Alpha and Omega

"They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." ~ Acts 17:11

This is an Israel friendly site!

From the Rapture to the Second Coming

Revelation 17: "One-World Religious System"

Topical Index

Let's Get Started

Get ready. Chapter 17 is one of the toughest chapters to understand in the Bible.

At the close of Chapter 16 we read, God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. He will give Babylon this cup during the Tribulation Period, and the next two chapters will provide some idea of why God seeks to destroy this city.

Chapter 17 tells us about a Babylonian woman who has a double identity: she is a mother, and a city. This is one of the keys to understanding Chapters 17 and 18, recognizing that Babylon the Great is both a woman and a city at the same time.

As a mother, Babylon the Great is a failure. She is a prostitute and the Mother of Prostitutes. The Bible tells us that a prostitute is more than just a woman who physically commits sexual sins. A prostitute (Exodus 34:15, 16; 2 Chronicles 21:11-13) is also a person who spiritually has stopped following the true God and has turned to idol worship. Babylon the Great abandoned the true God and has raised her daughters (false religions) to do the same. She is the mother of false religions who wants all her daughters to grow up in her one-world prostitute religion. The names of some of her daughters are New Age, Satan Worship, Mother Earth Worship, Globalism, Hinduism, and Islamism. Her daughters talk about love and peace, but none of them love Jesus, and none of them talk about peace with God through Jesus. Her daughters' followers are a collection of religious people who will be left behind when the true Church is raptured.

As a city, Babylon the Great is also a failure. She is the birthplace of the Mother of Prostitutes and many of her daughters. During the Tribulation Period, Babylon (the city) will be filled with adulterous kings. She will open her doors to one-world government, one-world religion, and global trade. People intoxicated with big government, big money, global commerce, and a lust for pleasure will flock to her. She will even entice these adulterous leaders to marry her daughters which will represent a merger of one-world prostitute religions with one-world government.

Shortly after the Tribulation Period mid-point, the prostitute's sons-in-law (the kings of the earth) will become "wife abusers." They will kill the prostitute (one-world religious system) and her daughters (the individual false religions). Near the end of the Tribulation Period, God will pour out his wrath on Babylon where many of the sons-in-law live. Jesus will return and destroy Babylon the mother and Babylon the city.

Key Point

• The key to understanding Chapter 17 and 18 is recognizing that Babylon the Great is both a mother and a city.

Key Symbols:

• Babylon
• Mother of Prostitutes
• her daughters are false religions
• a city of sin
• center of one-world prostitute religions
• center of one-world government
• her daughters will marry adulterous kings

Something to Ponder

• Obviously, kings cannot marry a religion. Think of it spiritually. Just as you and I are the Bride of Christ (Revelation 19:7), and Israel is the wife of God (Jeremiah 31:32), these adulterous kings will marry false religions in the sense that they will espouse the doctrines of the false religions. They will co-operate with the False Prophet and the Antichrist in pushing a false religion on the world. Think about what is going on in Washington. President Clinton wants to pass "Fast Track" so he can sign trade agreements without Congress being able to make changes. Some members of the House will not vote for it because of things in it like teaching abortion to other countries. House members want these things changed, but President Clinton is determined to use trade to force a moral issue on other nations, and to bind this nation to his view. In a sense, those who support him are married to him on this issue.

She Sits on The Masses

Revelation 17:1 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.

John will be invited to look at the punishment of Babylon the mother, the great religious prostitute who sits on many waters. This is a revelation of what God plans to do with this harlot religious system.

In the Bible, seas and waters represent great masses (Revelation 17:15) of people. They represent people, nations, and tongues. The fact that this wicked woman is pictured as sitting upon these great masses is an indication that she will be supported by them, and she will exercise control over them during the Tribulation Period.

Key Symbols:

• Babylon
• Mother
• sits on the masses and has control over them

What Others are Saying:

Arno Froese: The political roots of ecumenism, the united world church, are in Rome; the spiritual roots go back to Babylon. ^17-1
Ed Hindson: This will be the final phase of the New World Order. The idea of a new world religion of peace and cooperation is already being proposed. Religious unity has been endorsed by Pope John Paul II, the Dali Lama, and leaders of the World Council of Churches. ^17-2
Hal Lindsey: I expect to see more and more mergers between Christian denominations and more emphasis on ecumenism. ^17-3
Jack Van Impe: In a further bid to bring the world to one point of view, there is now a movement afoot to establish a permanent "United Religions" (UR) organization. A charter setting up the UN-style group is currently being drafted, and a facility to promote this point of view may well be open in the near future. ^17-4

Related Current Events

• The Declaration (Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions, Declaration on a Global Ethic) states, "We affirm that there is an irrevocable, unconditional norm for all areas of life: for families and communities; for races, nations, and religions; there already exists ancient guidelines for human behavior which are found in the teachings of the religions of the world and which are the condition for a sustainable world order." ^17-5
• Pope John Paul II has prophesied that there will be unity of faith and all religions will be worshipping together by the year 2000 A.D. ^17-6
• There is an unspoken alliance today between powers inside the Vatican and leaders of major international humanist organizations who would change the Roman Catholic Church from a sacred institution to one whose primary function is to act as a stabilizing social force in the world. They see the church as the only global structure able to do this. The one obstacle is John Paul II. He is seen as a defender of medieval traditions. They want a pope who shares their more liberal, globalist view. ^17-7

Something to Ponder

• Understand that Pope John Paul II is a proponent of religious unity. However, he fears the form of unity that is taking shape around him. He sees unity coming and would like for it to be more Christian than it appears it will be. He opposes the falling away that he sees taking place. Unfortunately, powers inside the Vatican are trying to transform the Roman Catholic Church from a sacred institution to a secular institution, from an institution that promotes Christ and Christian values to an institution that promotes the world approved social values. In other words, they want to transform it into a prostitute system. Instead of taking the Christian view on abortion, gay marriages, women in the priesthood, etc., it will promote the secular view.

Remember This…

• The Church in heaven looked like a sea of glass (Revelation 4:6).
• The Tribulation Saints in heaven looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire (Revelation 15:2).
• Babylon the Great (the mother) will sit on the masses of the world (Revelation 17:1).

No More Separation of Church and State

Revelation 17:2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries."

The harlot religious system will commit adultery with the kings of the earth. She will conspire with world leaders to produce a merger of religion and government. Here it finally is! A religious system united with a political system to manipulate the people of the earth into a false government-approved religion.

The wine of her adulteries is a reference to demon possession (Luke 8:26-36). This wicked woman will cause people to be led astray by deceiving spirits (1 Timothy 4:1).

Key Point

• The saved, regardless of religion or denomination, will be raptured, and the lost, regardless of their beliefs, will be left behind.

What Others are Saying:

Grant R. Jeffrey: Pope John Paul II (see Something to Ponder) is constantly calling for the nations to abandon their opposition to world government. ^17-8
Jack Van Impe: Teachings of non-monotheistic Eastern religions have infected even the Church itself, driving it increasingly toward apostasy and a laissez-faire interpretation of God's Word. With widespread religious deception so out of control, it is easy to understand how worldwide ecclesiastical trends are leading to the dawn of a one-world church controlled by the spirits of Satan. ^17-9
Ed Hindson: A false prophet of international fame will suddenly emerge to gain control of the world religious system and use it to reinforce the worship of Antichrist. ^17-10

Related Current Events:

• Delegates from more than 170 sovereign nations will attend the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China (held in September 1995). It will represent the most radical, atheistic, and anti-family crusade in the history of the world… It is a mystery, in fact, how such enormous threats to our spiritual and cultural heritage could have slithered into our midst without due notice or alarm… Make no mistake about it: Most of what Christianity stands for will be challenged during this conference. ^17-11 (Even our ex-President's wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, attended this conference.)

Something to Ponder:

• Pope John Paul II is in favor of a one-world religion, but he wants it to come about under his terms. He wants to be the one who decides what this one-world religion will stand for, and what it will reject. For example, he does not want Catholics to become Protestants. He wants Protestants to become Catholics. He is for unity, but under his leadership and his terms. He believes whoever replaces him as the next pope will not be as committed as he is. He believes he will be replaced by someone who will relinquish church beliefs for a secular world view. And he believes he will be the last faithful pope. The next pope could be the False Prophet.

Something to Ponder

• Some experts take a very anti-Catholic stance on Revelation. I have tried to avoid that. The one-world religion will have a lot of Catholics in it, but it will also have a lot of Protestants and other religions too. The saved, regardless of religion or denomination, will be Raptured, and the lost, regardless of their religious beliefs, will be left behind.

The Woman Rides The Beast

Revelation 17:3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.

John was taken in the Spirit to a desert where he saw something strange, a woman sitting on a scarlet beast. We already know the beast with seven heads and ten horns is the Antichrist (Revelation 13:1). Since the woman will be sitting on the beast, we must assume that her prostitute religion and the Antichrist will exist on earth at the same time.

At first the Antichrist will support her one-world religion and be under her authority, but things will eventually turn sour between the two. Their relationship will be hindered by the woman's double identity. Remember she is both the mother, the false religious system, and the great city (Revelation 17:18), Babylon. We see from this that all three, the false religious system, the city of Babylon, and the Antichrist, will exist during the first half of the Tribulation Period.

Key Symbols:

• Scarlet Beast
• Antichrist
• Woman
• Babylon, the Mother and the City, over the Antichrist

The Holy Grail?

Revelation 17:4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.

The purple and scarlet clothing with glittering jewels indicates she will be a prostitute of royal stature. She will be adorned in the trappings of her rich lovers, and appear enticing and appealing to the world.

Look at the golden cup she will be holding. Will it be the Holy Grail? Will she take communion with it? She may want the world to think that, but she will really be holding a cup filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. When the false religions drink from this cup, they will drink the wine (Jeremiah 51:7, 8) of adultery, symbolic of deceiving spirits and demons.

Today, many people think our modern society is too enlightened to believe in the existence of demons. More conservative Christians disagree. Those who accept the authority of the Scriptures accept the existence of demons. They are no less dangerous than Satan, for they are his cohorts doing his will. All who have not accepted Christ are subject to their evil influence. It is unfortunate, but this includes many of the world's religious and political leaders.

Key Symbols:

• Babylon, The Woman
• dressed in purple and scarlet
• prostitutes of royal stature
• gold, precious stones, and pearls
• trappings of her lovers
• a golden cup
• wine of her adultery

What Others are Saying:

Ed Hindson: Materialism and selfism will replace spiritual values. Mankind will be left in the mindless pursuit of material prosperity as the basis for meaning and value in life. ^17-12
Hal Lindsey: I have found this about religion. The more false a religion is, usually the more wealth it has. And the more true a religion is, usually the less material things it has. And it doesn't seem to care about it. And I've seen the Christian church become poverty stricken spiritually as they have become wealthy materially. ^17-13

Birthplace of Abominations

Revelation 17:5 This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

The prostitute's title reveals where she will come from and what she will do. She will come from Babylon and be associated with Babylon again during the Tribulation Period. She will be known as the Mother of Prostitutes and the Mother of Abominations. Many evil and adulterous practices will flow from her.

Key Symbols:

• Babylon
• Mother of Prostitutes
• false religions
• Mother of Abominations
• evil and adulterous practices

What Others are Saying:

David Jeremiah with C. C. Carlson: A false religious system was born on the plains of Shinar in ancient Babylon, where the first world dictator, Nimrod, defying God, built a tower (Genesis 11:1-9) that would reach to heaven. This tower was used for studying the stars and established the basis for astrology. From the very beginning, Babylon was associated with sorcery and astrology. ^17-14
Arno Froese: In order to have fellowship with them, she (the prostitute) drinks the wisdom of many religions. Whether this is Buddhism, Hinduism, or Islam, all are welcomed by the "harlot Babylon." It makes no difference that the Lord Jesus is merely one of a thousand gods for the Hindus, nor does it mean anything that for Buddhists only works and nihilism count in Nirvana. It is said that they all (many waters) lead to the one God… What difference does it make? We can still have fellowship with one another, can't we? ^17-15

Remember This…

• The prostitute, which is the one-world religious system, originated at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), which is located at Old Testament Babylon. Babylon was destroyed, but it is being rebuilt along with the Tower of Babel in Iraq. The prostitute is going full circle. She was born in Babylon and she will go back there before she dies.

Drunk With The Blood of Her Victims

Revelation 17:6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.

The prostitute will not only make others drunk (Revelation 17:2), but she, too, will be drunk on the blood of the Tribulation Saints. This great ecumenical religious system will be actively involved in the persecution and death of God's people. She will be so determined to establish her one-world religion that she will actually be filled with the blood of the saints.

What Others are Saying:

Grant R. Jeffrey: Obviously, Mystery Babylon, the apostate pagan church of the last days, will not develop overnight. Such an ecumenical organization, involving many diverse religious groups, will be created by negotiation and conferences over a number of years leading up to the beginning of the seven-year tribulation period. It is therefore quite probable that we will witness the initial steps toward this one-world church of the last days before the Rapture takes the Christians home to heaven. ^17-16

Confusion

Revelation 17:7 Then the angel said to me: "Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.

God's angel perceived that John was astonished and maybe even confused, so he told John he would explain two things

• the mystery of the woman
• the mystery of the beast with the seven heads and ten horns

The remaining verses of Chapter 17 are about this, the meaning of the beast and identity of the woman.

Out of The Abyss

Revelation 17:8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss (Revelation 9:1-11) and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come.

The beast existed prior to John's lifetime, once was, did not exist when John received this revelation, now is not, but will reappear at some unspecified time in the future, will come. The beast will have Satanic ties to the subterranean abode of demonic spirits since he will come out of the Abyss (Revelation 9:1-11). He will eventually go to his destruction since God will cast him into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 19:20). And he will take his followers, the inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world, with him.

Key Point

• The beast once was, now is not, but will come again.

Key Symbols:

• Beast
• Antichrist
• scarlet

What Others are Saying:

Ed Hindson: A world leader will quickly arise on the international scene promising to bring peace and economic stability. He will receive the support of the European Community and eventually control the whole world. ^17-17

Remember This…

• When the fifth trumpet sounds, Satan will open the Abyss and release the demonic spirits being held there.

Put on Your Spiritual Wisdom Cap

Revelation 17:9 This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits.

Interpreting this verse requires spiritual understanding of the Scriptures (not of world geography). The seven heads on the beast are seven hills on which the woman sits. This seems simple enough, but it is not as it appears. Revelation 17:10 tells us these seven hills are not seven actual hills, but are seven kings (kingdoms or world governments). Herein lies the problem.

Is this:

• a religious system/city that sits on seven hills
• seven kings
• or both?

The Bible tells us that hills or mountains (Jeremiah 51:24, 25; Daniel 2:35-45) are a symbol of kingdoms. Therefore, the seven hills must be seven kings or kingdoms.

Still, some experts say the seven hills is a reference to Rome (the city on seven hills). Even if right, this is only saying the prostitute will control, and be supported by, Rome.

Key Symbols:

• Seven Heads/Hills
• seven kings
• kingdoms or world governments

What Others are Saying:

Charles H. Dyer: Identifying the prostitute as Rome because of the seven hills has some serious flaws. The first flaw is the assumed relationship between the woman and the hills. The seven heads are attached to the beast, not the woman… The seven heads do not identify the location of the prostitute because she is not part of the beast…The woman sits on the whole beast, not just on the heads… It is far more consistent to view the harlot's "sitting" as describing her control over the seven mountains instead of pointing to her physical location. ^17-18
David Hocking: To identify the seven heads as the seven hills (mountains) of the city of Rome is ignoring the clear statement of verse 10 below (Revelation 17:10) that the seven mountains are seven kings. ^17-19

Seven Kingdoms

Revelation 17:10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while.

The seven heads are seven hills, and they are also seven kings. The word "kings" can also be translated "kingdoms." It makes more sense in this case to say the seven heads are seven kingdoms, because history and Scripture reveal that there have been seven Gentile world kingdoms.

Five have fallen are the five Gentile world kingdoms (Assyrian, Medo-Persian, Greek, Egyptian and Babylonian) that existed before John's lifetime. One is refers to the sixth kingdom (Roman) that existed during John's lifetime, and The other has not yet come refers to a seventh future kingdom (the Revived Roman Empire) which will exist after John's lifetime. This seventh kingdom will remain (He must remain for a little while) for the duration of the seven-year Tribulation Period.

Key Symbols:

• Seven Kings
• seven Gentile world

What Others are Saying:

David Hocking: The seven kings can represent political empires or kingdoms as well as individual rulers. ^17-20
Hal Lindsey: Here (John) is referring to those great world empires from the time of the original Babylon of Nimrod's day which have been dominated by the false occultic religion of Babylon. ^17-21

Remember This…

• The seven Gentile world kingdoms are the Assyrian, Medo-Persian, Greek, Egyptian, Babylonian, Roman, and Revived Roman Empire (Revelation 12:3).
• The seventh future kingdom, the Revived Roman Empire, will last for seven years (one week of years) from the day the Antichrist signs a seven-year covenant to protect Israel. Seven years will be the length of the Tribulation Period (Daniel 9:27).

An Eighth King

Revelation 17:11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

The beast who once was, and now is not is the Antichrist. He is an eighth king (or kingdom). He belongs to the seven means he will be one of the seven already mentioned. Since he is yet to come, he must come out of the seventh Gentile world kingdom which will be the Revived Roman Empire.

As an eighth king he will take over the seventh Gentile world kingdom and establish his own brand of world government, a New World Order. The Antichrist will rise to power in that government, take it over, and transform it into a Satanic state.

Key Symbols:

• Eighth King
• Antichrist
• out of the seventh kingdom (Revived Roman Empire)
• New World Order

What Others are Saying:

Ed Hindson: Globalists are now insisting that national governments should surrender their sovereignty to a one-world government. Such a government would operate through a world headquarters, a world court, and even a world military. ^17-22

Remember This…

• The beast who once was, and now is not (Revelation 17:8), is the beast that will come out of the Abyss, the Antichrist.

An Hour of Trial

Revelation 17:12 "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.

The ten horns are ten kings that will rule with the Antichrist. This presents a picture of what the end-time world government will be like. The Antichrist will rule the world which will be divided into ten divisions. In charge of each division will be a separate leader who will answer to the Antichrist.

Another significant point: The ten kings will receive authority for one hour. One hour is a Biblical term that means a short time. In this case, it means the ten kings will reign with the Antichrist for the duration of the Tribulation Period. The significance of this is the fact that Jesus promised to keep faithful believers from the hour of trial that is coming upon the world. Obviously there will be a pre-Tribulation Rapture (Revelation 3:10). The Church will not be on earth during the one hour reign of the ten kings with the Antichrist.

Key Point

• God will keep the faithful from the hour of trial.

Key Symbols:

• Ten Kings
• ten rulers of the ten divisions of the world government
• have not ruled before
• will rule for one hour (Tribulation Period) with the Antichrist

What Others are Saying:

Hal Lindsey: In my opinion, this unquestionably refers to the European Economic Community, which I believe is destined to bloom into the last great world empire represented by the seventh head with the ten horns (see page 184). ^17-23

Remember This…

• Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth (Revelation 3:10).

Puppet Kings

Revelation 17:13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.

The ten rulers will be under the Antichrist. They will be nothing more than puppet kings who submit to him.

Something to Ponder

• Dictators usually come to power by using one or more of these tactics: violence, force, or political trickery. After coming to power, they usually have to continue to use force to stay in power. Because of that they usually outlaw basic freedoms such as the freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, and freedom of worship. According to the Bible, the Antichrist will do these things too, but he will be worse than any previous dictator.

Called, Chosen, and Faithful

Revelation 17:14 They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings — and with him will be his called, chosen, and faithful followers."

At the end of the Tribulation Period the Antichrist and his ten puppet kings will make war against the Lamb and his called (2 Timothy 1:9), chosen (Ephesians 1:4), and faithful (Matthew 25:21-23) followers. Unfortunately for them, the outcome was determined long ago. The Lamb will defeat them in the Battle of Armageddon because he is the Lord of lords and King of kings.

Key Point

• Only those who are called, chosen, and faithful will be with Jesus.

Worldwide Deception

Revelation 17:15 Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.

The waters that the prostitute sits on in Revelation 17:1 are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. This base of power and support will give the prostitute religious system tremendous control. She will ensnare and deceive people on a worldwide scale.

Key Symbols:

• waters
• peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages

Babylon, The Mother, No More

Revelation 17:16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

During the first half of the Tribulation Period the Antichrist (the beast) will be submissive to Babylon (the mother and her false religious system, and the city and its one-world government). Now John tells us that the Antichrist and his ten puppet kings (the ten horns) will rise up against Babylon at the mid-point of the Tribulation Period.

The Antichrist will enter the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and declare himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:4). Obviously there is no more room for Babylon and her one-world religion and one-world government. The Antichrist cannot be God and subject to those who worship him at the same time. So someone must go! The Antichrist and his allies will destroy the prostitute's religious system. They will confiscate her expensive clothing, gold, and precious stones, and they will persecute and kill her poor deceived people. The fact that they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire is indicative of the intensity and totality of the prostitute's end. Nothing will remain.

What Others are Saying:

John Hagee: But what the Antichrist does not realize is that God has sovereignly moved to give him the ability to overthrow the Babylonian system, and that soon it will be the Antichrist's turn to experience a judgment that is swift, total, and dreadful. ^17-24
David Jeremiah with C.C. Carlson: Here is a clear warning against the marriage of politics and religion. Whenever we see that liaison, history has shown that it ends in violent divorce. ^17-25
David Hocking: It is possible that the destruction of the woman will come at the middle of the Tribulation Period or shortly thereafter. This would explain the terrible persecution by the Antichrist in the last half of the Tribulation. ^17-26

Something to Ponder

• This wicked woman, Babylon, has two identities. In addition to being a prostitute, she is also an actual city. This verse is about the destruction of the prostitute. The destruction of the city will come later.

Antichrist, The Puppet

Revelation 17:17 For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God's words are fulfilled.

This is an interesting verse. The Antichrist doesn't know it, but he really is a puppet king just like the ten under him. God will plant the idea of destroying the false religious system into his heart and the hearts of his ten puppet kings. Destruction of the prostitute religious system is the reason God will agree to give them power (Daniel 7:25). They will be instruments in his hand to accomplish his purpose and fulfill his words.

Babylon, The City, Rebuilt

Revelation 17:18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth."

This verse identifies the woman. She is the great city that rules over the earth. Unfortunately, this is not clear enough for some experts because they want to spiritualize everything in Revelation. Depending upon who the expert is, this city could be Rome, Jerusalem, New York, the United States, part of the European group of nations, or a nation in control of those nations.

I believe this woman is the actual ancient city of Babylon and that her reconstruction is near completion. There are several prophecies about literal Babylon that must be fulfilled. Chapter 18 covers the fulfillment of those prophecies. We must not attempt to spiritualize these verses that clearly teach that Babylon will literally be rebuilt (Isaiah 13:19, 20).

Key Symbols:

• The Great City
• ancient city of Babylon

What Others are Saying:

Charles H. Dyer: Babylon will claw its way to the heights of power and influence one last time… The Bible's prophecies will be fulfilled when someone announces that Babylon will become their capital… Babylon will again become the capital of an empire in the Middle East. ^17-27
Peter and Paul Lalonde: Are we moving toward a world religion in our day? One example that suggests this may be the case was the convening of the Parliament of World Religions in the summer of 1993. Over 150 religions from Buddhism to Catholicism were represented at this meeting. The outcome of the meeting was "The Declaration of a Global Ethic" which sought to outline the core values and beliefs common to all faiths. ^17-28
Stanley E. Price: The ecumenical movements under the pope's leadership are leading to religious Babylon (Revelation 17); the world trade movement to commercial Babylon (Revelation 13:11–18; 18); and the New World Order to political Babylon (Revelation 13:1–10). After the Rapture, the whore of religious Babylon will rule the revived empire for three and one-half years, be overthrown, and the Beast of political Babylon will become ruler on planet earth (Revelation 17:16, 17). ^17-29

Something to Ponder

• It seems that the confrontations with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein will never end. The world must wonder why it is so important to make him toe the line. It is simply this: Saddam's defiance is a threat to the New World Order (world government). If he can defy the world government, others can defy the world government. It is important to show the world that the New World Order is not a paper tiger to be trifled with. Rogue nations like Iraq are going to have to submit to a higher authority (world government), in order for the threat of nuclear war and the spread of chemical and biological weapons to end.

Remember This…

• Sometime during the 1980's Iraq started rebuilding the ancient city of Babylon with the hope of turning it into a major tourist attraction. About $6 million a year was being spent on archaeological work and construction. At the same time the nation was involved in a war with Iran and Saddam Hussein was looking for a way to stir Iraqi anger against the Iranians. He remembered that Persia (Iran) helped destroy ancient Babylon. He decided to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into rebuilding Babylon and to use it as a reminder that Iran had previously attacked the city. Many of the ancient buildings, including the famous Tower of Babel, have now been rebuilt. ^17-30

Study Questions

• Who is Mystery Babylon the Great?
• What was the condition of John when he saw this vision? What does his condition mean?
• What is the significance of the prostitute's clothing and the golden cup in her hand?
• What is a "mind of wisdom" and how can it be obtained?
• Who will cause the beast and the ten horns (kings) to hate and destroy the prostitute?

Go to Answers

Chapter Wrap-up

• An angel will show John the punishment of the prostitute who sits on the scarlet beast. She is the one who the people of the earth will commit adultery with. (Revelation 17:1–5)
• The woman who sits on the beast is Babylon the Great. She, the Mother of Prostitutes, will kill so many of the saints who follow Jesus that she will be drunk on their blood. (Revelation 17:5–6)
• The beast who will come out of the Abyss and go to his destruction will astonish many because he was, wasn't, and yet will come. His seven heads represent seven kingdoms, the beast is the eighth kingdom that will come out of the seventh. (Revelation 17:8–11)
• The ten horns are ten kings who will rule with the Antichrist during the Tribulation. Their only purpose is to give their power to the eighth king (the beast). (Revelation 17:11–14)
• God will accomplish his purpose by planting the idea of destroying Babylon, the mother, into the minds of the beast and his ten puppet kings. (Revelation 17:16, 17)

One Nation Under God

Remember: God always answers knee-mail!

Website designed and hosted by Commerce Connections ®

©Commerce Connections ® Copyright 1998 to 2007. All rights reserved.

Commerce Connections ® is a division of: The OAKIPOSA Business Group ®

The Price Was Paid