The Woman is the Great City Revelation 17:18

After showing John the apostle the “great whore” who was sitting upon a “scarlet colored beast” and was “arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls”, the angel asked him, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that you saw was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. And here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he comes, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into perdition. And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. And he said unto me, The waters which you saw, where the whore sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which you saw upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God has put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.” In chapter seventeen and verse eighteen of Revelation the angel tells John, “the woman which you saw is that great city” where we read:

And the woman which you saw is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.

The verse reads, “And the woman which you saw is that great city, ...” John began with the words, “and the woman” which means “and the female” “which you saw” or “that John perceived, noticed, discovered and discerned” “is that great city” which means “is the large, massive and abundant dwelling place and abode otherwise known as Rome”. The “angel” told John the “city” he “saw” was the “massive” ruling “city” which represented Rome.

The verse continues, “... which reigns over the kings of the earth.” John continued with the words, “which reigns” which means “that has dominion, kingship, rule and control” “over the kings” or “upon the leaders, commanders, rulers and lords” “of the earth” which refers to “the arable land, country, territory and region”. The “angel” shared how this “great city” “has dominion and rule” over the “ten kings” who rule in the world.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we see the power of this “great city” upon the “rulers” of the world. Though each of the “ten kings” have “control” in their areas, they all submit to the power of the antichrist within this city. There is no power but that which comes from God Almighty, and none of these “kings” nor this “great city” would have any “rule” if God did not allow it. God has absolute “lordship” over all, and He desires to “save” people so much that He has provided a preview of these “dominions” and “kings” before they come to pass. The way to have a relationship with Almighty God is to “believe and trust” in His Son Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Those who submit to Him shall have “everlasting life”, and those who do not, will be subject to a “lordship” that is destined for destruction.

Next time we begin a new chapter and see how John “saw another angel come down from heaven”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.