What a Day That Will Be
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: Does it ever seem to you that those who hate God seem to get ahead in this world?
Those who have get more. Those who abuse and mistreat others get away with murder, while those trying to support their family and live for God only get more of a burden.
Those who abuse power get more power. The greedy are rewarded with more and are applauded for their greed.
It seems like things are getting better for the wicked and worse for the godly.
Do you know why it seems this way? Because that is exactly what is happening in this world.
There is a system in place to ensure it! And for the time it seems like if you want to be on top, you must be in line with this system. But, I want to tell you that this system will topple in a day and no one will be able to stop it. The destruction of this system and those who follow it will be devastating beyond imagination.
Revelation 17 describes this world system as a great harlot on scarlet beast. Let’s look at the description of this woman:
A World Power that Opposes God.
A World Power that Opposes God.
Follow along with me in Revelation 17:1-6
She is in bed with the kings of the earth. (v. 2)
Her wealth and popularity is intoxicating to the inhabitants of the world (v. 2). Everyone wants to be a part of this system. Wealth, fame, power, influence and pride come from this system. Revelation 17:2
2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”
This system hates God and is opposed to anything godly (v. 3) Revelation 17:3
3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
This system masters everything unholy (v. 4-5) Revelation 17:4-5
4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH
This world system rejoices in the death of the followers of Christ (v. 6). Revelation 17:6
6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.
The woman described in Revelation 17 is a world system that is riding on the power of Satan (the beast). Does it seem like the world is against you? Well it is! What is next may surprise you.
A World Power with an Occulted Following.
A World Power with an Occulted Following.
There is more at work in this text than just people seeking power. People are intoxicated by the potion in this woman’s cup.
Her attire and posture is that of someone receiving worship.
People are giving their souls to this world system.
If we read over in chapter 18 people are grieved over the death of this system.
This system offers a religion without absolutes, moral responsibilities, or convictions.
A social gospel that doesn’t alter your life, doesn’t bear fruit, doesn’t transform.
Several years ago I was watching a Miss America competition and the contestant was asked if they believed the President’s religious beliefs would effect the way he executed his office. Her response was; “I believe your religious preference should not affect your decision-making process.”
Isn’t that interesting? Our faith shouldn’t even effect how we make decisions. In other words our faith shouldn’t effect our lives on the most elementary level — making decisions. What kind of religion is that? It is the religion of our world system!
Listen, people are drinking down this kind of religion in our world today. We are intoxicated by a religion that worship everything besides God.
We were created to worship God, we are creatures of worship, but the fall warped our worship and we try to fill the God-shaped hole in our soul with everything under the sun.
Matt Chandler in The Explicit Gospel talks about our intrinsic need to worship. He said we express worship during ballgames, concerts, recitals, and political rallies. It is indicative of our nature of worship. Only through conversion do we find the satisfaction that can only be found by worshipping our creator.
The harlot and her world system exploits this aspect of our nature. We are seeing all around us today:
Some of our worship talks about God but fails to worship him and give Him the glory due His name.
Everything that we worship is inferior to God and the worst form of worship is self-worship.
A Collapsing World System.
A Collapsing World System.
Notice with me in verse 1. Revelation 17:1
1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters,
Chapter 17 is a narrative of the judgment of the present world system that opposes God and everything godly.
We said last week that everything in this world is passing away.
One day very soon the powers to be in our world will collapse and great will be the fall.
There will be a decisive day, decisive battle, and clear victor. Jesus will king and what a day that will be.
We often hear people say, “What is this world coming to.” Well I want to tell you this world is coming to Jesus!
For some that we a be a glorious day.
For others that will be a terrifying day.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Find hope in your circumstances this morning. They won’t last! Jesus is coming and this world system is being judged.
Find the true meaning of life and worship. We were created to worship God and only then will we find satisfaction.
