GOD DESCRIBES THE HARLOT REVELATION 17:1-18

Transcription

1 1 GOD DESCRIBES THE HARLOT REVELATION 17:1-18

2 2 Text: Revelation 17:1-18, GOD DESCRIBES THE HARLOT 1. Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke to me. Come, he said, I will show you the condemnation and punishment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters, 2. with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality and the earth s inhabitants got drunk with the wine of her immorality. 3. So he carried me away in the Spirit to a wilderness, and there I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4. Now the woman was dressed in purple and scarlet clothing, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup filled with detestable things and unclean things from her sexual immorality. 5. On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: Babylon the Great, the Mother of prostitutes and of the detestable things of the earth. 6. I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of those who testified to Jesus. I was greatly astounded when I saw her. 7. But the angel said to me, Why are you astounded? I will interpret for you the mystery of the woman and of the beast with the seven heads and ten horns that carries her.

3 The beast you saw was, and is not, but is about to come up from the abyss and then go to destruction. The inhabitants of the earth all those whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world will be astounded when they see that the beast was, and is not, but is to come. 9. (This requires a mind that has wisdom.) The seven heads are seven mountains the woman sits on. They are also seven kings: 10. five have fallen; one is, and the other has not yet come, but whenever he does come, he must remain for only a brief time. 11. The beast that was, and is not, is himself an eighth king and yet is one of the seven, and is going to destruction. 12. The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive ruling authority as kings with the beast for one hour. 13. These kings have a single intent, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. 14. They will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those accompanying the Lamb are the called, chosen, and faithful. 15. Then the angel said to me, The waters you saw (where the prostitute is seated) are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. 16. The ten horns that you saw, and the beast these will hate the prostitute and make her desolate and naked. They will consume her flesh and burn her up with fire.

4 For God has put into their minds to carry out his purpose by making a decision to give their royal power to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled. 18. As for the woman you saw, she is the great city that has sovereignty over the kings of the earth. (NET) Introduction: In Revelation 14:8 we see Babylon introduced as having fallen. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. In this text Babylon is named but not identified. Again in Revelation 16:19 Babylon is named but not identified. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before god, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. Revelation 17 identifies Babylon. The struggle between God and Satan continues, and over and over we see that God and His people win the battle. The identify of the Harlot is set forth in Revelation 17. Later we learn more about God s judgment against this wicked Harlot. The literal city of Babylon was located on the Euphrates River. Babylon was the capitol of the empire that conquered Judah. Babylon was associated with idolatry and the persecution of God s people. Babylon was present in John s day as typified by Rome s persecuting power against Christians and will be present throughout history as the Devil works his evils by those that oppose God s people!

5 5 Commentary: Babylon and the Great Harlot Revelation 17:1-6, Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke to me. Come, he said, I will show you the condemnation and punishment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality and the earth s inhabitants got drunk with the wine of her immorality. So he carried me away in the Spirit to a wilderness, and there I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. Now the woman was dressed in purple and scarlet clothing, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup filled with detestable things and unclean things from her sexual immorality. On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: Babylon the Great, the Mother of prostitutes and of the detestable things of the earth. I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of those who testified to Jesus. I was greatly astounded when I saw her. (NET) The Harlot sits upon many waters or controls many people. The judgment of God against the Harlot or the spiritually corrupt Rome was certain. She was guilty of spiritual fornication. The Devil started his work long before the Messiah came. Now the Devil had a tremendous influence through the nation of Rome. Rome was that nation, With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. Those that had not

6 6 become children of God had been affected by the false worship and persecuting power of Rome. Many people try to identify the great Harlot with the Roman Catholic church, but false religion is not limited to one church. We are not to believe, even for a moment that even through Rome and its devilish system fell that Satan was finished. This is not the end of evil by any means. The Harlot is dressed like a queen. The picture is that of a queen, but it is not a picture of beauty. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication. (Revelation 17:4) This evil Harlot was drunk with the blood of saints. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. (Revelation 17:6) Now we know that the purpose of the Harlot was to draw saints away from God and destroy them spiritually. The entire figure of Babylon and the Harlot is that of worldliness. Worldliness is the greatest power that the Devil has over the children of God. In John s day the great Harlot was Rome. But remember that the book of Revelation gives principles that fit all through history. The great Harlot also pictures any anti-christian seduction at any time in history. The Devil is always busy trying to allure saints form the fold of God.

7 7 Babylon s Evil Kings Come and Go Revelation 17:7-10, But the angel said to me, Why are you astounded? I will interpret for you the mystery of the woman and of the beast with the seven heads and ten horns that carries her.. The beast you saw was, and is not, but is about to come up from the abyss and then go to destruction. The inhabitants of the earth all those whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world will be astounded when they see that the beast was, and is not, but is to come. (This requires a mind that has wisdom.) The seven heads are seven mountains the woman sits on. They are also seven kings: five have fallen; one is, and the other has not yet come, but whenever he does come, he must remain for only a brief time. (NET) John is amazed at what he sees. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. (Revelation 17:6) John was amazed when he saw so much of God s servants blood shed by the Harlot. He was likewise amazed when he saw the judgment of God against the great whore. The Harlot is the same as the land beast of Revelation 13. This beast represented false worship. The sea beast also had civil persecuting power. The seven heads and ten horns remind us again of Satan s destructive, persecuting power and of his intellect. The beast appears again and again in history. He was, he is not, but he comes again. The Devil s evils will all end at the righteous, revealing judgment of God.

8 8 John Again sees that the beast is Rome. The five persecutors of God s people that had fallen were Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece. The present persecutor was Rome. The one to come included all future persecutors of God s people. Babylon s Kings and Allies Have One Mind Revelation 17:11-13, The beast that was, and is not, is himself an eighth king and yet is one of the seven, and is going to destruction. The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive ruling authority as kings with the beast for one hour. These kings have a single intent, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. (NET) The ten kings are Rome s allies that had been given power for a short time. They sided with Rome and were part of her evil so that Rome would not destroy them, but now far worse God destroys them. Perdition was the place awaiting them. Perdition was a term applied to Judas so it had to be bad. (John 17:12, When I was with them I kept them safe and watched over them in your name that you have given me. Not one of them was lost except the one destined for destruction, so that the scripture could be fulfilled. (NET)) Perdition had to do with destruction. So Judas was a child of destruction. The beast that opposed God goes into perdition. These kings have one mind. People can have one mind for good or one mind for evil. Sadly these kings have one mind, but it is the mind of Satan. They joined with him in committing great evils against the children of God. They made the fatal

9 9 mistake of committing themselves to the Devil and his evil schemes. The result of such a choice is tragic. Those that chose Satan s side reject all hope! Babylon Makes War With the Lamb Revelation 17:14-18, They will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those accompanying the Lamb are the called, chosen, and faithful. Then the angel said to me, The waters you saw (where the prostitute is seated) are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. The ten horns that you saw, and the beast these will hate the prostitute and make her desolate and naked. They will consume her flesh and burn her up with fire. For God has put into their minds to carry out his purpose by making a decision to give their royal power to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled. As for the woman you saw, she is the great city that has sovereignty over the kings of the earth. (NET) These help make war with the Lam. Again we see that God and his people win.... 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) Even those that opposed God s cause were used by the Sovereign God to destroy Rome. God s word shall be fulfilled in spite of Satan, and all his instruments. This chapter closes with the pointed words of Revelation 17:18. And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. This is

10 10 clearly a description of Rome. Rome is that Babylon that has shed the blood of saints and martyrs without number. She will be destroyed for so doing. In Revelation 17:18 the harlot is presented before us as ready for judgment. Nothing can save her from God s indignation. Revelation 18 will provide some of the details of that judgment. Conclusion: The Devil is powerful and what he offers has appealed to man. However, God is more powerful and what He offers has eternal appeal. That is why it makes sense to obey God rather than to follow Satan. Under any condition, we are always better off to serve God faithful because God s people always win.

11 11 Questions on Revelation 17: was the of the that and was associated with and the of. 2. ( ) was present in day as typified by against. 3. Babylon has been and will be present throughout as the works his by those that! 4. The sits upon many or many. The of against the or the was. She was of. 5. The of did not solve the of in the. The has replaced ancient with many present day.

12 The is dressed like a. The was with the of. The attempted to away from and to them through. 7. In the was. The book of gives that fit all. The is trying to from the of. 8. was when he so much of by the. He was likewise when he the of against the. 9. The is the same as the of. This represented. The also had. 10. The and remind us again of and of his. 11. The appears and in. He, he is,

13 13 but he. The will continue until the of when Jesus returns. 12. The of that had were,,, and. The was. The one to come included all of. 13. The are whom would also. awaited them. has to do with. was a term applied to. The that goes into. 14. These had, the of the. They made with the and were soundly. 15. The is and what he to man. However, is and offers to the faithful.