Morning Prayer: 10 Nov – Revelation 17:15-18 ~ the self-destruction of evil

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences

Lord, open my lips and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

I arise today, through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to secure me: against snares of devils,
against temptations of vices, against inclinations of nature,
against everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and anear, alone and in a crowd.

Revelation 17:15-18 (ESV) – to be read aloud

Shakespeare’s The Tempest is the inspiration behind this nineteenth century painting: “The cloud-capt towers, the gorgeous palaces, The solemn temples, the great globe itself, Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve” (Act IV, Scene 1). Surely these lines and the painting they inspired bear a striking resemblance to the description of the destruction of Babylon in Revelation 16:17-18. Samuel Colman, The Edge of Doom (1836-38). Oil on canvas. Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York. The Bridgeman Art Library. Used with permission. - See more at: http://blog.spu.edu/lectio/gods-demoliton-project/#sthash.r3EPjHLR.dpuf — Shakespeare’s The Tempest is the inspiration behind this nineteenth century painting: “The cloud-capt towers, the gorgeous palaces, The solemn temples, the great globe itself, Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve” (Act IV, Scene 1). Surely these lines and the painting they inspired bear a striking resemblance to the description of the destruction of Babylon in Revelation 16:17-18.
Samuel Colman, The Edge of Doom (1836-38).
Oil on canvas. Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York. The Bridgeman Art Library.

And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”

Reflection

THE THIRD VISION (17:1-21:8)

The Prostitute and the Scarlet Beast (17:1-18)

The destruction of the woman (17:15-18)

The turning of the beast against the woman who sits on it speaks of “a terrible and mysterious law of political history, according to which every revolutionary power contains within itself the seed of self-destruction.” It describes the self-destroying power of evil. The wicked are not a happy band of brothers, but precisely because they are wicked they give way to jealousy and hatred, so that “at the climax their mutual hatreds will result in mutual destruction.” (Mounce, p. 320)

The reason for all this is the divine will. “The beast and his allies remain in the hand of the God they defy, and by the impulse of the Devil they unitedly fulfill the words of God” (Beasley-Murray)…. Her doom is from God. (Morris, p. 206-7)

John’s language indicates the complete ruin and destruction of the erstwhile proud city…. In the first century, this stood for Rome; but in the end time, it will stand for eschatological Babylon. (Ladd, p. 234)
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Go ahead – STAND UP!
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Canticle

Christ, as a light – illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield – overshadow me.
Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me – on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me – on my left and my right.

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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Peanut Gallery: In September, we will begin reading through the Book of Revelation (ESV). Our purpose will be devotional, i.e. to discover the word of blessing that God has for us in these troubled times… to find hope and help for our daily lives.

This will not be a Bible Study per se: we will not attempt to unravel the “mysteries” of Revelation… that is far beyond our abilities and is not our interest here. However, so as not to get too far afield, we will rely on three study resources: primary – A Commentary on the Revelation of John (George Elton Ladd); supplemental Revelation (Leon Morris) and The Book of Revelation (Robert H. Mounce).

The general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) On Sundays, we’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world. Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time: Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; 1 Cor 3:9-11, 16-17; Jn 2:13-22 ~ a house of prayer

+ In the name the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening prayer:

Holy God, in every place on earth You gather Your people into Your presence to proclaim the wonders of Your love. Deepen our unity with Your faithful people throughout the world and build us up into a house of prayer for all nations. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
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A Reading from the Old testament: Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 (NLT)

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In my vision, the man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple. There I saw a stream flowing east from beneath the door of the Temple and passing to the right of the altar on its south side. The man brought me outside the wall through the north gateway and led me around to the eastern entrance. There I could see the water flowing out through the south side of the east gateway.
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Then he said to me, “This river flows east through the desert into the valley of the Dead Sea. The waters of this stream will make the salty waters of the Dead Sea fresh and pure. There will be swarms of living things wherever the water of this river flows. Fish will abound in the Dead Sea, for its waters will become fresh. Life will flourish wherever this water flows.
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Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.”
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9 (NLT)

So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!
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God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed. From the very break of day, God will protect it. The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts!
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Come, see the glorious works of the Lord: See how he brings destruction upon the world. He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire.
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A Reading from the Letters: 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17 (NLT)

1Co3.9

For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.

Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.
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Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
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A Reading from the Gospels: John 2:13-22 (NLT)

It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”

Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”

But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”

“All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

“What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.
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Intercessions:

You, O Lord, are enthroned as the Holy One on the praises of Your people. Hear us now as we bring before You the needs of Your church:

+ For Christians around the world – that church leaders may follow in the footsteps of the Apostles…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all the churches in our communities – that Christians may be united with one another and with believers around the world…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all the people of our local churches – that our faith may show itself in acts of mercy and kindness…. Lord, hear us.
+ For people on the margins of life – that the welcome they receive in their church may remind them of God’s gracious care…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who design, build and care for church facilities – that their work may give glory to God…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all who gather for prayer in Your name – that our praises and petitions may rise as a pleasing aroma to Your throne…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those of us who don’t know how, or what to pray – that Your Spirit would intercede for us with groanings too deep for words…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all the faithful who have died, especially through persecution and war – that having passed through the waters of baptism, they may share Christ’s victory over death…. Lord, hear us.

God of heaven and earth, You reward those with clean hands and pure hearts. Create in us clean hearts and right spirits as we bring our prayers to You, through Christ our Lord.
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I love thy kingdom, Lord, the house of thine abode, the church our blest Redeemer saved with his own precious blood.

I love thy church, O God. Her walls before thee stand, dear as the apple of thine eye, and graven on thy hand.

For her my tears shall fall; for her my prayers ascend; to her my cares and toils be given, till toils and cares shall end.

Beyond my highest joy, I prize her heavenly ways: her sweet communion, solemn vows, her hymns of love and praise.

Sure as thy truth shall last, to Zion shall be given the brightest glories earth can yield, and brighter bliss of heaven.
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Benediction:

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Morning Prayer: 08 Nov – Revelation 17:8-14 ~ the riddle of the beast

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences

Lord, open my lips and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Revelation 17:8-14 (ESV) – to be read aloud

Woodcut from the vorlutherischen Graninger Bible (15th c.).

The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

Reflection

THE THIRD VISION (17:1-21:8)

The Prostitute and the Scarlet Beast(17:1-18)

The riddle of the beast (17:8-14)

The beast is the more important and is explained first. It is not easy to understand all we are told, in part at any rate because the symbolism seems to have more than one meaning. Sometimes the beast is the ruler, sometimes he is the kingdom (cf. v.9). Fundamentally the beast is the principal henchman of Satan (the great red dragon) and Satan’s work is done in different ways at different times…. The evil in mankind may seem to disappear, but only seems, It always returns again…. That the beast was means that he had put in an appearance on the earth. That he is not signifies that he is no longer in evidence.

But this does not mean that the last has been heard of him. He will come up out of the Abyss. This identifies him with the forces of evil and indicates that his final sortie will be the climax of the efforts of the evil one. But it will fail. He will go to his destruction. Not for one moment does John lose sight of the certainty of the overthrow of evil. (Morris, p. 202)

[Peanut Gallery: Quite honestly, this mystery is way beyond my ability to to unravel or even make sense of the detailed interpretations offered by Ladd, Morris and Mounce. At some level, John probably has in mind first century Rome… and perhaps successive kingdoms and even empires. But the contemporary import speaks to the ability of evil to resuscitate itself in every generation. Certainly in this generation we are witnessing evil manifested on a world-wide stage and the persecution of Christians on a scale never before known.]

Called, chosen and faithful (17:14)

These are his retinue, not his resources. They represent no independent source of aid for he needs none. Indeed, the very qualities named show that they depend on him. But they share his triumph. (Morris, p.206)
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Canticle

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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Morning Prayer: 07 Nov – Revelation 17:6b-18 ~ one mystery

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences

Lord, open my lips and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Revelation 17:6b–18 (ESV) – to be read aloud

The Whore Babylon, Revelation 17:1-18 circa 1530-1532 Mathias GerungOttheinrich-Bibel, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek — The Whore Babylon,
Revelation 17:1-18
circa 1530-1532
Mathias GerungOttheinrich-Bibel, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

When I saw her, I marveled greatly. But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

Reflection

THE THIRD VISION (17:1-21:8)

The Prostitute and the Scarlet Beast(17:1-18)

The vision interpreted (17:6b-18)

The interpreting angel sets out to explain to John the mystery of the woman and the beast she rides…. In a general sense we immediately understand that here we see the appropriate end of “Babylon,” the cruel oppressor of God’s people.It is a picture of the self-destructive power of evil….

The woman and the beast cannot be understood apart from one another. While the remainder of chapter 17 is primarily concerned with the interpretation of the beast, 18:1-19:5 details the judgment of the prostitute. (Mounce, p.313-4)

One would expect that the angel’s explanation would deal largely with the mystery of the great harlot, but the angel says that he will explain also the mystery of the beast. This shows the inseparable relationship between the woman and the beast. The last center of civilization will derive its character altogether from the one fact that it is supported by the beast. THere are not two mysteries; the one mystery includes both the beast and the harlot. (Ladd, p.226)
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Canticle

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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Morning Prayer: 06 Nov – Revelation 17:1-6 ~ Babylon the harlot

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences

Lord, open my lips and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Revelation 17:1-6 (ESV) – to be read aloud

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.”

The Woman on the Beast: angel shows St. John's vision of the great Harlot seated on a seven-headed monster, from the Lambeth Apocalypse, c.1260 — The Woman on the Beast: angel shows St. John a vision of the great Harlot seated on a seven-headed monster, from the Lambeth Apocalypse, c.1260

And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery:

“Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.”

And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.

When I saw her, I marveled greatly.

Reflection

THE THIRD VISION (17:1-21:8)

The Prostitute and the Scarlet Beast(17:1-18)

The vision (17:1-6)

Babylon (17:1-2)

Here the harlot is Babylon, the symbol of human civilization with all its pomp and circumstance organized in opposition to God (vs. 18)…. Babylon became the personification of wickedness, and John has taken over the Old Testament symbolism and used Babylon to represent the final manifestation of the total history of godless nations. The city had a historical manifestation in first-century Rome, but the full significance of the wicked city is eschatological… seducing all the world to worship that which is not God…. She seduces the nations to share her ungodly character. They have joined in her sins against God. (Ladd, p.221-2)

The blasphemous beast (17:3)

Blasphemy in this context refers to the self-deification of the Antichrist and his demand for the worship of his subjects. His blasphemies… consist of the derogation of deity by his own claim to self-deification. (Ladd, p. 223)

The abomination of desolation (Mt 24:15)

The phrase that describes the Antichrist in our Lord’s Olivet Discourse is literally, the abomination of desolation, i.e., the abomination that brings desolation. The main thought is that with the promise of wealth and luxury, the woman entices men away from the worship of God. (Ladd, p. 224)

Mother of harlots (17:5-6)

Babylon is the “mother of harlots.” She was not satisfied herself alone to entice men away from God; she insisted that her daughters join her in her nefarious and blasphemous designs. Along with her blasphemous harlotry she gave birth to all sorts of abominations, which filled the earth. (Ladd, p..224)

As the capital of the beast, she will be the city most noted for the persecution and martyrdom of the saints. Nothing as far-reaching as this had yet befallen the Christian church…. John looks for a day when the chief city of the beast will be infamous for her persecution of the saints primarily on religious grounds…. John is thinking of eschatological Babylon. (Ladd, p.225)

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Canticle

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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