SCRIPTURE: REVELATION 17
BIBLE VERSES:
“The name written on her forehead was a mystery: babylon the great the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth”( Revelation 17:5)
“The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.” (Revelation 17:12-14)
“For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God’s words are fulfilled.” (Revelation 17:17)
THE WOMAN ON THE BEAST (vs. 1-17)
One of the 7 angels who had 7 bowels came and carried John away in the Spirit into a desert. This was what he saw: A woman was sitting on a scarlet beast covered with 7 heads and 7 horns with blasphemous names. She was dressed in purple and scarlet with glittering of gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup filled with abominable things and the filth of the adulterers. Her forehead was written with this: “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATION OF THE EARTH”. She was drunk with the blood of the saints who bore testimony to Jesus.
MYSTERY EXPLAINED:
A. Woman – She is a city reigning over the kings of the earth. The 7 heads are identified as 7 mountains. It symbolizes Rome which is situated on 7 hills.
B. The Beast – He is the Anti-Christ. He will come out from the bottomless pit suggesting he was raised. He has 7 heads and 10 horns which identifies him with Satan and dragon. The kingdom of the Beast will be the 7th world hingdom.
C. The 7 Heads – It represents 7 hills and 7 kings or kingdoms. 5 kingdoms that have fallen are: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia and Greece. The 5 fallen Roman rulers are: Julius Caesar, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero. The kingdom “that is” was “Rome” in John’s day. The Seventh would be the kingdom of the Beast. The “ones that is”: would be “Domitian. The one yet to come “the Beast” would be the king of the revised Roman Empire.
D. The 10 Horns – It represent 10 more kings – the federation of Europe – who will receive power from the Beast. They will give support to the Beast in the battle against Christ and the saints.
E. The Nations – It represent the people of the world. The harlot shall influence the whole world politically, economically and religiously.
HARLOT – THE APOSTATE CHURCH VS. BRIDE – TRUE CHURCH
- Harlot is in the wilderness / Bride is in heaven
- Harlot is adorned by Satan / Bride is adorned by Christ
- Harlot is judge forever / Bride reigns forever
- Harlot is stained with the blood of the martyrs / Bride is redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
The “great prostitute” is Babylon which represents the early Roman Empire with many gods and the blood of Christian martyrs are in their hands. Babylon also symbolized the seductiveness of the government system hostile to God.
THOUGHTS:
Each person has a choice to make. Either you identify with the Beast or the Bride. The Beast is the Anti-Christ with the political power to establish his own false religion. The Bride is the true church of Jesus Christ cleansed by His blood with glory.