Sermon Devotional: Beauty and the Beast
Sermon Title: Beauty and the Beast
Scripture: Revelation 17:1-6 (ESV)
“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 with him are called and chosen and faithful.” Revelation 17:14
The scene in Revelation 17 seems familiar, like a recap of something we’ve already heard. The theme is the fall of Babylon. Earlier, in Revelation 14:8, an angel declares, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” Again, in chapter 16, we have another description of the destruction of Babylon: “The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath” (16:19). In Revelation 17 and 18, we see more details of the fall of Babylon. John has told us that judgment has already been completed: “A loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, ‘It is done!’” (16:17). Why then do we need to hear more of the fall of Babylon?
Babylon represents the kingdom of the earth in contrast to the kingdom of God. In the book of Revelation, we’re moving forward from the city of the earth—Babylon, to the heavenly city—the New Jerusalem, the city of God. The details of the depravity of the kingdom of the earth are the backdrop for the holiness, the righteousness, the justice, the completeness of the kingdom of God. We need a little help to remember that by the mercy of the blood of the Lamb, we are citizens of heaven who seek to let go of our entanglements with the kingdom of the earth and who eagerly long for our heavenly home.
Babylon is depicted as “the great prostitute” (17:1) seated on a fantastical scarlet beast “that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns” (17:3). Seven heads and ten horns are symbols of the kingdom of the earth where God’s economy is dismissed and derided, and everything that is anti-God is pursued. The kingdom of the earth is home to immorality, to idolatry, to violence. It is where dissent to evil power and self-serving authority is met with cruel silencing through fear, intimidation, and destruction.
John tells us that the prostitute was “arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her immorality” (17:4). She is a fashion icon who entices the inhabitants of the earth to forget righteousness and to compromise God’s values. Her beauty and wealth deceive and confuse. Babylon dazzles! John says, “When I saw her, I marveled greatly” (17:6). Babylon looks pretty good.
Those who have never caught a glimpse of the matchless, shekinah glory of God would naturally be mesmerized by the shimmer of Babylon’s temptations. We are all looking for something and someone greater than ourselves. Babylon enthralls and fascinates – “Could this person, this leader, this kingdom, this cause be worthy of my devotion?”
Meanwhile, those who have tasted God’s mercy and love are likewise susceptible. The enemy knows our divided hearts and minds. He works to try to make us forget who Jesus is and what the Lamb has done so that we settle for the crumb that is “good enough” rather than the feast that is the Kingdom of God.
John assures us that Babylon’s fate is certain. The kings and the kingdoms of the earth “will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful” (17:14). Heaven is where there are no rivals to the rule and reign of the triune God. The Lamb will conquer all rivals! The Lamb has conquered them!
Consider—
╬ In Revelation, although the kingdoms of the earth look beautiful and powerful, invincible and permanent, they are all gone! The cross of Jesus has accomplished this! But Babylon still dazzles and seduces. Who do you know who continues to be enticed and entangled by the things of the earth? Remember how Jesus loved and lived with those who had no vision of the kingdom of God. Read again Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). How can you love like Jesus?
╬ Even though we know that Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings, this world can often be a discouraging place to live. In the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:19) Jesus said that even those who hear the Word can be deceived. Sometimes “the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word” so that the truth we know “proves unfruitful.” Who can you encourage? Who needs to be reminded that Jesus the Lamb reigns?
╬ Almighty God, you are righteous and holy, just and merciful. Your love knows no end. Lead us on to the day of your final redemption and your great glory. Until Christ returns, help us to work and pray, “May your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Scripture: Revelation 17:1-6 (ESV)
“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 with him are called and chosen and faithful.” Revelation 17:14
The scene in Revelation 17 seems familiar, like a recap of something we’ve already heard. The theme is the fall of Babylon. Earlier, in Revelation 14:8, an angel declares, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” Again, in chapter 16, we have another description of the destruction of Babylon: “The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath” (16:19). In Revelation 17 and 18, we see more details of the fall of Babylon. John has told us that judgment has already been completed: “A loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, ‘It is done!’” (16:17). Why then do we need to hear more of the fall of Babylon?
Babylon represents the kingdom of the earth in contrast to the kingdom of God. In the book of Revelation, we’re moving forward from the city of the earth—Babylon, to the heavenly city—the New Jerusalem, the city of God. The details of the depravity of the kingdom of the earth are the backdrop for the holiness, the righteousness, the justice, the completeness of the kingdom of God. We need a little help to remember that by the mercy of the blood of the Lamb, we are citizens of heaven who seek to let go of our entanglements with the kingdom of the earth and who eagerly long for our heavenly home.
Babylon is depicted as “the great prostitute” (17:1) seated on a fantastical scarlet beast “that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns” (17:3). Seven heads and ten horns are symbols of the kingdom of the earth where God’s economy is dismissed and derided, and everything that is anti-God is pursued. The kingdom of the earth is home to immorality, to idolatry, to violence. It is where dissent to evil power and self-serving authority is met with cruel silencing through fear, intimidation, and destruction.
John tells us that the prostitute was “arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her immorality” (17:4). She is a fashion icon who entices the inhabitants of the earth to forget righteousness and to compromise God’s values. Her beauty and wealth deceive and confuse. Babylon dazzles! John says, “When I saw her, I marveled greatly” (17:6). Babylon looks pretty good.
Those who have never caught a glimpse of the matchless, shekinah glory of God would naturally be mesmerized by the shimmer of Babylon’s temptations. We are all looking for something and someone greater than ourselves. Babylon enthralls and fascinates – “Could this person, this leader, this kingdom, this cause be worthy of my devotion?”
Meanwhile, those who have tasted God’s mercy and love are likewise susceptible. The enemy knows our divided hearts and minds. He works to try to make us forget who Jesus is and what the Lamb has done so that we settle for the crumb that is “good enough” rather than the feast that is the Kingdom of God.
John assures us that Babylon’s fate is certain. The kings and the kingdoms of the earth “will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful” (17:14). Heaven is where there are no rivals to the rule and reign of the triune God. The Lamb will conquer all rivals! The Lamb has conquered them!
Consider—
╬ In Revelation, although the kingdoms of the earth look beautiful and powerful, invincible and permanent, they are all gone! The cross of Jesus has accomplished this! But Babylon still dazzles and seduces. Who do you know who continues to be enticed and entangled by the things of the earth? Remember how Jesus loved and lived with those who had no vision of the kingdom of God. Read again Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). How can you love like Jesus?
╬ Even though we know that Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings, this world can often be a discouraging place to live. In the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:19) Jesus said that even those who hear the Word can be deceived. Sometimes “the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word” so that the truth we know “proves unfruitful.” Who can you encourage? Who needs to be reminded that Jesus the Lamb reigns?
╬ Almighty God, you are righteous and holy, just and merciful. Your love knows no end. Lead us on to the day of your final redemption and your great glory. Until Christ returns, help us to work and pray, “May your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” In Jesus’ name. Amen.