REVELATION SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 17.1

Gleanings from the Book of Revelation:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

The

REVELATION TO JOHN

 

Chapter Seventeen

The Great Tribulation

Parenthesis

Mystery Babylon

 

 

Introduction

Prophecy in Scripture has a method whereby a premise is presented, then repeated in detail intended toward a conclusion. For example, The Genesis 1 account of Creation is subsequently exposited in Genesis 2 and the following. Revelation 17 is an expanded account of 14:8 - The religious system of Babylon, whereas Revelation 18 is an elaboration of 16:19 – The political-economic system of Babylon.

 

Various aspects of prophetical events other than chronological are likewise revealed by God to John the Apostle. So, a lengthy parenthesis is inserted between the conclusion of the bowl judgments and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to particularize the fall of a global false religious system sponsored by the Antichrist.

Revelation 14:8 - 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.

 

The influence of Babylon, the seat of Antichrist’s headquarters during the final weeks, had infected and imbibed all the nations of the world. In retrospect, Revelation Chapters 17 and 18 thus depict not the judgment, but what is being destroyed by the judgment.

 

Two Babylons Compared

A. Revelation 17 – Religious Babylon

B. Revelation 18 – Political Babylon

 

A. Revelation 17 – One world religion

B. Revelation 18 – One world government

 

A. Revelation 17 – The destruction of ecclesiastical Babylon

B. Revelation 18 – The destruction of political Babylon

 

The events of both chapters do not occur at the same time. Religious Babylon begins at the middle of Tribulation and Political Babylon will fall at the end, before Christ's Second Advent.  And, even though the two chapters indicate there being two distinct Babylons, the former merges with the latter when Antichrist establishes himself as a god.

 

OUTLINE

1. The definition of the harlot (Vv. 1-6)

2. The description of the beast (Vv. 7-14)

3. The destruction of the harlot (Vv. 16-18)

 

1. The Definition of the Harlot

(Verse 1)

 

And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters.

 

As the scene opens, John recognizes an angel who poured out one of the seven bowl judgments. As the angel approaches, he says to John, “Come here, I want to show you something.” This will be the second of three times in Revelation John is summoned to come hither:

Revelation 4:1b - The first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

 

Revelation 17:1 - …one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore…

 

Revelation 21:1 - …one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

 

John is taken not bodily, but in the spirit and given a new vision.

I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters.

 

About to be revealed to John, God shifts from the wrath on Antichrist’s earthly world empire to the judgments upon the great whore. The terminology does not refer to a human prostitute but the word whore is used metaphorically for the following:

1. False religion

2. Idolatry

3. Apostasy

 

This great prostitute is seen sitting upon many waters. Being seated indicates her highly influential position of authority and power. Many waters in prophetic language are synonymous with masses of people from many nations whom she has influenced over. The world is embraced and controlled by Antichrist’s false religious system – Babylon. Verse 15 verifies her committing intercourse with the world:

Revelation 17:15 - And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

 

The Great Whore

Pornē is the Greek rendering for whore or harlot, the feminine form of pornos, meaning prostitute, male or female, from which the word pornography serves as its derivative. It is representative of anyone committing spiritual fornication (porneuō), i.e., indulging in any unlawful sexual behavior, namely idolatry. Subsequently, the great whore is the apostate church and Antichrist’s false religious system during Tribulation.

 

Additionally, any city that prostitutes itself in like manner is considered a harlot. Following are others mentioned in Scripture:

1. Nineveh was depicted as a harlot city (cf. Nahum 3:1, 4)

2. Tyre was labeled a harlot city (cf. Isaiah 23:15-17)

3. Jerusalem (Zion) is described as a harlot city (cf. Isaiah 1:21)

 

Contrast

Two entities are contrasted: If the true Church is the Bride of Christ, then the false church is the great whore.

A. The Great Harlot – The false church, full of abomination and the filthiness of her fornication, is portrayed as a prostitute.

 

B. The Bride of Christ – The true Church which has been cleansed from the stain of sin by the shed blood of the Bridegroom.

 

As a point of reference:

A. Jehovah of the Old Testament is the Husband of Israel

Isaiah 54:5 - For thy Maker is thine Husband; the LORD of hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

 

Jeremiah 3:14 - Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion.

 

B. The Church as a virgin bride is joined to her Husband

2 Corinthians 11:21 - For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one Husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

 

Israel and the Church were given a dire warning against spiritual adultery. Applying to both:

James 4:4 - Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

 

 

(Verse 2)

 

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.

 

Her authority is universal. The great whore has in her grasp world leaders and provokes them to commit fornication. Showing an unholy alliance between church and state, they outwardly appear joined to God but inwardly they serve and worship false gods. Accordingly, spiritual adultery becomes analogous to Christians embracing the world and its system. Drunkenness and sexual sins are earmarks of satanic influence over religion. This practice was prominent in many pagan religions and will filter into the Tribulation Period.

 

Metaphors

A. The kings of the earth – World leaders become obsessed with the false religious system commandeered by Antichrist

 

B. Committing fornication – The world is universally worshiping idols and false gods rather than the one true God  

 

C. The inhabitants of the earth – About unbelievers

 

D. Drunk with the wine of her fornication – Idolatrous people

 

 

(Verse 3)

 

So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

 

Next, the scene moves to a barren wilderness where the same angel of verse 1 permits John to observe. He perceives a great whore seated upon a scarlet-coloured beast, scarlet being Satan’s colour. The beast is reminiscent of the same in Revelation 12:3; 12:9; and 13:1. Being atop the political power of the beast, she advertently exudes a religious ecclesiastical authoritative position.                                                 

 

Full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns

One of the main features of this duo is the demeanor of the beast. Unlike Revelation 13:1 where the name of blasphemy was upon the seven-headed, ten-horned beast, this beast is full of names of blasphemy, thus fulfilling Daniel’s prophecy:

Daniel 7:25a - And he shall speak (out) great words against the most High.

 

The seven heads reference future rulers of the one-world government. And, the ten horns are ten kings which have received no kingdom as of yet but who will pledge their allegiance to the beast (cf. Revelation 17:12). These ten kings which have received no kingdom as of yet pledge their allegiance to the beast (cf. Revelation 17:12). They are revealed in verse 16 as those who shall rule as subordinates to Antichrist in the new world order

 

 

(Verse 4)

 

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.

 

The evil whorish woman symbolizes the false religious system perpetuated by Antichrist. Notice the focus of her attention is on her outward appearance rather than inward. Her clothing and jewelry embellishments were worn by two groups of people during the Roman Empire to bring attention to themselves.

A. The aristocratic class elites

B. The sophisticated prostitutes

 

Purple and Scarlet

Scarlet and purple colours in Scripture are emblematic of luxury, prosperity, and splendor. They are colours associated with royalty and nobility. And, through the course of history, they were also descriptive of ecclesiastical pomp. The picture indicates the church amalgamated with the world in the physical sense and the epitome of idolatry in the spiritual.

 

Jewelry

Designed to make her more appealing, three decorative adornments are worn by the prostitute to enhance her beauty, and wealth and bring confidence to herself:

1. Gold

2. Precious stones

3. Pearls

 

Adding ornaments to her apparel distracts from her deceptive character. Contrariwise, the Roman system, and apostate Protestantism are proportionate to her wealth and fraudulence.

 

Having a golden cup (drinking vessel, chalice) in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication

 

Golden Cup

Another interesting symbolism of the world’s false religious system is the golden cup she holds in her hand. But out of it emerges abominations and unclean things of her immorality. One writer describes, “This cup makes the world drunk with a false gospel intoxicating the earth,” thus causing men to be degraded, robbed of their senses, and tempted into spiritual immorality.

Jeremiah presents a vivid example concerning Babylon’s religious system:

Jeremiah 51:7 - Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

 

In the next verse, the secrets and origination of Mystery Babylon are uncovered in the following study.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1.   Identify the two systems of Babylon.

2.   What does one of the seven angels shew John?

3.   What does the word whore represent in Chapter 17?

4.   What does the whore do concerning the world?

5.   What is the second vision given for John to observe?

6.   Name the apparel and ornaments worn by the woman.

7.   Describe the symbolism of the golden cup.

 

 

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REVELATION SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 16:18

Gleanings from the Book of Revelation:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

The

REVELATION TO JOHN

 

Chapter Sixteen

The Great Tribulation

The Seven Trumpets

Judgment Resumed

Trumpet Number 7 (Woe Number 3)

 

The Seventh Bowl

 

Review

As the seventh angel pours the seventh bowl of wrath, the last of the twenty-one judgments of God, into the earth’s atmosphere the voice of God is heard saying, ‘It is done,' meaning the judgments of God's plan have now been accomplished. For those men who have rejected Jesus Christ, it will be a frightening and fearsome experience.

 

The psalmist Asaph, the prophets Zephaniah, Haggai, and others foresaw Tribulation concluding with the great Day of the Lord’s wrath at Armageddon, including the ultimate destruction of Babylon (cf. Revelation 17-18):

Psalm 50:3-4 - Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people.

 

Zephaniah 1:15, 17 - That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness…And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.

 

Haggai 2:6 - For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land.

 

As a result of the pouring, the following verse details the physical cataclysmic disturbances upon the earth.

 

 

(Verse 18)

 

And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

 

The final vial is introduced by voices (literally, rumblings, akin to sayings or languages), pearls of thunder, and flashes of lightning, indeed similar to those preceding the seventh seal and seventh trumpet judgments:

Revelation 8:5 – And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

 

Revelation 11:19 - And the Temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in His Temple the Ark of His Testament: and there were bolts of lightning, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

 

 

The Greatest Earthquake

And there was a great earthquake, such as was not (the likes of which had not occurred) since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

The most powerful seismic upheaval of all time will change the earth’s landscape in preparation for the Millennium. This exceptional earthquake of the severest magnitude will most likely take place when Jesus rests His feet on the Mount of Olives. Along with its aftershocks, it also marks the severity of the devastation that follows. God is going to shake the earth like a baby rattle. [See also Earthquakes: Revelation 6.10 Study]

 

 

(Verse 19)

 

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.

 

The great city is untitled, however, three determinations have been postulated as to its identity:

1. Some believe the city refers to Rome, identifying it as the seat of the apostate church

 

2. Some indicate Babylon emerges as the capital city of Antichrist’s world government during the last days of Tribulation, i.e., a rebuilt city of Babylon on the Euphrates River. Babylon the Great is delineated in Chapters 17 and 18.

 

3. Some concur it refers to Jerusalem since Jerusalem is alluded to earlier as the great city by John:

Revelation 11:8 - And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the Great City, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. [cf. Revelation Study 11.7]

 

Jerusalem seems to be more in line with the context of this passage. While there is no indication that Jerusalem will be destroyed, the passages clearly state the city will be divided into three parts. At this point, Armageddon cues fulfillment of prophecy:

Zechariah 14:4 - Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle. And His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave (divide asunder) in the midst thereof toward the east and the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

 

So, the text indicates the Lord descending with His saints. And, as He sets his feet on the Mount of Olives it splits in two. One half will move to the east and the other to the west, forming a great valley between and causing the two parts of the divided Mount of Olives to move north and south. Thus, Jerusalem is divided into three parts.

 

The Mount of Olives

Also known as Olivet (lit. olive garden), the Mount of Olives is one crest part of a huge north-to-south mile-long limestone ridge east of the old city of Jerusalem. Its summit (about 300 feet above the Temple Mount) lies about one-half mile from the city wall separated by the Kidron Valley and borders the Judean wilderness toward the Dead Sea.

 

Old Testament

Other than Zechariah’s prophecy, some significant events concerning Moriah in Israel’s history include:

1. When David fled barefoot there from his rebellious son Absalom (cf. 2 Samuel 15:14, 30)

 

2. When Ezekiel saw a vision ( theophany or Christophany – A pre-incarnate appearance of Christ) of Messiah at Moriah (cf. Ezekiel 11:23-24)

 

3. When Nehemiah gathered wood from the Mount’s abundant olive trees to celebrate the first Feast of Tabernacles after the seventy-year Babylonian captivity (cf. Nehemiah 8:15)

 

New Testament

Many conspicuous accounts of Jesus are noted, some encompass:

1. When Jesus instructed His disciples how to pray (cf. Luke 11:1-4)

 

2. When Jesus sat and gave the Olivet discourse about the signs of the times, the end of the Age, the Great Tribulation, and the Second Coming (cf. Matthew 24-25)

 

3. When the Lord’s Supper was ended, Jesus approached the base of the Mount of Olives into the Garden of Gethsemane (cf. Matthew 26:30)

Traditionally, it is also said that the Mount of Olives was the location where Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem (cf. Luke 19:41).

 

According to Josephus, in A.D. 70, Roman commander Titus stationed his headquarters on the northeastern slope, a crest called Mount Scopus [the exact location remains unknown since Jerusalem’s destruction changed the topography]. There the Roman army placed catapults and hurled stones, the weight of a talent, into Jerusalem, aiding its destruction.

 

Also, of intrinsic value, is the fact that the Ascension of Jesus occurred on the Mount of Olives, the same pace of which He shall so return as foretold by Zechariah 14:4 [see above] and two angels standing by in white apparel:

Acts 1:11-12 - Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath day's journey.

 

And the cities of the nations fell (collapsed)

As convulsions and aftershocks increase, every major city of all nations in league with spiritual Babylon is reduced to total ruin.

 

And great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her (and gave her) the cup (fury) of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.

God shall remember the great Babylon that forms the subject and object of God’s wrath during the next two chapters (cf. Revelation 17:5). Before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, Babylon receives the cup (fate) of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. Notice the distinct nuance between fierceness and wrath:

A. Fierceness: (Greek; θυμός (thumos), meaning breathing hard with passionate fierce indignation – Anger)

 

B. Wrath: (Greek; ὀργή (orgē), meaning violent punishment or avenging anger)

[See notes relating to the cup in Revelation 14.9 study]

 

The scene following the great earthquake captures the essence of what the Psalmist wrote:

Psalm 2:4-6 - He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure. Yet have I set My King upon My Holy Hill of Zion.

 

 

(Verse 20)

 

And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

 

Parallel to Revelation 6:14-17, the whole world is convulsed as every island vanishes by sinking into the waters, and mountains are flattened or could no longer be found. These descriptions generally accompany the last judgment. In comparison: The judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah was local, on the other hand, the final bowl is more widespread and will affect the entire globe, but will not be annihilated.

 

It is said that the restoration of the Antediluvian environment will return to its original topography. Subsequently, it certainly will be conducive to better climate conditions for the Millennium.

 

 

(Verse 21)

 

And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every [hail] stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

 

Those who escape the great earthquake will face an unprecedented hailstorm. Raining down, hurled, or descending upon men are huge hailstones (literally talent-like in weight) from above.

 

There are varying measurements for talents dependent upon culture. It could range anywhere from 96 to 125 pounds. Regardless, the average, a 100-pound talent falling from the sky will pulverize anyone or anything it strikes (cf. Exodus 9:22-26). Isn’t it interesting that Jerusalem was destroyed by catapulting 100-pound stones, while 100-pound hailstones rain from heaven during the last judgment destroying the earth?

 

Precedents and predictions of hail used in judgment are located elsewhere in Scripture. Some examples involve:

1. Joshua’s battle at Bethhoron. It records more Amorites being killed by God causing walnut-size hailstones to fall upon the enemies than the Israelites slew with the sword (cf. Joshua 10:11)

 

2. Isaiah speaks of a tempest of hail and the destroying storm which God in His judgment will send (cf. Isaiah 28:27)

 

3. Ezekiel speaking of God pleading with men with pestilence, blood, an overflowing rain, great hailstones combined with fire and brimstone (cf. Ezekiel 38:22)

 

And men blasphemed God because of the plague (calamity) of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great (so horrendous)

The consequence which God will bring upon those who worship the beast will be unimaginable. Since Antichrist has taught men to curse God, they do this until their last breath. The picture is of a tortured humanity holding to satanic allegiance and refusing to recognize and accept the authority of God. Sol the last vestige of tortured civilization is seen defiantly blaspheming God, hence amplifying the depravity of man.

 

Epilogue

Question:

Why is eternal punishment eternal?

Answer:

Humankind, in the hardness of their hearts, will not change. They deserve eternal punishment because they will not repent. Scripture’s prime example is Judas Iscariot.

 

Man’s hope is repentance and reconciliation with God, then to focus and follow Jesus Christ. So when Judgment strikes, as was in the Passover, it shall be ineffective. God sent His only begotten Son to shed His blood on Calvary’s Cross to reconcile an unholy man to a holy God. The Bible solemnly warns everyone to flee from God’s forthcoming wrath.

John 1:12 - But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.

 

The greatest judgment is placed upon Babylon, the seat of Satan’s power. Even though Tribulation is technically complete, a parenthetical detailed study of Babylon ensues in Chapters 17 and 18.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1.   Describe the final earthquake.

2.   Name the great city in verse 19.

3.   Describe the Mount of Olives.

4.   Name some events that occurred on the Mount of Olives.

5.   What great prophetic event will take place at Olivet?

6.   Describe the final pouring of God’s wrath.

7.   Why will man not accept Christ during final judgments?

 

 

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