Mystery, Babylon, part 2

Please turn back to Revelation 17, and I want to remind you what we are looking at today, the judgment on the religious institution of Babylon. Read verse 1...

God is long suffering. Patient. For thousands of years He has allowed this system of idolatry to permeate the world. This has led many to scratch their heads and ask “why?” His reasons are His own, but do not mistake His patience for His acceptance.

What we are reading today is future yet, but proof nonetheless that God will judge this pagan system of worship.

Last week we traced the roots of the Babylonian worship and discussed the evidence or the reason why so many are quick to equate this false religion to the RCC. I will not lay the blame at their feet alone, because they are in the same boat with every false religion and false teaching in the world. This judgment is on the false church, the false religious system that will dictate and control the world for a time, but her time is limited and her destruction is promised. In the meantime, she is willing to do whatever is necessary to gain and maintain power and control. We see this in...

Her Conspiracy v. 3, 8-14

Read Revelation 17:3

Revelation 17:3 KJV 1900

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.

Allow me to be very clear, that in addition to her character, which we saw last week, we see here she is in conspiracy with the Antichrist. Seen in fact sitting on his back, riding him as one would a horse. Please understand that the word “sit” has the idea of comfort and control, and can be translated as “dwelling place”. She is comfortable in his conspiracy, and has no intention of leaving. The beast, however, has other plans.

What we know that she doesn’t is this beast is USING her for his own advantage: That is what Satan does today! Notice how verse 3 matches up with Revelation 13:1

Revelation 13:1 KJV 1900

1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

Determined to have prominence in this “new world order” the false church aligns with the beast in a relationship that is doomed to fail. She is deceived by his...

Power

She is convinced he will provide the answers by his seeming death and resurrection

Twice we read of this in Revelation 17:8 “8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.”

“Was, and is not, and shall…” then at the end referred to as, “…the beast that was, and is not, and yet is” is a reference to life, apparent death and then the resurrection of the Antichrist

This of course takes place in the last half of the tribulation

The whore and the beast will work together to convince the world he is “god”

Her influence will be great, but perhaps there will be an allegiance with the false prophet that will give her an even greater influence.

Whatever the case, the angel describing the scene to John wants us to know who the beast is:

Revelation 17:9–10 “9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.”

While Rome is often referred to as “the city of seven hills” that on its own is not enough clear evidence to state the city of Rome or her church are in view here.

In fact, the angle is very clear the seven heads (mountains) are in fact seven kings - v. 10.

Of the kings, five are fallen or have already risen and fallen

Kings could refer to kingdoms

This would refer to five world powers, beginning with ancient babylon and concluding with Greece

The kingdom that “is” would refer to Rome in John’s day

The one yet to come would be the revised Roman empire, a series of ten districts or provinces that will be established during the Tribulation ruling the world

Lastly we are told in Revelation 17:11 “11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.”

Was, is not, even is...

Reference to his power to convince, even the false church that he is the true Christ...

He is powerful, and deceitful

Through his political influence he enlists, or appoints ten leaders over ten districts of the world Revelation 17:12 “12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.”

The Roman Empire will be revised as predicted in Daniel 2 the toes of the statue were part of iron and part of clay, an alloy that cannot exist. It will be temporary

Notice in verse 10 the phrase, “ a short space” and in verse 11 we read that the kings he sets up will “…receive power as kings one hour with the beast”

A short space and one hour refer to the brevity of his reign

He will will rule supremely for 3.5 years, but his reign will end as suddenly as it begins.

Church, Satan is powerful and his influence is great

Through his power he will convince the false church to follow him

Through his political influence he will convince the nations to follow, him

The only thing strong than his power is his...

Pride

The woman sitting on him will not satisfy the Beast

He after all, should be sitting on her.

Just as he turns on Israel, he will turn on the false church

He will not share with anyone the worship he desires.

The false church is going to learn a lesson that those in hell have already learned: Satan’s ways are seductive and to our sinful natures seem pleasant for a while. But when he is done with you, he is done with you forever. Once your usefulness is up, you will be cast away and damned for eternity.

Adolph Hitler was a man, I believe to have been demonically possessed. He was obsessed with the occult, and Satan inspired him to destroy over 6 million Jews. When the war was all but over, once Hitler was no longer of any use, Satan convinced him to take his own life. A man that changed the world, cast away like garbage.

The false church is going to experience this one day. Her conspiracy with the Beast will come to an end, and, lastly we see ...

Her Conclusion v. 16-18

Revelation 17:16–18 KJV 1900

16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. 18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

The false church in the tribulation, is like the false church today: Greedy, power hungry, and blinded to the obvious truth. She has rejected the gospel, rejected the Savior, and chosen to side with Satan,

God will raise up those who she thinks are her allies and will use them to bring about her destruction. Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations (false religions and idol worship) of the earth, will be no more.

Conclusion:

Church, Jesus is coming.

When I look at current events, when I look around me, when I think of the world my children are growing up in, I say with John, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” But, when I look around at this world through the eyes of Jesus, I see, not simply a world in the grip of darkness, but I see a world in need of a Savior.

I ask you this morning, “What can we do about it?” Each of us has a part to play in this arena. Let’s get busy.

I’m challenging everyone here today, myself included to invite someone to church this week, to share the gospel, to pass out some tracts, to do something, to get busy in reaching this lost world for Jesus because if He comes today, then tomorrow it will be too late for us to do anything for Him. Who is willing to get off the sidelines, and to get into the game? Let’s bow for prayer...