More details concerning the prostitute and the ten kings.
Previous blogs highlighted how Satan used six biblical kingdoms to prevent the arrival of the Messiah. Perhaps Satan thought that if the Messiah never came, God’s plan for humankind would fail. But Satan’s efforts failed. The six biblical kingdoms acted against the people through whom God determined to bring the Messiah into the world. Satan was actively involved with these first six human agencies, the six kingdoms. However, Satan failed in his plans. The promised Messiah did arrive, as God planned. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, defeated Satan as the ruler of this world. Now, Satan waits for humankind to develop a system that will restore his position as prince of this world.
Such a system was outlined in earlier blogs. However, Revelation chapters seventeen and eighteen provide more details. Satan’s goal remains the same: to disrupt God’s plan for humankind. Satan waits for the seventh biblical kingdom to prepare the world for his return, aiming to regain his role as its prince. The method used by the seventh biblical kingdom is new and has never been attempted before. Human agents are acting on Satan’s behalf without his direct influence. The previous approach failed. Now, Satan’s goal is to remove as many people as possible from the Kingdom of God, Jesus Christ. He does this by promoting what seems good in human eyes. Through global peace and material prosperity, Satan shifts people’s focus away from Jesus Christ and onto themselves.
Chapter seventeen of the Book of Revelation portrays human efforts to oppose God’s plan for humankind. Satan is not visibly involved in the seventh kingdom because he is no longer the prince of this world and lacks the authority to directly influence people. Instead, he relies on Earth’s inhabitants to prepare it as his domain. Satan hopes that the human system of peace and prosperity will deceive Earth’s inhabitants into worshiping themselves rather than God. Revelation describes such a system as a “great prostitute.” The global economic system, coordinated by the WTO, will lead nations to become self-reliant. People will acknowledge God as the Creator, but will also add their own efforts and rules to God’s work for humankind. Humankind has only one husband—Jesus Christ. When people promote their own teachings and laws, they act as if they are married to two husbands. Therefore, they are prostitutes and commit spiritual adultery. When people add requirements beyond those of Jesus Christ, or in place of Him, they act as antichrists. (1 John 2:18, 22-23; 1 John 4:1-4).
Continued in the next blog.