Tag: the prostitute

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)
__________

Go ahead – STAND UP!
__________

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
_____________________________________

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.