Death is not worse pain than an empty life. -- Lun Tha

Seduction can be sweet.  If the seducer is really good, it will also be beautiful.

You might have seen an expert, before, without knowing it.  Perfectly beautiful, or at least eye-catching in some manner.  Clothes that fit it the most excellent way, quality in every line.  Tasteful jewelry, obvious gems, but not too obvious.  A clientele of the discreet and generous.  The "companion" will be well-taught in the arts of captivation.

She may wear many names, but in her heart, she is a prostitute.  A whore. 

And in the Book of Revelation, her name is Babylon, Seducer of Man. 


We know that in this text above, this city means Rome, due to the "cryptic name" on her forehead.  Roman prostitutes in the first century would often wear a chain or other item with their names on it, right there on their forehead.  This was for ... yes, you remember ... a mark of identification. (Sound familiar?)

The judgment spoken of above is the same type of judgment prophesied by Jeremiah, concerning the fall of Babylon of Old.  The kings are mostly likely representative of all the kings swallowed and/or seduced by the Roman Empire during its centuries of conquest.  The "bearing away" is generally a verb used in terms of angels at the death of someone, or in a great spiritual ecstacy. Here, I am guessing the latter is the better interpretation. 

The woman is sitting on a beast, who is covered in blasphemies -- terms, phrases, expressions that in any way speak against the Lord God Almighty.  The woman, the harlot, is dressed beautifully, lushly, for her time, and she carries a gold cup.  But at what cost?    She is drunk on the blood of martyrs.  Drunk on it.

John, who has seen so very much to this point, is astounded by her.

Now, this is a very simple passage of scripture to understand, because the angel actually explains this to John.  Here is what he says: 

Revelation 17:7-18

7 Then the angel said to me, "Why are you astounded? I will tell you the secret meaning of the woman and of the beast, with the seven heads and the 10 horns, that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss and go to destruction. Those who live on the earth whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will be astounded when they see the beast that was, and is not, and will be present again. 9 "Here is the mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated. 10 They are also seven kings: five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he comes, he must remain for a little while. 11 The beast that was and is not, is himself the eighth, yet is of the seven and goes to destruction. 12 The 10 horns you saw are 10 kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they will receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. 13 These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.

14 These will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those with him are called and elect and faithful." 15 He also said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. 16 The 10 horns you saw, and the beast, will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, devour her flesh, and burn her up with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His plan by having one purpose, and to give their kingdom to the beast until God's words are accomplished. 18 And the woman you saw is the great city that has an empire over the kings of the earth."

So. The beast is not a new thing on the earth, we read. He will be returning, if only for his own destruction (the details of which will soon be forthcoming in this book).

The series of kings that has come already is believed to end, possibly with Domitian, who was emperor at the time of John's writing.  He was often perceived to be a reincarnation of Nero, by those who held to those things.  The ten kings mentioned haven't yet received a kingdom, but will for one hour...a very short period of time, even in Daniel's seventieth week.  Have they received their kingdoms, only to pass away already, or will all ten receive a kingdom in the last days, granted by the Beast or the Dragon?  Scripture doesn't specify, here, but I am inclined to believe it is the latter, again.  Their sole purpose will be to give honor and glory to the Antichrist, ultimately, and that will happen in the Last Days.

The woman, though...?  The woman will be left desolate, naked, and alone.  And then she will be destroyed in her humiliation.  She may have looked beautiful for a time. She may have granted many favors and had many friends.  Ultimately, though, she was a tool of seduction.  A whore.

Today, there are many seductions in the world. Many temptations. Many siren-songs that would call us from where we know we should be, what we should do, and where we should spend our resources (of all types.)  Are we enriching a whore with our valuables or are we putting our treasure in the kingdom's coffers? I am not meaning to "sell all you have and give to the poor." That directive was for one man in particular in one instance.   But we should be seeking to please our Creator with what he has given us.

As lovely as other pursuits might appear, dressed up and alluring, in the end, they are instruments of seduction, designed to distract you from what should be your faithful relationship with God.  That will be the only relationship that will matter, in the end.