That Great City: Revelation 17:18

   But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days: 2 Timothy 3:1.

   Revelation: Greek  ἀποκάλυψις - Apokalypsis - to uncover or unveil.  

   Revelation presents a series of events which occur before the second coming of Christ Jesus. This time period is most often referred to as: the 7-year tribulation, the time of Jacob's trouble, the 70th week, the last days, the latter days, the end of the age, the end of days or the end times. 

   The end of days will be a time of  tribulation, unlike anything the world has ever seen: a conversion of war, famine, pestilence, natural catastrophes, cosmic disturbances, plagues and divine judgements. The construction of the third temple, will make Jerusalem a cup of drunken trembling for the nations: Zechariah 12:2-3, sending armies to battle. But, these are only a few of the things that mark the time of the end. 

   Knowledge of these future events, help to identify these end time markers as they become visible. The most compelling future event is the prophecy found in Revelation 13  - the rise of the beast out of the sea - the tribulation kingdom of antichrist. The beast out of the sea is a vicious and brutal kingdom which has seven heads (seven kingdoms) and ten crowned horns (ten kings): R 13:1-4. There is also a second beast which rises from the earth: R 13:11, which has two horns 'like a lamb' and speaks the words of the red dragon. This Beast out of the earth (clay) is the religious system of the first beast - the beast out of the sea (iron). 

English Back to Greek Revelation 17:3

English Back to Greek Revelation 17:3

So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness; and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 

   The most interesting area of study of Revelation 17 and 18 are translating the English  interpretations back into the original Greek and breaking down the meaning behind those words. Some of the English translations were poorly chosen. 

   John chose his words very carefully when drafting his account, detailing specifics that are not found in the English translations. Studying the Greek which John used gives us a clearer picture of what John was witnessing while in the spirit. 

   In verse 7 the angel tells John that he will tell him the mystery of the woman and the beast that carries her. The angel begins to explain a succession of events surrounding the beast who carries the woman upon his seven heads. The angel begins with the mortally wounded beast kingdom in verse 8, but does not give John much more information about the woman until the very last verse,  Here, the angel tells John that the woman which he saw was that great (μεγας) city (πολις) which will reign over the kings of the earth. This verse transitions the narrative back to the woman; not only is the woman a great city, but she is also a merchant port.

   In the Greek, μεγας, mega translates into English as great, huge, enormous by volume, overtly large by physical size, covering vast amounts of territory. 

   πολις or, polis for city is defined in the Greek as a walled city, mother city, magistrate city of many, that dominates well defined territory.. So now we know that the woman is a metaphor for a extremely large city. 

Seven Heads of the Beast Revelation 13

   1) "And I stood on the sand of the sea, and saw a beast (kingdom) rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2) And the beast that I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion; and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat (throne) and great authority. 3) And I saw one of his heads as it were (slain) wounded to death,(εσφαγμενην), and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." 

   John is instructed to document and record a series of events: the things which he had seen, the things that are, and the things which shall be hereafter. (Revelation 1:19). After the seven letters to the seven churches, a door opens in heaven and John is taken in the spirit. The large majority of the things recorded in Revelation consists of futuristic events, that extend far beyond John's world, to the end of the age. These events transpire during the last seven years of human history and move the reader forward, into the the time of the end and, the second coming of Yeshua HaMashiach. 

  We are told that Revelation is full of prophetic symbolic imagery and it's hard to understand so, we expect to be confounded and confused. We were told how scripture should be interpreted and now, we hold onto centuries-old interpretations for dear life and pass them on, conditioning future generations with several flawed interpretations. One of these  flawed interpretations is the theory, that the seven heads of the beast, are the seven hills of Rome, moving the fourth beast, the antichrist-tribulation kingdom back in time - and, into Europe. 

   The majority of Revelation consists of the witness statement written by John; the  documented account of the events he viewed 'which shall be hereafter,' These events were witnessed and recorded while John was in the spirit on the Lords day. Much of his witness statement is contested by bible students and scholars who don't quite agree with the timing or, the imagery that John saw and documented. Most of the symbology and imagery is found in the prophetic books of the old testament and, much of Revelation can be viewed from a biblical perspective based upon these ancient writings. 

   Many religious sects add more to scripture then what was detailed by John, bypassing simple biblical constructs, making it complicated or confusing. It's important to read scripture as written, and avoid the additional inflections that may add or, take away from the words that John had written: Revelation 22:18-19. 

English Back to Greek Revelation 17:1

   And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither, I will show you the judgment of the great whore πόρνης that sits upon many waters. Revelation 17:1

   The most interesting area of study of Revelation 17 and 18 are translating the English  interpretations back into the original Greek and breaking down the meaning behind those words. Some of the English translations (in my opinion) were poorly chosen. 

   John chose his words very carefully when drafting his account detailing specifics that are not found in the English translations. Studying the Greek which John used offers a clearer picture of what John was witnessing, while in the spirit. 

   For example the Greek word translated into the English as great (megas) 'prostitute' is  πόρνης which means commercially corrupt one, to export or sell products or commodities immorally for profit or gain. This is generally defined or translated into English by its root πόρνη which is simply pornēs, prostitute or prostitution. This is where the term harlot, wh0re or, prostitute originated from, the root of πόρνης. 

Revelation 13:3 King or Kingdom?

    I was a little late to the Revelation 13:3 social media party and almost missed it completely. After the assassination attempt on former U.S. President Donald J Trump, social media lit up with Revelation 13:3 quotes. This was mostly from those who don't study scripture but, are quick to use it to serve their purposes or, fit a specific narrative which has become common practice. Most comments were quite misguided, even delusional, misquoting scripture. 

   "And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast" 

   The bullet grazed former President Trump's ear, whereas, the alleged shooter received a deadly head wound which ended his life and no, he will not rise again. But, the scriptural reference was directed at former President Trump and his wounded ear. Heads represent kingdoms, horns represent kings, Is Trump a kingdom? Is he a kingdom that belongs to the beast that rises from the sea, during the time of tribulation? Is he even a sitting President right now? Is he a leader (king) of a middle eastern world kingdom? No, of course not. 

   Why doesn't scripture say one of the horns was wounded as to death if this verse represents a deadly head wound upon a man; a king? Because it's not a man, it's a kingdom. 

   Let me explain: 

   Revelation 13:1-4 details the rise of the antichrist-tribulation kingdom aka: the beast of ten horns, who parallels the feet and toes of iron and clay.  

Isaiah 46 Failure of False Gods

  Babylon relied on her sorcerers, magicians, necromancers and stargazers. 

   Nebuchadnezzars father, King Nabopolassar, had a slew of sorcerers, soothsayers, stargazers, diviners and occultist advising him of his every move. When King Nebuchadnezzar II took the throne, he inherited them as part of his counsel from his father. But Nebuchadnezzar found that only the God of Israel could reveal secrets, and was true to His Word. 

   The ruling elite of Babylon were deeply humbled when their false gods, sorcerers, diviners and stargazers were unable to warn them of the invasion of King Darius and the Persian King Cyrus the Great, just as the Isaiah prophecy states. Not only did their gods not warn them, but those idols held them captive, promising peace and security from within Babylon's massive walls. 

   What a burden their idols became for them. Neither Bel or Nebo could stand erect on their own. The Babylonians hauled them away in their wagons, as they had no use or power of their own. The God of Israel has shown them that their golden idols of pagan gods, and carved animals were a heavy burden, mute and of no help. Even Marduk the Snake-Dragon – chief god of Babylon had been muzzled and lame. He was no match for the God of the Israelites. When the nobles and high priests removed the created idols that had failed them, they became a heavy burden under the victorious God of Israel. 

   The Isaiah prophecy has more spiritual meaning than a physical one with the lackluster and worthlessness of the pagan idols. 

   There is no mention of the people scattering or fleeing Babylon after the conquest of the  Medes and Persians. Historical documentation, including the Cyrus Cylinder (539-538 BC) suggests that the city was taken without much of a fight. In fact, the inhabitants of Babylon were not even aware that they had been captured: Daniel 5. Only the elites and their concubines were aware of the siege. Thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and the Persians. 

Dreams of a King Daniel 2

Nebuchadnezzar's Prophetic Dream

   Upon claiming the throne (605 BC) after the death of his father, King Nabopolassar, King Nebuchadnezzar II inherited a bunch of mystic advisors that had once served his father. These wise men were collaborators of the dark arts who worked in service to the King. The mystic advisors were the best the kingdom had to offer, Egyptian magicians, Canaanite fortunetellers, Aramaic astrologers, and Chaldean dream interpreters. There were also soothsayers, diviners,  sorcerers, enchanters, conjurers, and illusionist available to provide counsel unto the new king.  

   But none would come close to doing what the king requested.

   King Nebuchadnezzar II was haunted by a recurring dream that mesmerized his soul. He tossed and turned in his bed, the details of his dream evaporating as soon as he woke. It intrigued him so deeply that he called upon his court of dream translators, sorcerers, astrologers, and magicians to reveal his dream, so he could remember it.   

   He was desperate to know more of the mysterious dream that evaded his waking moments.