LESSON 21
One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls now comes to John and says, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters” (17:1). The word prostitute, or “whore,” is a metaphor for false religion. In verse 15, how does the angel explain the phrase many waters?
Prostitutes usually dress to entice; therefore, the whore is described as 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. On her forehead is written, “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations” (17:4–5). How does verse 6 describe her?
While six of the seven heads represent past empires, the ten horns are “ten kings,” or contemporary world leaders, who will “receive authority as kings for one hour [a brief time] together with the beast” (17:12, explanation added). They will unite and support the beast to make war against the Lamb (17:13–14a). What is the result (17:14b)?
This will happen at the Battle of Armageddon, which will be described in detail in chapter 19. When Christ returns to defeat Satan, He will have with Him the “called and chosen and faithful” (17:14c), which refers to true believers. The phrase called and chosen is reminiscent of what words of Jesus in John 6:44a?
When the beast takes over world power, he will assume the place of God and demand everyone worship him or die (2 Thess. 2:4; Rev. 13:8, 15). The angel further explains, “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” (17:17). The beast and his followers will think they are serving their own ends, but it is all part of God’s plan. This is because of what eternal truth in Galatians 6:7?
Babylon’s destruction occurs because she is the home “for demons” and a hideout “for every unclean spirit … every unclean bird” and “every unclean and detestable beast” (18:2b–e). Babylon’s influence will be worldwide because “the kings of the earth” commit “immorality with her” (18:3a–b). As a result, what happens (18:3c)?
Unrepentant Babylon will be judged because “her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities” (18:5). God’s patience has run out. Therefore, God’s people are commanded to “come out of her” (18:4) because of her sins and eventual judgment (18:6–7). The judgment “will come in a single day” because “mighty is the Lord God who has judged her” (18:8). This means commercial Babylon will be destroyed quickly. As a result, what will the kings who committed adultery with her and enjoyed her luxury do (18:9)?
Although the earth mourns, heaven rejoices over the desolation of Babylon (18:20). Babylon has slain God’s saints, so God slays Babylon. This is a reminder of what promise of God in Hebrews 10:30b?
The sins of Babylon are many, but her destruction will be the result of what diabolic act specified in 18:24?