Daily Bread 2011 - Revelation 17
12 “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
What Does This Mean?
Most of chapter 17 focuses on the beast, the prostitute who serves and is under the beast’s authority, and then also these ten kings whose purpose is to give power and authority to the beast. The woman is identified as Babylon, the great mother of prostitutes and of abominations of the earth. And while there is plenty of sexual immorality, the two main things associated with the woman are the deception of the people of the earth and the cause of the blood of the saints.
So while these forces against God, which we might call “anti-Christs”, because they are trying to block out the purposes of God and become an obstacle for true believers; have power it is limited in scope and severity. Just as God uses people for His purposes in bringing in the light, God allows these other earthly and heavenly figures to have purpose as well.
But ultimately while these forces oppose God and try to deceive and finally kill the saints; in the end the Lamb (Jesus) will overcome them because He is the Lord of lords and the King of kings. All earthly power and authority for good and evil derives itself from God’s own power and the power of His Son, who rules forever and ever at His right hand. (This is why our Creed that we recite is so important!)
What Does This Mean For Us?
It means as believers we will continue to fight against forces allied and arrayed against God, but the victory will be ours someday. Also, the authority we have is in the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Our own authority is derived from Jesus’ power, as Jesus has given us His power to execute His plans on the earth. That is why the first part of the Great Commission is so important even though sometimes it is left out. Listen again to these words from Matthew 28, “18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Listen to how Paul states this is Colossians 2, “9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.”
While we will continue to see evil powers at work in the world, let us remember that “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” There is a reason I capitalize the “He” that is in you, and lower case the “he” that is in the world, because there is more power and authority in “He that is in YOU!!”
Jesus, thank you for giving us your power and authority to live out your purposes. Help us claim Your Word of Truth as we live out of our lives and confront the powers that stand against you in Your name, the name that is above all names! Amen.
What Does This Mean?
Most of chapter 17 focuses on the beast, the prostitute who serves and is under the beast’s authority, and then also these ten kings whose purpose is to give power and authority to the beast. The woman is identified as Babylon, the great mother of prostitutes and of abominations of the earth. And while there is plenty of sexual immorality, the two main things associated with the woman are the deception of the people of the earth and the cause of the blood of the saints.
So while these forces against God, which we might call “anti-Christs”, because they are trying to block out the purposes of God and become an obstacle for true believers; have power it is limited in scope and severity. Just as God uses people for His purposes in bringing in the light, God allows these other earthly and heavenly figures to have purpose as well.
But ultimately while these forces oppose God and try to deceive and finally kill the saints; in the end the Lamb (Jesus) will overcome them because He is the Lord of lords and the King of kings. All earthly power and authority for good and evil derives itself from God’s own power and the power of His Son, who rules forever and ever at His right hand. (This is why our Creed that we recite is so important!)
What Does This Mean For Us?
It means as believers we will continue to fight against forces allied and arrayed against God, but the victory will be ours someday. Also, the authority we have is in the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Our own authority is derived from Jesus’ power, as Jesus has given us His power to execute His plans on the earth. That is why the first part of the Great Commission is so important even though sometimes it is left out. Listen again to these words from Matthew 28, “18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Listen to how Paul states this is Colossians 2, “9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.”
While we will continue to see evil powers at work in the world, let us remember that “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” There is a reason I capitalize the “He” that is in you, and lower case the “he” that is in the world, because there is more power and authority in “He that is in YOU!!”
Jesus, thank you for giving us your power and authority to live out your purposes. Help us claim Your Word of Truth as we live out of our lives and confront the powers that stand against you in Your name, the name that is above all names! Amen.
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