And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed in the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.

— Revelation 12:2

1 … “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.

2 The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”

— Revelation 17:1-2

I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” But it proved to be futile.

— Ecclesiastes 2:1

Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting…

–Proverbs 31:30a

Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.

— Psalm 39:6

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and salvation from Christ to you.

The pregnant woman, crying out in the pain and agony of giving birth, in Revelation 12, depicts God’s people, pursued and harassed by Satan. Vulnerable to attack, God’s people live completely dependent on Him. God’s faithful children stand in stark contrast to the prideful woman, the great prostitute, who sits on many waters and seduces humanity to defy God and engage in intoxicating sin in Revelation 17.

God’s judgment awaits those who prefer false beliefs and degraded behavior over His blessed ways. The great prostitute depicts all that entices human beings away from a right relationship with God. She represents the idolatrous worship of worldly comforts and the seductive nature of luxury, possessions, and human approval. These powerful temptations blind propel to their need for God, who so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son. Skin-deep, deceitful beauty masks rottenness so vile that people embrace extreme depravity as desirable and good.