“The kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her…” (Revelation 17:2 CEB).

The woman who sat astride the scarlet beast of Revelation seventeen had a history of immoral relationships with the world’s political leaders. To better understand that dynamic, we should first remember that selfishness is an underlying (and often under-recognized) component of any immoral relationship. In the context of an inter-personal relationship, this involves one (or both) partners who seek to use one another to satisfy their various needs.

Here in Revelation 17:2, this reference to immorality likely means these governmental leaders (or “kings of the earth“) exploited this godless political system to serve their interests. Those interests might have involved tangible assets (like material or financial wealth), along with non-tangible assets like power or influence. This reminds us that it’s easy for leaders (and others) to become embroiled in various forms of immorality if they fail to recognize God’s sovereignty over their lives.

“…the people of the world became drunk from drinking the wine of her immorality” (Revelation 17:2 GNT).

One of the more unpleasant consequences of excessive drinking is the hangover that usually follows. The same is true of sinful acts and behaviors. While it may seem as if the “party will never end,” a hangover always follows in the form of judgment for such conduct.

“Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness…” (Revelation 17:3 NIV).

A wilderness area is typically associated with a remote, undeveloped region that is isolated from human activity. But much like everything else, this woman’s behavior could not escape the penetrating gaze of God’s Spirit, no matter where it took place.

“…I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was entirely covered with blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns” (Revelation 17:3 AMP).

We should note that the creature who bore these blasphemous names is the one who supports this woman. This emphasizes the demonic underpinnings of her activities along with those who engage with her.

“The woman wore purple and scarlet clothing and beautiful jewelry made of gold and precious gems and pearls. In her hand she held a gold goblet full of obscenities and the impurities of her immorality” (Revelation 17:4 NLT).

These opulent accessories point to the characteristic qualities of wealth, power, royalty, and prominence. The gold cup presumably appeared beautiful on the outside, but its interior held the filth of her adulteries. In like manner, this image reminds us that looking good and being good are not necessarily synonymous. As Jesus once reminded us, “…just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions” (Matthew 7:20 NLT).

“So he carried me away in the Spirit to a wilderness, and there I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. Now the woman was dressed in purple and scarlet clothing, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup filled with detestable things and unclean things from her sexual immorality. On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: ‘Babylon the Great, the Mother of prostitutes and of the detestable things of the earth'” (Revelation 17:3-5 NET).

These verses present us with a powerful and disturbing image of spiritual prostitution in the form of a woman astride this scarlet beast. But as noted in our opening study of these verses, we shouldn’t overlook the central theme of this chapter: “Come, and I will show you the judgment passed upon the great harlot who is seated upon many waters” (Revelation 17:1 Phillips). The emphasis is not on the extent of her misconduct or the image she presents, but on the consequences that will follow as a result of her behavior.

Our text from Revelation chapter seventeen provides us with an extensive description of this woman and her deeds. First, we’re told that she was involved in an immoral relationship with the world’s political leaders, according to Revelation 17:2. As we’ll discover later in verse fifteen, her sphere of influence was borderless and trans-cultural in scope.

The beast she rode was a seven-headed monstrosity, with ten horns that defamed God. Verse four tells us she was arrayed in scarlet and purple, the color of royalty, and accessorized with gold, precious stones, and pearls. In her hand was a drinking vessel filled with the corruption that stemmed from her immoral behavior. She was also intoxicated, but not with alcohol. Instead, she was drunk with the blood of those who had given their lives for Christ.

Finally (and perhaps most prominently), she had a name that was written across her forehead. Several Biblical translations (such as the New King James Version) capitalize that name in the form of a title: “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”

As mentioned earlier, this reference to “Babylon,” with its decadent imagery of excess and corruption, symbolizes the attitude held by those who aggressively reject their Creator. It might also refer to a political, economic, or religious system that is based upon a similar mindset. With these things in mind, we’ll consider what these images may represent next.

“…’Come with me,’ he said, ‘and I will show you the judgment that is going to come on the great prostitute, who rules over many waters'” (Revelation 17:1 NLT).

A lengthy except from the Biblical book of Ezekiel summarizes (and humanizes) the pain God experiences in response to spiritual infidelity…

“…Ezekiel, son of man, remind the people of Jerusalem of their disgusting sins and tell them [what] I, the LORD God, am saying… When you were born, no one cut you loose from your mother or washed your body. No one rubbed your skin with salt and olive oil, and wrapped you in warm blankets. Not one person loved you enough to do any of these things, and no one even felt sorry for you.

You were despised, thrown into a field, and forgotten. I saw you lying there, rolling around in your own blood, and I couldn’t let you die. I took care of you, like someone caring for a tender, young plant. You grew up to be a beautiful young woman with perfect breasts and long hair, but you were still naked… So I covered your naked body with my own robe.

Then I solemnly promised that you would belong to me and that I, the LORD God, would take care of you… I gave you the finest clothes and the most expensive robes, as well as sandals made from the best leather. I gave you bracelets, a necklace, a ring for your nose, some earrings, and a beautiful crown. Your jewelry was gold and silver, and your clothes were made of only the finest material and embroidered linen… You were as beautiful as a queen, and everyone on earth knew it.

I, the LORD God, had helped you become a lovely young woman. You learned that you were attractive enough to have any man you wanted, so you offered yourself to every passerby. You made shrines for yourself and decorated them with some of your clothes. That’s where you took your visitors to have sex with them. These things should never have happened!

You made idols out of the gold and silver jewelry I gave you, then you sinned by worshiping those idols. You dressed them in the clothes you got from me, and you offered them the olive oil and incense I gave you. I supplied you with fine flour, olive oil, and honey, but you sacrificed it all as offerings to please those idols. I, the LORD God, watched this happen.

But you did something even worse than that–you sacrificed your own children to those idols! You slaughtered my children, so you could offer them as sacrifices. You were so busy sinning and being a prostitute that you refused to think about the days when you were young and were rolling around naked in your own blood. Now I, the LORD God, say you are doomed…” (Ezekiel 16:1-23 CEV).

“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” (Revelation 17:1 ESV).

We can better understand this reference to spiritual harlotry when we consider the relational aspects of human marriage. For instance, when a couple enters into a Biblically sanctioned marriage union, they make a formal and exclusive commitment to one another. This explains why traditional marriage vows typically incorporate the phrase “forsaking all others” to emphasize the privileged nature of that marital commitment.

An engaged couple thus affirms their promise to share an exclusive and personal relationship with one another as they stand before God at the marriage altar. This serves to model the spiritual relationship that God seeks to enter with us. Just as a human marriage covenant involves a commitment to forsake all others, we similarly agree to forsake all other spiritual allegiances when we enter a relationship with God in Christ.

We can find a Biblical reference to that commitment in the New Testament book of Ephesians…

“’For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:31-32).

This illustrates the close, personal relationship that God seeks to enjoy with His people. With this in mind, let’s consider what takes place when the bonds of a human marriage relationship are broken. When one partner severs that intimate relationship, it inevitably leads to a period of emotional suffering for the other. Consider the typical responses that are likely to follow an act of marital infidelity…

• I trusted that person and he/she betrayed me.
• I made myself vulnerable to that person and he/she abandoned me.
• I kept my vow, but that person broke his/her promise.

We can find a spiritual parallel in the midst of these painful responses. For instance, let’s apply this idea to those who have made a commitment to Christ but later abandon that commitment. Or perhaps we might consider others who accept Christ, but spend little or no time with Him in prayer or through God’s Word. Or what if we took the gifts He has lavished upon us- our time, our talents, our skills, our resources, and other such things- and used them in inappropriate ways?

Our text from Revelation chapter seventeen should thus serve as a reminder to guard against spiritual infidelity. We will examine God’s deeply emotional response to such things next.

Image Attribution: GDJ, Marriage Silhouette, via Open Clipart

We first encountered the term “Babylon” in our earlier study of Revelation chapter fourteen. While the ancient city of Babylon once existed as a physical place, it has also come to represent an underlying set of core beliefs or guiding principles that govern the lives of the wicked. The Book of Revelation thus employs “Babylon” as a shorthand reference to help identify the blasphemous political, religious, and economic structures that will arise in the future.

Here in Revelation chapter seventeen, we will consider the spiritual aspects of those structures in greater detail. As we progress through our text from this chapter, we’ll find that it separates into two distinct segments. The first section (comprising verses one through six) will introduce us to “Mystery Babylon.” The remainder of this chapter will delve into an explanation of that entity…

“Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, ‘Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.’ So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness.

And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. And on her forehead a name was written:

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,
THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS
AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS
OF THE EARTH.

I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement” (Revelation 17:1-6).

So John, the author of Revelation, encountered one of the seven angelic beings who delivered God’s message of wrath earlier in Revelation chapter sixteen. While John will make many discoveries over the course of this chapter, the opening verse of this passage establishes the principal theme for all that follows: “…I will show you the doom (sentence, judgment) of the great harlot (idolatress) who is seated on many waters” (AMPC).

In contemporary society, we typically use the terms harlot, or prostitute to characterize those who exchange sexual favors for financial payment or other forms of compensation. But as we’ll see, Revelation chapter seventeen will employ this term in a spiritual context as well.

Image Attribution: Babylon (Berlin), CC BY-NC 2.0, Marc Wathieu, via flickr.com disclaimer notice

“Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, ‘It is done!’

And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.

Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great” (Revelation 16:17-21).

The closing verses of Revelation sixteen identify a voice that speaks from the temple in heaven. The triumphant declaration, “It is done“ thus signals the completion of God’s plan in His very own words. While there are several chapters remaining in the book of Revelation, this pronouncement marks the end of God’s seven-fold judgment against a world that has rejected Him.

This final judgment features a series of cataclysmic events that culminate in a devastating earthquake and a torrent of hailstones that weighed approximately one hundred pounds (45 kg) each. Some suggest that a change in the earth’s rotational axis might account for the destruction that accompanied this worldwide change in topography and the catastrophic hail that followed. But whatever the cause, these verses predict an unprecedented level of ecological ruin.

The next three chapters of Revelation will focus on the ramifications of these judgments, with “Babylon” serving as the reference point for the blasphemous political, religious, and economic systems that will define that era. Each of those systems will meet their respective ends in chapters seventeen, eighteen, and nineteen.

These verses thus preview their demise through the use of a highly illustrative word-picture: “…Babylon the Great was remembered before God for the purpose of giving her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath” (Wuest). This same type of imagery appears within the Old Testament Scriptures to illustrate God’s wrath and judgment (see Isaiah 51:17, Jeremiah 25:15-17, and Ezekiel 23:28-34 for some examples).

Therefore, these verses (and the chapters that follow) should provide us with a fresh perspective on the message of John 3:36…

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (NIV).

“Take note: I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are awaiting me, who keep their robes in readiness and will not need to walk naked and ashamed” (Revelation 16:15 TLB).

Consider the following parable from Jesus in the context of Revelation 16:15…

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak.

But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Peter asked, ‘Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?’ The Lord answered, ‘Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers” (Luke 12:35-46 NIV).

The world leaders of Revelation chapter sixteen fell prey to spiritual deception, and as we’ll see, their failure to discern the spiritual influences behind their decisions will ultimately lead to their destruction at the battle of Armageddon. However, Jesus’ interjectory comment here in verse fifteen (along with His parable from Luke chapter twelve) reminds us that we can avoid a similar error by living in expectation of His return.

“And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs” (Revelation 16:13 ESV).

Jesus spent a considerable amount of time expelling evil spirits during His earthly ministry. But here in Revelation 16:13, we see the opposite response from His adversaries. In this instance, the unholy trio that comprised the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet sent forth three evil spirits.

To the author of Revelation, these spirits bore the appearance of frogs. This may be a subtle reference to the cold-blooded nature of frogs, or it may bear some relation to the plague referenced in the Old Testament book of Exodus when the entire nation of Egypt was overrun by them. However, this plague was far more serious than anything the Egyptians experienced, for these frogs possessed the capability to perform miraculous signs…

“These miracle-working demons conferred with all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great coming Judgment Day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:14 TLB).

While these world leaders seemingly acted of their own volition in making this decision, our text from Revelation 16:14 lifts the veil on the demonic influence behind that choice. These rulers presumably mobilized their forces in anticipation of a great military triumph, but will soon discover that they had been led to their own destruction. Such is the case with those who are similarly deceived.

This should prompt us to remember Jesus’ characterization of the devil: “…He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44). These passages remind us that spiritual deception is a legitimate concern, and especially so for those who foolishly dismiss the possibility of such things.

This might explain why we find an unexpected aside from Jesus in the midst of this passage…

“Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for Me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed” (Revelation 16:15 NLT).

Much like a homeowner who happens upon the unexpected presence of a burglar, Jesus is certain to appear unexpectedly in the lives of those who fail to look for Him. In fact, Jesus offered a parable that addressed that very subject, and we’ll consider that parable in our next study.

“Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

‘Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.’

And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon” (Revelation 16:12-16).

As mentioned in our earlier study of Revelation chapter nine, the Euphrates River is a lengthy waterway that traverses a significant portion of the Middle East. This body of water flows from the mountains of Turkey through the nations of Syria and Iraq. It later joins the Tigris River before it reaches the Persian Gulf on the Iranian border.

That leads us to the militaristic undertones that are subtly woven into the fabric of these verses. If the Euphrates River ran dry, that would facilitate the movement of ground forces from nations that lay east of the river. However, a look at this passage in the original language offers an intriguing detail. There, we find that this reference to “kings from the east ” is more literally translated, “kings of the rising of the sun.” ₍₁₎

When we consider the nations that inhabit that broad geographic area, some noticeable patterns emerge. First, this region is home to some of the most technologically sophisticated nations in the world. It also encompasses several nations that have earned global recognition for their leadership capabilities in the areas of manufacturing and production. Some of those countries rank among the most populous nations in the world, while others are rich in natural resources. If these nations were to form a political alliance at some future point, they would certainly prove to be a formidable adversary.

Finally, we should note that some of these nations possess nuclear armaments and other forms of advanced weaponry. We’ll consider the potential impact of those capabilities when we reach chapter nineteen. However, the information contained within these verses serve to foreshadow the armed conflict that will close this chapter of human history.

(1) See G395 anatole https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g395/kjv/tr/0-1/, and G2246 helios https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2246/kjv/tr/0-1/, Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. An interlinear version of this  passage is available here.

“The fourth angel poured his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to burn people with fire. The people were burned by intense heat, and they cursed the name of the God who had power over these plagues” (Revelation 16:8-9 CEB).

Several theories have emerged that seek to explain the events within this passage. Those theories range from an increase in solar flare activity, to a rise in ultra-violet emissions, to a decline in the Earth’s capacity to protect against the harmful effects of solar radiation. While it’s often easy to take the benefits of sunshine for granted, those benefits might easily turn deadly if God should elect to remove His blessing and protection. That’s what we see here in Revelation 16:8-9.

So the scorching intensity of the sun will likely make it difficult to venture outdoors during this period. While that is bad enough, the human response to this development was even worse: “…they blasphemed the name of God, who has ruling authority over these plagues, and they would not repent and give him glory” (NET).

In considering this response, it’s often been said that sunlight affects different materials in various ways. One such comparison involves the contrasting properties of clay and wax on a hot, sunny day. The same sun that hardens the clay will melt the wax, as the saying goes. It all depends on the substance. The same is true of humanity as well.

For instance, we can accept the corrective measures that God allows to enter our lives as painful, but necessary steps on the road to spiritual maturity. The New Testament epistle of 1 Corinthians offers a further explanation…

“But if we evaluated and judged ourselves honestly [recognizing our shortcomings and correcting our behavior], we would not be judged. But when we [fall short and] are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined [by undergoing His correction] so that we will not be condemned [to eternal punishment] along with the world” (1 Corinthians 11:31-32 AMP).

Unfortunately, the people of Revelation chapter sixteen chose an alternate path of rebellion that led to greater suffering…

“The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done” (Revelation 16:10-11 NIV).

This “bowl judgment” appears to be an assault against the godless political order established by the beast of Revelation. That political order left its supporters with water shortages, painful disfiguring sores, intense heat, and now darkness. The horrific nature of these future events should thus prompt us to seek God’s help in making good spiritual and political choices today.

Image Attribution: Юрий Д.К., CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

“So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image” (Revelation 16:2 ESV).

So, those who received the mark of God’s adversary now received another kind of mark: “…ugly and painful sores” (CEV). This condition conveys the image of an ulcer that produces a discharge from the skin. ₍₁₎ From a medical perspective, it’s possible that this mark (in whatever form it takes), generated some type of disease, infection, or disorder that led to this ulcerous condition.

Revelation 16:3 then continues: “Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea. The water became like the blood of a dead person, and every living creature in the sea died” (Revelation 16:3 GNB). This reference to “blood”  may be a symbolic way of saying that the sea acquired the same lifeless character as the blood of someone who has departed from this life.

We should also notice that every living thing in the sea perished as a result of this action. This presumably includes all the shellfish, plant life, and microorganisms that live in the sea along with the aquatic life. This passage thus speaks of an ecological disaster of unprecedented magnitude.

A similar judgment follows in verse four: “The third angel poured his bowl over the rivers and the springs. They turned into blood” (GW). Just as an earlier judgment rendered one-third of the world’s freshwater supply undrinkable, the rest of the earth’s waters were now subjected to a similar fate. From a practical standpoint, this judgment foreshadows the close of this era of human civilization, for without an adequate water supply, humanity simply cannot survive.

Nevertheless, the angel who carried out this mission readily admitted, “You are just in these judgments, O Holy One…” (Revelation 16:5 NIV). This reminds us that God does not engage in vigilante justice. Instead, this passage illustrates the grim reality facing those who refuse God’s living water. A similar proclamation regarding these judgments follows in verse seven…

“And I heard another from the altar saying, ‘Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments'” (Revelation 16:7).

Since God is true and righteous in His judgments, we would do well to recall the exhortation given to us in Romans 12:19: “Never take vengeance into your own hands, my dear friends: stand back and let God punish if he will. For it is written: ‘Vengeance is mine. I will repay’” (Phillips).

(1) G1668 – helkos – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1668/kjv/tr/0-1/

In the book of Revelation, we’ve already seen God’s judgments expressed in the form of…

• Earthquakes.
• Hail and fire mixed with blood.
• Something like a fiery mountain landing in the midst of the sea.
• One-third of the trees and grass wiped out.
• One-third of the earth’s saltwater ruined.
• One-third of the marine life dead and one-third of all seafaring vessels destroyed.
• One-third of all the freshwater supplies poisoned.
• The sun, moon, and stars dimmed, reducing visible light by one-third.
• Demonic locust creatures and murderous angelic beings who wipe out one-third of humanity.

While those judgments were horrific, the events to follow here in Revelation chapter sixteen will exceed them all. As we’ll see here in Revelation sixteen, God’s divine retribution will be swift and severe for those who have forsaken Him…

“Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, ‘Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.’ So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.

Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died. Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood.

And I heard the angel of the waters saying: ‘You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.’ And I heard another from the altar saying, ‘Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments'” (Revelation 16:1-7).

The previous chapter of Revelation concluded with these words: “No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues” (Revelation 15:8 NLT). Our text from Revelation sixteen now begins by saying, “Then I heard a loud voice speaking from the temple…” (GNT). Taken together, this implies that God will personally initiate these final judgments.

Those judgments began with a command: “Go and empty out on the earth the seven bowls of God’s wrath and indignation” (AMPC). These bowls were broad and shallow, much like a larger version of a modern-day saucer. Each angel received one such bowl along with a target destination. We’ll begin our look at those target acquisitions next.

“After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed” (Revelation 15:5-8).

This portion of Scripture presents us with seven majestic angels who are dressed in formal attire, so to speak. Their raiment and their emergence from this heavenly temple attests to the official nature of what is about to take place. You see, these celestial beings are poised to unleash an unprecedented series of plagues. In fact, the word “plague” itself conveys the apocalyptic nature of these afflictions, for it refers to “a public calamity, [or] heavy affliction” in the original language of this passage. ₍₁₎

We should also note how these plagues will be dispersed: seven bowls filled with the wrath of God. In contrast to a bottle that restricts the rate at which its contents can be emptied, a simple turn of the wrist is all it takes to jettison the contents of a bowl. As we’ll see in the following chapter, this does not bode well for God’s enemies.

Finally, there is an important detail tucked away within the final verse of this chapter: “…the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed” (CSB). The fact that no one can approach God during this period is significant. You see, there was once a time when God was accessible. But here now in Revelation chapter fifteen, that time has passed. At that point, God’s temple will remain inaccessible until justice prevails.

However, since God is accessible to us today through Christ, we would be wise to take some good counsel from the pen of the Biblical prophet Isaiah…

“Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call on him while he is near. Let wicked people abandon their ways. Let evil people abandon their thoughts. Let them return to the Lord, and he will show compassion to them. Let them return to our God, because he will freely forgive them” (Isaiah 55:6-7 GW).

(1) G4127 – plege – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4127/kjv/tr/0-1/

Image Attribution: Paul Strand, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

“Lord, who will not fear and glorify Your name? Because You alone are holy, for all the nations will come and worship before You because Your righteous acts have been revealed” (Revelation 15:4 HCSB).

The song of the victorious multitude of Revelation 15:2 now ends with the great crescendo of verse four: “All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed” (NIV). This verse offers an opportunity to revisit the wide-ranging topic of worship.

As mentioned in our earlier look at Revelation chapter five, the Biblical concept of worship encompasses a loving attitude of reverence for God accompanied by an external expression of honor, humility, and respect. “Worship” also conveys the idea of attributing worth to someone or something. That definition is reportedly derived from the Old English word worthscipe, or “worth-ship,” a word that described a “condition of being worthy.” ₍₁₎

With these definitions in mind, we can say that “worship” is not limited to the domain of the religious. You see, everyone possesses something that fulfills the “condition of being worthy” in his or her life. Whatever occupies the highest position of worth in our lives is that which serves as the ultimate object of our worship.

Whenever we dismiss God as the object of our worship, we must replace Him with something else to fill that position. That “something else” doesn’t have to be a spiritual belief or religious conviction. For instance, we might substitute a person, an object, a concept, or ourselves as the focus of our worship. In fact, the Biblical book of Romans devotes a significant portion of chapter one to a discussion of that very subject.

The point is that we attribute the highest position of worth to anything we value, love, honor, respect, or fear the most. If God does not occupy that position, then something of lesser value will inevitably fill the void and prompt a violation of the first Commandment.

Finally, we should note that John, the author of Revelation, will make the mistake of attempting to worship an angelic being later in this book. That quickly led to a corrective response: “…No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God…” (Revelation 19:10 NLT). If John was capable of such an error, we should be more diligent in seeking to avoid a similar mistake.

Therefore, we should consider this subject carefully, for as Jesus said in the midst of His wilderness temptation, “…’It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve'” (Luke 4:8 ESV).

(1) What does worship mean? (n.d.). https://www.definitions.net/definition/worship

“And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: ‘Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations. Who will not fear You, Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous deeds have been revealed'” (Revelation 15:3-4 NLT).

This passage alludes to the song of Moses and the Israelites that commemorated their safe passage through the Red Sea in Exodus chapter fourteen. A closer look at this song from Revelation 15:3-4 highlights four important elements. The first element involves the magnificent works of God: “Great and awe-inspiring are your works, Lord God Almighty…’ (CEB).

From the majestic waves that crash upon a beach, to the beauty of a glorious sunset, to the wondrous expanse of a starlit night, God’s creation showcases these great and marvelous works. If these wonders of creation inspire such awe, how much more awe-inspiring is the One who created them?

So the first element of this passage involves the things God has done. The next component references God’s character: “Just and true are your ways…” This reminds us that God never interacts with us in a false or unjust manner. Instead, the qualities of truth and justice characterize His relationship to humanity. As we’re reminded in the Biblical book of Psalms, “…the Lord is righteous; He loves righteous deeds. The upright will see His face” (Psalm 11:7 HCSB).

The next element involves God’s worthiness: “Who will not fear You, Lord, and glorify Your name?” Once again, this reference to “fear” conveys a sense of reverence, honor, and respect. Our text from Revelation 15:3-4 thus makes use of a literary tool in the form of a rhetorical question. When our author asks, “Who shall not fear You, O Lord,” the assumed answer is, “no one.”

Finally, we have a reference to the act of glorifying God’s name. In the original language of Revelation, the word “glory” expresses “…a good opinion that results in praise and honor for the person under consideration.” ₍₁₎ It also conveys the characteristic attributes of excellence, preeminence, and dignity. A contemporary definition of this word includes “very great praise, honor, or distinction bestowed by common consent; renown.” ₍₂₎

So, taken together, these qualities should encourage us to acknowledge and glorify God for the things He has done. It should also prompt us to give Him the credit and respect He richly deserves.

Image Attribution: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

(1) G1391 – doxa – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1391/kjv/tr/0-1/

(2) Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words. (2025). In Dictionary.com. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/glory

“Then I saw something that looked like a glass sea mixed with fire, and people were standing on it. They were the ones who had defeated the beast and the idol and the number that tells the name of the beast. God had given them harps” (Revelation 15:2 CEV).

The people referenced in this passage likely perished for their refusal to follow the rest of the world and acquiesce to the beast of Revelation thirteen. Did they make a foolish decision in doing so? Well, the answer to that question largely depends on one’s perspective.

From a short term, earthly perspective, those who opted into the beast’s unholy economic system by accepting his mark may have seemed wise and practical. But those who held an eternal view that honored and acknowledged God were prompted to make a different choice. That choice evidently came at the cost of their lives. While each group undoubtedly viewed the other as foolish and misguided, one of those groups went to heaven, as seen in the passage quoted above. The fate of the second group will be revealed in the following chapter. Thus, in the words of Jesus, “…wisdom is shown to be right by its results” (Matthew 11:19 NLT).

This same concept also applies to the choices we make today. For example, a person who customarily makes short-term decisions without regard to eternity will likely view those who honor God as foolish or naïve at best. At worst, God’s followers risk being categorized as hateful, intolerant, or dangerous individuals who pose a threat to society. That latter response apparently reflected the experience of the church at Smyrna, as recounted earlier in Revelation chapter two.

While no one enjoys being classified in these ways, such is the inevitable consequence of life in a world that has little use for its Creator. If this seems difficult to accept, consider how Jesus was viewed by some of His contemporaries…

“‘You are demon-possessed,’ the crowd answered…” (John 7:20 NIV).

“…’Didn’t we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?'” (John 8:48 NLT).

“Many of them were saying, ‘He has a demon and he’s crazy. Why do you listen to him?'” (John 10:20 CSB).

“But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, ‘He’s possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. That’s where he gets the power to cast out demons'” (Mark 3:22 NLT).

Revelation chapter fifteen thus serves to remind us that what we believe about the future should impact how we seek to honor God in the present, even when those beliefs lead to expressions of rejection or intolerance among others.

Image Attribution: geralt, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

“Then I saw another great and awe-inspiring sign in heaven: seven angels with the seven last plagues, for with them, God’s wrath will be completed” (Revelation 15:1 HCSB).

What could account for God’s wrath as mentioned in this passage? In addition to the factors we’ve already discussed, there is something else to consider. For instance, suppose you were God and your only Son intervened to resolve the conflict that existed between you, as the Creator, and your human creation. What if your beloved Son was brutally assaulted and murdered by those He sought to help? Would that scenario inflame your wrath?

In considering these questions, it’s important to recognize that God’s wrath does not stem from an impulsive outburst or loss of composure. Instead, God executes His wrath in the form of judgment against those who refuse His mercy. These final seven judgments will unleash unprecedented devastation upon a world that has utterly rejected its Creator. But they will fully satisfy His justifiable wrath towards those who have provoked, dismissed, or ignored Him.

“And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.

They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: ‘Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested'” (Revelation 15:2-4).

The people mentioned here in Revelation 15:2 are those who prevailed over the beast, his mark, and the number associated with his name. So how did they achieve that victory? The answer to that question leads us back to a portion of Revelation chapter fourteen…

“This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus” (Revelation 14:12 NIV).

So these individuals remained loyal to Christ, obeyed God, and rejected the mark of His enemy. Their presence with the Lord also implies their passing from this earthly life. So let’s tie these elements together: if they were victorious over the beast, and they were with the Lord, then it likely means they sacrificed their lives for what they believed.

We’ll consider some modern-day applications from this passage next.

Image Attribution: Judgment by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Pix4free

At just eight verses, Revelation chapter fifteen is the shortest chapter in this book. This chapter functions as a sort of interlude that precedes the terrible judgments that will dominate chapter sixteen. Thus, Revelation chapter fifteen acts much like a staging area for the events to follow…

“Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete” (Revelation 15:1).

In Revelation chapter six, we witnessed a series of divine judgments, each corresponding to the opening of seven different seals. Revelation chapter eight then brought forth seven trumpets that heralded a series of further judgments. Those judgments impacted one-third of the oceans, one-third of the vegetation, and one-third of the earth’s freshwater supply, among other things.

Revelation chapter fifteen will now unveil the final set of judgments that take the form of seven different plagues. No further judgments will follow those plagues, for our text from Revelation 15:1 explicitly links them to the culmination of God’s wrath.

In the source language for our text, the word “wrath” signifies a volatile, passionate type of anger. ₍₁₎ For instance, anyone who has ever witnessed someone erupt in a display of furious indignation will readily grasp the idea behind this word. But what could possibly generate such a response from God? To help address that question, let’s approach this subject from the perspective of humanity’s Creator.

From God’s perspective, we might begin with the following observations…

• God created human beings and gave them life.
• He provided them with the capacity to experience love, pleasure, and happiness.
• He equipped them with the ability to think, feel, reason, and create.
• Finally, He placed them in an environment that was perfectly suited to their growth, development, and prosperity.

Now let’s consider the way God’s human creation responded to those blessings. Have the members of the human family returned God’s love for them? Have they offered Him the respect and appreciation He deserves? Have they even acknowledged His existence? Unfortunately, the answer is no for large numbers of people.

Now let’s consider these things from a 21st century vantage point. Today, there are many among the members of God’s human creation who employ His name as a profanity. Others refer to Him in a flippant and disrespectful manner. Then there are those who respond by mocking Him or dismissing Him in pursuit of their passions or pleasures. If you were in God’s position, how you would feel if countless millions did such things to you each day? Would you have a right to feel angry?

We’ll consider another aspect of these questions next.

(1) G2372 – thymos – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2372/kjv/tr/0-1/

“Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, ‘Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.’

So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, ‘Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.’

So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs” (Revelation 14:14-20).

Farming and related agricultural activities formed the backbone of Israel’s first-century economic system. Therefore, it should not surprise us to encounter the use of farming implements in this passage. A sickle was a tool that featured a curved, semicircular blade affixed to a wooden handle. That design made it easier to harvest various crops like grapes and different types of grains. A winepress was used to exert pressure on a cluster of grapes to extract the juice within.

This graphic imagery points to God’s judgment, for the fact that this harvest was thrown into the winepress of God’s wrath indicates that He is taking action against those who opposed Him. We should also note the location of this winepress: it is situated outside the city limits. From an Old Testament perspective, any item that was unclean, unworthy, or impure was transported outside the city (or camp) where the latrines and burial places were located. These word pictures thus allude to the fate of those who ultimately reject their Creator.

Equally disturbing is this reference to the blood that flowed from this winepress. That blood traveled like a river for a distance that equates to roughly 182 miles or 293 kilometers, with a depth of approximately four feet or 1.2 meters. It’s difficult to fully comprehend that type of carnage, but the closing verses of Revelation chapter fourteen alert us to its future certainty.

Image Attribution: Sickle_hanging_from_a_rusty_nail_at_Ardeshir’s_farm.jpg: Christopher Walker from Bielsko-Biala, Polandderivative work: Amada44  talk to me, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

“This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus” (Revelation 14:12 NIV).

We often admire those who demonstrate their willingness to persevere through difficult situations. Those who are willing to sacrifice for their beliefs and stand firm in the face of adversity are those who often earn our greatest respect. If we seek to emulate those characteristics in our spiritual lives, then we must cultivate the virtuous quality of patient endurance.

The New Testament epistle of James expands on this idea by saying, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12 NIV). Jesus also touched upon the practical aspects of this subject in a lengthy excerpt from the Gospel of Matthew…

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me’” (Matthew 25:31-40).

In like manner, “The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden” (1 Timothy 5:24 NIV). To paraphrase Revelation 14:13, our works will follow us if we seek God’s enablement to patiently endure life’s trials and challenges.

While the book of Revelation is filled with apocalyptic imagery, it also tells us that God will make a concerted effort to reach humanity in that future period. Those efforts will include two dedicated witnesses, 144,000 others from the tribes of Israel, and an “…angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 14:6). So, while much of the world may seem bleak and hopeless, God will not abandon His efforts to reconcile the members of the human family to Himself during that time.

“And another angel followed, saying, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.’

Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.’

Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: “‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'” ‘Yes’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them'” (Revelation 14:8-13).

This portion of Scripture marks the first appearance of the word “Babylon” in the book of Revelation. We’ll delve deeper into Babylon’s significance later in chapters seventeen and eighteen. But for now, we can associate “Babylon” with a system of beliefs and practices that actively seek to defy God’s authority throughout the religious, political, and economic realms.

Revelation 14:8-11 then follows with a list of terrifying consequences for “Those who worship the beast and its image and receive the mark on their forehead or on their hand” (GNT)…

• They “…will drink the wine of God’s fury” (NIV).
• “poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation.”
• “[They] will be tormented with fire and brimstone (flaming sulfur)” (AMP).
• “the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever” (ESV).
• “they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name” (NLT).

So those who accept the mark of God’s adversary in light of these warnings will ultimately bear the consequences of their decision.

Image Attribution: Babylon Cinema, Montecruz Foto (CC BY-SA 2.0)

“‘He said in a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water'” (Revelation 14:7 CEB).

This angelic pronouncement here in Revelation 14:7 is brief, but contains some helpful insights for those who are willing to consider this passage carefully. For example, this verse references the hour of God’s judgment. While “judgment” is a subject we often prefer to avoid, we should be aware that the Scriptures speak of two different types of judicial actions that will take place in the future.

One of those judicial actions has come to be known as the “Great White Throne Judgment” of the unrighteous dead that will appear later in Revelation 20:11-15…

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books” (Revelation 20:11-12),

This passage tells us that “…the dead, both small and great” will undergo this judicial review. This descriptive phrase tells us that social prominence, peer recognition, power, wealth, or status will have no impact upon that call to judgment. You see, who we are now will not matter in that eternal court; the critical factor will be what we are now.

On the other hand, God’s people will face a different type of judgment. That judicial proceeding will feature Jesus’ testimony as mentioned earlier in Revelation 3:5: “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels” (see also John 6:37-39, John 10:27-28, and Romans 8:33-39).

With this in mind, we may take comfort in the fact that God will not judge His people on the question of their salvation; instead, they will be called to account for how they used the skills, talents, abilities, gifts, and opportunities He provides for them now. As 2 Corinthians 5:10 reminds us, “…we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (NIV).

Thus we would do well to heed the reminder given to us in Proverbs 5:21: “God is closely watching you, and he weighs carefully everything you do” (TLB).

“And he said with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water'” (Revelation 14:7 ESV).

Consider the message proclaimed by the angel who appears here in Revelation 14:7: “Fear God… give him glory… his judgment has come… Worship him.” In modern usage, the word “fear” typically denotes a sense of apprehension characterized by feelings of worry and unease about potential threats or negative outcomes. However, this word is also is used to convey the qualities of reverence, honor, and respect.

For example, notice how Jesus employed the word “fear” in the Gospel of Luke…

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him” (Luke 12:4-5 NIV).

We should note how Jesus separated the words “afraid” and “fear” in this passage: “…do not be afraid of those who kill the body” and, “…Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell.” When we speak of “fearing God” in this manner, it means that we should honor and respect Him above all else. Perhaps this is why Proverbs 9:10 tells us, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Nevertheless, we should avoid the mistaken belief that there is nothing to be afraid of when it comes to our relationship with the Almighty. While God is loving, slow to anger, kind, gracious, and compassionate, He also merits our respect and honor. Those who decline to treat Him in that manner should remember that, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).

That being said, there is no cause for apprehension when we approach God through Christ, for “…there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). There, we will find love and acceptance through His atoning sacrifice on our behalf. Thus, as we read in the Biblical book of Hebrews, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 NIV).

“Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people–saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.’ And another angel followed, saying, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication’ (Revelation 14:6-8).

Here in Revelation 14:6-8, God mobilizes two members of His celestial air force to execute the next stage of his counter-offensive. The first angel referenced in this passage had a specific message to deliver: “…the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth” (NIV). We’ll consider the second angel’s pronouncement regarding “Babylon” in a later study.

As mentioned in our earlier look at Revelation chapter two, the word “angel” relates to the idea of a messenger in the original Biblical languages. Thus, we can say that angels serve as representatives or emissaries for God. We can find one such example in Luke 1:5-38. That portion of Scripture recounts the angel Gabriel’s announcement regarding the imminent births of John the Baptist and Jesus. Genesis 19:1-29, 1 Kings 19:1-8, and Luke 2:8–15 offer some additional examples.

The word “gospel” signifies “good news.” This speaks to the liberating truth that we can escape the eternal punishment of sin and establish a relationship with God through faith in Christ. Two passages from the New Testament books of Romans and 1 John show us the way…

“…if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

In contrast to other spiritual beliefs that focus on human merit, Christianity is not based on the works we must perform to earn God’s favor. Instead, Christianity centers upon God’s redemption through Christ, offering salvation as an unearned gift of grace. Therefore, Acts 4:12 says the following in speaking of Jesus: “There is salvation in no one else. Under all heaven there is no other name for men to call upon to save them” (TLB).

Through his sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus overcomes the chasm between God’s holiness and human sinfulness, freeing humanity from the eternal consequences of sin (see 1 Peter 2:24).

“Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads” (Revelation 14:1 ESV).

So unlike those who accepted “…the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:17), the 144,000 referenced here in Revelation 14:1 carried the mark of their Creator. Thus, they stand in stark contrast to those who openly rebelled against Him by taking the mark of His adversary.

In addition to their sexual purity, Revelation 14:4 offers another characteristic quality that described these individuals: “…they follow the Lamb wherever he leads” (CEV). So, these were people who looked to Jesus and followed His direction for their lives. They took that responsibility seriously, especially in view of Jesus’ repeated exhortations to “follow me” as recorded within the gospel accounts of His life. As Jesus Himself once said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27 NLT).

Revelation 14:4 next refers to their status as, “…firstfruits to God and to the Lamb” (NET). The term “firstfruits” denotes the first and best portion of a flock or harvest. That share was consecrated to God as a gesture of worship and thanksgiving (Exodus 23:19). God’s people continue to affirm this principle today whenever they give the first and best of their time, talent, and financial resources to God in gratitude and appreciation for His blessings.

To illustrate the importance of this concept, consider God’s message through the Old Testament prophet Malachi to those who presented Him with the “leftovers” of their lives…

“’A son honors his father, a servant honors his master. I am your Father and Master, yet you don’t honor me, O priests, but you despise my name.’

‘Who? Us?’ you say. ‘When did we ever despise your name?’

When you offer polluted sacrifices on my altar.

‘Polluted sacrifices? When have we ever done a thing like that?’

Every time you say, ‘Don’t bother bringing anything very valuable to offer to God!’ You tell the people, ‘Lame animals are all right to offer on the altar of the Lord—yes, even the sick and the blind ones.’ And you claim this isn’t evil? Try it on your governor sometime—give him gifts like that—and see how pleased he is!

‘God have mercy on us,’ you recite; ‘God be gracious to us!’ But when you bring that kind of gift, why should he show you any favor at all?” (Malachi 1:6-9 TLB).

Therefore, we should ensure that we do not offer God our second best, for He is worthy of our finest efforts.

Image Attribution: Currier & Ives. (ca. 1872) Honor the Lord with thy substance and with the first fruits of all thine increase. , ca. 1872. New York: Published by Currier & Ives. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2002695910/.

Revelation chapter thirteen proved to be a rather disheartening stop on our journey through this book. In that portion of Scripture, we watched as the dragon (who was earlier identified as Satan) aligned with two individuals who have come to be known as the antichrist and the false prophet.

Revelation 13:13 tells us that the false prophet performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of earth’s inhabitants. Furthermore, “He required everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name” (Revelation 13:16-17 NLT).

But while chapter thirteen painted a grim portrait, chapter fourteen shifts our narrative to God’s perspective. There is only one force in the universe who can oppose these great spiritual adversaries, and that is God Himself. Here, in chapter fourteen, we will witness the beginning of God’s earthly counteroffensive against those demonic forces…

“Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.

They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God” (Revelation 14:1-5).

The “Lamb” is an obvious reference to Jesus, who is identified as “…The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). However, we should note that the Lamb is not alone, for there are hundred and forty-four thousand others who accompany Him. We first encountered this group earlier in Revelation chapter seven where they were called “servants of God.”

These individuals once resided on earth, but now they are residents of heaven along with their Savior. And as we’ll see, this is a group of people who possess some very special characteristics.

“And he requires everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark: the beast’s name or the number of his name. Here is wisdom: The one who has understanding must calculate the number of the beast, because it is the number of a man. His number is 666” (Revelation 13:16-18 HCSB).

The placement of this mark on the right hand or forehead is probably not coincidental. For instance, the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy may shed light on the factors that influenced these specific locations…

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads” (Deuteronomy 6:4-8 NIV).

We can view this reference to “the hands” as an allusion to the activities of our lives. In a similar manner, the word “forehead” can be used to represent our thought life. So, in practical terms, this passage tells us that God’s Word should influence our thoughts and deeds. However, Revelation 13:16-17 presents us with a grotesque parody of that command, for the false prophet will use this mark to gain control over every form of commercial interaction.

This is followed by one of the most famous verses in the Bible: “This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666” (Revelation 13:18 ESV). One popular theory regarding this individual is that the numeric value of his name will add up to 666. But much like the mark of the beast mentioned earlier, this passage has led to many conjectures and speculations, some of which are reasonable, and others much less so.

Thus, we should not allow fear and superstition to influence our response to this number whenever we encounter it in its various forms. Our text from this passage simply provides us with the following information: some aspect of this individual’s existence will calculate to a value of 666. Thus, we should add this factor to the list of identifying traits given to us here in Revelation chapter thirteen.

Image Attribution: Ceescamel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

“He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666” (Revelation 13:16-18).

As mentioned at the beginning of our look at this chapter, we can divide Revelation thirteen into three sections. Verses one to ten discussed the blasphemous political climate that will characterize that era. Verses eleven to fifteen described the godless religious structure of that period. The last section (covered here in verses sixteen to eighteen) will lift the veil on the anti-God economic system that will dominate that age.

Most people (even the non-religious or spiritually indifferent) are likely to have a passing familiarity with certain elements of this passage. Verse sixteen serves as a case in point: “The beast forced all the people, small and great, rich and poor, slave and free, to have a mark placed on their right hands or on their foreheads” (GNT).

Before we consider this reference at greater length, let’s examine the meaning of the word “mark” as it appears in our text. In the original language of this passage, this word conveys the image of a stamp or imprint. ₍₁₎ With this information in mind, it appears this mark will involve a label on one’s skin for identification purposes. This has led to many theories, conjectures, and speculations, some of which are well-informed, and others that are less so.

Those theories range from radio frequency identification (RFID) implantations and bar codes, to various types of symbols. Then there are other, less credulous views that involve corporate entities, medical procedures, or different forms of technology. At best, some of the more outlandish theories regarding this passage appear to be nothing more than thinly veiled efforts to generate internet page views for profit. At worst, they bring discredit upon God’s Word and provoke unnecessary fear and speculation among those who are spiritually naïve.

While there is much we don’t know about this mark, there are some things we can say with certainty. First, this will be a global initiative that will be mandatory for everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status. In addition, this mark does not appear to represent a form of currency, for it allows (or authorizes) users to buy and sell. Finally, the mark is the name of the beast, or the number of his name, and will appear on one’s right hand or forehead.

(1) G5480 – charagma – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5480/kjv/tr/0-1/

“He exercised all the ruling authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast, the one whose lethal wound had been healed” (Revelation 13:12 NET).

Revelation 13:11 offered a brief character sketch of the beast who arose from the earth. Now that character sketch is followed by a job description in the passage quoted above. Here, we find that he will not only exercise political authority, but will also play a key role in transforming the world’s view of the antichrist from a powerful governmental leader to a religious figure to be worshipped.

One method he will use to achieve that objective appears in Revelation 13:13: “He did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching” (NLT). This miraculous ability invites a comparison to the events described in Exodus chapter seven. That portion of Scripture recounts Moses’ appearance before Pharaoh, the ancient king of Egypt. God provided Moses with several miraculous signs to validate his calling, but Pharaoh’s magicians were able to duplicate those miracles, at least to a point.

These past and future examples remind us that “miraculous events” do not offer conclusive evidence to prove that someone’s message originates with God. In fact, the New Testament book of 1 Timothy tells us, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared” (1 Timothy 4:1-2 ESV).

Thus, we may fall prey to deception if we fail to measure a speaker’s alleged miracles against the authoritative text of Scripture. For instance, the false prophet referenced here in Revelation chapter thirteen will fool others so badly that they will willingly obey his directive to erect an image of the antichrist who first appeared in Revelation 13:1…

“And he deceives those who dwell on the earth–by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed” (Revelation 13:14-15).

This may allude to some form of artificial intelligence or similar technological advancement. But whatever it refers to, everyone on earth will worship this image at the risk of death. This brings us to one of the most controversial passages in all Scripture, a passage that will form the basis of our next study.

“Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon” (Revelation 13:11 ESV).

The false prophet who arises here in Revelation 13:11 serves to illustrate a truth that underlies an ancient adage: “looks can be deceiving.” This individual may bear some of the characteristics of a lamb, but his “…voice was like that of the dragon” (NLV). This should prompt us to consider two of Jesus’ messages from the gospel of Matthew.

In one exchange with the religious establishment of His day, Jesus directed His listeners to a fundamental spiritual truth: “…Your mouth says what comes from inside you” (Matthew 12:34 GW). Thus, our words, like fingerprints, eventually reveal who we are. In this instance, the beast who arises in the latter portion of Revelation chapter thirteen “…spoke like a dragon.” That quality pointed to his internal alignment with “the great dragon… called the Devil and Satan” (Revelation 12:9). Thus, the things he says will give away his true intent.

Jesus also gave us the following admonition in Matthew 7:15-20…

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

This serves as an excellent designation for the beast who appears in Revelation 13:11 and helps explain why he has come to be known as the false prophet. The words he speaks, and the fruit produced by his works will bear the hallmarks of our spiritual adversary, no matter how benign he may appear. With this in mind, we can say that the message of our text from this passage transcends the events of a seemingly distant future. It also reminds us of the need to exercise diligence when evaluating the teachings we encounter today.

All false prophets (both ancient and modern) will find their culmination in the being who emerges here in verse eleven. Therefore, as we’re told in the New Testament book of 1 John, “Dearly loved friends, don’t always believe everything you hear just because someone says it is a message from God: test it first to see if it really is” (TLB).

“If anyone has an ear, let him hear” (Revelation 13:9).

Revelation 13:9 offers a familiar admonition to readers of this book. In His earlier letters to the seven churches of Revelation chapters two and three, Jesus repeated the following cautionary message: “He who has an ear, let him hear.” That message reappears here in verse nine as a warning to avoid the mistake of abandoning the Creator to worship a blasphemous substitute.

“He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints” (Revelation 13:10).

As this future era unfolds, the people of God will face intense pressure to abandon their faith in God amidst the pervasive evil that will characterize that period. They will also have to hold to God’s promise of a future world where righteousness dwells despite the apparent triumph of evil over good. Nevertheless, this is something that has always held true for God’s people.

For instance, we may look at the grievous events that occur within our world and ask, “Where is God in this?” Those harsh realities call for “…steadfast endurance and faith from the saints” (NET) whenever they take place. As the Biblical book of Romans reminds us, “…God will reward each of us according to what we have done” (GNT). Thus, we can rest assured that God give people whatever they deserve, both now and in the future.

“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.

And he deceives those who dwell on the earth–by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed” (Revelation 13:11-15).

We have already seen two of the three major figures in Revelation chapter thirteen. The first is the dragon who was previously identified as Satan in chapter twelve. The second is the beast from the sea, commonly known as “the antichrist.” Verse eleven now marks the unveiling of our third and final character: the beast of the earth. As we continue our look at Revelation chapter thirteen, we will soon discover why this figure is also known as “the false prophet.”

“And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months” (Revelation 13:5).

There is no need to speculate regarding the “proud words” (NET), and “monstrous blasphemies” (Phillips) uttered by the beast in this passage, for the following verse offers an example…

“It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven” (Revelation 13:6).

“Blasphemy” involves the act of cursing God or living in a way that demonstrates a lack of reverence or respect for Him. A blasphemous person is someone who speaks or lives in a way that expresses scorn for his or her Creator. The essence of that attitude is captured by the word “contempt,” a word that defines those who show disdain for something deemed worthless ₍₁₎ The beast of Revelation 13:6 will not only display that attitude, he will lead others to adopt it as well.

“Slander” is a related concept that involves the spread of false information with the intent to harm another person. It also represents one of the oldest weapons in the adversary’s arsenal. For instance, consider the serpent’s interaction with Eve in the Garden of Eden. When Eve told the serpent that the fruit of the tree in the midst of the garden would bring certain death if she consumed it, the serpent responded in the following manner…

“You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4-5).

As Eve (and the rest of humanity) ultimately learned, that was a slanderous falsehood spoken with the intent to harm God’s character as a truthful and benevolent Creator. Not coincidentally, the same slanderous tactic chronicled in the first book of the Bible reappears here in the last book of the Bible.

However, the slanderous insults directed towards “…those who live in heaven” involve more than God and the angelic inhabitants of that realm. They also involve every man and woman of God as well. The following passage from the Biblical book of Philippians offers some additional insight into that reality…

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).

So these defamatory statements also encompass those who are citizens of heaven by extension.

“It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:7-8).

While the beast of Revelation 13:7 will secure a fleeting victory over the people of God in this passage, these saints will return in Revelation chapter nineteen in a very different manner.

(1) contempt: OneLook Thesaurus. (n.d.). https://www.onelook.com/thesaurus/?s=contempt&loc=wildcard4

“They worshiped the dragon because he gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to wage war against him?'” (Revelation 13:4 HCSB).

“Who is like the Lord our God?” the psalmist asked in Psalm 113:4. In a distorted echo of the psalmist’s question, the beast of Revelation chapter thirteen will elicit a similar query: “who is like him?” But more disturbing is the fact that the people of that era will worship the dragon and the beast.

This helps answer an important question regarding the events of this chapter. For instance, let’s consider the following questions: what does Satan ultimately want from humanity? What does he seek from relatively insignificant human beings? We find the principal answers to those questions here in Revelation 13:4: the devil desires to be worshiped. In other words, the adversary seeks the recognition, devotion, and respect that is befitting of God alone.

These references to worship represent a key concept in this passage. For example, the word translated “worship” here in Revelation 13:4 is proskuneo in the original language of this verse. This word carries a highly descriptive definition: “to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand, to fawn (over), (to) do reverence to, (to) adore.” ₍₁₎ This illustrates the way these populations will respond to the dragon and the beast.

The book of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah sheds light on this subject and helps reveal the underlying motive behind the adversary’s objective…

“You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God… I will make myself like the Most High'” (Isaiah 14:13-14 NIV).

While it’s easy to see the pretentious arrogance behind such a statement, it’s important to guard against the subtle attraction of that mindset lest a similar attitude seep into our thinking. An incident from the life of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar illustrates the human tendency to adopt a similar mentality…

“…as [Nebuchadnezzar] was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon, the king exclaimed, ‘Is this not Babylon the Great that I have built by my vast power to be a royal residence and to display my majestic glory?'” (Daniel 4:29-30).

Nebuchadnezzar’s pride and arrogance brought a swift reprisal that continued until he learned to humble himself before God (see Daniel chapter four). Instead of following that poor example, the New Testament book of 1 Peter shows us a better path….

“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time He will lift you up in honor” (1 Peter 5:6 NLT).

(1) G4352 – proskyneo – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4352/kjv/tr/0-1/

“Now the beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority to rule. (Revelation 13:2 NET).

Each predator mentioned here in Revelation 13:2 is a dangerous, carnivorous animal. For instance, leopards are one of the fastest creatures on earth, and no human being can outrun them. Bears relentlessly hunt their prey, leaving no hiding place safe from their destructive pursuit. As for lions, their dominant presence commands respect, thus earning them the title “king of the beasts.”

These creatures all possess a common denominator: they each pose a lethal threat to human beings. Taken together, these attributes highlight the violet, aggressive nature of the figure who is introduced to us here in the opening verses of Revelation chapter thirteen.

This passage goes on to tell us, “The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority” (HCSB). In other words, this individual will derive his power and authority directly from Satan. However, the following verse presents us with a curious bit of information: “One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast” (Revelation 13:3 NIV).

The events described in this verse seem to be consistent with an attempted assassination. Thus, it’s possible that an attempt will be made on this person’s life that initially appears to succeed, only to be followed by an astonishing (and presumably miraculous) recovery. In this way, the beast of the sea may appear to function as a Christ figure, even mirroring the narrative of death and resurrection.

This stunning recovery will have a profound effect on all who see and hear of it: “…The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast. Everyone worshiped the dragon because he had given his authority to the beast. They worshiped the beast also, saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who can fight against it?'” (Revelation 13:3-4 GNB).

This represents a key passage in in Revelation chapter thirteen, for it offers an explanation for much of what will transpire. Note the response of those who worshipped the dragon and the beast: “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” Much like the distorted image produced in a carnival funhouse, those statements reflect a corrupt reimagining of Psalm 113:5, where we read, “Who is like the Lord our God, Who dwells on high.”

It also reveals the dragon’s underlying objective, one that we’ll examine next.

Image Attribution : agracier – NO VIEWS, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

“And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads” (Revelation 13:1 ESV).

For many, the word “antichrist” evokes a wide array of scary, media-driven images. Unfortunately, this only serves to obscure the substance of this verse. Therefore, we would do well to leave those fictional elements behind in order to focus our attention on the message of this passage.

As mentioned earlier, the prefix “anti” means “against” or “in place of.” The term “antichrist” will thus find its ultimate definition in the period described here in Revelation 13:1. At that time, a man will emerge whose life will be one of total and unrelenting submission to the power and influence of sin. He will become a living, breathing personification of “the antichrist” in every sense of the word.

The Biblical book of 2 Thessalonians discusses the rise of this individual as well…

“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 NIV).

As we’ll see, this man will be defined by his opposition to Christ as well as his efforts to supplant him. This passage offers a further description by informing us that this beast arises from the sea. The book of the Biblical prophet Isaiah may shed light on this detail, for it tells us, “…the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud” (Isaiah 57:20 NIV). That characterization is certainly true of the beast who emerges here in Revelation 13:1.

Next, we’re told, “It had ten horns, seven heads, and ten crowns on its horns” (GW). In this context, “horns” are synonymous with power. The reference to seven heads serves to associate him with Satan, who appeared earlier in chapter twelve as a seven-headed dragon. These horns likely allude to national powers, for each horn features a crown (or diadem) that speaks of political leadership or royalty.

Finally, we’re also told that each head featured a blasphemous name. So this person’s spiritual allegiance is unquestionable, for blasphemy refers to the act of cursing, slandering, demonstrating contempt, and/or lack of reverence for God.