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Revelation of John Compiled by WD Kemner April 2021
Chapter 17-18 – The Great Whore and the Beast
Chapter 17
When studying Chapter 17, one must continue into Chapter 18 and review it as well. Consider what is learned and understood from Chapter 18 and apply it to the understanding obtained in chapter 17
Description of Woman
Sits on many waters. Committed fornication with many kings. See Revelations 18:3 Wore purple and scarlet; gold and precious stones, pearls. See Revelations 18:12 Golden cup in hand full of filth. Name written on her forehead. Drunk with blood of the martyrs of Jesus. Obvious from description that cannot be literal woman. We will be told more later in chapter in verses 15-18.
Description of Beast
Scarlett color. Has seven heads and ten horns. From Chapter 13, we already know this is a king or kingdom opposed to God
We were told about this in Chapter 13:3. The mockery of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The mortal wound the antichrist will receive and appear to come back to life. That is why the terms: “Was, and is Not; and shall ascend” which means that he was alive, then he died and appears to be alive again.
One that understands His Word will be able to understand this. Now the Interpretation from God himself
“Mountains” – term has been used before to reference kingdoms. Thus we have the seven kingdoms of the seven kings mentioned in next verse
Remember that all prophecy centers around the Jewish nation! Why does man choose to deviate from scripture and place his own interpretations into scriptures? Why must “everything” be explained with the way we see or know the world today? Put it all into proper context with scripture and the author.
Reference the study guide on Daniel Chapter 7
Revelation is a “continuation” of the visions Daniel had. Daniel’s visions all pertained to the Jews. The central theme was always God’s punishment for the Jews turning their backs on Him.
Six kingdoms in history had all been used in bringing discipline on Israel:
1. Egypt 2. Assyrians 3. Babylon 4. Medo-Persia 5. Greece 6. Roman Empire
Egypt and Assyria had never totally destroyed the Jewish nation. Until the point when the book of Daniel begins, there was still a remnant in Jerusalem. The book of Daniel began with the last of the Jewish Nation taken into captivity in Babylon. Chapter 7 of Daniel picks up from the point in time that Daniel was living in. It was God’s declaration of the future involving His children the Jews. Everything up and till the Roman Empire had taken place by the time that John has his vision of Revelations. John was living at the point of the SIXTH Kingdom of Daniel’s prophecies.
Verse 10 states:
“Five have fallen…”. Egypt, Assyria, Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar’s country), Persia, Greece had all come onto the global world stage and gone away at the time John was living.
“…and one is…” The Roman Empire was THE POWER on the global stage at the time that John wrote his book.
“…and the other is not yet come;…” This is the SEVENTH Kingdom (of Revelations) and the FIFTH Kingdom (of Book of Daniel). This is the future kingdom of the Anti-Christ. This was already mentioned by John in Revelations chapter 13.
“…and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.” The anti-christ will continue in his power, authority and control for a space of time before and during the events in Revelation.
Same language from verse 8 of this same chapter. Why take it as anything different?
Seventh Kingdom:
As learned from Daniel, the antichrist will originally control three of the ten kingdoms. The other seven refusing to give over control.
Eighth Kingdom:
At a point, “something” occurs that cause them to submit to his authority. When the antichrist is killed and appears to “rise again”, his entire “kingdom” will be a lot different that it was before. It will now become hard for the world to not view him as “God”
The Ten Horns of Daniel 7 and Revelation 13
A “hint” of more to come in the following chapters of Revelation regarding how the antichrist and his kingdom will be overcome by the true Lord of lords.
Peoples of varying different nations, languages and cultures.
What one thing “reigns” over kingdoms of the world? Controls them, or effects decision making. Something each would have in common with their neighbor, even if it is vastly different in what it looks like. The one thing is RELIGION.
WHO IS THIS WOMAN?
There has been much speculation regarding the “woman” of this chapter and the “Babylon” of the next chapter. Here is what we DO KNOW from the verses in Revelation:
We have learned from John’s vision in chapter 13 that there are two entities on the planet working for the purposes of Satan. One is the anti-christ. Called a beast in chapter 13. The second is the Beast that will give all recognition to the antichrist and generate world-wide worship of the anti-christ.
We can make the assumption that the Beast (2nd one) is a “religious leader”. A leader that is in authority and can “influence officially” a “large religious network”. It will not be until chapter 19:20 that John calls this beast “The False Prophet”
Take scripture for exactly what it states and do not interchange theories. God says what he means and means what he says. Where it is obvious is the only place where symbolism can be used. A “woman” in chapter 17 is OBVIOUSLY NOT a physical female human. Babylon IS A REAL entity. Scripture as a whole are complete from beginning to end.
Many have used that information “alone” in an attempt to make their “guess” that this woman is the Roman Catholic Church based upon many things including its global influence and its history. There is NOTHING in the book of Revelations that names the Catholic church OR ANY OTHER religion currently on the World stage as being THIS “religious network”. We have already established from the beginning of this study one rule. DO NOT MAKE PROPHECY FIT INTO WHAT IS CURRENTLY EXISTING IN THE WORLD. Church in Rome may well be involved. It also may well not even be in existence. We do know that this religious network of the Beast WILL BE ON THE WORLD STAGE at the point in history of Revelations taking place.
The IMPORTANT point to remember, at some point, the Antichrist will destroy EVERYTHING that does not worship himself. The “True Church” has been taken away in the “Rapture”. What is left of the world “Religious Organizations” is in chaos anyway. The largest single religious entity at that point could be the Roman Catholic church. If it is, will the Roman Catholic Church throughout 2000 years of their own history and control, give it away to another man?
The antichrist WILL have his own religious structure behind him, he will not “need” anyone else. He will “outlaw” any “religion or church” that is not his! Chapter 17 is looking at the “world-wide religion” that is being controlled/pushed/enforced by the city Babylon of the next chapter. Chapter 18 will now look at Babylon as a physical geographical entity.
Chapter 18 – Destruction of Babylon
When studying Chapter 18, combine what is learned in this chapter with what Chapter 17 has discussed. Both will complement each other.
Babylon the great has fallen. Center of all evil, den of iniquity. Throughout scripture evil was always compared to Sodom and Gomorrah. This city has surpassed that level.
A repeat of what was stated in Revelations 17:2 All nations have been involved and taken part in the evil and wickedness of Babylon. This is a city on the “Global Map” in order to be the “center of” everything.
His people are told to come out. Must be “physical entity” that God’s people could have gotten themselves a part of and be told to get “out of”. Nowhere in scripture is the term “Babylon” used to refer to anything other than the capital city of Chaldea.
The history of Babylon spans a huge segment in the history of the world. It began centuries before the story of Nimrod and the Tower of Babel in Genesis 10 and 11. All the prophets spoke against it. The “city” is spoken of by Ezra, Nehemiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Micah and Zechariah. She was used by God in his discipline of the nation of Israel. It was Babylon that carried off the temple items along with the royal family and captives. At the time of the apostles there was a church in Babylon. 2 Peter 5:13
Her sins are so large. She has created her own punishment
She exalted herself to the point of only recognizing herself
She will receive plagues: death and famine. All in one day
The world will cry and lament over the destruction of Babylon. Probably more from the lost income and precious value to them of its commerce
See Revelations 17:4. Descriptive of the products and wealth of Babylon. Further justifying it as a physical location and place heavily centered in the economic world of its time.
The concern of the world at its loss
Rejoicing in Heaven at the final discontinuation of the filthy sin and arrogance of Babylon
The promise that there shall never be life in this city again. This proves this passage never applied to any other time in history since the city of Babylon has been reused.
BABYLON
Babylon has been in scripture since the beginning. It has been a center of evil and man’s mockery of God Almighty. The prophets have repeated the judgments of God throughout the Old Testament. An entire study can be devoted to it, that is not the purpose of this study. Go back and research and study the history of Babylon through the history of mankind. For example: Jeremiah 51:7 and Revelation 17:2-4. This study will only touch on enough to give the reader an understanding of how that fits into Revelation.
Babylon has its beginning with the days of Noah’s flood. His three sons dispersed over the earth. Ham had a son named Cush. Cush had a son named Nimrod that is all too familiar to the study of Babylon. It is with these generations after the flood that we see man already attempting to distance himself from God. Developing their own versions of God to worship, even setting up worship of themselves as Gods. Babylon would become the center of evil worship that would spread to all languages and cultures of the world. Involving rituals and worship of mother and child. Some rituals being done secretly to prevent the backlash that was expected. The “mystery” part is not difficult to see developing. Pagan worship would go on up to modern day.
There are other scriptures that involve this Babylon: Isaiah Chapters 13 and 14; Jeremiah chapters 50 and 51 The “physical/geographical” city of Babylon MUST exist in order to be “destroyed”
These are referring to the Destruction and Judgment on Babylon. Now, some have argued that this occurred in 70 AD with the end of the captivity of Israel. However, the prophets use the term “the Day of the Lord” in reference to when these events would occur. The passages are double references, to both then and in the future to come.
Jeremiah 51:26 talks about destruction of Babylon and that not one of its stones will ever be used again. This has not happened yet. History shows many cities built from the ruble of Babylon. Another one needs built and then destroyed.
Research work of others who have written on this
“The Two Babylons” by Alexander Hislop written 1853 https://archive.org/details/theTwoBabylons/mode/2up
“Lectures on the Book of Revelation” by H.A. Ironside (1919) http://www.baptistbiblebelievers.com/NTStudies/LecturesonRevelationsHAIronside1920.aspx
“The Book of Revelation” – Clarence Larkin (1919) https://openlibrary.org/books/OL23282334M/The_Book_of_Revelation |