The Scarlet Women & Beast- Part 2

     Once again, the issue boils down to this: “Nor is their salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). We must remember as we view these supplemental visions, that we are going back in time before the rapture. We’re seeing what ultimately set up the final earthly Battle.
      The apostate Jews rejected Christ at His first coming. They rejected the Bread of Life as recorded in John 6:29-40. As a result of rejecting the Son of God, they lost the protection of their covenant with God. The last part of Chapter 17 reviews their tragic cycle of oppressors, bringing us up to speed to this present age (Day 6).
         John is naturally perplexed by what he is seeing, especially since he doesn’t have the advantage of history’s perspective as we do. So an angel gives him a quick review of the beastly heads or Gentile kingdoms, all of which are recorded in the Old Testament, some of which were pictured in Nebuchadnezzar’s statue of the times of the Gentiles.  
            John is told that five of the seven heads (kingdoms) have come and gone from power as of the time John is receiving this Revelation. The first five are Egypt, Assyria (who captured the northern kingdom), Ancient Babylon (who captured the southern kingdom), Persia, and Greece. The one that “is” as of John’s point in time is the sixth, Rome, which eventually split into the two branches of the western and eastern empires (the two legs on Nebuchadnezzar’s stature).
           John is then told that another head (the 7th empire) has not yet come in John’s time. The angel explains that when it comes, it will continue for a short time. The 7th empire that ruled the eastern part of the former Roman Empire was a series of Islamic superstates that  came and went, the most notable of which was the Ottoman Empire. It was disbanded after World War I.
          End-Time Lesson: The angel goes on to say that in time an 8th empire will arise from what was once the area of the 7th—that is the Middle East. The “beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.” This simply means this final Gentile coalition will include all the areas of the previous seven empires. The fact that this 8th embodiment of the Beast is going to perdition tells us that it is the final oppressor. Its destiny is utter destruction and eternal damnation. This is why Paul identified the Antichrist as the Son of Perdition (2 Thess. 2:3).
         All of Israel’s modern weapons and man-made defenses will fail them at first, as they did in October 2023. So what happens to turn the tide? The oppressors “will make war with 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” (Rev. 17:14).
       What releases the Lamb to overcome their enemy? Israel’s repentance and acceptance of God’s Anointed One, their Savior and Redeemer. The Revelation shows us that Israel’s story will change. It will no longer be the mystery of Babylon the Great, of the Mother of Harlots and of the abominations of the earth. For they will have “the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ” (Col. 2:2).
         Verse 17 affirms that God is allowing the Scarlet Beast to come against the Scarlet Woman to fulfill His purpose and His words, particularly the last prophetic Word given to the Jews in the book of Malachi. He exposes their polluted offerings, their apostasy, and their infidelity in Chapters 1-3, including their rejection of the “messenger of the covenant, Jesus the Messiah. Chapter 4 describes the coming of the Day of the Lord that will bring this judgment, yet also mercy.  
        “But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves. You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this,” says the Lord of hosts” (Mal. 4:2-3).