Revelation 17:1- 5 “Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and told me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. The kings of the earth were sexually immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.” And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. On her forehead a mysterious name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”
One thing about Satan is that he is not original; he copies the things of God, twisting them and perverting them if possible. At Christmas time we celebrate Mary for her faith, her obedience to God, her purity, and her perseverance in believing what God had told her. So if there were to be a satanic counterpart to the Virgin Mary, that female would have to be the worst whore ever imagined, someone without a shred of decency. For two thousand years, Mary has given us an example to follow. It only makes sense that Satan would attempt to create something that would be the exact opposite, and he did. In these last few chapters of Revelation, the imagery can become confused and confusing. For the purposes of this study, it is not necessary to attempt to go into excruciating details.
One of the angels shows John “the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.” Although parts of the description would certainly fit the city of Rome, please remember that there are major cities throughout the world that sit on major rivers or next to major seaports. So this “great prostitute” might be the spirit of all the world cities that intoxicate rulers and ordinary people with the wine of immorality. Perhaps each of these world class cities might have its own “great prostitute demon,” with the woman shown to John being the chief. Even the name on her forehead suggests this: “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”
This arch – demoness is dressed as the most important courtesans in every age have dressed – with fine clothing, jewels, etc. On her forehead she bears her name. The prostitutes in ancient Rome wore signs on their foreheads with their names inscribed. 1. She encourages gross immorality wherever she operates. 2. She holds a golden cup of abominations of all kinds – anything that can be used to entice, seduce, undermine, pervert, or corrupt is in that cup! The outward appearance of gold is only to deceive.
Today is Christmas. Many people only think of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as one of the figures in the Nativity scene. But Mary is worth far more than that! Consider Mary: Isaiah 9 foretells the coming of the Messiah: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned…. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.” The great prostitute exists only to corrupt, but Jesus, Son of God and Son of the Virgin Mary, has come to set people free, to purify their hearts.
We make a terrible mistake if we fail to value Mary as we should! Luke 1:26 – 39 “In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings,b you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!” “How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her”.
Mary had a choice: she could have refused to bear the Messiah, but she said yes. In agreeing, Mary opened herself to public ridicule and gossip. As events developed, Mary was denied the opportunity to deliver at home with her mother and friends around her; instead, she had to endure a donkey ride of 70 miles and deliver in a dark cave that smelled like manure.
From the very beginning, Mary knew that one day she would face unimaginable suffering. Simeon warned her of that when he took the Baby Jesus in his arms in the temple. Luke 2:34-35 “Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed— and a sword will pierce your soul as well.”
Today as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, let us thank God for Mary, the pure – hearted, faithful, and holy woman who gave us our Savior. O come, let us adore Jesus! And let us thank God for Mary!
PRAYER Father God, thank you! Please let the peace of Christmas rule and reign in our hearts and let us follow hard after you all the days of our lives. Amen.
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