Spiritual War – Part 2

The harlot rides the beast, Revelation 17

After the church is taken Satan will only accept worship of himself. However, for a short time he will allow a great false church to exist. She is described as the mother of harlots and the abominations of the Earth, 17:5. She is identified as “that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth” 17:18. A real conundrum. Nonetheless, she is very real.

Satan who gives her the beast to ride, 17:3, the kings to serve her will eventually destroy her, 17:16. Until then she will rule and reign over peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues, 17:15. Those who are deceived by her exist today. For this reason, Paul prayed the church would abound in knowledge and discernment, Philippians 1:9.

God has equipped us for a real spiritual war. We have all we need to stand and withstand. We just need to put on the whole armor of God, Ephesian 6:11. This is necessary because we live in a world under attack. Much of mankind is already under Satan’s power. Those who oppose God follow Satan.

Satan’s strategy has not changed: he lies. To the believer he asks, ‘did God really say?’ To the unbeliever he says, ‘God doesn’t care.” Yielding to either will lead a person to a false religion; a man-made religion; an idol. Since most of the world is still fallen, they are already headed in the wrong direction. So, it doesn’t take much temptation to lead them further away from God. 

Not so with you. You are on the narrow way. Though God’s way is narrow and upstream from the broad way leading to destruction, you remain faithful. You know the end. Eventually, the kings of the earth will turn against the harlot: they will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire, Revelation 17:16. 

Sounds very unpleasant. You will see the face of Jesus, His name will be on your forehead, you shall reign forever and ever with Him, Revelation 22:1-5. Big difference.