast
· Covered in blasphemous names. Blasphemy = an offence to God, mocks true worship
· The Beast is a conflation of the pictures from chapter 13
· The Beast is also modelled on the fourth beast from Daniel 7 = Rome, a powerful world empire that devours and destroys
· The Beast also becomes an eighth King = an antichrist figure whose goal is to make war on the Lamb and the saints
· The Lamb will overcome, and with him, his faithful followers
John is presenting a counterfeit version of God’s kingdom. The Beast and the prostitute contrast Christ and His bride.
The judgement of Babylon
· Babylon is exposed as empty, lifeless, unclean, and full of demons
· Babylon judged for idolatry
· “Come out of her, my people” – Jeremiah 51:6-47
> The Jews in exile found it hard to leave Babylon, and were caught up in false security and prosperity (=worshipping idols)
> CF Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:24
· Judgement will come suddenly
· Saints and apostles rejoice
· Destruction will be total and eternal
· Babylon which has appeared refined and civilised will be exposed as brutal and murderous (Ezekiel 26&27)
Questions
1. How does understanding the story of human rebellion and idolatry help to explain the judgement of Babylon?
2. What does John’s vision expose about the counterfeit kingdom? How does this help Christians?
3. What idols do we encounter in our society? What are you being called to come out from?
Session 9 – chapter 17-18
· John is a witness to the judgement and exposing of the kingdom of this world
· The kingdom of this world is represented by a relationship between a great prostitute and a beast
· This kingdom is defeated, under judgement, and heading for destruction, but can ensnare God’s people
· John calls for wisdom in understanding the mystery and exhorts God’s people to not be seduced by worldly wealth and power and the filth of worshipping idols
Background to Babylon
· Babylon represents the great counterfeit city; powerful, idolatrous, impressive, wicked
· The prophets recognised that at Babylon’s heart was a civilisation set up to usurp God’s place and draw the world into false worship of idols
· This spirit of idolatry was connected back to the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11)
> Babel was not an outright rejection of God; it was a religious act. An attempt to make a name for themselves (grasping for something that was meant to be a gift from God) and to approach and worship on their own terms
> This is the heart of idolatry
The Mother of Prostitutes, Babylon the Great
· A picture drawn from the Old Testament prophets
· Adultery = participating in idol worship
· Isaiah 1:21-22, Ezekiel 23
· Throughout history the Great prostitute is carried by the power of the Beast
The Scarlet Beast
· Covered in blasphemous names. Blasphemy = an offence to God, mocks true worship
· The Beast is a conflation of the pictures from chapter 13
· The Beast is also modelled on the fourth beast from Daniel 7 = Rome, a powerful world empire that devours and destroys
· The Beast also becomes an eighth King = an antichrist figure whose goal is to make war on the Lamb and the saints
· The Lamb will overcome, and with him, his faithful followers
John is presenting a counterfeit version of God’s kingdom. The Beast and the prostitute contrast Christ and His bride.
The judgement of Babylon
· Babylon is exposed as empty, lifeless, unclean, and full of demons
· Babylon judged for idolatry
· “Come out of her, my people” – Jeremiah 51:6-47
> The Jews in exile found it hard to leave Babylon, and were caught up in false security and prosperity (=worshipping idols)
> CF Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:24
· Judgement will come suddenly
· Saints and apostles rejoice
· Destruction will be total and eternal
· Babylon which has appeared refined and civilised will be exposed as brutal and murderous (Ezekiel 26&27)
Questions
1. How does understanding the story of human rebellion and idolatry help to explain the judgement of Babylon?
2. What does John’s vision expose about the counterfeit kingdom? How does this help Christians?
3. What idols do we encounter in our society? What are you being called to come out from?
1 時間42分