Intoxicated With the Wine of Her Adulteries

With [the woman/prostitute] the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries … I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. 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 he once was, now is not, and yet will come. (Revelation 17:2, 6, 8, NIV 1984).

My Musings – The figure of a prostitute committing fornication with kings and peoples occurs frequently in the prophets. It represents the defection of God’s people and their attachment to another god. “‘You have lived as a prostitute with many lovers— would you now return to me?’ declares the Lord,” (Jeremiah 3:1, NIV 1984), is but one example.

The word is also applied to heathen cities, but only in three places: to Tyre (Isaiah 23:15 – 17), to Nineveh (Nahum 3:4), and here in Revelation.  In other words, they had become a part of the religious system which she symbolized, and yet later turn against her to “bring her to ruin.”  As we see the people of the United States gradually turning away from, or redefining the Christian faith upon which it was built, we can perhaps see how much more easily this will happen when Satan has free rein, and the Holy Spirit is withdrawn.

Fornication may refer to religious infidelity, the sexual indiscretion involved in pagan ritual, or both. Revelation 18 suggests that this immorality also represents the commercial and political dealings with the kings and merchants of the earth, as in the end times commerce, politics and religion all become strange bedfellows.

But for those who do not become “intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries,” the woman will inflict intense persecution. She will become “drunk with the blood of the saints.”

My Advice – Many today are becoming intoxicated with a prostituted Gospel, that denies the deity of Christ, promotes relative morality, turns the grace of God into a license for sin, and asserts that there are many paths to God. The Apostle Paul did not mince words about this. He declared, “if anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1:9, NIV 1984). Why? Because it impacts the eternal destiny of lost souls.

This is becoming more and more descriptive of many religious leaders and “churches” today. So, be on your guard. Make it your daily habit to “[examine] the Scriptures every day to see if what [others are teaching is] true.” (Acts 17:11, NIV 1984), to expose the lies and declare the truth in love. You may experience intense persecution is exchange. If (when) you do, “dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (1 Pe 4:12–13, NIV 1984). It may be sooner than we expect.

Resources:

Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.

Walvoord, John F., & Zuck, R. B., Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.