1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,880 And that's part of this book. 2 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:12,600 It seems to me the best way to interpret the book is in a literal manner, seeking to understand 3 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:18,200 it in its grammatical and historical context. 4 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:22,680 It is a book of prophecy. 5 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:29,320 It is unique in the New Testament in that sense because it is devoted to prophecy. 6 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:35,120 The first three chapters deal with letters to seven churches that existed in the early 7 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:42,040 days of the church, but the rest of the book deals with events that are yet to come, as 8 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:45,600 is the case with the seventeenth and eighteenth chapters. 9 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:51,120 Now, as we have noted as we've worked our way through the book, that there are portions 10 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:58,360 of it that seem to advance the chronology of the book. 11 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:00,920 There are portions that are laid out sequentially. 12 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:06,600 We can see this happens, then this happens, then this happens. 13 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:14,120 Occasionally, there are breaks in that chronological movement. 14 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:23,400 And by the Spirit, John fills in what's happening behind the scenes or gives us a broad stroke 15 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:30,720 picture of the whole book and events that take place in that seven-year period called 16 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:32,920 the tribulation period. 17 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:38,080 Now, that is the case with chapters seventeen and eighteen. 18 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:43,120 We certainly see the end of the seven-year period in what is said in chapter eighteen, 19 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:48,880 but John seems to step back from the chronological flow of the book and now he's going to tell 20 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:57,720 us about a part of events that are taking place on the earth in the religious and political 21 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:03,000 realm under the title of Babylon. 22 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:11,720 In chapter seventeen, we have what might be termed religious Babylon addressed. 23 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:21,320 And then in chapter eighteen, the political and commercial Babylon addressed. 24 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:28,480 In one sense, chapter seventeen deals with events that take place within, it would seem, 25 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:32,680 the first three and a half years of the book. 26 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:37,400 Whereas the utter and complete destruction of the political commercial Babylon described 27 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:42,480 in chapter eighteen has to take place toward the end of the whole seven-year period. 28 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:48,840 And so it's in the last three and a half years. 29 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:55,440 One thing that we understand is that religion of a sort will flourish in the first three 30 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,880 and a half years of the tribulation period. 31 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:08,160 It will be encouraged, that shouldn't surprise us, because Satan is a religious being and 32 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:18,120 he seeks to promote religion, man-made religion, religion that is satanic in its origin and 33 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:26,200 which is anti-God in its character and which will ultimately lead men and women away from 34 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:33,440 God to hell forever. 35 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:34,440 Let's begin reading. 36 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:41,600 It says, Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, 37 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:52,000 saying to me, Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 38 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:58,160 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth 39 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:03,120 were made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 40 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:10,200 So he carried me away in the spirit, into the wilderness. 41 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:17,540 And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having 42 00:04:17,540 --> 00:04:22,640 seven heads and ten horns. 43 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:28,600 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet and adorned with gold and precious stones 44 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:38,560 and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of 45 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:39,560 her fornication. 46 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:49,000 And on her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots and 47 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:52,640 of the abominations of the earth. 48 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:58,120 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs 49 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:00,160 of Jesus. 50 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:05,480 And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. 51 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:12,400 One is astonished at this sight that he is given by one of the angels. 52 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:20,080 He is taken away in the spirit, which is language similar to what we saw in chapter one. 53 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:28,960 And he is taken to a wilderness where he sees this figure that is described. 54 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:35,280 I have suggested to you that this Babylon the Great that we are going to study tonight 55 00:05:35,280 --> 00:05:40,160 is a religious system. 56 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:43,280 It is a religious Babylon. 57 00:05:43,280 --> 00:05:51,480 And as we think about that, we need to identify, first of all, who is this religious Babylon. 58 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:58,080 There have been various identities assigned to it through the years. 59 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:03,120 It might help us to go back and think about the origin of Babylon. 60 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:07,640 Would you go to the book of Genesis to the tenth chapter please? 61 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:14,680 And let's notice where Babel begins. 62 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:25,040 Genesis chapter 10 and verse 8. 63 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:31,800 We are reading here about the sons of Ham, who was one of the sons of Noah. 64 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:34,120 This son's name was Cush in verse 8. 65 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:37,520 He begot Nimrod. 66 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:41,560 He began to be a mighty one in the earth. 67 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:45,320 This is not complimentary language. 68 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:52,960 It refers to someone who was great for his wickedness, renowned for his evil. 69 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:55,360 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord. 70 00:06:55,360 --> 00:07:01,200 Therefore it is said, like Nimrod, the mighty hunter before the Lord. 71 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:05,840 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel. 72 00:07:05,840 --> 00:07:09,840 And then it lists other cities as well. 73 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:18,460 And so Babel first is mentioned in the Bible in connection with this man who was very wicked. 74 00:07:18,460 --> 00:07:25,640 Now it comes to our attention again in chapter 11 when it comments about the fact that the 75 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:29,800 whole earth had one language and one speech. 76 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:34,960 And it came to pass as they journeyed from the east that they found a plain in the land 77 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:40,520 of Shinar and they dwelt there and they said to one another, come let us make bricks and 78 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:42,800 bake them thoroughly. 79 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:47,360 They had brick for stone and they had asphalt for mortar and they said, come let us build 80 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:53,960 ourselves a city and a tower, a ziggurat, whose top is in the heavens. 81 00:07:53,960 --> 00:08:00,360 Let us make a name for ourselves lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole 82 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:01,360 earth. 83 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:08,400 And so here is man's attempt to find unity in himself and to build a name for himself. 84 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:14,720 And you see here the overflow of Satan's own spirit in mankind. 85 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:18,880 I will make a name for myself. 86 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:24,000 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built 87 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:29,560 and the Lord said, indeed the people are one and they all have one language and this is 88 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:31,080 what they begin to do. 89 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:35,240 Now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. 90 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:40,560 Come let us go down and there confuse their language that they may not understand one 91 00:08:40,560 --> 00:08:42,760 another's speech. 92 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:48,120 So the Lord scattered them and abroad from there over the face of the earth and they 93 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:53,640 ceased building the city therefore its name is called Babel. 94 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:59,240 Because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth and from there the Lord scattered 95 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:02,320 them abroad over the face of all the earth. 96 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:08,800 And so now we understand again how Babel got its name and what originated there. 97 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:13,160 The building of this tower was part of a religious system. 98 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:19,760 It was man centered and its attempt was to overthrow God's rule. 99 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:26,080 For man to rule himself upon the earth and be united together in this religious system 100 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:30,600 that was anti-God. 101 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:37,680 Well the dream that Nimrod had as he and the others built this tower will be realized in 102 00:09:37,680 --> 00:09:47,480 a sense in the first three and a half years of the tribulation with religious Babylon. 103 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:54,080 Religious Babylon it seems will be an ecumenical church. 104 00:09:54,080 --> 00:10:00,980 You see certain allusions here to the true church of Jesus Christ. 105 00:10:00,980 --> 00:10:05,760 This system will be the opposite of the true church. 106 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:15,360 It will be a one world religious system that is held together with certain cohesive force. 107 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:24,240 Now what is it that holds together this religious system that is called here Babylon the Great? 108 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:32,120 Well we look back at the ancient religion of Babylon to help find an answer to that. 109 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:39,920 John Walvert writing in the Bible Knowledge Commentary has an excellent summary that ties 110 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:48,560 together the ancient Babylonian religion with some of the things that we see on our current 111 00:10:48,560 --> 00:10:51,080 scene. 112 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:56,880 He says the Bible is full of information about Babylon as the source of false religion, the 113 00:10:56,880 --> 00:11:00,880 record beginning with the building of the Tower of Babel. 114 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,280 The name Babel suggests confusion. 115 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:08,440 Later the name was applied to the city of Babylon which itself has a long history dating 116 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:13,200 back to as early as 3,000 years before Christ. 117 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:17,520 One of its famous rulers was Hammurabi. 118 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:22,840 After a period of decline Babylon again rose to great heights under Nebuchadnezzar about 119 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:26,600 600 years before Christ. 120 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:30,920 Nebuchadnezzar's reign and the subsequent history of Babylon is the background of the 121 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:35,560 book of Daniel as most of you are aware. 122 00:11:35,560 --> 00:11:39,720 Babylon was important not only politically but also religiously. 123 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:49,000 Nimrod who founded Babylon had a wife known as Cimaramis who founded the secret religious 124 00:11:49,000 --> 00:12:00,760 rites of the Babylonian mysteries according to accounts outside the Bible. 125 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:05,880 So what he is going to tell us about now here does not come from scripture but from secular 126 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:10,760 historical accounts. 127 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:22,960 Nebuchadnezzar had a son with an alleged miraculous conception who was given the name Tammuz and 128 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:31,520 in effect was a false fulfillment of the promise of the seed of the woman given to Eve. 129 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:36,920 Various religious practices were observed in connection with this false Babylonian religion 130 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:45,000 including recognition of the mother and child as God and of creating an order of virgins 131 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:48,360 who became religious prostitutes. 132 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:57,120 Tammuz according to the tradition was killed by a wild animal and then restored to life 133 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:04,600 a satanic anticipation and counterfeit of Christ's resurrection. 134 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:10,640 Nebuchadnezzar condemns this false religion repeatedly and he cites Jeremiah 7, Jeremiah 135 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:13,600 44, Ezekiel 8. 136 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:17,560 The worship of Baal is related to the worship of Tammuz. 137 00:13:17,560 --> 00:13:25,640 Now remember Tammuz is the wife, is the son rather of Cimaramis the wife of Nimrod the 138 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:28,760 founder of Babylon. 139 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:34,520 After the Persians took over Babylon in 539 B.C. they discouraged the continuation of the 140 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:38,520 mystery religions of Babylon. 141 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:45,520 Subsequently the Babylonian cultists moved to Pergamum where one of the seven churches 142 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:49,560 of Asia was located. 143 00:13:49,560 --> 00:13:57,040 Crowns in the shape of a fish head were worn by the chief priests of the Babylonian cult 144 00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:00,120 to honor the fish god. 145 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:15,280 The crowns bore the words keeper of the bridge symbolic of the bridge between man and Satan. 146 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:27,080 This handle was adopted by the Roman emperors who used the Latin title Pontifex maximus 147 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:32,040 which means major keeper of the bridge. 148 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:36,480 And the same title was later used by the bishop of Rome. 149 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:44,840 The pope today is often called the Pontifex which comes from Pontifex. 150 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:50,840 When the teachers of the Babylonian mystery religions later moved from Pergamum to Rome 151 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:57,400 they were influential in paganizing Christianity and were the source of many so called religious 152 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:02,920 rites which have crept into ritualistic churches. 153 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:10,040 Babylon then is the symbol of apostasy and blasphemous substitution of idol worship for 154 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:13,640 the worship of God in Christ. 155 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:19,960 In this passage Babylon comes to its final judgment. 156 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:27,760 Time does not permit me to quote from W.A. Criswell, a pastor in Dallas, who likewise 157 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:38,440 traces this cult worship of the mother and child right into the Roman church today. 158 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:43,300 And but a few weeks ago we were told that this mother of God was going to appear right 159 00:15:43,300 --> 00:15:45,440 here in the state of Minnesota. 160 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:49,120 Alas she didn't show. 161 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:57,400 But the worship of mother and child, the mother originally named Cimaramus and the child named 162 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:06,480 Tammuz was adopted into the Christian religion as the Christian religion became paganized 163 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:09,520 in the Roman Empire. 164 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:16,120 And so instead of the names Cimaramus and Tammuz you have Mary and Jesus. 165 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:25,080 The worship of the mother and child, in other words, is a cultic kind of worship that did 166 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:29,080 not originate in the Roman Catholic Church. 167 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:35,760 Its roots go all the way back to Babylon, to this religious Babylon that comes to an 168 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:38,080 end in Revelation Chapter 17. 169 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:43,100 So what is the cohesive force that holds this religious Babylon together? 170 00:16:43,100 --> 00:16:50,240 One aspect of it is the worship of the mother and the child. 171 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:54,800 And then if you look at the ancient Babylonian religion you see a good deal of astrology 172 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:55,800 of course. 173 00:16:55,800 --> 00:17:03,800 The purpose of the Tower of Babel was astrological, to observe the stars and to use that information 174 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:10,800 in astrology and telling fortunes and in sorcery. 175 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:20,640 This aspect of the Babylonian religion was prominent down through its history. 176 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:26,240 Astrology is even a central part of many pagan religions. 177 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:35,560 The study of the stars, the movement of heavenly bodies, assigning to them some divine significance 178 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:41,440 as though they have control over the fate of man. 179 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:48,760 For many years archaeologists could not understand what the stones at Stonehenge were all about 180 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:55,400 in Britain where some of our ancestors used to live. 181 00:17:55,400 --> 00:18:02,480 These stones obviously were placed in certain positions for some purpose, but what purpose? 182 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:07,520 And then one day someone stumbled upon the secret, these stones were placed in the positions 183 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:08,520 they were. 184 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:13,900 It was all an astrological chart. 185 00:18:13,900 --> 00:18:22,600 And so astrology has been a part of pagan worship from the beginning of time. 186 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:25,320 Astrology is coming back strong today. 187 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:30,360 You would be absolutely amazed how many Christians read astrological charts. 188 00:18:30,360 --> 00:18:38,040 Oh, not that they quote take them seriously, it's just fun. 189 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:41,840 Astrology comes right out of paganism and I'll tell you something, there's power in 190 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:47,200 astrology because it is satanic. 191 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:56,320 Demons use astrology to gain power and influence in the lives of people. 192 00:18:56,320 --> 00:19:04,080 I believe that astrology will be another cohesive force holding together this Babylonian religion 193 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:07,880 described in this chapter. 194 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:14,320 And then another strain that I will mention briefly is that of supernatural signs and 195 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:16,820 wonders, miracles. 196 00:19:16,820 --> 00:19:21,760 That was a part of the ancient Babylonian religion and these of course were assigned 197 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:30,920 to deity and to gods in the pantheon, but in fact the miracles were empowered by Satan. 198 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:38,880 He was using these miraculous deeds in order to deceive the thinking and the religious 199 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:44,580 devotion of people and to receive it for himself really. 200 00:19:44,580 --> 00:19:51,200 And in the tribulation period when this monstrous religious system begins to come together in 201 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:55,760 an ecumenical movement, there will be signs and wonders. 202 00:19:55,760 --> 00:20:02,600 In 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 we are assured that these will be done by Satan and their 203 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:11,280 purpose will be the deceit of men and women, causing people to wonder after this system 204 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:16,480 and eventually to follow the beast. 205 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:24,840 It seems to me that this future apostate system, this Babylonian church, this harlot that we 206 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:35,720 see in chapter 17 is an embracing, a bringing together, an amalgamation if you please of 207 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:42,600 apostate Protestantism, Romanism and a lot of pagan religions. 208 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:54,240 Paul Lindsay says this religion will be an occultic amalgamation of all the world's religions. 209 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:57,760 Now notice the description of religious Babylon that is given to us here. 210 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:01,900 First in verse 1 she is called a great harlot. 211 00:21:01,900 --> 00:21:06,820 This kind of language is always used in the Bible with reference to religious people who 212 00:21:06,820 --> 00:21:10,340 are unfaithful to God. 213 00:21:10,340 --> 00:21:15,080 It is always called spiritual whoredom or prostitution. 214 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:19,680 It is unfaithfulness to the true and living God. 215 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:32,360 And here we have a church, a Christian church so to speak, that is unfaithful to Jesus Christ 216 00:21:32,360 --> 00:21:34,840 which is apostate. 217 00:21:34,840 --> 00:21:41,040 The true church will have been removed from the earth, we believe, by this time, and in 218 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:50,600 its place will thrive suddenly this ecumenical church with all of its unfaithfulness to God. 219 00:21:50,600 --> 00:22:03,400 It sits upon many waters, a way of saying that it is over many masses of people. 220 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:08,160 In verse 2 it tells us that the kings of the earth commit fornication with this religious 221 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:14,200 system and so there is some sort of church-state alliance here. 222 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:23,800 The church is an instrument that is used by leaders to control people. 223 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:30,720 And in verse 2 again it says that the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine 224 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:36,720 of her fornication so there will be masses of people who will fall in line with this 225 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:37,880 religious system. 226 00:22:37,880 --> 00:22:43,880 They will have rejected the truth and will be intoxicated by the lie. 227 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:53,640 Whenever man turns his back willfully on the truth, he opens himself to every kind of deception. 228 00:22:53,640 --> 00:23:00,200 Now what is the relationship of this religious system called the Great Harlot here with Antichrist? 229 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:04,480 Well, John explains it to us in this symbol. 230 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:12,200 He says that this woman was sitting on a scarlet beast and this beast had seven heads and ten 231 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:18,600 horns immediately identifying this beast with that beast we have seen earlier in our study 232 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:21,440 of the book of Revelation. 233 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:27,620 This is Antichrist and his government, his political system. 234 00:23:27,620 --> 00:23:37,080 And this religious system sits on, it rides the political system which is a way of saying 235 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:43,120 that this religious system will take advantage of the political system and the political 236 00:23:43,120 --> 00:23:46,120 system will take advantage of the religious system. 237 00:23:46,120 --> 00:23:56,120 They will use one another to gain power. 238 00:23:56,120 --> 00:24:05,160 We see that the colors of this prostitute are rich colors, royal colors. 239 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:07,960 Her clothing is almost gaudy. 240 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:14,240 There's gold and there are pearls and precious stones. 241 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:25,840 And she has in her hand a cup again of gold but inside the cup are abominations and filthiness 242 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:31,520 from the fornication, the unfaithfulness of this religious system. 243 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:39,040 And so in the colors and the elaborate clothing we seem again to see imperialism and adulterous 244 00:24:39,040 --> 00:24:42,160 religion coming together. 245 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:49,880 This golden cup is the false gospel of religious drunkenness and the false gospel will eventually 246 00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:53,880 serve the purpose of Antichrist. 247 00:24:53,880 --> 00:25:03,640 Now he says on the forehead of this person, this woman, was a name written. 248 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:12,560 This seems to go back to a custom of the Roman prostitutes to wear their names in a filet 249 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:20,880 that was across their brows, this gold ornament. 250 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:29,400 And so this figure has across its forehead a name and that name is given to us in verse 251 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:33,520 five. 252 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:36,960 She is called mystery. 253 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:39,960 Probably there's a colon after that, mystery. 254 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:48,440 Just as the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is called a mystery, so this false church 255 00:25:48,440 --> 00:25:51,240 adopts a similar kind of name, mystery. 256 00:25:51,240 --> 00:25:53,520 Now what does that mean? 257 00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:57,920 It's defined, Babel and the great. 258 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:03,140 The mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth. 259 00:26:03,140 --> 00:26:08,960 This religious system is the antithesis of everything that might be said about the true 260 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:13,040 church, the bride of Jesus Christ. 261 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:20,320 In what sense is this system the mother of harlots and abominations? 262 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:26,360 It seems to suggest that this religious system is the spring or the source of all the religious 263 00:26:26,360 --> 00:26:28,920 systems that pollute the earth. 264 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:34,400 That they all come back to this false system. 265 00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:36,980 And she is drunk. 266 00:26:36,980 --> 00:26:39,720 She is drunk with the blood of the saints. 267 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:48,640 She is known for the persecution of the true people of God in the tribulation period. 268 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:53,840 And I think that we can point out accurately that false religion has always persecuted 269 00:26:53,840 --> 00:27:00,680 the true saints of God. 270 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:08,160 This beast now that carries this figure is further described to us in verses seventeen 271 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:10,480 and following. 272 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:16,920 It says that this beast was and is not and is about to ascend out of the abyss. 273 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:21,440 It was and is not and yet is to come. 274 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:24,480 This is difficult language to really comprehend. 275 00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:29,120 We don't have time to go into a lot of detail tonight except to point out that there is 276 00:27:29,120 --> 00:27:37,160 something about this beast that was and is and still is yet to come. 277 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:43,920 Now assuming that we are with John in the day of the tribulations when this is taking 278 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:51,800 place what we might see here is the revival of the Roman Empire which is on the scene 279 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:57,840 and yet there is some aspect of it that is yet to come regarding this beast. 280 00:27:57,840 --> 00:28:01,720 If you remember what we have learned about the beast is that when he first comes on the 281 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:09,360 scene as this powerful charismatic leader of the European nations he seems to be a fellow 282 00:28:09,360 --> 00:28:17,000 of peace and he makes a covenant with Israel and he is an okay guy, very powerful, but 283 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:24,280 on the surface to the masses, the multitudes he looks like the savior. 284 00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:30,100 But there is something about him that is yet to come and that is his true nature is yet 285 00:28:30,100 --> 00:28:35,920 to be revealed and it will be with actually the destruction of this religious system and 286 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:42,140 the empowerment of his own when he will be worshiped as God. 287 00:28:42,140 --> 00:28:45,400 That is yet to come. 288 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:47,460 This beast is said to have seven heads. 289 00:28:47,460 --> 00:28:49,880 In verse 9 we have a word about that. 290 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:52,360 Here is the mind which has wisdom. 291 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:57,160 The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. 292 00:28:57,160 --> 00:29:02,320 And so as we think about these seven heads on the beast we are to think of seven mountains. 293 00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:07,440 Now some say well this refers to the mountains of Rome. 294 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:12,840 Rome is well known as being the city that is set on seven hills or seven mountains 295 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:17,600 and that may well be true and it may be that Rome will be the headquarters of the beast's 296 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:21,320 empire. 297 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:26,400 Mountains also have an imagery in the Old Testament. 298 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:32,680 They represent kingdoms that arise on the earth. 299 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:38,100 And you notice it goes on to say in the next verse there are also seven kings or seven 300 00:29:38,100 --> 00:29:41,840 kingdoms. 301 00:29:41,840 --> 00:29:48,720 It's possible there is a double meaning here in these seven heads that it is an allusion 302 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:54,740 to headquarters for this anti-Christ system which is Rome. 303 00:29:54,740 --> 00:29:59,200 And this is John's way of identifying it even for Christians who were living there in the 304 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:05,200 first century who would have recognized this language. 305 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:13,600 But a second meaning here may be that there is a pattern of historical kingdoms out of 306 00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:18,640 which this final empire will come. 307 00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:28,160 Those who understand it that way say that the list of kingdoms include five that were, 308 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:33,440 one that was in John's day and one which will be. 309 00:30:33,440 --> 00:30:40,440 The five that had been even in John's day were Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia and Greece. 310 00:30:40,440 --> 00:30:49,120 If you have much knowledge of Old Testament prophecy you know that you have the big five 311 00:30:49,120 --> 00:30:50,120 there. 312 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:53,160 Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia and Greece. 313 00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:59,120 But they were gone by the end of the first century and Rome was the one that was in that 314 00:30:59,120 --> 00:31:00,120 day. 315 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:05,360 It is present tense in the terms of Revelation. 316 00:31:05,360 --> 00:31:11,600 And then you have the seventh, the revived Roman Empire, the one that is yet to come. 317 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:15,480 And this beast is numbered then as the eighth. 318 00:31:15,480 --> 00:31:25,200 It may be that the seventh king is the revived Roman Empire and the eighth is the beast himself. 319 00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:29,720 Again this language is difficult to understand but it says in verse 11, the beast that was 320 00:31:29,720 --> 00:31:37,840 and is not and is himself also the eighth and is of the seven and is going to destruction. 321 00:31:37,840 --> 00:31:44,040 You know it's interesting whenever the Bible talks about the Antichrist, always in the 322 00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:48,280 context there is a word about his destruction. 323 00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:53,880 He is on his way to perdition and that is the case here. 324 00:31:53,880 --> 00:32:00,800 And so we have this religious system that is piggybacking so to speak on this political 325 00:32:00,800 --> 00:32:08,880 empire that is being put together by this powerful figure, the Antichrist. 326 00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:15,760 This religious system is riding on the back of this empire. 327 00:32:15,760 --> 00:32:22,560 The empire not only has seven heads but it has ten horns which represent ten kings of 328 00:32:22,560 --> 00:32:32,840 ten nations that will seem to cooperate with Antichrist in his rise to power. 329 00:32:32,840 --> 00:32:41,240 And verse 14 again says, these will make war with the Lamb and the Lamb will overcome them 330 00:32:41,240 --> 00:32:48,560 for he is the Lord of lords and king of kings and those who are with him are called, chosen 331 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:49,560 and faithful. 332 00:32:49,560 --> 00:32:56,240 And so once again there is a word that this system is doomed. 333 00:32:56,240 --> 00:33:02,880 Even as it begins to be organized, as these ten kings come together and Antichrist arises, 334 00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:09,220 they are doomed by God already because Jesus Christ the Lamb is also the king of kings 335 00:33:09,220 --> 00:33:13,360 and the Lord of lords. 336 00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:21,240 Now let's read verse 16, it says, and the ten horns which you saw and the beast, these 337 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:24,780 will hate the harlot. 338 00:33:24,780 --> 00:33:26,880 We have a new piece of information here now. 339 00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:35,360 Up to this point this religious system described as the harlot is riding along on the beast. 340 00:33:35,360 --> 00:33:42,200 But now we come to understand that this beast hates this harlot. 341 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:51,400 And it says, he will make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 342 00:33:51,400 --> 00:33:56,640 And so there will come a day when the beast will destroy this religious system and put 343 00:33:56,640 --> 00:33:58,620 an end to it. 344 00:33:58,620 --> 00:34:07,760 This ecumenical apostate church will be destroyed by God ultimately of course, but the tool 345 00:34:07,760 --> 00:34:14,080 that God will use is Antichrist himself, the beast and his system will destroy the church. 346 00:34:14,080 --> 00:34:20,560 And that would seem to happen at the midpoint of the tribulation period when Antichrist establishes 347 00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:27,280 his own religion and he is to be worshiped as the Messiah. 348 00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:35,280 He says in verse 17, God has put it into their hearts to fulfill his purpose, to be of one 349 00:34:35,280 --> 00:34:40,620 mind and to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled and the 350 00:34:40,620 --> 00:34:48,400 woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth. 351 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:54,640 The political alliance of Antichrist will be the doom of the super church. 352 00:34:54,640 --> 00:34:58,680 And all of this will be accomplished by the purpose of God. 353 00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:06,160 And friend, nothing can hinder God's purposes. 354 00:35:06,160 --> 00:35:10,320 Now we have to break at this point because it says chapter 18 and I am not ready to talk 355 00:35:10,320 --> 00:35:14,680 about that tonight nor are you ready to listen to it. 356 00:35:14,680 --> 00:35:19,800 But chapter 18 really goes on to talk about Babylon and the next time we deal with this 357 00:35:19,800 --> 00:35:27,440 we are going to talk about this second aspect of Babylon which is the political and commercial 358 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:29,880 aspect of Babylon. 359 00:35:29,880 --> 00:35:37,760 Just as religious Babylon now has been dealt with, so will political commercial Babylon 360 00:35:37,760 --> 00:35:43,800 be dealt with only this time more directly by God as we shall see. 361 00:35:43,800 --> 00:35:51,620 I tell you when I read about this and I see other texts in the Bible regarding the apostasy 362 00:35:51,620 --> 00:35:58,280 at the end of the age, it doesn't make me afraid. 363 00:35:58,280 --> 00:36:05,960 It makes me number one thankful that I am among those that are called and chosen and 364 00:36:05,960 --> 00:36:06,960 faithful. 365 00:36:06,960 --> 00:36:09,560 Doesn't it make you feel that way? 366 00:36:09,560 --> 00:36:14,480 We could be a part of this religious system that is described here. 367 00:36:14,480 --> 00:36:21,720 Those of mine and yours are. 368 00:36:21,720 --> 00:36:31,100 They are part of this and God in His grace has called us out from that to know Him. 369 00:36:31,100 --> 00:36:33,360 We don't have to be afraid. 370 00:36:33,360 --> 00:36:41,520 We can be thankful and we can be sure that our God reigns and that we are a part of that 371 00:36:41,520 --> 00:36:45,960 which is true and of Him who is true. 372 00:36:45,960 --> 00:36:51,320 As we come to His table tonight, we come to worship Him. 373 00:36:51,320 --> 00:36:58,400 We come to partake not of the wine of the blood of the saints, not of a cup that is 374 00:36:58,400 --> 00:37:05,200 filled with abomination and filthiness of apostate religion, but has a veneer over it 375 00:37:05,200 --> 00:37:12,480 of royalty and gaudy gold and scarlet. 376 00:37:12,480 --> 00:37:19,200 We come to partake of a cup that represents the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and a bread 377 00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:23,880 that represents His body broken for us. 378 00:37:23,880 --> 00:37:29,760 How glad that we can be that we come to this table and can fellowship with the Lord of 379 00:37:29,760 --> 00:37:34,040 Lords, the King of Kings, with the Lamb. 380 00:37:34,040 --> 00:37:39,960 I would like for us to sing as we prepare ourselves for this, just a verse or two of 381 00:37:39,960 --> 00:37:46,720 number 277 that talks about the true church. 382 00:37:46,720 --> 00:37:52,720 The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord. 383 00:37:52,720 --> 00:37:56,440 She is His new creation by watering the Word. 384 00:37:56,440 --> 00:38:05,000 From heaven He came and sought her to be His holy bride, not a harlot, a holy bride. 385 00:38:05,000 --> 00:38:10,160 With His own blood He bought her and for her life He died. 386 00:38:10,160 --> 00:38:27,560 Would you stand with me as we sing and our servers join me here in the front?