Inhabitants Drunk with and Committing Spiritual Fornication Revelation 17:2

As John continued to share concerning the events during the tribulation, He wrote about the antichrist, the false prophet and the angels who were involved in the reaping of the harvest of believers who received the Lord Jesus during that time. John wrote about seven angels who “poured out” their “vials” filled with the “wrath of God” upon the earth, sea, atmosphere and cities. He added, “And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come here; I will show unto you the judgment of the great whore that sits upon many waters: with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication”, and in chapter seventeen and verse two of Revelation John shared how“the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication” where we read:

With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication,

and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

The verse reads, “With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, ...” John began with the words, “with whom” which means “after the city called the great whore” “the kings” or “the leaders, princes, commanders and lords of the land” “of the earth” which refers to “upon the arable land, country, territory and region” “have committed” which means “have prostituted, permitted and allowed” “fornication” or “idolatry and idol worship”. The angel told John how the “rulers of the world” followed after idolatrous ways and measures.

The verse goes on to say, “... and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” John added the words “and the inhabitants” which refers to “the people whether male or female” “of the earth” or “upon the arable land, country, territory and region” “have been made drunk” which means “were intoxicated” “with the wine” or “with the fiery wine” “of her fornication” which means “of the city's idolatry”. The “angel” confirmed to John how people were “intoxicated” with the “city's idolatrous” ways.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we see the influence the “idolatrous city” had upon the people in the world. They “worshiped” the idols and ways of the “city”, and they became “drunken” with their manner of living. God Almighty and His Son Jesus are to be the only ones who are worshiped, and when they are not, people acclimate themselves to all sorts of substitutes. These people not only “worship” idols, but they are “intoxicated” or “obsessed” with them. Whenever something is given more time, energy, effort and adoration than God and Jesus, that “thing” can become an “idol” in one's life. Let all who read these words remember Jesus' words, “you cannot serve God and Mammon” (Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13), and the Old Testament words, ”But if you turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.” (2Chronicles 7:19-20)

Next time John shares how the angel, “carried” him “away in the spirit into the wilderness”where he “saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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