When "The" Church Rides the Beast

Chapter 17

 

Earth’s Last Battle

Relates to God’s Commandments and the Book of Revelation

  

“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:17).

 

Satan’s attack against Christ is aimed through His remnant people. Satan’s method of engagement centers on the beast that will emerge shortly from the sea.

Revelation 13 is the story of a war against Christ’s loyalists. This verse formulates the background to that war. In the fact-filled interlude of Revelation 17, we were already told. “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (17:14).

Much of prophecy relates to war between good and evil. Here in Revelation we are informed about the last battles. Satan desperately applies all his skill to defeat these saints.

“He [Satan] is setting his trained agents at work, and moving them to intense activity. He is securing his army of human agents to engage in the last conflict against the Prince of life, to overthrow the law of God, which is the foundation of His throne. Satan will work with miraculous presentations to confirm men in the belief that he is what he claims to be, – the prince of this world, and that victory is his. He will turn his forces against those who are loyal to God, but though he may cause pain, distress, and human agony, he cannot defile the soul. He may cause affliction to the people of God as he did to Christ, but he cannot cause one of Christ's little ones to perish. The people of God in these last days must expect to enter into the thick of the conflict; for the prophetic Word says, ‘The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.’”[1]

 

“And the dragon was wroth with the woman,” (vs 17)

 

In 12:12 it is noted that the devil was filled with wrath because he knows his last opportunity to work had come. A “short time” is oligon kairon. His final defeat is imminent. Therefore, he turns with hatred against the inhabitants of the earth (12:12). But – here it becomes more focused against the woman – His church and all her progeny.

 

“and went to make war with the remnant of her seed,” (vs 17)

 

The target – the center of hatred – is the last group of people fully committed to God – His last-day “church.” The twelfth chapter outlined three distinct defeats of Satan in his war against heaven:

 

1.     He and his minions were cast out of heaven (12:8).

2.     The baby Jesus escaped his murderous attempts (12:5) – symbolic of the final remnant who will go to heaven!

3.     He’s been unable to destroy the Christian church (12:15-16). He will, however, be destroyed.

 

This is Satan’s final chance to hurt Christ and His people. He knows prophecy – he has long prepared for this. God now tells us how his frenzied attack against the loyal saints will unfold.

The ideal church was portrayed as the dazzling lady in 12:1-2. That chapter revealed a woman with child, and now we are notified that she has offspring (her seed). The concept of “Mother” Zion bearing children was first introduced in Isaiah 54:1-3; 61:9-10; 65:9, 23 and 66:7-10, 22. The war against those children will cover the last 42 months of earth’s history (Revelation 13:5). Isn’t it interesting that Satan also has an end-time church – the harlot, who is called a mother (17:5). Nothing will he withhold in this last hour to deceive and make it appear that he represents the kingdom of glory. But his heart is evil and those apocalyptic prophecies are not pretty. He would like to annihilate those who support Christ.

This “remnant of her seed” alludes to the 144,000 who are sealed in chapter 7. Now, in spite of the persecution and hatred, a victorious group will emerge, noted in 14:1-5. That incredible editorial is inserted as a commentary of hope.

“It was given unto him [sea beast under Satan’s control] to make war with the saints and to overcome them” (13:7). In a previous prophecy, the outer court of the temple was given to the Gentiles (all those not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life – 13:8), and they “tread” (persecuted) the holy city (God’s people) for 42 months (11:2). This unveils the final militant activity of the rebellious world against God’s people. Then it notes that the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit will make war against God’s witnesses and overcome and kill them (11:7). Christ had said that the subjugation of “the holy people” would last for a “time, times and half” (moed, moeds and half – three and a half atonement cycles or three and a half years in context). Then “all these things shall be finished” (Daniel 12:7). Then God’s people are delivered – they are free at last! Who are these?

 

“which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (vs 17)

 

God has chosen to define his final army of believers as being obedient to His commandments (entolas) and having the testimony of Jesus, which is given through this book of Revelation. In 19:10 it notes that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. That, in turn, reverts back to 1:2-3 where the “testimony of
Jesus Christ” is gotten directly from God. That refers to a divine composite of apocalyptic prophecy (vs 1). In turn, John is told: “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (Revelation 1:3).

At the end of the three angels’ messages the characteristics of the saints are similarly chronicled: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (14:12).

This faithfulness and obedience to God’s requirements were also a key spiritual object of the letters to the churches (2:10, 25-26; 3:3, 10-11).

The context suggests that this “remnant” keep “the commandments which God gave” [this is genitive and refers to the Decalogue] and the “testimony that Jesus bore.”[2] The allusions to the power and significance of this testimony (marturia) are disclosed in a dramatic series of communiqués. The setting and spelling of this Greek word means “objective information” “is being given in proof” of the prophecies portrayed.[3] The information rises to the level of a legal argument that could be used in a court of law!

The incredible story:

 

  1:2      Gabriel bears record (legal witness) to the testimony of Jesus (obtained from God the Father).

  1:9      John parenthetically notes that he too had a testimony of Jesus, proving the gospel truths (implied) which banished him to Patmos.

  6:9      The testimony of the end-time martyrs is that of the witnesses of this apocalyptic book (gospel and prophecy).

12:11    God’s people overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb and their testimony from these apocalyptic truths (gospel and prophecy).

12:17    God’s people – the remnant – keep God’s commandments and have the testimony of Jesus (contextually, this bond originated with God – 1:2).

19:10    Gabriel holds also to the testimony of Jesus, which he affirms is this Spirit of Prophecy.

20:4      John sees individuals who have been martyred for the testimony of Jesus and the Word of God.

 

Thus, the weight of evidence suggests that the “testimony” the saints have is a legally sound, thorough, end-time truth, which originates from Jesus from within this apocalyptic book. It will stir the world. Why is this the object of “war” or satanic wrath? It represents unequivocal evidence that Satan and his minions are wrong – they are deceptive! The “keep” issue will soon expand regarding God’s directives – the fight will center on the Sabbath!

One can only imagine the frenzied hatred that drives the last few months of Satan’s revenge against God. His repugnant actions will reach a pinnacle of horror. He has rancor at even the slightest exhibition of faith. God now sees fit to reveal the issues, events and players in earth’s final struggle.

 

The Battle Flow
Chapter 7	Chapter 12:1	Chapter 17	Chapter 13	Chapter 14:1-5, 14-17
There will be a sealed group – 144,000	There will be a pure church	There will be a war against those loyalists	The war	The victors