34-Spiritual Babylon and Revelation 17 - NKJ

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 talked with me, saying to me, "Come, I will show you the _judgment_ of the great harlot who sits on many waters, [2] with whom the kings of the earth _committed_ fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication." [3] So he carried me away in the Spirit into the _wilderness_. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of _blasphemy_, having seven heads and ten horns. [4] The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and _precious_ stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the _filthiness_ of her fornication. [5] And on her _forehead_ a name was written: 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 Because of _transgression_, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily _sacrifices_; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered.

3. The Bride of Jesus Represents the Church.
Ephesians 5:31-33 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." [32] This is a great mystery, but I speak _concerning_ Christ and the church. [33] _Nevertheless_ let each one of you in _particular_ so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she _respects_ her husband.

4. The Daughter of Zion Is Like a Beautiful Woman.
Jeremiah 6:2 I have likened the _daughter_ of Zion To a lovely and _delicate_ woman.

5. Zion, Thou Art My People.
Isaiah 51:16 And I have put My words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, That I may plant the _heavens_, Lay the _foundations_ of the earth, And say to Zion, 'You are My people.' "

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

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 talked with me, saying to me, "Come, I will show you the _judgment_ of the great harlot who sits on many waters, [2] with whom the kings of the earth _committed_ fornication, and the _inhabitants_ of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication."

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 arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of _abominations_ and the filthiness of her _fornication_.

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: 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 is called Babel, because there the LORD confused the _language_ of all the earth; and from there the LORD _scattered_ them abroad over the face of all the earth.

12. Babylon Is a Man-Made System Based on Human Tradition and Achievement.
Daniel 4:30 The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal _dwelling_ by my mighty power and for the honor of my _majesty_?"

Isaiah 45:22 "Look 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 Therefore behold, the days are coming That I will bring _judgment_ on the carved images of Babylon; Her whole land shall be _ashamed_, And all her slain shall fall in her midst.

14. Thou Shalt Not Make Any Graven Images.
Exodus 20:4-5 You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; [5] you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, _visiting_ the _iniquity_ of the fathers upon the _children_ to the third and 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 So He brought me to the door of the north gate of the Lord's house; and to my dismay, women were _sitting_ there _weeping_ 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, And they have no more reward, For the _memory_ of them is _forgotten_.

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

18. Sun Worship Took Place in God's Temple.
Ezekiel 8:16 So He _brought_ me into the inner court of the Lord's house; and there, at the door of the temple of the Lord, _between_ the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, and they were _worshiping_ the sun toward the east.

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

Ezekiel 20:20 Hallow My _Sabbaths_, and they will 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 received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. [13] These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. [14] These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will _overcome_ them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and _those_ who are with Him are _called_, _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 _illuminated_ with his glory.

22. God Makes a Final Call for People to Come Out of Babylon.
Revelation 18:2-4 And he cried _mightily_ with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a _dwelling_ place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! [3] For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have _committed_ fornication with her, and the _merchants_ of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury." [4] And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you _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 _Whoever_ commits sin _also_ commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

24. God's People Keep His Commandments and Have Faith in Jesus.
Revelation 14:12 Here is the _patience_ of the saints; here are those who keep the _commandments_ of God and the faith of Jesus.

Next Bible Study: 35-The Gift of Prophecy

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