The Woman on the Beast

We will pick up on this theme of Babylon more in our week on ‘the empire,’ but for now read this text remembering that Babylon likely represented Rome for the early Christians. Rome was both an enemy of God and God’s people (having destroyed Jerusalem and persecuted the church) and a constant temptation for the assimilating church (this was during the Pax Romana, when Rome dominated and assimilating into pagan, Roman culture would have been very appealing). The assimilated church is reminded of the fate of Rome and all other worldly kingdoms – they eventually fall. But God’s Kingdom never will.

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REFLECTION

Call on the Lord

By Jennifer Jerrome

Reading the book of Revelation can be tough. I often have moments where I say, “Wow! What just happened?” It’s not like reading the Gospels or Paul’s letters. It seems strange and foreign, but there is meaning to be taken from its odd words.

Why are temptations so appealing? We know something isn’t good for us, but it’s so hard to say No. (I guess it really wouldn’t be a temptation if it were easy to turn down.) The Enemy, in whatever form, can be so enticing that he/she causes great men (& cities) to fall. I think the takeaway is to be on guard for these temptations and have a plan to call on the Lord God Almighty for strength in fighting the Enemy.

Verse 8, “The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come” reminded me of several other verses throughout Revelation.

• 1:4 - To the seven churches in the province of Asia:  Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne.
• 1:8 - “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
• 4:8 - …Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”

The beast is not more powerful than God. God will “accomplish his purpose” and the beast will be defeated. Only God was, is and is to come. His love will reign - hold on to that hope.

UALC’S CAMPAIGN OF PRAYER - FRIDAY

FAITH - Pray for faith instead of fear, that many would come to faith in Jesus and that we would all trust God more deeply during this time.