[The woman was] sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. When I saw [the beast], I was greatly astonished. Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of … the beast [that the woman] rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God’s words are fulfilled. (Revelation 17:3, 16-17, NIV 1984).
My Musings – The scarlet beast is the same “beast coming out of the sea” mentioned in Revelation 13:1 (the anti-Christ). There he is also described as “having seven heads and ten horns.” This description indicates that he is a representative of the “enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads . . . that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan,” (Revelation 12:3-7, NIV 1984). As the dragon is fiery-red, so the beast is blood-red in color, implying its bloodguilt and deep-dyed sin. The scarlet is also the symbol of kingly authority.
The woman (harlot) was sitting on the scarlet beast. In other words, the scarlet beast was carrying the harlot. Satan (and anti-Christ) will use Mystery Babylon and its apostate religious system to accomplish their own ends (i.e., attain world power). Later, the anti-Christ will do away with the harlot (“bring her to ruin…burn her with fire”) and establish his own religious system. All of this is in fulfillment of God’s Word (“God has put it into their hearts“).
Throughout history, political systems have used religious bodies to further their political causes. At the same time, Church history reveals that corrupted religious groups have used politics to achieve their purposes. The marriage of Church and state is not a happy union. When dictators are friendly with religion, it is usually because they want to make use of religion’s influence. When it is no longer of any use, they either discard, or destroy it.
The Church of Jesus Christ has been most influential in the world when it has maintained a separated position. Satan’s counterfeit religion will be subtle, requiring spiritual discernment to recognize. Paul’s great concern was that the local churches he founded not “be led away from [their] sincere devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:1–4, NIV 1984). In every age, there is the tremendous pressure to conform to popular religion and to abandon the fundamentals of the faith. In these last days, we all need to heed the admonitions contained in 1Timothy 4 and 2 Timothy 3 to “have nothing to do with such” things, but rather remain true to the Lord.
My Advice – This is not just an admonition for the tribulation period. As John said in his first epistle, the spirit of the anti-Christ “even now is already in the World.” Be aware. Satan, the driving force behind the spirit of anti-Christ is crafty and subtle, “having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” (2 Timothy 3:4–5, NIV 1984). Early labor may be setting in now. And we don’t know much of the labor pains we will have to endure before the rapture. So do your best to study the signs and understand “the present time. The hour has come for [us] to wake up from [our] slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” (Romans 13:11, NIV 1984).
Resources:
Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 590). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 613). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
The Brew Is A Musing 