34-Spiritual Babylon and Revelation 17 - NIV

1. God's Description of a Spiritual Apostate System That Compromises Truth.
Revelation 17:1-5 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. [2] With her the kings of the earth _committed_ adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries." [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. [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. [5] This title was written on her _forehead_: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF _PROSTITUTES_ AND OF THE _ABOMINATIONS_ OF THE EARTH.

2. Truth Is Cast to the Ground.
Daniel 8:12 Because of rebellion, the host [of the saints] and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It _prospered_ in _everything_ it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.

3. The Bride of Jesus Represents the Church.
Ephesians 5:31-33 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." [32] This is a _profound_ mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. [33] However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must _respect_ her _husband_.

4. The Daughter of Zion Is Like a Beautiful Woman.
Jeremiah 6:2 I will destroy the Daughter of Zion, so _beautiful_ and _delicate_.

5. Zion, Thou Art My People.
Isaiah 51:16 I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand-- I who set the _heavens_ in place, who laid the _foundations_ of the earth, and who 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 and _wondrous_ sign appeared in heaven: a woman _clothed_ with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. [2] She was _pregnant_ and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. [3] Then another sign appeared in heaven: an _enormous_ red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads.

7. The Harlot of Revelation 17 Represents the Fallen Church.
Revelation 17:1-2 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. [2] With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the _inhabitants_ of the earth were _intoxicated_ with the wine of her adulteries."

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 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_.

9. Her Headquarters Are Situated on the City of Seven Hills, Or Rome.
Revelation 17:9 "This calls for a mind with _wisdom_. The seven heads are seven hills on which the _woman_ sits.

10. This Apostate System Is a Revival of Old Testament Babylon.
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.

11. Babylon Represents Confusion Because God Confused the Languages. Spiritual Babylon Represents Religious Confusion.
Genesis 11:9 That is why it was called Babel--because there the LORD confused the _language_ of the whole world. From there the LORD _scattered_ them over the face of the whole earth.

12. Babylon Is a Man-Made System Based on Human Tradition and Achievement.
Daniel 4:30 He said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal _residence_, by my mighty power and for the glory of my _majesty_?"

Isaiah 45:22 "Turn to me and be saved, all you 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 For the time will surely come when I will punish the idols of _Babylon_; her whole land will be _disgraced_ and her slain will all lie fallen within her.

14. Thou Shalt Not Make Any Graven Images.
Exodus 20:4-5 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. [5] You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, _punishing_ the _children_ for the sin of the _fathers_ to the third and fourth _generation_ 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_ to the north gate of the house of the LORD, and I saw women sitting there, _mourning_ for Tammuz.

16. The Dead Are Not Aware of Anything.
Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no _further_ reward, and even the memory of them is _forgotten_.

17. The Dead Do Not Praise the Lord.
Psalms 115:17 It is not the dead who _praise_ the LORD, those who go down to _silence_;

18. Sun Worship Took Place in God's Temple.
Ezekiel 8:16 He then brought me into the inner court of the house of the LORD, and there at the _entrance_ to the temple, _between_ the _portico_ and the altar, were about twenty-five men. With their backs toward the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, they were bowing down to the sun in the east.

19. The Sabbath Is God's Sign.
Ezekiel 20:12 Also I gave them my _Sabbaths_ as a sign _between_ us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy.

Ezekiel 20:20 Keep my _Sabbaths_ holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will 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 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. [13] They have one _purpose_ and will give their power and authority to the beast. [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_."

21. The Earth Will Be Lightened with God's Glory in Times of Spiritual Crisis.
Revelation 18:1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great _authority_, and the earth was _illuminated_ by his splendor.

22. God Makes a Final Call for People to Come Out of Babylon.
Revelation 18:2-4 With a mighty voice he shouted: "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and _detestable_ bird. [3] For all the nations have drunk the _maddening_ wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth _committed_ adultery with her, and the _merchants_ of the earth grew rich from her _excessive_ _luxuries_." [4] Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any 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 sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is _lawlessness_.

24. God's People Keep His Commandments and Have Faith in Jesus.
Revelation 14:12 This calls for patient _endurance_ on the part of the saints who obey God's _commandments_ and remain faithful to Jesus.

Next Bible Study: 35-The Gift of Prophecy

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