Luke 21:8

Christian, Be Not Deceived!

FOREWORD 

Many Seventh-day Adventist Bible students in the world field have of recent date been stirred to enquire anew into the significance of the symbols of Revelation 17. 

That this chapter contains vital information concerning the coming world's crisis, is now generally recognized. World-shaking events are therein depicted that are of the greatest importance to God's people. The importance of such passages as Rev. 12:17, 14:6-14, and the latter part of Rev. 13 is clearly understood by all Seventh-day Adventists who give any consideration to the prophetic word. These portions of the Apocalypse have become familiar to us all. However, other portions of the Revelation have been relegated to a place of secondary importance; they are automatically or unthinkingly regarded as being of no vital interest. It should be stressed that some of the less-known parts of the Apocalypse contain information of equal importance with those better known. 

There are reasons why some passages of Holy Writ become better known than others. Sometimes certain passages are written especially for a particular crisis hour; they are reserved, so to speak, for that hour in a special sense, and when that hour draws near the Lord causes His people to give more careful study to the hitherto apparently neglected parts of prophecy. Such is the category to which Rev. 17 belongs; it contains a message sent by our Lord for His people to meet the coming world crisis. 

It sometimes happens that the vital importance of some portions of the prophetic word is not clearly discerned because of erroneous conceptions held in regard to the symbols therein employed, or because of misinterpretation of that portion immediately preceding it. It has been thus with regard to Rev. 17. Now, however, clearer perceptions of the significance of those portions dealing with the 6th and 7th plagues have thrown a blaze of light upon Rev. 17 which has a definite relationship with the events occurring under the 6th and 7th plagues. It is a custom of the Revelator to bring the reader's attention to a crisis hour and then commence in the next vision or prophecy to enlarge upon that crisis. The 6th and 7th plagues bring the forces comprising Babylon to the time of their last hour when they will receive the full weight of God's righteous anger. Revelation 17 was written to explain the events leading up to that time of the vengeance of God on behalf of His people against their enemies. Revelation 17 justifies the severity of the wrath of God upon the forces of Babylon: they have persecuted His people through all the ages, and in the very last days seek to extirpate completely every vestige of the family of God from the earth. 

With the advent of the spirit of democracy and the rise of nations espousing the principles of civil and religious liberty, particularly as exemplified in the United States of America, there seemed hope that the spirit of persecution could never again be revived. But when that citadel of democracy itself falls before the victorious hosts of Babylon, and that nation, having grown to such prodigious strength that it has a commanding influence over the entire globe, exercises that mighty power against the people of God, all hope of preserving the Cause of righteousness in the earth disappears. Only by God's almighty power being dramatically exercised on behalf of His people, could such colossal power be restrained from doing the great evil it contemplates doing, namely, destroying the people of God wherever they may be found on the earth. 

Revelation 17 was written to warn God's people of the coming calamitous period when it would appear that the forces of Babylon would triumph over the Israel of God; it was written so that the remnant church would know the Lord's assurances that He will be with them in that crisis hour and give them complete victory 

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over the world forces to be arrayed against them. Revelation 17 is of the greatest importance to the people of God, and, because of that, Satan will seek to obscure its glorious message; he is sure to oppose the clear presentation of any part of the Apocalypse-see GC. 341, 342. 

To those who love the Lord Jesus and who seek to experience His fellowship day by day, it will be sufficient to point out that it is in Rev. 17:14 that we are informed of the blessed companionship of the Lord in the great conflict. So allied is He with His people that the kings who unite with the beast and the woman "to make war with the remnant" church (Rev. 12:17) are said to "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." To Jesus, His bride is a precious possession, and when "the great whore" urges on her evil associates to destroy the saints, He intervenes with His almighty power and brings complete destruction to the forces of Babylon. The following pages have been written to encourage a confiding trust in the Saviour's keeping power; to stimulate faith in the certainty of His love for His people, and to foster a calm restfulness in the knowledge that He will never forsake His loved ones in the hour of trial. 

LOUIS F. WERE, 

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. June, 1952. 

HOW TO UNDERSTAND THE MYSTERIES OF THE 
BOOK OF REVELATION 

"I will tell thee the mystery of the woman and the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and the ten horns" (Rev. 17:7.) 

"This book demands close, prayerful study, lest it be interpreted according to the ideas of men, and false construction be given to the sacred word of the Lord, which in its symbols and figures means so much to us. There is so much that we positively must, understand in order that we may shape our course of action so that we shall not receive the plagues which are coming upon the world. In the Revelation the deep things of God are portrayed." (January 27th, 1900) - Ellen G. White, Letter 16, 1900. 

"St. Jerome says that the Apocalypse 'has as many mysteries as words.' And Henry More observes 'that there never was a book penned with that artifice as this of the Apocalypse, as if every word were weighed in a balance before it was set down.' Those remarkable specimens of careful composition in its earlier chapters may have been designed to remind the reader, that every sentence of it is pregnant with meaning, and that in order to understand its Visions, the best method is to examine diligently every word of the Apocalypse." - Bishop Wordsworth. 

"The Revelation was not written without tears, neither without tears will it be understood." - Benson. 

"Only those who love and fear God can understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven." (PK. 516.) 

"The perception and appreciation of truth, He [Jesus] said, depends less upon the mind than upon the heart . . . its reception depends upon the renunciation of every sin that the Spirit of God reveals . . .To those who thus yield selves to God, having an honest desire to know and to do His will, the truth is revealed as the power of God for their salvation." (DA. 455.) 

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His Commandments." (Ps. 119:10.) 

"The soul that turns to God for its help . . . by daily, earnest prayer will have noble aspirations, clear perceptions of truth amid dam." (MB. 127.) 

"If any man will do His will, he shall know' of the doctrine."(John 7:17.) 

"The only way to understand the difficult parts of the Bible is first to read and obey the easy ones.'' - John Ruskin. 

KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS 

IT.1           Testimonies, Vol. I, page 1. 
GC. 9, 10  The Great Controversy, pages 9 and 10.  
EW. 34     Early Writings, page 34.  
TM           Testimonies to Ministers. 
DA            The Desire of Ages. 
PP             Patriarchs and Prophets. 
PK             Prophets and Kings. 
SC             Steps to Christ. 
EW           Early Writings. 
RH           Review and Herald. 
MB          Mount of Blessing.