The End of the World

INTRODUCTION

“The Matrix”: Unseen Reality

In the science fiction movie, The Matrix, the real world has been taken over by computers that keep humans in bondage by creating a false reality in their minds.

A few of the humans have escaped their pods and are battling the machines. but unlike the computer-induced dreamland, the real world is full of sweat, stress, and combat with the computers everywhere you turn.

In one scene, the leader of the escaped humans Morpheus, has contacted a person by the name of Neo who is still controlled by the Matrix.

"Let me tell you why you're here," says Morpheus. "You're here because you know something. What you know you can't explain—but you feel it. You've felt it your entire life. That there's something wrong with the world. You don't know what it is, but it's there, like a splinter in your mind, driving you mad. It is this feeling that has brought you to me. Do you know what I'm talking about?"

The Matrix is everywhere. It is all around us. Even now in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window, or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, when you go to church, when you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth."

"What truth?" asks Neo.

"That you are a slave, Neo. Like everyone else, you were born into bondage. Born into a prison that you cannot smell or taste or touch—a prison for your mind.

Revelation 17:1–2 ESV

1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.”

1. The Allure of the World

“The judgement of the prostitute who is seated on many waters.” Part of God’s judgment on the world comes at the hand of the enticing allure of the world, much like a prostitute or sexual immorality draw someone into a world that has a numbing effect on their lives.

John speaks of the kings becoming drunk on her sexual immorality. The allure of the world is subtle and deadly. We may even appear to be seeking the good of other people and the world around us. The dwellers on earth have become drunk or intoxicated by the world.

Revelation 17:3–6 ESV

3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 5 And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” 6 And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly.

*Which God will you Worship? The allure of the world is to do your religious duty out of obligation, to act the part, and even look the part, however, the numbing out of your life has become drunk by the allure of the world and intoxicated by what she has to offer. You go through your life drunk on the world.

*Which city will you love and live for? Are you living as an exile or a resident of the world. You have never truly changed residents. Your residence is still this world. You are like the child who is playing dress up and looking in the mirror thinking what a great place I live, what a great husband or wife I have, what an amazing job or kids I have acquired. But, at the end of the day, if you were truly honest you would say that this world is your home. You identify more with this world than the kingdom of God. You are still lost and not a part of the eternal kingdom of God.

John Piper -

That’s the goal of everything the [angels have] been revealing. That’s what the whole book of Revelation is about. That’s the point of all God’s judgments, all God’s dealings with the world.

All God’s plans for history from beginning to end have this one goal—WORSHIP GOD! Don’t worship the wealth of Babylon, don’t worship the power of Babylon, don’t worship the pleasures of Babylon, and don’t even worship the holy messenger who brings you the news that Babylon has fallen forever. WORSHIP GOD! (“Worship God”)

Unfortunately humans are too easily allured and trapped by this world. WE do not see it for what it really is and where it ultimately leads. What we need is for it to be exposed for what it really is. We need to have it uncovered and shown to be what it really is.

We are going to read about this morning how even when the world is finally exposed for what it is and destroyed the world mourns and weeps over her destruction. They are still worshiping and living for this world.

Pics of Babylon Past and current day Babylon

Babylon and all it represents will be destroyed. The New Jerusalem and all it represents will live forever.

Why would any reasonable person in their right mind choose Babylon over the New Jerusalem?

*Do Not be Seduced by the World

The image is one of spiritual Adultery

Not only does she seduce leaders of the world, but also common everyday people, “those who live on earth,” are drunk with the wine of her sexual immorality. The lust for power, material possessions, sex, and pleasure has intoxicated the world. John reminds us in 1 John 2:16

1 John 2:16 ESV

16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

This is a description of the world where the American dream is the ultimate goal of life. And we had better wake up and be careful because it is not hard to imagine that you and I will wake up on that day and realize that we have all become Babylonians!

2. The Lies of the World

“The world is full of blasphemous names, and in her hand is the cup that is full of abominations and impurities of her sexual immorality. On her head is also written a name of mystery. Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” Now Babylon is identified as the woman or prostitute that John is speaking of in this context. It is also used as a symbol of the world we live in.

“We know that Satan is the father of lies.” The longer that he can deceive the world and keep them walking the course they are currently walking it will leave those on earth worshiping the god of this world. Satan is counting on our comfort-ability and love for this world to prevail.

1 John 2:15–17 ESV

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

*Do Not Love the World

What does it mean not to Love the World?

Now, our sense of sensibility trying to make sense of this command reads the words but, in reality here is what our mind hears.

“Do not Love the World more than you Love God.” “Love God 1st and best.”

But, that is not what John is writing here. He is stating do not love the world at all period. Any remaining love or desire for the world points to a person who does not have the love of the Father in them at all. It means that this person cannot say I truly love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.

Here is the lie we all placate into our own lives.

“Well I come to church on Sunday, I attend small group Bible study, I read my Bible when I have time, I try to love my wife well, I do the best I can in raising my kids. So, I must love God.

However, what John is saying is that is the lie that the prostitute aka. the world and Satan has weaved into your life. As long as you don’t drink, don’t smoke, and don’t date the girls who do, therefore, you are good. This is just moralistic therapeutic reorientation of your life. It may cause you to sleep better at night, and feel better about yourself, however you cannot say you love God.

Note: The beast with seven heads and 10 horns is none other than the antichrist which we read about in chapter 13. The woman is beautiful and seductive dressed in purple scarlet, adorned with gold, precious stones and pearls.

“The golden cup filled with wine alludes to Jeremiah’s description of Babylon’s world-wide influence in idolatry. Here cup is filled with abominable things. The idols of her heart are now filled to the brim as she shares them with the senselessness of humanity that falls into a drunken stupor, no longer able to see the real truth, beauty, and goodness found only in God and His salvation through the Lamb.

Notice: Verse 6 reveals that the notorious prostitute throughout history has set her sights on the people of God and the followers of Jesus.

Antichrist and Antichrists

1 John 2:18–19 ESV

18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

Weeds among the Wheat

Matthew 13:24 “the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds, among the wheat....”

Oneness Pentecostal - Denies the trinity/Jesus Only - one in four. Modal-ism, sometimes he’s the father, the son, and the spirit. (baptism of Jesus.) T.D. Jakes.

Kenneth Coplan, Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen, Name it claim in theology, they manipulate material wealth for their own gain. (Matthew 6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasure on earth.” Joel Osteen is the worst offender, Jesus Christ is footnote at the end of his message. Osteen never teachers about sin, judgement, or consequences for rejecting Christ. We are our own God, we save ourselves by our own inner power. Joel say’s “your best life is right now,” if you believe that then this life will be your best life now.

Steven Furtick - Elevation Church - he is completely unqualified, Furtick said: “Jesus broke the law for Love.” “The process of discipleship is not God changing you into something else, its him revealing who you have been all along.”

The Whore Drinks the blood of the Saints

From the N.T. and all the martyrdom we read about and now for 20 centuries she has been doing the same thing. And the more blood this world drinks, the more it wants. Its intoxicating effects consume it and drive it to want more and more and more.

The twentieth century was the bloodiest in Christian history. We should expect the 21st century to be even worse.

Paul may have had in mind the extreme torture and persecution of the church under the emperor Nero. As we move ever closer to the end of history, we can expect the blood of martyrs to flow like a river. The calling card of the Christians today by become more like Paul’s passionate cry in Philippians 1:21

Philippians 1:21 ESV

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

The World is Resilient and will Keep Coming and pursuing you.

Revelation 17:7–8 ESV

7 But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.

Note: Those whose names have not been written in the Lambs book of life but still ascribe to the world as their home and identify with the things of this world marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.

Notice that in 1 John 2:15 John writes that if anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in them at all. 1 John 2:16 tells us that for those who are in the world the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life - is not from the father but, is from the world.

John 17:14–16 ESV

14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

The most simple definition of world is that the world refers to a world system ruled by Satan, we can more readily appreciate Christ’s claims that believers are no longer of the world - we are no longer ruled by sin.

We are being transformed from one degree of glory to another, meaning our desires and passions are no longer bound to this world, our interests in this world become less as we mature in Christ.

Where does your mind wonder throughout your daily life. When you are at work, when you are at home, when you are with your kids. Does it wonder to kingdom things or earthly things?

Believers are physically present in the world but not of it, not part of its values. As believers we are set apart from this world. 1 Peter 3:11-12 Peter tells us to act as sojourners and exiles, to abstain from the passions of the flesh.... live in such a way that when the world speaks out against you they will see your good works and glorify God...

1 John 2:17 reminds us that the world is passing away in a spiritual sense, meaning human society organized independently of God, and represented in Scene 4 by the beasts and here in scene 6 by Babylon and her beast, is as impermanent as anything in the physical ‘world’. The first Word about Babylon, however, shows her in her power and glory. Even John appears to marvel at her and her great seductive power.

However, the angel asks John a question, “why do you marvel? The beast you saw is about to rise from the bottomless pit only to be destroyed. Those who love the world and are not of Him will marvel at the beast and will follow him into destruction.

The “World” with all of it’s ideals and values, in a sense all of human society without God; and when that world is collapsing, and Babylon is being made to drink the cup of the fury of God’s wrath and the whore is being replaced by the Bride, Babylon is being replaced by the New Jerusalem; and since Jerusalem stands for God’s society, the church, Babylon presumably stands for godless society, the world.

3. The Purpose of the World

Revelation 17:9–10 ESV

9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 10 they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while.

* The World is Organized According to His Divine Plan

Note: God is fulfilling his divine and sovereign plan for in the ebb and flow of history, because History is His story, the story of the Messiah! The narrative of God’s redemption and restoration is unfolding according to His Sovereign plan. John now tells us that we will need wisdom to unravel the mystery.

The 7 heads on 7 mountains most agree is a reference to Rome in the first-century. The city was known as “the city on seven hills.” Seven would also communicate great power and authority.

vs 10 can offer some difficulty as it refers to seven kings, five of whom have fallen.....

Some look to Rome to mean the past rulers or emperors, the five then are AUGUSTUS, TIBERIUS, CALIGULA, CLAUDIUS AND NERO.

In Israels history five kings and kingdoms have fallen....

EGYPT, ASSYRIA, BABYLON, MEDO-PERSIA, AND GREECE. The one who is would obviously be Rome, and the one who has not yet come would be the future kingdom of the anti-Christ.

The manifestation of the Kingdom will only last a little while. The beast will exhibit all of the brutality, greatness, splendor, strength, and wickedness of all of these great empires. But like all other worldly empires, it will have its day and come to an end.

Or, is it in the symbolism of the numbers symbolically seven will stand for the power of the Roman Empire as a historic whole. It is the number of perfection, pointing to the whole. Five kings have passed away, which puts John into the time of the sixth that preceding the climax.

The world has a plan, but God’s plan is the only one that will last forever.

The World is Powerful, but, its Time is Short

Revelation 17:11–13 ESV

11 As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast.

Note: Notice that John is not concerned enough with what the beast does or does not do, he rushes directly to the point, the beasts time will be short and then destroyed.

The Ruler of this world is going down. They will be destroyed. The beast will be beaten.

Note: Notice that for 1 hour these 10 kings will rule alongside the beast, and later they will have one purpose in carrying out the will of God in the destruction of the prostitute.

Isaiah 40:8 ESV

8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

*The World is Foolish

Revelation 17:14–18 ESV

14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” 15 And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16 And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, 17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”

The world chooses the wrong fighting opponent.

It will not be a replay of a Rocky Balboa movie where he gets beat to a pulp before he starts to win the fight.

The world for sure takes on the wrong adversary.

The final battle for the world is a suicide mission for sure. It is no contest! The Lamb will conquer them, for “He is the Lord of lords and King of kings.” This title in scripture is reserved only for God.

Note: Notice that He brings with Him those who are called by God. Those who are with Him are called Chosen and Faithful.

This shows the balance between God’s divine sovereignty and Human responsibility.

Called and chosen is God’s Part

Faithful to the end is our Part.

Notice that we are not designated a role or assignment. Perhaps this is because we are only spectators in the final conflict. Our God and king wan the battle without our help in His first coming; I believe that will be the case when He returns.

Note: The action of her destruction will be initiated by God: “For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His plan” - that is, to rid the world of “the world.” The world believes that it is carrying out their own program for conquest, but actually they will accomplish God’s providential program.

4. The Result of the World

vs 3 “The nations have now drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality....” “they have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”

vs 6 “Since she lived high on her luxury living give her a double portion of the cup or torment and mourning....”

vs. 9 “And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning.....”

vs. 10 “For a single hour your judgment has come.....”

vs. 11 “And the merchants will weep and mourn over her, since no one buys their cargo anymore.....”

vs. 14 “The fruit for which your soul longed has gone from you....(what your heart desired above God is now gone forever)

vs. 15 “The merchants who gained wealth from her will stand far off and weep and mourn aloud....

vs. 19b “For in a single hour she has been laid waste....”

What makes you Cry? What causes you to weep uncontrollably? What breaks your heart? I often say we will talk about the thing we love the most. I also believe that we will cry over the loss of what we love the most.

I this chapter we see the world weeping over the death of the prostitute. However, this prostitute was using others just as others were also using her.

The people of this world were glad to let her use them because they became drunk and intoxicated by her. In fact she made them rich, provided them a life of luxurious living.

How many times have Christians felt that those living for the world seem to have it all. They appear to get all the good things this world has to offer. If you have ever thought along these lines you would be correct. However, all of this is deceptive and in the end will be destroyed.

Whatever we hate will also reveal what we truly love. The earth dwellers those who lived for priorities and values of this world, hated God and loved the Prostitute.

Consumed by their own greed and self-interest, their narcissism controlled their desires, their passions, their worldview. Suddenly all that they have lived for is gone, taken in a moment. It is more than they can bear.

They threw dust on their heads as an outward sign of their mourning. They too cry, Woe, woe, the great city. We “became rich from her wealth,” but “in a single hour she was destroyed.

If you love this world, it will pass away, and it will take you with it. You will not only lose true pleasure; you will lose your life.... You will Perish with the world” (Danger Ahead)

ANGELS SING OF THE UTTER DESTRUCTION THAT IS THE DESTINY OF THE PROSTITUTE

Perhaps this last stanza should be labeled, “A Funeral Song for the Prostitute.”

There will be no record of her. “An angel took a millstone and threw it into the sea so will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence and will be found no more.” (18:21)

There will be no rejoicing over Her. “And the sound of all the instruments will be heard no more.”(18:22)

There will be no Rebuilding of her “All of the craftsmen of any craft will be found in you no more.” (18:22)

There will be no Reflection of her “And the light of a lamp will shine in your no more.” (18:23)

There will be no Recovery of her “And the voice of the bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more.” (18:23)

There will be no Redemption for her “And in her was found the blood of the prophets and saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.” (18:24)

CONCLUSION

We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who goes on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are too easily pleased. (C.S. Lewis Weight of Glory, 25–26)

Babylon offers mud pies in the slum. The new Jerusalem ruled by the King of kings and the Lord of lords offers a glorious holiday by a crystal sea that will last forever. Do not be too easily pleased. Do not be seduced by a world that can never deliver what is truly lasting and ultimately satisfying.

I believe that the greatest lie and deception of this world is that people feel as though they are going to be in the grand stands with the redeemed on that day because they said a prayer somewhere along the way, or because they were baptized, or because they went through the religious motions. Those will be with the ones that are caught up in God’s wrath for destruction.

Where will you be on that day? Will you be enjoying the holiday by the crystal sea with all the saints that have gone before? Or will you still be working on your mud pies in the slum of this world just getting by.