REVELATION 17
VERSES 1 - 5
Part 1 of 3
VERSES 1 - 5
Part 1 of 3
photo courtesy of Living for the Lord
1) And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
2) With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been 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 sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
4) And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
5) And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth.
COMMENTARY
While Babylon is a real city, Mystery Babylon refers to the spiritual Babylon and political Babylon which has been the enemy of God and His people for centuries. The first king of "Babylon", of course, was Nimrod, a descendant of Noah; and the tower of Babel was his project. When the languages were "confused" and the people scattered, they carried the blasphemous, idolatrous religion of Nimrod with them, causing every nation to "drink of her wine". This idolatrous religious system is polytheistic, evolutionary, pantheistic, spiritualistic, humanistic, or astrological and is the basis of many "religions". Every religion not based in Genesis 1 and 2, owes their history to Nimrod; and Nimrod chose Satan rather than God. The first two great commandments are #1: you shall have no god before Me, #2: you shall not make idols.
Note also, that Nimrod tried to establish a central government. With the destruction of Babylon, and the scattering of the people, God intended for government to be simple and local, with the purpose of serving the locals; maintaining peace and freedom, serving the local community. Our forefathers in the United States of America must have understood this Book of Revelation and worked to keep and protect
local control of government vs giving power to a handful of corrupt representatives to dictate to all of the citizens.
So, as the tribulation winds down and terrible judgment is poured out on all nations who had drank from the cup of blasphemy, the angel invites John to see the judgment on Babylon. He is translated (in the spirit) to yet another time and place, a "wilderness" which is probably just after the great flood to see the nature and deeds of this goddess of Babylon. You see, after the great flood, mankind was wiped off the face of the earth, with the exception of Noah and his family. It was a veritable wilderness. but Satan and his powers and principalities remained.
The woman (spiritual/religious Babylon) is supported by the beast (political Babylon) she sits upon and the beast and he gets his power from the dragon (Satan) of Revelation 13, who has seven heads and ten horns. It is all Babylon! It is all in direct conflict with God and His plan for mankind.
Eschatology Today says it this way:
"Today the Babylonian harlot lures the world and church from her great city of the media. You’ll find her shouting her message of unbridled sex and sorcery in film, on television, and over the Internet as she guides their sensual work. Today she is pummeling her mass media with the twisted perversity of homosexuality that earned Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction and was surely partially responsible for Noah’s flood. It’s not hard to imagine a regional prophetic snapshot of her riding a multi-headed MGM lion with the names of the major studios written on its heads. The sorcery of her narcotic goos has ripped the heart out of thousands since her heady, hippy days. Two generations have knelt at her altar of drug induced stupor, wasted and vain.
Note also, that Nimrod tried to establish a central government. With the destruction of Babylon, and the scattering of the people, God intended for government to be simple and local, with the purpose of serving the locals; maintaining peace and freedom, serving the local community. Our forefathers in the United States of America must have understood this Book of Revelation and worked to keep and protect
local control of government vs giving power to a handful of corrupt representatives to dictate to all of the citizens.
So, as the tribulation winds down and terrible judgment is poured out on all nations who had drank from the cup of blasphemy, the angel invites John to see the judgment on Babylon. He is translated (in the spirit) to yet another time and place, a "wilderness" which is probably just after the great flood to see the nature and deeds of this goddess of Babylon. You see, after the great flood, mankind was wiped off the face of the earth, with the exception of Noah and his family. It was a veritable wilderness. but Satan and his powers and principalities remained.
The woman (spiritual/religious Babylon) is supported by the beast (political Babylon) she sits upon and the beast and he gets his power from the dragon (Satan) of Revelation 13, who has seven heads and ten horns. It is all Babylon! It is all in direct conflict with God and His plan for mankind.
Eschatology Today says it this way:
"Today the Babylonian harlot lures the world and church from her great city of the media. You’ll find her shouting her message of unbridled sex and sorcery in film, on television, and over the Internet as she guides their sensual work. Today she is pummeling her mass media with the twisted perversity of homosexuality that earned Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction and was surely partially responsible for Noah’s flood. It’s not hard to imagine a regional prophetic snapshot of her riding a multi-headed MGM lion with the names of the major studios written on its heads. The sorcery of her narcotic goos has ripped the heart out of thousands since her heady, hippy days. Two generations have knelt at her altar of drug induced stupor, wasted and vain.
The deepest of Mystery Babylon’s mysteries is her secret manipulation. Today her gratuitous sex scenes on premium channels no longer offend the de-synthesized believer. Pastors and laity struggle with clandestine Internet pornography. And because illegal drugs are pushed in the public schools and the marketplace, you have to know that drugs are in the church."
(I think their "narcotic goos" should be "narcotic gods".)
This false religion is dressed in gold and fine gems to entice the unsuspecting. It allures with the impression of blessings as evidenced by ornate statues, walls painted by the masters, beautiful buildings, etc., but the message that is preached (which is mostly tradition and public opinion rather than Gospel) leads to death. Her cup of wine is full of blasphemy and the blood of the saints. Be wary.
In ancient times, it was customary in some places, for prostitutes to display their names on their foreheads or clothing. In the tribulation period, the earth dwellers will wear Satan's name on their foreheads or hands. They will be bound to The Harlot for eternity."
We invite you to share your thoughts in a comment here on this site. We would love to hear from you.
You are also encouraged to share this post on your favorite social media; if it has been a blessing to you, it may be a blessing to someone you know. And please pray for us, that my LORD will use this ministry for His glory. Thank you.
(I think their "narcotic goos" should be "narcotic gods".)
This false religion is dressed in gold and fine gems to entice the unsuspecting. It allures with the impression of blessings as evidenced by ornate statues, walls painted by the masters, beautiful buildings, etc., but the message that is preached (which is mostly tradition and public opinion rather than Gospel) leads to death. Her cup of wine is full of blasphemy and the blood of the saints. Be wary.
In ancient times, it was customary in some places, for prostitutes to display their names on their foreheads or clothing. In the tribulation period, the earth dwellers will wear Satan's name on their foreheads or hands. They will be bound to The Harlot for eternity."
We invite you to share your thoughts in a comment here on this site. We would love to hear from you.
You are also encouraged to share this post on your favorite social media; if it has been a blessing to you, it may be a blessing to someone you know. And please pray for us, that my LORD will use this ministry for His glory. Thank you.
