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Daily Devotions

Revelation

Revelation 
Day 
Day 119

"Here is the mind which has wisdom"

Text: Revelation 17:9

A MIND THAT HAS WISDOM

The Apostle John was given much knowledge. What he needed was a discerning mind. The teaching angel would teach John how he may understand the vision that was shown to him.

“Here is the mind which has wisdom:
The seven heads are seven mountains
on which the woman sits.
There are also seven kings.
Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come.
And when he comes, he must continue a short time.
The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth,
and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.”
Revelation 17:9-11

1. The mind and knowledge.

a) Knowledge is not unimportant.

b) But knowledge by itself is confining.

c) The mind is capable of storing a vast amount of knowledge.

2. The mind and wisdom.

a) The angel had to open John’s mind further.

b) He had to teach John how to look at things in greater depth.

c) The mind must learn wisdom.

3. The seven heads are seven mountains.

a) Many think that this was a reference to Rome that sits on seven hills.

b) But the word here is not “hills” but mountains.

c) Thus, it is not likely a reference to Rome.

4. The word “mountain”.

a) It can refer to a mighty nation.

b) What was the teaching angel referring to?

5. The clue is found in this phrase:

“Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come.
And when he comes, he must continue a short time.”
Revelation 17:10

The possibility is that the teaching angel was referring to mighty nations:

i) Egypt

ii) Assyria

iii) Babylon

iv) Medo-Persia

v) Greece

vi) Rome

vii) An empire yet to appear

6. A cryptic phrase to take note of.

“And when he comes, he must continue a short time”

a) He will be a powerful leader.

b) He will exercise power but for a short period of time.

7. The beast would be the 8th ruler.

a) He is of the seven mountains.

b) He would arise and become mighty.

c) He would be the one who would survive and surpass all the other rulers.

d) But at the end, he too is destined for perdition.

e) Many scholars identify him as The Antichrist.