Study of End Times wk 39

The Woman and the Scarlet Beast

Last week we looked at chapters 15 and 16 the preparation and distributions of the seven bowls by the seven angels.

The seven bowls are God’s wrath being poured out onto the unbelievers of the earth, and also Satan, and the Antichrist, and the demons.

Tonight, we will be looking at chapter 17, which talks about the woman and the scarlet beast and the prophecies of these two and then their ending.

No Christian can afford to be ignorant of prophecy in these days in which we live because the things that are prophesied in God’s Word are imminent.

I believe the shadows of the end of age are lengthening, the sands of time are running low, and we are standing on the threshold of the second coming of Jesus Christ and the rapture of the church.

Every child of God needs to know that there is a beast called the Antichrist, who is lurking in the shadows and getting ready to take over.

Why?

Because of the intercession factor. We need to pray like we have never prayed before.

Because of the soul-winning factor. We need to get our loved ones into the ark of safety.

Because of the family instruction factor. We need to prepare our loved ones for the things that are coming. We cannot afford to be ignorant.

Because of the comfort factor. You may think things are coming apart, but everything is fitting into the sockets of prophecy.

I want to remind you that Revelation 17 is about the period of time called the great tribulation. The church, the blood-bought body of the Lord Jesus Christ, has been taken out, and now the false bride, shows herself.

The Woman and Her Mysterious Character

Revelation 17:1–4 CSB

1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me: “Come, I will show you the judgment of the notorious prostitute who is seated on many waters. 2 The kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and those who live on the earth became drunk on the wine of her sexual immorality.” 3 Then he carried me away in the Spirit to a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, jewels, and pearls. She had a golden cup in her hand filled with everything detestable and with the impurities of her prostitution.

A. The Scarlet Harlot

Women in the Bible prophecy are always considered a symbol of religion, whether good or bad. For example, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is called the bride of Christ.

This mother of prostitutes in verse 5 represents an apostate worldwide religion - the anti-church, if you will.

Revelation 17:5 CSB

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.

This woman is one who ill seduce the nations.

God’s Word is clear: If we flirt with this harlot world, we will become an enemy of the bridegroom.

James warns about this in his writing, James 4:4

James 4:4 CSB

4 You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God.

Paul put it clearly when he said in 2 Corinthians 11:2

2 Corinthians 11:2 CSB

2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pure virgin to Christ.

The church is the virgin who will be presented to the Lord Jesus Christ, the bridegroom.

Babylon also stand for false religion. actually, the word Babylon is a code word. It’s like when some says, Wall Street. We don’t think about the literal street; we think about the economic business of Wall Street.

When the Bible uses the term Babylon, it is talking about more than a city. Babylon is great in antiquity and iniquity. Every false religion has its roots in Babylon.

Throughout history, Babylon has been a den of demons. And today the ghosts of Babylon haunt the world.

Another phrase I want you to consider is the wine of her sexual immorality. This wine was bottled centuries ago, and yet men are still getting drunk on that wine today.

What is that Wine?

Astrology.

One billion people in the world today practice astrology. Many of them are Americans. Do you have a horoscope in your home?

If you do, get it out! Do not fool with it. You say, I know it’s not real; I’m just having fun with it. That is akin to a married man flirting with somebody who is not his wife. Get it out.

The Woman and Her Mischievous Children

Revelation 17:5 CSB

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.

This scarlet woman has taught daughters how to prostitute themselves.

Who are some of these harlots?

New Age religion, Satan worship, Mother Earth worship, globalism, Hinduism, Islam, apostate Christianity.

All of these are daughters of this false religion.

Daughters of the New Age movement - parapsychology practitioners, ecologists, political activists, educators, human potential advocates, goddess worshippers, reincarnation, astrologers, and more - are engulfing the world today.

It is a syncretism of all of the world’s religions.

A leader in the New Age movement said: We honor the truth and beauty of all the world religions, believing that each has a seed of God, a kernel of the spirit that unities us.

Doesn’t that sound beautiful?

Another leader in the same movement said, New Agers believe that God revealed Himself in Jesus, but he also revealed Himself in Buddha, Krishna, and host of others.

The followers of New Age do not believe the Bible alone is the guide.

There is a new religion to which they espouse called monism, which comes from the Greek word Mo-nos, meaning single.

The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy defines monism like this: The meaning applies to any doctrine or theory that claims that all things, no matter how many or what variety, can be reduced to one unified thing in time, space, or quality.

Everything is together. Any apparent or perceived differences are not real.

If you combine monism and pantheism (pan meaning all and theism mean God), You get the belief that everything is God.

The Woman and Her Murderous Conduct

This hideous woman is not only a prostitute, but she is a murder

Revelation 17:6 CSB

6 Then I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.

During the great tribulation, many thousands will be coerced to convert.

The false prophet said, in Revelation 13:15

Revelation 13:15 CSB

15 It was permitted to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast could both speak and cause whoever would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

If you are alive during this time, you will be forced to believe and bow the knee to the beast, or you will die.

During the great tribulation, the soil of planet earth will be drenched with blood by this harlot. False religion has always produced much bloodshed.

That is why I say that Christianity is not truly a religion. Instead, it is a vital relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Woman and Her Monstrous Consort

The woman has a friend named the beast. I would refer to her as the bride a of the beast, but I don’t believe they get married.

Revelation 17:3 CSB

3 Then he carried me away in the Spirit to a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.

Here is the ultimate alliance of church and state. as John write is

Revelation 17:7–13 CSB

7 Then the angel said to me, “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast, with the seven heads and the ten horns, that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss and go to destruction. Those who live on the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast that was, and is not, and is to come. 9 This calls for a mind that has wisdom. “The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated. They are also seven kings: 10 Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he comes, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast that was and is not, is itself an eighth king, but it belongs to the seven and is going to destruction. 12 The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they will receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. 13 These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.

This passage tell us that the beast has died and is going to come out of the bottomless pit.

How will he do that?

The devil will have a false resurrection. He will be mortally wounded, and then he will arise out of the abyss. This will cause the world to wonder and will prove to be the beast’s stamp of authenticity. His purpose is to deceive.

Notice the power with which the beast comes in verse 9.

Revelation 17:9 CSB

9 This calls for a mind that has wisdom. “The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated. They are also seven kings:

What city is built on seven hills?

Rome. Many prophecy experts believe the Antichrist’s new world order will be the reconstruction of the Roman Empire, exemplified by the statue with feet of iron and clay, as prophesied in Daniel 2:33.

Whether his final world empire is literally based in Rome, or Rome is used symbolically, as the term Babylon is used, the beast will under the mantle of bringing peace and stability to the world, create a association of the world’s leading powers and nations and merge it with a pluralistic, one-world religion.

When will he come?

Revelation 17:10 CSB

10 Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he comes, he must remain for only a little while.

When John wrote Revelation, there had already been five great kings or emperors that ruled over the Roman Empire: Caesar Augustus, Claudius, Caligula, Tiberius, and Nero.

One who is yet to come speaks of the Antichrist who will rule over a revived Roman Empire during the great tribulation.

Revelation 17:10–11 CSB

10 Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he comes, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast that was and is not, is itself an eighth king, but it belongs to the seven and is going to destruction.

This seventh beast is the one that will go into the grave, and when he comes out, he will be the eighth. He will enter the grave as a human, but he will arise a superhuman. This is the Antichrist.

Now think bout the people with who he will come.

Revelation 17:12–13 CSB

12 The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they will receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. 13 These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.

We learned earlier that a horn in Bible prophecy speaks of power. The ten horns on this beast are puppet kings out of the unified Roman Empire.

Notice the passion with which he comes.

Revelation 17:14 CSB

14 These will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those with him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

The battle of Armageddon will be against the King of kings and Lord of lords. In his deranged mind, the devil will think he can overthrow the Lamb of God. It is planned insanity.

The beast has one passion - to defy the Lamb. The beast will strut across the stage of history and will meet his demise at Armageddon. Those who follow their beloved beast will discover they have made a poor choice.

The Woman and Her Momentous Calamity

What will happen to this scarlet woman and her apostate religion?

Verses 14-18 speak of the beast and his armies.

Revelation 17:14–18 CSB

14 These will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those with him are called, chosen, and faithful.” 15 He also said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. 16 The ten horns you saw, and the beast, will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, devour her flesh, and burn her up with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his plan by having one purpose and to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman you saw is the great city that has royal power over the kings of the earth.”

The Babylonian monster will turn around and destroy the Babylonian mother.

The writing is on the wall for this consort of friends. The honeymoon is over, and the beast in his rage will desolate her.

Why does he hate her so much?

Envy. He is jealous of all her riches and wants them for himself. After he desolates her, he will disgrace her by stripping her naked to expose her moral vileness. Next he will devour her by eating her flesh. Then he will destroy her by burning what is left of her body.

Why is the Antichrist going to do this?

He wants to be the ruler of the world, and he does not want any competition. He will also destroy the harlot for providential reasons.

Revelation 17:17 CSB

17 For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his plan by having one purpose and to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled.

Did you know that the devil is really God’s servant and that the beast doesn’t rule?

God rules. The devil is on a leash.

Finally, the devil will destroy the harlot for political reasons. He wants to rule the world.

What is our application from Chapter 17 of Revelation?

We are the bride of Christ. And we need to take seriously the covenant we have made with God by not flirting with false religions.

Dr. Adrian Rogers said this, I know that some will rationalize and say you need to know about other religions, and perhaps you have even started studying the religions of the world. Do you know what I think when I hear people say they want to study other religions? I think of the married man who says, I want to see what all the other women in the world are like. You are to be true to Jesus Christ and get a bulldog grip on the truth. You do not have to flirt with all the other religions. Make it your life ambition to know the Lord Jesus Christ.