Context No. 4057 of 4322 · Revelation

Revelation 17:7-18: in context

7The angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. 8The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction. Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present. 9Here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. 10They are seven kings. Five have fallen, the one is, and the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must continue a little while. 11The beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goes to destruction. 12The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. 13These have one mind, and they give their power and authority to the beast. 14These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with him are called, chosen, and faithful.” 15He said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. 16The ten horns which you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute, will make her desolate, will strip her naked, will eat her flesh, and will burn her utterly with fire. 17For God has put in their hearts to do what he has in mind, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished. 18The woman whom you saw is the great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

In this vision full of beasts and kings arrayed against God, an angel explains its meaning to John. The massed powers of the world, symbolized by the beast and the ten kings, unite with one purpose and give their power and authority to make war against the Lamb. It looks, for a moment, like an overwhelming coalition against Christ.

But then comes the outcome, stated with total confidence: they will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings. And those who are with him are called, chosen, and faithful. Here is the assurance that runs through all the strange imagery of Revelation. However the powers of the world gather against Christ and his people, however overwhelming their combined force appears, the outcome is not in doubt: the Lamb will conquer. There is deep comfort here for believers who look at a world that often seems arrayed against God and his people. The forces of evil may unite; they may seem to prevail for a time; but they war against the Lamb, and the Lamb wins. And those who belong to him share in his victory.

When the powers of the world seem arrayed against God and his people, do I hold to the certain outcome, that the Lamb will conquer, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and that those who are faithful to him share his victory?

Sources

Revelation 17:14: "These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with him are called, chosen, and faithful."
Revelation 17:13: "These have one mind, and they give their power and authority to the beast."
Revelation 17:8: "The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction."