Sermon Tone Analysis

Last week we saw the quick and efficient dispensation of the seven bowls of wrath.

painful sores

sea turning to blood

fresh water turning to blood

scorching sun

absolute darkness

Euphrates drying up

great earthquake and destruction

It is specifically mentioned that Babylon (an immoral, reprobate country) was given the cup filled with the wine of God’s fierce anger.

They sat around idly, doing whatever they wanted to do, whenever they wanted to do it, they were comfortable.

We are given warnings about comfort and complacency by the apostle Paul.

1 Thessalonians 5:2-3

Around 15 years later, the apostle Peter speaks similar words:

As everyone sits idly, the religion that allowed them this comfort will be destroyed.

What they have been serving has been a man-made religion, one that makes them feel good, but doesn’t get them into heaven.

They are trying to “help God” out with the great catastrophes they are enduring, but failed to realize it was their lack of repentance that was bringing them.

If we look at the area of Shinar, there was once a tower built by a religiously prideful nation called the Babylonians.

They intended to construct a tower reaching into the heavens and create their own “holy city”…in other words, they were coming to God - just in a sinful and prideful manner, not in humbleness and repentance.

When the fall of the political powerhouse, Babylon, occurred it became a metaphor for godless, humanistic religion in general.

This is where we see the “world religion” being compared to Babylon.

In the next few chapters, we go a little deeper into the sins of “Babylon the Great”.

Great Judgment of Babylon

In Chapter 17, we see God’s plan for judging the world and its sinful behavior.

One of the angels holding one of the seven bowls comes to John, inviting him to “Come” and watch the judgment that is about to take place.

Who was to be judged?

Who is the great prostitute?

The great prostitute - we see in verse 5 the great prostitute is Babylon -

What is the significance of “Babylon”?

Babylon was a nation that had engaged in all sorts of sinful behavior just to get power.

As we know from Isaiah, their reign of power did not last for long, but it had an impact on the nation of Israel and the whole world.

We see an illustration of this destruction in Jeremiah 51, where Jeremiah speaks of God’s soon coming judgment against Babylon.

Leb-kamai is Chaldea - The region in southern Babylonia near the Persian Gulf.

The angel emphasizes the influence Babylon had on others - kings of the earth and dwellers on earth.

The angel carried him away in the spirit to a wilderness and he sees “a woman” sitting on a scarlet beast.

We know scarlet usually signifies royalty, but here the beast is described as being full of blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns - this beast is probably the same one identified as the first beast of chapter 13.

What do we find the woman dressed in?

The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet:

Purple - The most precious of ancient dyes made from a shellfish found in the Mediterranean Sea.

A total of 250,000 mollusks was required to make one ounce of the dye, which partly accounts for its great price.

It was highly valued within the nation of Israel.

Used in several features of the tabernacle (Exodus 26:1, 27:16) and the temple (II Chronicles 2:14); the color of royal robes (Judges 8:26); the garments of the wealthy (Proverbs 31:22; Luke 16:19); the vesture of a harlot (Revelation 17:4); and the robe placed on Jesus (Mark 15:17, 20).

This color symbolizes kingship and royalty.

Scarlet - Scarlet cord was tied around the wrist of Zerah (Genesis 38:28-30); used a great deal in the tabernacle (Exodus 25:4); the color of cord hung from Rahab's window (Joshua 2:18); a mark of prosperity (II Samuel 1:24; Proverbs 31:21); the color of the robe placed on Jesus (Matthew 27:28); though scarlet and purple were not always distinguished (Mark 15:17); color of the beast ridden by the harlot Babylon (Revelation 17:3) along with some of her garments (Revelation 17:4) and those of her followers (Revelation 18:16).

Often refers to blood atonement and sacrifice.

While she was clothed in the colors of royalty and atonement, and wearing gold, precious stones, and pearls, she was holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.

What is she truly representing?

She is not representing royalty, but a false religion that prostitutes (sells out) the truth.

Everything you see about her is a sham.

Even "a name of mystery” was on her forehead.

But this shouldn’t surprise us today.

We see many “prosperity” preachers telling us to “name it and claim it”, that God will bless us if we only ask.

It is a false hope, a false security, a false religion.

If we thing back to Babylon, the first place we see recorded is the building of the tower of Babel - meaning “confusion”.

They wanted to get to God on their own terms and in their own ways.

It didn’t work then, and it won’t work now.

Babylon is the example of apostasy and blasphemy, and now they come to their final judgment.

Revealing of the Mystery

What is the result of this powerful false religion in the end time?

The religious power and adulteration of religion by Babylon in the end times will be massive.

This false religion will be what leads the killing of believers for the antichrist.

Literally millions upon millions of believers will be persecuted and killed because they refuse to worship the antichrist.

John was amazed at what he was seeing, and the angel asked why he was enamored by this sight?

We can tell by the response that it was the mystery surrounding this woman that had John mesmerized.

He had just seen a picture of what false religion will be like in the last days of world history.

And the picture was horrifying.

The religion of the last days will join hands with the government of the antichrist and the false religion will sweep the world.

John saw that most of the world will be seduced by the appeal of false religion, and most will worship the government as the great provider and protector of society.

He also witnessed that religious Babylon or the false religion will slaughter millions upon millions of people because they refuse to put the state and secular society before their own religion.

He saw that among these millions will be a great multitude of genuine believers.

Seeing all this has left John in a state of bewilderment and amazement, wondering how such could ever take place.

While he stood there somewhat shocked, the angel stepped forward and told John that he would now reveal the mystery and details of religious Babylon.

What is the significance of the seven heads and ten horns?

There is the great earthly power of the antichrist: seven heads and ten horns.

The antichrist will have seven heads or seven governments who will willingly subject themselves to his rule.

But he will also have the power of ten horns or governments that support him.

How?

When he himself first comes to power, he will probably march against three governments and conquer them and absorb them into his own rule or nation.

Either this or else three governments will form some alliance or confederation with him as their head.

These three plus the seven who willingly submit to his rule will give him the power of ten governments.

Imagine the great earthly power the antichrist will have by ruling over all these nations and empires.

The false religion of the end time will have a great power behind it.

Who is providing power to the Antichrist?

There is the great supernatural power of the antichrist: he will be out of the bottomless pit, the very incarnation of evil itself or else be indwelt by some powerful evil spirit from the bottomless pit.

What is the final result of this false power?

There is the end or doom of the antichrist: perdition (apoleian).

The word means to be destroyed; to lose one’s well-being; to be wasted and ruined and given a worthless existence.

It does not mean that a person will cease to exist.

It means a person will be destroyed and devastated and condemned to a worthless existence.

He will suffer waste and loss and ruin forever and ever.

No matter how great a person may be, if he does not know Jesus Christ he will face perdition.

The antichrist will be a great man in the eyes of the world.

He will rule the whole world, but he will be doomed: all because he never gave his life and heart to Jesus Christ.

No matter who the person is, if he stands as an enemy of the cross, he shall be destroyed.

It does not matter who he is, either within or without the church, he shall suffer perdition, that is, utter destruction.

Seven Mountains

The seven mountains or seven heads are said by many to refer to Rome.

That is, in the end time religious Babylon or false religion will sit in Rome.

This is because Rome was known in ancient times as the city on seven hills.

But note: this is not what John says.

He clearly says that the seven heads represent seven kings or governments (v.10).