What does Revelation 17:14 mean?
The angel speaking to John continues to explain John's earlier vision, and the symbols it contained (Revelation 17:1–6). The ten kings and the beast, the head of the Revived Roman Empire, will unite to fight against Jesus, the Lamb. But they wage a losing war. No one has ever won a battle against God and no one ever will win a battle against Him.Why do the kings show such antagonism against the Lamb? There are three plausible reasons: First, they are influenced by Satan. Second, they recognize that the Lamb has launched the judgments they have experienced. Third, they hate the fact that the Lamb's followers refuse to worship the beast.
The kings engage in battle against Christ at the end of the tribulation and will be destroyed by Jesus at His return to earth (Revelation 16:16; 19:17–21). Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords and will carry this title on His robe and thighs when He defeats His enemies (Revelation 19:16). Revelation 17:14 identifies those who accompany Jesus in His victorious battle against His enemies as "called and chosen and faithful." Jesus has called them to Himself, chosen them out of the world, and enabled them to be faithful.
Revelation 17:7–14 explains the meaning of the visions John saw in the prior verses. The angel speaking with John explains the symbols of the beast, seven mountains, and ten horns. In the passage to follow, the angel will explain the downfall of the ''great prostitute,'' who symbolizes an ungodly religion. Other passages in the Bible speak to this vision in Revelation 17. e For example, Daniel 7 prophesies a ''fourth empire'' to produce ten kings and another king. The final king will speak blasphemous words against God and will wear out God's saints for three and a half years. However, the Most High will destroy him and establish God's everlasting kingdom. Daniel 9:24–27 and Revelation 13 also describe this defiant, powerful king. Revelation 19:11–21 reveals his end.
Revelation 17 zeroes in on God's judgment of Babylon as the center of religious corruption in the tribulation. The target of this wrath seems to be an eclectic form of all apostate religions. This might be a concrete, single religion. Or, it might be a near-religious blending or equalizing of all spiritual beliefs. God views religious Babylon as ''the great prostitute'' that has support from heads of state. This system is both extremely rich and murderous, guilty of martyring saints. It has a past and a renewed existence as a religious-political system. Together, the political heads of state and religious Babylon battle Jesus, the Lamb, but He defeats them. The end of religious Babylon comes when the ten kings turn against her and ruin her. They destroy religious Babylon because God puts it in the hearts to do so.
