19 February 2008

Text: Revelation 17

(I) THE JUDGMENT OF GREAT BABYLON

“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,
with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” Revelation 17:1-2

1. Angelic explanation

2. A further explanation

3. An important explanation

(II) THE GREAT HARLOT

“…a woman sitting on a scarlet beast…” Revelation 17:3

1. Arrayed in purple and scarlet

2. Adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls

3. Having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication (Revelation 17:4)

4. Name on forehead

“MYSTERY,
BABYLON THE GREAT,
THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS
AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” Revelation 17:5

5. Drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus (Revelation 17:6)

(III) THE SCARLET BEAST

“…which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.” Revelation 17:3

Identification: The Anti-Christ

“…And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.” Revelation 13:1

(IV) APPROPRIATE RESPONSE

1. Inappropriate response: John’s astonishment

“…And when I saw her, I marvelled with great amazement.” Revelation 17:6c

2. Appropriate response required

A firm angelic word of rebuke

“But the angel said to me, ‘Why did you marvel…?’ ” Revelation 17:7a

“…And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life…” Revelation 17:8c

(V) THE MYSTERY REVEALED

Several Fates revealed:-

1. The Fate of the beast (The Anti-Christ)

He will go to perdition (Revelation 17:8)

2. The fate of the Seven heads (mountains)

a) Rome (limited only to Rome)

b) Seven world empires (spanning history)

3. The fate of the Ten kings

Sub-rulers of the Anti-Christ

a) No kingdom (Revelation 17:12)

b) These will make war with the Lamb (Revelation 17:14)

4. The fate of the enemies of the Lamb

Symbol: The waters

Identification: Peoples, multitudes, nations, tongues (Revelation 17:15)

5. The great harlot

The ten horns will turn against her

“…these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.” Revelation 17:16

(VI) ALL ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD

“For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.” Revelation 17:17-18