God Put In Their Hears (Rev. 17:17)

"For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled." (Rev. 17:17 kjv)

I have read many commentaries on this passage of scripture to find where focus was upon God's work of "putting" thoughts and purposes into the minds of his creatures. It seems to me that such a verse enters in strongly into the debate concerning Arminianism vs. Calvinism, concerning the extent of predestination and divine sovereignty, concerning "free will," concerning whether God "causes" men to think and act, whether he "forces" their will and behavior, etc.

In this verse the act of God in "putting in their hearts to fulfill his will" is viewed as being absolutely successful in accomplishing his will in seeing that certain things are done. The ten devilish kings "give their kingdom unto the beast," which is an evil act. Their evil act came about as a result of God's act of putting thoughts into the hearts and minds of these kings.

I do not need to defend God in doing this act. He is sovereign and answers to no one. "Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters." (Job 33:13)

On this verse Dr. Gill wrote:

"he will incline their minds to do the above things, as it will be in the power of their hands to do them; he who has the hearts of all men, and even of kings in his hands, and can turn them as rivers of water, will move them hereunto, Proverbs 21:1 he that turned the hearts of the Egyptians to hate his people Israel, Psalm 105:25 will turn the hearts of these kings to hate the whore, and do unto her as is here predicted;"

Now, if God be able to put into the heart of wicked men the will and purpose to do a certain evil thing, he certainly has the power to put into the hearts of sinners the will to be saved, to come to Christ, and to do good works. What think ye?

Is God putting into your heart a will and desire to serve him? If not, ask him to do so! Call upon him to "work in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure"? (Phil. 2:13) Is your heart turned to hate, or to sin? Only God can turn your heart in a different direction. Call upon him to work in you today!