RELIGIOUS BABYLON AND WORLD EMPIRES

 Religious Babylon and world empires

 

Hi good friends out there in internet land. I have reviewed the first eight chapters in the book of Revelation in a very detailed way giving the readers many cross references to each verse but due to time and the fact that I must move on to other writing projects in the Bible the remaining chapters (Revelation chapters 9-22) will be completely quoted with some comments at the end of the chapter. I really do desire to cross reference every verse in these chapters but this would take me way to long thus leaving out other vital biblical studies that are also needed and desired to people that are very hungry for the word of God. There will still be many interesting insights after the chapter is quoted so please enjoy the rest of the study in this fascinating last book of the Bible.

 

(1) "AND there came of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgments of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: (2) With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. (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. (4) And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication. (5) And upon her forehead was a name, written,  MYSTERY, BAB'Y- LON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (6) And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. (7) And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell you thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. (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. (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. (11) And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. (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. (13) These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. (14) These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. (15) And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. (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 fulfill 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." Revelation 17: 1 - 18.

 

Revelation chapter seventeen does talk about the present (in that future time) but more so gives a flashback regarding the dynamics behind the Revived Roman Empire and their rise to rule the world. Chapter seventeen depends on our knowledge of the book of Daniel, other books and previous chapters in the book of Revelation. Two figures that are written about in this chapter are the Harlot and the seven headed ten horned beast.

 

When the apostle John saw the Harlot he was probably repulsed. She is the embodiment of evil. She is comprised of many jewels. The royalty she wears is luxurious and she held a cup in her hand. On the outside was very rich gold but on the inside was evil. Sounds like many people that I know. Written on her forehead is, "Mystery Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth." She was drunk with the blood of the believers in Christ. The harlot was sitting on a creature just as evil as her so birds of a feather flock together. Kings committed adultery with her and she corrupted most of the people on planet earth. In fact I can even say the people in this world became drunk with her immorality. She was drunk and the people got drunk so this sounds like a bar as individuals drink alcohol with each other and end up intoxicated which is the opposite of being sober.

 

Initially in this passage we read terms like whore, harlot and adultery. This is a spiritual departure from God. Harlot specifically is a counterfeit religion contrary to Jesus Christ. The Old Testament gives the principal in Isaiah 1:21. Ezekiel in chapter sixteen (the Old Testament) defines spiritual adultery as a group who took the gifts of God because of His grace and then in return started to worship them thus rejecting the Creator and worshiped the creation. In Nahum chapter three being a harlot is connected with witchcraft. "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." James 4:4.  As we can see if an individual or group goes in these directions it is the direct opposite of who Jesus Christ is so the key is we have to make a proactive choice to follow Him. The reason why God does not want us getting involved in this is because these are attitudes that simply reject the way of God. If we go to far because we got to friendly with the world system then this is spiritual adultery.

 

We are referred to as the bride of Christ. The one thing we should not be doing is playing around with a false religion because we belong to Jesus Christ. 

 

The great harlot symbolizes a false religious system and remember she was successful in seducing the Kings of the earth which inevitably goes down to the common man. That is a false brand of Christianity but this is not watered down Christianity. The second is so boring that it will not encompass all the religions of the world.

 

Remember the title of the harlot. Mystery Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth. Babylon originated on the plains of Shinar under Nimrod and he was not only a leader but revolted against God as a mighty hunter of men in defiance of the Lord. Babylon comes from the word Babel and they tried building a tower whose top would reach into the heavens. They were not dumb people so they knew this would not happen but they did desire to go high to study the stars and engage in astrology. Later in Isaiah chapter forty seven God not only judged Babylon but remembered she labored in sorceries and astrology from her youth leading into a cluster of sins to a point that God had to do something about judging this group.

 

Daniel was held captive in the seventh century B.C. He was surrounded by an inner circle that engaged in black magic from the roots of Babylon. The mystery of the women in the book of Revelation had a gold cup which represented her corrupt teachings. When a religion has roots in Babylon which includes black magic, contact with demons such as séances, false miracles, witchcraft, sorcery and astrology and then puts on a luxurious appearance of royal clothes this appeals to the sensual nature of people. In this context the text says she will eliminate all who oppose her and that is why the women is drunk with the blood of the saints. Religious Babylon has passed throughout history to the powers to be until Ancient Rome but the apostle John was saying that this will be revived and will control the last world power in the book of Revelation.

 

In verse seven this beast had seven heads and ten horns. The seven mountains or the seven hills are referring to the city of Rome. There was a Babylonian religious system in this area at the late first century and will revive itself in the seven year tribulation period. When the apostle says five have fallen, one is and the other is still to come he is talking about the Babylon in the days of Nimrod which was the original. Here is a list of the seven empires. (1) Assyria (2) Egypt (3) The Babylonian empire in the day of Daniel (4) Medo - Persia (5) The Greek empire (6) The Babylon in Rome in the first century (7) The future revival of the Roman empire.

 

The seventh has ten horns on it which is either the antichrist ruling over the ten regions of the world or ten nations from the old Roman empire probably in the European community area or both at the same time. Ancient Rome has not existed for centuries but according to the Bible it will be revived. Mystery religious Babylon will be well received by people and it may even be their hopes for peace and prosperity but it will be false and directly against the will of God. Many leaders around the world have openly admitted that they gave their souls to the devil and draw huge crowds. They are now in a position to be deceived by Satan. This is for eternity.

 

Babylon the Harlot symbolizes a worldwide religious system which seduces many people into demonic deception. This system and the antichrist will be using each other because they are both selfish. When the antichrist is possessed by Satan in the middle of the tribulation period and proclaims himself as God he will not have much of an interest for the Harlot and that will be the start of the destruction of this system.

 

We have a choice in our life who we are going to follow. I am doing my best to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and it is hard because the road is narrow. If you see the masses go to a satanic deception run the other way. The best defense is a good offence. Now may be a good time to accept Jesus Christ into your heart as personal Savior and Lord by repenting of all your sins and invite the Son of God into your life.

 

Christians need to live for Jesus Christ. We find our hope and direction in the Bible. (13) "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in therat: (14) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (15) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Matthew 7: 13 - 15.

 

God bless you,      Bob D.