God Put It Into Their Hearts

May the truth of Your Word resonate in my heart today, Lord. Amen


"For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth." (Revelation 17:17-18)


As the Great Tribulation comes to a climax, God's wrath now flows into every part of the earth to fulfill its avenging purposes. satan presses desperately forward with his diabolical plans, wielding his power in the world through the antichrist.


The symbolism in this part of John's vision reveals that God is warning of a coming worldwide false religion, represented by a prostitute sitting on a scarlet beast (Revelation 17:3-4). She is called Babylon, the mother of harlots (v. 5), alluding to ancient Babylon as the birthplace of all pagan worship. The tower of Babel was satan's first attempt at a worldwide religion. His goal will finally be realized during the Great Tribulation as the beast uses false religion to unify the entire world.


The true church is called "the Bride of Christ," and here we see the antithesis - the antichrist's whore of false religion, satan's "anti-church." This will be the ultimate alliance of church and state, but it will be solely for the beast's convenience. He wants only to plunder the wealth of the false church (v. 4) and then destroy her, thereby increasing his power and domination.


An alliance of world leaders will be taken in by the beast and his harlot (vv. 12-16), but we're reminded that even their actions are not their own (v. 17). God is still in control. Though He is allowing satan to move the nations of this world like checkers on a checker board toward Armageddon, all are ultimately moving toward God's purposes.


Even today we see the world preparing to embrace a global false religion as New Ageism, relativism, astrology, sorcery and more thrive in our society. But you are the Bride of Christ, so don't flirt with any false religions. Keep a firm grip on His truth as you prepare for the coming of your heavenly Bridegroom!


~Adrian Rogers~