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Drunken with the Blood of the Saints - Revelation 17:1-6
Drunken with the Blood of the Saints - Revelation 17:1-6 [1] And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
[2] With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
[3] So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
[4] And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
[5] And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
[6] And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
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INTRODUCTION
John "wondered with great admiration" when he saw the future persecution that will come to the followers of Jesus. According to the scripture, this persecution will come by the hands of a religious organization that commits fornication (has an inappropriate union) with the kings of the earth. This religion, portrayed as a woman in Revelation 17, is "THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS," indicating she gives birth to others who likewise involve themselves in their mother’s inappropriate unions. Perhaps this is why John was so perplexed. He could not fathom the thought that a group would identify itself as a religious group while putting others to death for faith in Christ.
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
- (For smaller children) God hates shedding of innocent blood (Proverbs 6:16-17 [16] These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
[17] A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
See All...). Jesus rebuked the leaders of His time and warned His disciples persecution would come (Matthew 23:27-35 [27] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. [28] Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. [29] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, [30] And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. [31] Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. [32] Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. [33] Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? [34] Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: [35] That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
See All...; John 16:1-3 [1] These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. [2] They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. [3] And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
See All...). God is still in charge and will make things right (Revelation 18:5For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
See All..., 8). - Have there been religious groups in the past that persecuted and put to death those who professed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?
- What is the biblical pattern for converting the lost? Should we ever get to the place where we threaten the heathen with a physical sword if they refuse to convert?
PRAYER NEEDS
- Ask God to open your eyes if you are associated with "THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS."
- Ask the Lord to put a hedge of protection about His people.
HYMN
Anywhere with Jesus
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