A Better Way

Revelation 17:15-18 Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. 16 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. 17 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. 18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”
 
IN chapter 17, God has revealed a time of sin’s rule in the world. The prostitute symbolized nations in partnership with Satan, the beast, to violently oppose God’s church. Why is it, then, that the beast and the ten horns destroy the prostitute?
   Evil destroys evil, doesn’t it? Read of the evil nations in the Old Testament and throughout history. What happened to them? They are gone; they destroyed one another. More specifically, Rome is likely the great city that rules over the kings of the earth. The persecuted church of John’s day would be greatly encouraged to know Rome would be destroyed. In a like manner, we can be encouraged today to know God’s rule will overcome all who oppose the church.
   All corrupt governments are eventually destroyed from within as greed, pride and power motivate people to rebellion. Destruction is the sum of all sin: Psalms 5:9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit. 10 Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you.
   Be of God’s purpose. Your task as Jesus’ church is to show the better way of Christ. Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!
   Our Lord is true. He has shown us the true way involves humility, love, obedience and sacrifice. This is your way to eternal life.
 
Prayer: Lord God, deliver us from evil. Empower us to be true leaders of your true kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.