Prophetic Interpretation Page 15: A Revelation Interpretation Page 5: The Kings Rides Forth

All at once, in an attempt to reestablish some morale, the usurping king of the enemy city comes out.  This is the “woman sitting on a scarlet beast” in Revelation 17.  In her hand is the cup that holds the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.  It is the enemy king’s attempt to bolster his troops, displaying how he has slain many of the invading King’s people over the years.  He flaunts his authority and his power.  This is why he is holding a cup filled with the blood of the saints.  However, like a shrine prostitute, which is what the image was meant to parallel, the king only gained his power by seducing the hearts of powerful and wicked men.  He went about being a pleaser of men as opposed to a pleaser of God, and he did every base and terrible, carnal act in order to gain attention and favor.  Like a prostitute, his love was able to be bought, as was his soul.

The true King, however, meant for this to happen.  He has drawn out the enemy king and so calls His forces to charge.  In chapter 19, The King Himself rides forth as a mighty champion, leading all of His forces into the city to slaughter the evil inhabitants and to capture the usurper, the Anti-Christ, and the usurper’s chief officer, the False Prophet.