How does Revelation 17:15 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19? Backdrop: Two Passages, One Global Picture • Revelation 17:15: “Then the angel said to me, ‘The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.’” • Matthew 28:19: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” • Both texts spotlight the same sweeping canvas—every ethnic group, language, and culture on earth—yet from opposite angles: judgment in Revelation, salvation in Matthew. Waters, Peoples, and Nations: Literal Scope of Humanity • “Waters” symbolize real, diverse populations. • Fourfold description—“peoples, multitudes, nations, tongues”—appears elsewhere (Revelation 5:9; 7:9) to underscore universality. • Matthew 28:19 uses the identical universal word “nations” (Greek: ethnē), affirming that Christ’s mandate extends to every single segment identified in Revelation 17:15. • Scripture consistently paints one worldwide audience: – Genesis 12:3: “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” – Isaiah 49:6: “I will make You a light for the nations.” – Revelation 14:6: the “eternal gospel” proclaimed “to every nation and tribe and tongue and people.” From Judgment to Mission: Why the Connection Matters • Revelation 17 shows the seductive world system influencing the same nations we are sent to reach. • The Great Commission declares that Christ’s disciples penetrate that system with the gospel before final judgment falls. • God’s plan is sequential: 1. Proclaim to every nation (Matthew 24:14). 2. Gather a redeemed people from those nations (Revelation 5:9–10). 3. Judge the rebellious powers over those nations (Revelation 17–18). • The same “waters” Babylon manipulates are the harvest field Christ commands us to enter. Supporting Scriptures That Tie the Threads • Revelation 7:9–10—A multitude “from every nation, tribe, people, and language” stands before the throne, the direct fruit of Matthew 28:19 obedience. • Acts 1:8—The Spirit empowers witness “to the ends of the earth,” a mission targeting the very populations pictured in Revelation 17:15. • 2 Peter 3:9—The Lord “is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish,” explaining why the gospel precedes judgment. Practical Takeaways for Obedient Disciples • See every culture as both contested by Babylon and claimed by Christ. • Expect spiritual opposition; Revelation 17 exposes the systems we confront. • Measure ministry success by gospel penetration into new languages and peoples, not merely local activity. • Pray and labor for representatives from all four categories—people groups, language groups, nations (political entities), and large populations—until Revelation 7:9 is fulfilled. • Live with urgency: the same world destined for judgment is still offered grace through the Great Commission. |
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