Thursday, April 22: Revelation 17-Resident evil.

Chapter 17 is a mind bender for many reasons. If you are anticipating a linear explanation of events, then you may be scratching your heads and sayin, ‘what is going on?’ Chapter 16 ends with a voice from the throne of God crying, “It is done.” And now in chapter 17 John sees glimpses of kings past, present and to come. The best way I can understand it is that in chapter 17’ a new chapter of Revelation, flashes back to a time before the end of Chapter 16. Notice how John is “carried away in the spirit” (3).

So we have moved back in time.  In this scene we see some of the earthly images… images of kings and rulers. You can check out good commentaries if you want to dig into the specifics of this chapter.

My goal, as I read, is to feed my soul and experience some time with my Lord and God before I find myself surrounded by the duties and pressures of the day. What came through to me loud and clear is that resident evil is present in the world. There is a great prostitute lurking; descriptions are distasteful, including phrases like: blasphemous names and a cup filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries (3-4).

Resident evil seeks to lure people into her ways. Her lure has captivated kings as she bates them with power. Through her kings, she wars against the Lamb… so drunk with herself and her atrocities she even tries to kill God, but the Lamb prevails: the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers. (14).

I don’t like mornings like this.  What I hear is a warning. Evil is very real. Evil exists. Some in our world garner their power from Satan and his spiritual emissaries. I know this kind of thinking doesn’t sit well with our world. My meditation ventures not into naming who is or is not a puppet for evil. Rather my thoughts and prayers go to the heart of my life…

O, God, give me wisdom to see when evil is trying to lure me or trick me or bate me (and others) into following its’ intoxicating way rather than Your way. Lord, don’t allow me to live so naively as to think evil does not exist. Drugs, pornography, prostitution, (especially child prostitution) and sex trafficking, … these are evil. And I must not pretend otherwise. Lord, protect me and show me how to protect others, particularly the vulnerable.

And, Jesus, I hold on to the truth that You will not be overcome by this or any evil. When I stand with You, I am eternally-safe. When I bring others to You, they are eternally-safe… amen.