Journal Rev 17 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)
Scripture: 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, with who the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk…
And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast…” excerpts from Rev 17:1-8
Observation: Two points catches my eye: 1) Why is sex and sexual immorality aligned with unrighteousness and evil? 2) Another reference to God’s Sovereignty in election.
Application: Getting this out there so there is no misunderstanding: I am not sexually pure and haven’t been in a while. That being said, I am not exercising condemnation on anyone; I can’t—you must get in line behind me.
That is the difference in Judgment of evaluation versus Judgment of condemnation. Condemnation is God’s prerogative and never Man’s. If Man condemns, he is setting himself up to be like God and is an exercise in Original Sin.
Back to the original premise, why has Sex been associated with Sin and continues as prophecy for the future?
I fear I don’t have a good, solid answer, biblically speaking. I am sure that someone, somewhere, some biblical scholar like John Piper or Wayne Grudem or even an old tinker like John Bunyan has a good answer. It would be good to find.
Having fallen victim to sexual sin back when, it has marked me from that time forward. Still does. I speak in confession to my wife often. Images, insinuations, etc. I see in the media and on the streets in clothing (or lack of it) makes me turn my eyes and avoid contact—part of having a “covenant with my eyes…” (“I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin…” Job 31:1) Like all men who want to be godly, I fight temptation and sexual temptation is insidious. Jesus clarified, “But I say to you, that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart…” (Matt 5:28a).
Somehow, illicit sex or sexual provocation is directly challenging the Most High. I found this reference in Deuteronomy, “Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart…” (Deut 15:9a). The context is about giving in the Jubilee and caring for the poor, but having unworthy thoughts struck me. It is also tantamount to despising authority: “…and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.” (2 Pet 2:10)
Other verses scanning through Deuteronomy, filtering for eyes (Oh, thank you Lord for ESV.org) brought to my attention here that “eyes” (or otherwise, what is seen) is different over the “heart” (or what is felt); in other words—evidence is more significant than intent.
I need a Savior daily. Man needs a Savior daily. Why? Because temptations are encountered daily and succumbing to sin happens daily. The “great prostitute” referenced in the above passage seems to be intent on making sin mainstream—and the worshippers of the beast, people who do not have their names written in the Book of Life from before Creation are the targets.
Prayer: Lord God, thank you that you are Sovereign. You instruct me to preach the Gospel to the world, but you have graciously not made it my responsibility to “convert” people.
Let me focus on “walking worthy of the Gospel” in all aspects of godliness while doing your commands in parallel. I know this is a clumsy sentence…
AMEN.
Ricky Two Shoes