Revelation 17
The Kingdom of God is the most important kingdom for us to devote our attention, time, love and money to. The kingdoms of this world and their power are fleeting and last for a very brief period of time, especially when compared to eternity. They “remain for only a little while” (verse 10) and stay in power “for one hour” (verse 12). 1 Peter 1:24 states, “For, ‘All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall.’”
The Roman empire is one of the greatest examples of worldly power, and it lasted approximately 1,000 years. At one point in time, it is estimated that 15-20% of the world population was controlled by Rome. When we reflect on the power that this empire held, this quote from General George S. Patton Jr. is a great reminder about the transient nature of glory: “For over a thousand years Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of triumph, a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeteers, musicians and strange animals from conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conquerors rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children robed in white stood with him in the chariot or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror holding a golden crown and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting.” Not only is worldly glory, wealth and power short-lived, but worldly power is ultimately ineffective against God and His people. “They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers” (verse 14). The futile goals of many worldly powers can be summed up when looking at the 17 kings described in this chapter: “They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast” (verse 13). So how does this apply to us today? We can be tempted to become focused on or even obsessed with the worldly power of celebrities, athletes, or political or economic leaders. If we begin to crave the power and prestige that position, wealth, and connections offer, we become an easy target for Satan’s great deception. Worldly power is Satan’s trap because the desire for it can turn us away from God. We must be mindful to worship only God and make it our strongest desire to serve Him alone. Whatever glory and power we are searching for in this life pales in comparison to the eternal glory that comes from being sons and daughters of God. “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17, NLT).