December 16: THE MOST IMPORTANT CHOICE

And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. Revelation 17:16

Horns symbolize power. In these last days, the ten horns… on the beast symbolize the totality of earthly powers who chose to give their power and authority to the beast (v.13). They were not forced to do this, but were deceived into believing it was the right thing to do. This belief even clears the way (in their collective conscience) to be participants in forcing others to comply.

But during the short period of worldwide collaboration and cooperation, as they are gathered to Armageddon (16:16), the seventh bowl plague is released: “It is done!” says the LORD (16:17). God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:14). The elaborate scheme of the harlot’s deceptions will be laid bare, down to the most impressive last-day displays (13:14; 16:14; 18:23). All that she has told the world to believe about God and herself as His “authoritative representative” will be revealed as lies. The ten horns will recognize her impotence to bring about the promised world peace. The enthusiasm with which they had supported her will be more than matched by anger and hatred.

They have been lied to about the single most important choice that is given in this life to make: eternal life or eternal death. The multiplicity of her sinister schemes — all designed to lead people away from Christ — will no longer be secret. For having been lied to, the ensuing anger of the ten horns renders the church of the antichrist desolate and naked. The intent of her order to exclude from the world economy God’s commandment-keeping people — as punishment for non-compliance with the one-world religio/political plan — will return upon her own head.

The idea of eat[ing] her flesh goes back to the Old Testament. Such savagery is the act of the unconverted. King David glorified God, having been saved from enemies, saying: The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. (Psalm 27:1-2. See also 79:7; Jeremiah 10:25; Daniel 7:5; Micah 3:1-4)

The idea that the angry mobs will burn her with fire points to her repeated acts of terrible spiritual immorality. The mobs will be unwittingly carrying out the designated punishment for sexual misbehavior according to Leviticus 20:14 and 21:9. The utter shame of the church which became a harlot — and the mother of harlots — will be an open book to the world. She will finally be seen for what she really is. This judgment was foreshadowed as a loving warning to all women (meaning churches):

And I will judge you as women who break wedlock or shed blood are judged; I will bring blood upon you in fury and jealousy. I will also give you into their hand, and they shall throw down your shrines and break down your high places. They shall also strip you of your clothes, take your beautiful jewelry, and leave you naked and bare. They shall burn your houses with fire, and execute judgments on you in the sight of many women; and I will make you cease playing the harlot and you shall no longer hire lovers. Ezekiel 16:38,39,41