Revelation 17

Revelation 17:1-18

Chapter 36 Christ and Babylon ‘And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE EARTH’ Revelation 17:1-18 When John was carried away to see ‘the judgment of the great whore,’ he was carried away ‘in the spirit into the wilderness’ (Revelation 17:1; Revelation 17:3). Wherever false religion occupies the place of the true worship of God there is desolation and emptiness (Amos 8:11-12). There may be great worldly wealth and glory; there may be a fullness of power, influence, and approval; there may be purple and scarlet, gems and gold, pomp and luxury and everything to gratify the sensual desires of the heart; there may even be worldwide acceptance and dominion; yet, where the Word of God, the gospel of his grace, and the worship of Christ in all the fullness of his redemptive glory are despised and trampled under foot, there is a bleak, barren, empty, desolate wilderness. This great harlot, false religion, is called by the name, ‘Babylon the Great.’ We have seen this name twice already (Revelation 14:8; Revelation 16:19). In both places the name is mentioned as the object of God’s great judgment. In Revelation 17, 18, , 19 John describes that judgment, assuring us of the fact that all false religion, here represented by Babylon, will be destroyed and the truth of God shall prevail to the glory of Christ. Who is this woman Without question, there is in this vision a representation of Rome, its pagan culture, government, and worship. Certainly, Roman Catholicism, the superstitious, idolatrous religion of papacy, is also involved in the picture before us. But it would be a serious mistake to limit the picture to Rome and Romanism. This woman is called - ‘the great whore that sitteth upon many waters…And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth’ (Revelation 17:1; Revelation 17:5). This woman, Babylon, the great harlot represents all false religion in this world, no matter what name that religion bears. There are only two religions in this world. All religions, when reduced to their essential elements, must be categorized under one of these two: Free-grace or free-will, the religion of God or the religion of man, the church of God or the synagogue of Satan. These two religions are represented to us in the book of Revelation by two women. In chapter 12 we saw the Church of God, the religion of free-grace, which proclaims salvation by the blood and righteousness of Christ alone, who is the Man Child, represented by ‘a woman clothed with the sun.’ Here, in Revelation 17, we see the religion of Satan, free-willism, man centered, works religion, represented by ‘The Great Whore…Babylon.’ The character of all false religion is described in John’s vision of the great harlot. Remember, the picture is a symbol of false religion. Do not try to get a literal picture in your mind.

Try to grasp the spiritual meaning of the whole picture. Notice the features of this woman, by which we are instructed and warned, lest we be deceived by the great harlot, who ‘with her much fair speech’ and ‘the flattering of her lips’ has caused so many to follow her ‘as an ox goeth to the slaughter’ (Proverbs 7:21-22). The angel calls her ‘the great whore.’ She is a harlot, and the mother of all spiritual harlots and abominations in the world This is the standing symbol in the Word of God for false religion. (See Jeremiah 3:6-9; Ezekiel 16:28-37; Hosea 1-2; Revelation 2:22). This woman is called the great whore and the mother of harlots, because she is the embodiment and representative of all idolatry, false worship and false doctrine in the world. To give an indication of her age and her vileness, she is given the name, Babylon the Great (Revelation 17:5). This is not a prophecy that the ancient city of Babylon will be resurrected and rebuilt. God destroyed that ancient city in his wrath, and swore that it would never be inhabited again (Isaiah 13:19-20). This Babylon is any and all religious systems that are opposed to God.

Babylon is the religion of man. It is that religion which teaches salvation by the works of man’s hands and the power of man’s will. Though it is seen in the sacrifice of Cain, it began as an organized religion, an organized system of worship in opposition to God, in the fourth generation after Noah, with Nimrod, the cursed son of Noah’s cursed son, Ham (Genesis 10:8-11). The Bible tells us that Nimrod was ‘a mighty hunter before the Lord.’ That is a very poor translation of the text. Literally, it means, ‘Nimrod was a mighty rebel before the Lord, the mightiest rebel before the Lord in the earth.’ His name, Nimrod, means ‘a rebellious panther.’ It was this ‘rebellious panther,’ Nimrod, who built the city of Babel, or Babylon, and began the religion of confusion (Genesis 11:1-9). Idolatry is not a gradual decline from truth by well-meaning, but unenlightened men. It began at Babel in intentional rebellion. It was the invention of a proud race who refused to come to God by faith in a Substitute and refused to trust God’s grace alone. Babylon was born in defiance of God and his Word. The men of Babel despised God’s sovereignty, blood atonement, and salvation by grace. They attempted to build a tower to heaven by the works of their hands, with no regard for the glory of God.

God scattered those men and brought their religion to confusion. Yet, wherever these idolaters spread through the earth, their religion is essentially the same. All the pagan mythologies, idolatrous images, and religious rituals of the world, no matter how much they differ, have an underlying sameness, which proves that they are all from one original source. That source is Babel, or Babylon, Nimrod’s plan to defeat the purposes of the God of Noah. The one foundational tenet that is always the same in the worldwide religions of Babylon is this: Man’s salvation ultimately depends upon and is determined by man himself! She has made the inhabitants of the earth drunk with the wine of her fornication (Revelation 17:2) The religion of old Babylon is not limited to one race, one time, one place, or even one religious order. It encompasses all. The kings and inhabitants of the earth, from one generation to another, commit fornication with her and drink from her cup until they are thoroughly drunk, beyond the reach of reason. The cup which she holds out is a golden cup (Revelation 17:4). To the carnal, sensual heart, the world’s religion is very appealing. It is bright, glittering, full of blessings, promising happiness, health, peace, and prosperity to all who drink from its cup.

But the cup is full of abominations, filthiness and fornication. This is a fact that cannot be disputed - Wherever false religion gains popularity and acceptance, moral corruption follows. The doctrines of self-righteousness, free-willism, and works salvation always produce moral degradation. The cup is always the same. The old harlot has only one cup. It is always filled with the same, head-spinning wine of free-will, self-righteousness, and good works. She is also drunk (Revelation 17:6) She is drunk ‘with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.’ ‘In her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth’ (Revelation 18:24). Throughout history, persecution and the murder of God’s saints and prophets have been the work of this great harlot. It is old Nimrod trying still to destroy the kingdom of God. Persecution is not the work of God’s church. It is the work of Babylon. This woman sits upon many waters (Revelation 17:1).

The angel tells us plainly that these waters are not literal bodies of water. They are ‘peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues’(Revelation 17:15). That is to say, ‘The false religion signified by this great harlot is universal in its acceptance.’ The prostitution of divine truth is supported and accepted by the fallen sons of Adam wherever they are found upon the earth. While the false religions of the world may fight among themselves, at times, they will always be found united in their opposition to the Lord Jesus Christ and the gospel of the grace of God revealed in him. She is as one sitting upon a scarlet beast, full of the names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns (Revelation 17:3) The beast is the same one we saw in chapter 13. It tells us that this woman, the religion of this world, is inspired by and empowered by Satan himself (Revelation 17:8). (See 2 Corinthians 11:1-5; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15). The seven heads of the beast are the kingdoms and empires of this world, by which false religion is both protected and advanced (Revelation 17:9-10). The number seven may be merely a symbolical, figurative number, implying the complete, universal acceptance of false religion, all under the demonic influence of the beast (Revelation 17:11). William Hendriksen suggests that, the seventh head might be the collective title for all antichristian governments from the fall of Rome unto the second coming of Christ, existing in that short space of time we call ‘the Gospel Age’ (Revelation 11:2-3; Revelation 12:6; Revelation 12:14; Revelation 13:5). The ten horns of the beast are kings, rulers of the world, raised up by Satan for brief periods of time to make war with Christ and his church (Revelation 17:12-14).

They are not mighty emperors, just little presidents, senators, congressmen, governors, legislators, prime ministers, etc., to whom Satan gives a brief time of power to oppose the cause of Christ. This woman, the great harlot is the religion of this world, which reigns over the kings, people, and nations of the earth in opposition to Christ and his church (Revelation 17:14; Revelation 17:18). What shall become of the woman When John saw this great harlot, this great antichrist religious system, ruling over the people and nations of the earth, making the kings of the earth drunk with her idolatry and will worship, he was astonished. He says, ‘When I saw her, I wondered with great admiration’ (Revelation 17:6). A better reading would be, ‘I was astonished with great terror.’ And well he might be! But he is comforted and encouraged by the realization that this great harlot shall be brought to destruction by the will of God, and that even she is under the dominion of our great God and Savior, and shall serve his purpose (Revelation 17:16-17). Take courage, Christ shall prevail! And in him we shall prevail too.

We are, in Christ Jesus, more than conquerors. This great harlot, with all her hellish power, shall have no influence over the church of God’s elect (Revelation 17:8; Revelation 17:14).

Though all the world is deceived by the charms of false religion, the mother of harlots cannot deceive or destroy any of God’s elect. Our names were written, immutably, in the book of life before the world began (Revelation 13:8). We are called of God; and the gifts and callings of God are without repentance (Romans 11:29). We have been chosen as the objects of God’s mercy, love, and grace; and the purpose of God in election must stand. God makes his elect faithful to Christ by the power of his grace; and faithful men and women cannot be turned away from their Master. Our Redeemer and Savior is Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who is the almighty Lord of lords and King of kings (2 Timothy 1:12).

In the end, by the will of God, this woman shall be destroyed (Revelation 17:16-17). It seems at times that antichrist will prevail.

But as our God sent confusion to the people of Babel and turned them against one another, as he overthrew Egypt, Babylon, Assyria and Rome, he will utterly destroy all false religion, and make the great harlot desolate in the end, so that even those who once carried her upon their shoulders shall despise her and devour her. In God’s time, Babylon shall fall. And even Babylon shall prove, in the last great day, to have been the servant of God to perform his will in the earth (1 Corinthians 11:19; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-14; Psalms 76:10). What are we to learn from this vision There are many, many things taught in this picture. But I want to give you just four things to remember for the comfort and strength of your soul. 1 The Lord our God is sovereign over all things. He is in control. He is performing his will. 2 Popularity is no indication of the will of God or the truth of God. If you would follow Christ, you must be prepared to swim against the tide, always be in the minority, and always face bitter opposition from the world. 3 God’s elect are secure at all times, being kept by the power of His grace (Romans 8:28-39). 4 The religion of this world will prove to be empty, frustrating and loathsome in the end. Those who revel in it today will despise it at the last. But it will be too late! There will be nothing but hatred in that day, when the lost mother meets her lost son, the lost wife meets her lost husband, and the lost preacher meets his lost hearers in hell! In eternity, all who have served Babylon shall despise her and shall themselves be despised.

Revelation 17:8

Chapter 37 Eternal security in Christ ‘The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is’ Revelation 17:8 The Book of Revelation opens with a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of his churches. It closes with a vision of all God’s elect, the whole church of the redeemed gathered before the throne of God and of the Lamb in glory. Everything in this Book, from the first chapter to the last, is written to assure us of the eternal security and final perseverance of all who believe. God’s church in this world is an elect, redeemed, sealed multitude, whose names are written from eternity in ‘the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world’ (Revelation 13:8). In Revelation 17:8, the angel tells John that all who dwell upon the earth wonder at the beast and are deceived by the great harlot, Babylon, false religion, except those whose names were ‘written in the book of life from the foundation of the world.’ While others perish, they are secure. Though all others are deceived, they are secure. Though all others go down to hell under the wrath of God, those whose names are ‘written in the book of life from the foundation of the world’ are secure. I want to show you from the scripture that - All true believers are eternally secure in Christ, being kept by the power of God’s grace. Can a saved person ever be lost Is it possible for people saved by the grace of God, chosen in everlasting love, redeemed by the blood of Christ, and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit, to be lost at last? Can those who are ‘called, chosen, and faithful’ perish? Can those people, any of them, ever be lost? Can one of God’s elect go to hell? Is it possible for one of Christ’s redeemed ones to yet suffer the wrath of God? Is it possible for one who is called by the Holy Spirit, regenerated and born again by almighty grace, to fall away, draw back, depart from Christ, and perish at last?

Let these questions be answered not by the words, opinions, theories, and doctrines of men, but by the Word of God alone, and the answer is emphatically, unconditionally, unequivocally, ‘No!’ It is not possible for a saved person to be lost. If we hear nothing but the testimony of Holy Scripture, we cannot question the eternal security of all God’s saints. ‘The righteous shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger’ (Job 17:9). ‘The Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance’ (Psalms 94:14). ‘They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mt. Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even forever’ (Psalms 125:1-2). Read Psalms 89:19-37. ‘I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good. I will put my fear in their hearts. They shall not depart from me’ (Jeremiah 32:40).

Our Savior promises, ‘My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one’ (John 10:27-30). In Romans 8:28-39, the apostle Paul tells us that God is for us in his sovereign providence (Romans 8:28), in his saving purpose (Romans 8:29-30), and in his substitutionary provision (Romans 8:32-39). And ‘if God be for us, who can be against us?’ ‘God shall confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord’ (1 Corinthians 1:8-9). ‘Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it’ (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

Read 1 Peter 1:2-5. All of these texts of Scripture tell us one thing: God’s elect are eternally secure in Christ. They shall never perish. ‘The foundation of God standeth sure.’ Salvation is the work of God alone. And that which God does is done forever (Ecclesiastes 3:14). What is the basis of our assurance and security in Christ I have shown you from the Scripture that it is impossible for a saved person to be lost. You have the Word of God for it. Now, for the comfort and edification of your soul, let me show you why it is impossible. The perfection of God’s character guarantees the eternal security of his elect (Lamentations 3:21-25). God’s immutability forbids any change in the objects of his love or in his attitude toward us (Malachi 3:6; Job 23:13; James 1:17). 3. God’s omnipotence means that none can pluck us from our Savior’s hands (John 10:28-29; 1 Peter 1:5; Jude 1:24-25). 4. God’s mercy will never turn to wrath. 5. God’s love will never become hatred. 6. God’s faithfulness will never cease. 7. God’s goodness cannot fail. 8. God’s justice, having once been satisfied for the sins of his elect, can never demand satisfaction from those for whom Christ died (Romans 3:24-26). ‘Payment God cannot twice demand, first at my bleeding Surety’s hand, and then again at mine!’ 9. His eternal purpose of God, which cannot be altered, frustrated, or defeated, guarantees the eternal security of his elect. The purpose of God according to election must stand. He will do all his pleasure. And his pleasure is the eternal salvation of his elect (Isaiah 46:9-13; Ephesians 1:3-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; John 6:37-40). 10. His promises, which are yea and amen in Christ, guarantee the eternal security of all believers (Hebrews 13:5). He promises eternal life to all who believe (John 3:14-16). He promises to forgive all our sins (1 John 1:9). 11. The finished work of Christ guarantees the eternal security of God’s elect. Christ has redeemed us (Galatians 3:13; Hebrews 9:12). We cannot be unredeemed! Christ has sanctified us (Hebrews 10:10-14). We cannot be unsanctified! Christ has justified us (Romans 3:24). We cannot be unjustified! Christ has made us complete (Colossians 2:10). We cannot be made incomplete! Christ has made us to be seated in heaven (Ephesians 2:6). We cannot be unseated! Christ has blessed us (Ephesians 1:3). We cannot be unblessed! Christ has ‘made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light’ (Colossians 1:12). We cannot be made unmeet! 12. The present intercession of Christ as our advocate in heaven guarantees the eternal security of God’s elect. His prayers on our behalf cannot be denied (John 17:24). His advocacy cannot fail (1 John 2:1-2). 13. The seal of the Holy Spirit, which cannot be broken, guarantees our eternal security in Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30). The seal preserves. The seal proves ownership. The seal is the earnest of our inheritance. The basis of our assurance and security in Christ is not, in any way, dependent upon or determined by us. The whole basis of our security is our God, who he is, what he has done, and what he is doing for us. Our good works do not make us more secure. And our evil works do not make us less secure. Our security is Christ! The security and welfare of the sheep is the responsibility of the Shepherd. Our relationship with the eternal God does in great measure determine what we do. But what we do, in no way determines our relationship with the eternal God. What about those who do depart from Christ and fall away I do not deny that many do depart from Christ, forsake the gospel, fall away from the faith and leave the church of God. Every pastor, every church, every believer is painfully aware of many who once walked in our company who now have left us. Our Lord experienced it (John 6:66). The apostles experienced it (2 Timothy 4:10). And we experience it today. Men and women depart from Christ and fall away for many reasons.

The love of the world destroys some (Matthew 13:22). Trials overwhelm many (Matthew 13:21). Self-will has destroyed multitudes, like Judas. False doctrine gets some (Galatians 5:1-4). And gradual apostasy has claimed many souls by Satan’s craftiness (Hebrews 10:25-26). Yet, it must be understood that those who depart from us, for whatever reason, never were truly of us (1 John 2:19).

It is one thing to learn doctrine, but another thing to learn Christ. It is one thing to have an emotional experience, but another thing to be born again. It is one thing to change your life, but another thing to bow to the rule of Christ. What are we to learn from these things Carefully read Hebrews 10:35-39, and learn these four things: 1.There is a false faith by which many are deceived. 2. False faith will, sooner or later, depart from Christ. Many, I fear, depart from Christ and will never know it until the day of judgment (Matthew 7:22-23). 3.True faith will persevere to the end. 4.’Salvation is of the Lord!’ (Jonah 2:9) Since salvation is of the Lord, we know that the salvation of God’s elect is a matter of absolute certainty and that all who trust Christ are infallibly secure in him (Philippians 1:6)

Revelation 17:14

Chapter 38 The Lamb and they that are with Him. ‘These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful’ Revelation 17:14 In Revelation 17, we are assured of the destruction of all false religion, symbolized by Babylon, the great mother of harlots. Though supported through the centuries by kings, nations, and empires, Babylon will fall at last. Though it is maintained, enriched, and adorned by satan with the gaudy ornaments of the earth, all false religion will be destroyed. Though the kings and people of the earth drink from the golden cup which she holds in her hand and are made drunk with the wine of her fornication, the filthiness of the world’s religion (the abominations of free-will, works religion) will be exposed at last. And those who have been deceived by it shall loathe it forever. In the end, the truth of God shall prevail.

The Church of Christ shall be victorious. The gates of hell shall not prevail against her. The gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and effectual mercy shall win the day. Christ will see to it! In all things, ‘we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.’ The message of this Book, from beginning to end, is a message of victory through grace. Though tried, persecuted, scorned, derided, and afflicted, the Church of God shall triumph over all her enemies.

It is true, ‘The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly’ (Romans 16:20). In Revelation 17:14, the Holy Spirit inspired John to show us four things specifically revealed to him by the angel for the comfort and edification of God’s saints in all ages.

1. The world is always opposed to and always persecutes Christ and His church When John saw the kings of the earth, whose rule and power is inspired by the hellish beast, the angel said, ‘These shall make war with the Lamb.’ These kings of the earth represent the secular, political, economic, philosophical, academic powers of the earth, acting in unison with and by inspiration of the great harlot. In other words, the world which is drunk with the religion of Babylon (free-willism, self-righteousness, and works) always has been and always will be opposed to Christ, the church of God, and the gospel of his free grace. The truth of God is never accepted, supported, and maintained by popular opinion. If you follow Christ, you will have to fight against the world, specifically against the religion of the world. We must never seek to conciliate or unite with the enemies of Christ (James 4:4; 2 Corinthians 6:14 to 2 Corinthians 7:1).
2. The Lord Jesus Christ shall overcome all his enemies ‘The Lamb shall overcome them’ (Isaiah 45:22-25; Hebrews 10:10-14; Philippians 2:9-11). Throughout the Word of God, and especially in this Book, the Lord Jesus Christ is constantly referred to in his sacrificial character as the Lamb of God. And it is by virtue of his sin-atoning sacrifice that he must prevail over all his enemies. He will overcome some by the power of his saving grace and others by the rod of his wrath; but he will overcome all his enemies (Psalms 89:23).
3. The conquest of Christ is a matter of absolute certainty because he is totally sovereign over all things ‘He is Lord of lords and King of kings’ (John 17:2; Acts 2:36; Romans 14:9). Divine sovereignty is essential to faith, hope, and confidence in the promises of God. If God were not sovereign, we could not, with sanity, trust him implicitly. But we rejoice to know that he whom we trust, into whose hands we have committed our souls, is absolutely, totally, universally sovereign over all things, always doing all things according to the good pleasure of own will (Psalms 115:3; Psalms 135:6).
4. The one thing that distinguishes God’s elect from all other people in the world is their relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ Others make war with the Lamb. These are ‘they that are with him.’ They are one with him, united to him by grace from all eternity. It is their union with the Lamb that separates and distinguishes them from all others, makes them acceptable with God, and secures their eternal salvation. God’s elect are with Christ now, always have been with Christ, and forever shall be with Christ (Ephesians 1:6). We were with him as Our Surety in the Covenant of Grace. We were with him as Our Representative while he lived upon the earth.

We were with him when he died as Our Substitute on the cross. We were with him when he arose from the dead and ascended into heaven as our Mediator King. And we are with him in our hearts by faith and love. His cause is our cause. We are with our Lord in all that he does. In heart, will, purpose, and desire, God’s saints are with Christ. Now look at the last line of Rev 17:14 and notice how the angel describes God’s saints, identifying them by three distinct works of grace. Those who are with Christ ‘are called, and chosen, and faithful.’ With these three words all who are truly born of God are described. These three words write the biography of every redeemed sinner who enters glory by the merits of Christ. God’s saints are called by the Spirit because they have been chosen of God; and they are faithful to Christ because they are called. All who are with Christ are with him by the almighty, effectual, irresistible call of the Holy Spirit in regenerating grace Without question, there is a general call that goes forth to all men, without qualification, every time the gospel is preached. By the power and authority of God himself, the gospel preacher commands all who hear his voice to repent and come to Christ in faith (Luke 24:47; Acts 17:30; Romans 10:9-13; Romans 10:21). The preaching of the gospel is not an invitation to heaven. It is a divinely authorized command to faith! This call goes out to all who hear the gospel. But even this outward call is not universal (Matthew 11:20-26).

This call is necessary. Apart from this outward call, apart from the preaching of the gospel, there is no possibility of salvation (Romans 10:17; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23-25). And all who hear this outward call, all who hear the gospel of Christ preached, are responsible to obey it and trust Christ (Romans 10:21; John 3:36; 1 John 5:10). But this outward call alone will never produce faith in a sinner. ‘Many are called, but few are chosen.’ No matter how eloquent, sincere, earnest, and convincing the preacher is, this outward call can never produce faith or save a sinner. This text is talking about another call. Those who are ‘the called’ have been called, not by the voice of man, but by the voice of God the Holy Spirit.

He uses the voice of a preacher. But the call is divine, inward, effectual, and saving (John 6:63; John 10:3; Psalms 65:4; Psalms 110:3). It is a personal call, a distinguishing call, a convincing call (John 16:8-13), and an effectual, irresistible call of love. It is this call of God that distinguishes the believer from the unbeliever (1 Corinthians 1:26-31; 1 Corinthians 4:7; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:1-4). The call of the Spirit is the proof and evidence of our eternal election in Christ Notice that in this verse calling is put before election, because we cannot know our election until we are called. But election took place long before we were called. The fact that we are called in time is the proof that we were chosen in eternity (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5). Divine election is a blessed, comforting, soul cheering truth of Holy Scripture in which all true believers delight. As it caused David to dance before the ark, it causes our hearts to dance before the Lord our God (Jeremiah 31:3; John 15:16; Romans 8:28-30; Romans 8:11-23; Ephesians 1:3-7; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 2 Timothy 1:9). Notice particularly 1 Peter 1:2.

Those who despise the doctrine of sovereign election will usually run to this text and twist it to their own destruction, suggesting that election is based upon foreknown or foreseen faith. Of course, that is absurd! We are elect ‘according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,’ that is according to God’s purpose of grace in foreordination. Our election to eternal life is ‘through sanctification of the Spirit.’ God has chosen to bring us to heaven by the regenerating, sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit, who gives us a new nature, imparting to us the righteousness of Christ, in the new birth (Ezekiel 36:25-27). And we were chosen ‘unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.’ The text might legitimately be interpreted to say, ‘We were chosen and foreordained to eternal life by God the Father, set apart, preserved, and kept by God the Holy Spirit, until the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished his obedience and death as our Substitute.’ Those things certainly are true. And they are taught elsewhere in scriptures. But Peter is telling us that the object of God in our election was and is our obedience to the gospel and the effectual application of the blood atonement of Christ to our hearts by the Holy Spirit through faith (Hebrews 9:14). God the Father chose us!

God the Son redeemed us! God the Spirit regenerated us, giving us faith to obey Christ, trusting his blood for our complete atonement! As the result of God’s eternal, electing love, grace and peace are multiplied to all God’s elect (1 Peter 1:3-5). We rejoice in and give thanks to God for his eternal, electing love, mercy, and grace in Christ Jesus. We know our election because of our calling. And our calling makes election precious. The sure and certain result of God’s electing grace and the Spirit’s effectual call is faithfulness Those who are with Christ, ‘are called, and chosen, and faithful.’ This simply means three things: All who are called and chosen of God have faith in Christ. It is the gift of God’s grace in regeneration (Ephesians 2:8-9). And all who are born of God are made faithful by his grace. The saints of God are faithful, true, honest men and women (Ephesians 1:1). They can be trusted and depended upon. They are faithful stewards, using whatever God puts in their hands for his glory and his interest in this world (Matthew 25:14-30).

All true believers are faithful to Christ, to his will, to his glory, to his gospel, to his interests, and to his people. And all who are called by the Spirit remain faithful, persevering to the end of their days by grace. They will endure their trials. They will overcome their temptations. They will triumph over their enemies. They will die in faith (Hebrews 11:13).