34-Spiritual Babylon and Revelation 17 - NAS

1. God's Description of a Spiritual Apostate System That Compromises Truth.
Revelation 17:1-5 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the _judgment_ of the great harlot who sits on many waters, [2] with whom the kings of the earth _committed_ acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality." [3] And he carried me away in the Spirit into a _wilderness_; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of _blasphemous_ names, having seven heads and ten horns. [4] The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and _precious_ stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality, [5] and on her _forehead_ a name was written, a _mystery_, "_BABYLON_ THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF _HARLOTS_ AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."

2. Truth Is Cast to the Ground.
Daniel 8:12 And on account of _transgression_ the host will be given over to the horn along with the regular _sacrifice_; and it will fling truth to the ground and perform its will and prosper.

3. The Bride of Jesus Represents the Church.
Ephesians 5:31-33 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. [32] This mystery is great; but I am speaking with _reference_ to Christ and the church. [33] _Nevertheless_, each _individual_ among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she _respects_ her husband.

4. The Daughter of Zion Is Like a Beautiful Woman.
Jeremiah 6:2 "The comely and _dainty_ one, the _daughter_ of Zion, I will cut off.

5. Zion, Thou Art My People.
Isaiah 51:16 "I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand, to _establish_ the _heavens_, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, 'You are My people.' "

6. A Beautiful Woman Appearing in Heaven Represents the New Testament Church.
Revelation 12:1-3 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman _clothed_ with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; [2] and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. [3] Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red _dragon_ _having_ seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven _diadems_.

7. The Harlot of Revelation 17 Represents the Fallen Church.
Revelation 17:1-2 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the _judgment_ of the great _harlot_ who sits on many _waters_, [2] with whom the kings of the earth _committed_ acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality."

8. The Colors of This Fallen, Apostate Church System Are Purple and Scarlet, the Very Colors of the Roman Church.
Revelation 17:4 The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of _abominations_ and of the unclean things of her _immorality_,

9. Her Headquarters Are Situated on the City of Seven Hills, Or Rome.
Revelation 17:9 "Here is the mind which has _wisdom_. The seven heads are seven _mountains_ on which the woman sits,

10. This Apostate System Is a Revival of Old Testament Babylon.
Revelation 17:5 And on her _forehead_ a name was written, a mystery, "BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF _HARLOTS_ AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."

11. Babylon Represents Confusion Because God Confused the Languages. Spiritual Babylon Represents Religious Confusion.
Genesis 11:9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the _language_ of the whole earth; and from there the LORD _scattered_ them abroad over the face of the whole earth.

12. Babylon Is a Man-Made System Based on Human Tradition and Achievement.
Daniel 4:30 "The king _reflected_ and said, 'Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal _residence_ by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?'

Isaiah 45:22 "Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and _there_ is no _other_.

13. Ancient Babylon Filled Her Temple with Idols and So Will Spiritual Babylon.
Jeremiah 51:47 Therefore behold, days are coming When I will _punish_ the idols of _Babylon_; And her whole land will be put to shame And all her slain will fall in her midst.

14. Thou Shalt Not Make Any Graven Images.
Exodus 20:4-5 "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. [5] "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, _visiting_ the _iniquity_ of the fathers on the _children_, on the third and the fourth _generations_ of those who hate Me,

15. Women Are Described As Weeping for Tammus, God of Vegetation. Ancestor Worship, Or Saint Worship Was Common in Babylon.
Ezekiel 8:14 Then He brought me to the _entrance_ of the gate of the LORD'S house which was toward the north; and behold, women were sitting there _weeping_ for Tammuz.

16. The Dead Are Not Aware of Anything.
Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their _memory_ is _forgotten_.

17. The Dead Do Not Praise the Lord.
Psalms 115:17 The dead do not _praise_ the LORD, Nor do any who go down into _silence_;

18. Sun Worship Took Place in God's Temple.
Ezekiel 8:16 Then He brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house. And behold, at the entrance to the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east; and they were _prostrating_ _themselves_ _eastward_ toward the sun.

19. The Sabbath Is God's Sign.
Ezekiel 20:12 "Also I gave them My _sabbaths_ to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who _sanctifies_ them.

Ezekiel 20:20 '_Sanctify_ My _sabbaths_; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.'

20. Spiritual Babylon Will Attempt to Unite Mankind by Setting up An Earthly Kingdom of God and Enforcing a Common Day of Worship.
Revelation 17:12-14 "The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. [13] "These have one _purpose_, and they give their power and authority to the beast. [14] "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will _overcome_ them, _because_ He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and _chosen_ and _faithful_."

21. The Earth Will Be Lightened with God's Glory in Times of Spiritual Crisis.
Revelation 18:1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great _authority_, and the earth was _illumined_ with his glory.

22. God Makes a Final Call for People to Come Out of Babylon.
Revelation 18:2-4 And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a _dwelling_ place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. [3] "For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have _committed_ acts of immorality with her, and the _merchants_ of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her _sensuality_." [4] I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not _participate_ in her sins and receive of her _plagues_;

23. Sin Is the Transgression of God's Law. God's Final Call Is for People to Come Out of Churches Breaking His Law. He Invites Them to Become Part of His Sabbath Keeping People.
1 John 3:4 _Everyone_ who practices sin _also_ practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.

24. God's People Keep His Commandments and Have Faith in Jesus.
Revelation 14:12 Here is the _perseverance_ of the saints who keep the _commandments_ of God and their faith in Jesus.

Next Bible Study: 35-The Gift of Prophecy

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