Lesson 52
Revelation - Study of Things to Come
Destruction
of
#2. Different destroyers;
- The
- If these distinctions are valid, than any attempt
to view the chapters as a unit is doomed to failure.
- These 2 chapters are more similar than many
expositors believe. Some comparisons show I believe that they don't have
different destroyers.
Comparison of Destroyers
Chapter
17 Chapter 18
Object
of "
destruction the
great city" (17:5,18) (
Instrument
of "the ten horns which you (not given)
destruction saw,
and the beast" (
Means
of "will burn her up
with "she will be
burned up
destruction fire" (
Source
of "God has put it in
their "The Lord God who
judges
destruction
hearts to execute His
her is strong" (18:8)
purpose"
(
When
these 2 chapters are viewed synthetically the alleged distinction between
destroyers melts away.
In
its place stands a unified whole with each chapter presenting a different
aspect of one great destruction.
#3 Different Responses
- The focus here is the response to the destruction
ascribed to men.
This
difference is reflected by the kings of each chapter.
- 1st the response of ch-17 is in
- In ch-18 the response is observed in 18:9 great mourning.
Question?? Are these two passages
talking about the same group of kings?
- In 17:12-14 the kings in view are the "ten
horns" the kings who will make up the rulers, the leaders of the nations
that come together to make up the RRE.
- In 18:9-10 it is the "kings of the earth" these are the
leaders of the other nations around the world, and must be distinguished from
the 10 kings who joined with the Beast.
- It is important to recognize
that Scripture does not give the specific reason why the kings hate her and destroy her .
- This view, I believe, is consistent with the
particulars of the text but still seeks to harmonize the two chapters.
#4. Different Character
The character noted in chapter 17 is said to be
religious in nature.
The characteristic that best describes
-
- The failure by many it seems is
that they never look at the interpretive section in vs:7-18 where the concrete reality is found.
Does she represent a
religious system, a spiritual prostitute?
Conclusions
related to these 4 distinctions.
1. Not one of the four
distinctions contains compelling evidence for making a division between the
chapters.
2. The different settings
are merely temporal aspects connected with John's viewing of the visions.
3. The differences
between the destroyers vanish when the 2 chapters are compared synthetically.
4. The different
responses by the kings are explained by the existence of 2 distinct groups of
kings.
5. The alleged different
character between the chapters vanishes when we examine God's interpretation of
the woman is given; both are cities!
The
Specific Parallels: Between the
The
Designation 17 18
The
name is "
the same. great" (17:5) (18:2)
The
identity is "The woman...is
the "Woe, woe, the great
the same.
great city" (
The Description 17 18
The
clothing is "And the woman was
clothed "...she who was clothed
in
the same. in purple and scarlet.... fine linen and purple and
(17:4) and
scarlet..." (
Both hold a cup. "Having in her hand a gold "In the cup which she has
cup
full of abominations"
mixed, mix twice as much
(17:4) for her" (18:6)
The Deeds 17 18
The relationship "With whom the kings of "And the kings of the earth
to the kings is the earth committed acts have committed acts of
the same. of
immorality" (17:2) immorality with her" (18:3)
The relationship "Those who dwell on the "For all the nations have
to the nations earth were made drunk drunk of the
wine of the
is the same. with the
wine of her passion of her
immorality"
immorality"
(17:2) (18:3)
The relationship "And I saw the woman "And in her was found the
to the believers drunk with the blood of blood of prophets, and of
is the same. the saints,
and with saints and of all
who have
the
blood of the been slain
on the earth"
witnesses
of Jesus" (
(17:6)
The
Destruction 17 18
The means of "These will hate the harlot "She will be burned up
destruction is ...and will burn her up with fire" (18:8)
the same. with
fire" (
The source of "For God has put it in their "And God has remembered
destruction is hearts to execute His her iniquities...for the
the same. purpose" (
is strong"
(18:5,8)
Conclusion:
1. Both Babylons are destroyed by fire.
2. In both cases the
primary source is the destruction is God; it is His judgment that is being
carried out.
3. The parallels between
the chapters are striking.
a. Each chapter refers to a city with the same
name,
b. Each deals with a city that performs the same
deeds.
c. Each refers to a city that is destroyed in the
same manner.
4. These descriptions go
beyond mere similarity, point toward unity.
Two distinct cities could hardly be described in such a similar manner.