OBSCENITIES IN THE WORLD Text: Revelation 17:1-5 Rev 17:1 One of the seven angels who had poured out the seven bowls came over and spoke to me. "Come with me," he said, "and I will show you the judgment that is going to come on the great prostitute, who rules over many waters.

Rev 17:2 The kings of the world have committed adultery with her, and the people who belong to this world have been made drunk by the wine of her immorality." Rev 17:3 So the angel took me in the Spirit into the wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that had seven heads and ten horns, and blasphemies against God were written all over it.

Rev 17:4 The woman wore purple and scarlet clothing and beautiful jewelry made of gold and precious gems and pearls. In her hand she held a gold goblet full of obscenities and the impurities of her immorality. Rev 17:5 A mysterious name was written on her forehead: "Babylon the Great, Mother of All Prostitutes and Obscenities in the World.“ (NASB)

INTRO: Obscene-means offensive to accepted standards of decency or modesty Inciting lustful feelings Lewdness (pre-occupied) Repulsive (driving you back) Disgusting

AIM: FOR US TO BE HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR US NOT TO BE INTOXICATED WITH THE WINE OF IMMORALITY I. THE COMMAND NOT TO BE DRUNK WITH WINE Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

Ephesians 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; Dissipation- Wasteful expenditure or consumption Take note again that the Bible didn’t say “DO NOT DRINK” but “DO NOT GET DRUNK” We can drink but we should not be intoxicated

We should be sober minded Lev 10:9 "Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. Ezekiel 44:21 "No priest shall drink wine when he enters the inner court. BUT when drinking wine becomes dissipation, obscene, and intoxicating that’s another story

II. WINE OF IMMORALITY-V 2 Some say the harlot is Babylon The Romans or the Roman empire Or the Catholic church But it could be the WORLD’S FINANCIAL SYSTEM Rev 17:5 A mysterious name was written on her forehead: "Babylon the Great, Mother of All Prostitutes and Obscenities in the World.“ (NLT)

The love of money is the root of all evil (I Tim 6:10). Luke 16:13 "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." Luke 16:14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.

Luke 16:15 And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. The love of money, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life can be intoxicating

Luke 21:34 "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. Mar 4:18 "Now these are the ones sown among thorns; [they are] the ones who hear the word, Mar 4:19 "and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches,

and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. III. EXAMPLE FOR US TO LEARN 1Corinthians 10:6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. Rehoboam succeeded Solomon as king

1 Kings 12:4 "Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.“ Solomon became intoxicated with the benefits of wisdom He drank in the pleasures, lusts, and riches of this world Being drunk with the wine of immorality, he started worshiping the gods of his wives

Anything could intoxicate us It could be excessive attention to business, to opposite sex, a sport or a hobby, or social networking It’s perfectly fine and healthy to enjoy recreation, clean entertainment, athletic competition, food, nature’s beauty, and even technology.

But if we participate in excess and draw our satisfaction from them instead of from God Himself, they become intoxicating addictions. IV. GIVE YOUR SELF A CHECK UP What do you hunger and thirst for? What do you do on your free time? What fills your minds? Is making money consuming your thoughts? What you drink most is what you will thirst for?

CHALLENGE: What fills your mind? What are your pursuits? Are you thirsty for God’s righteousness?

CONCLUSION: Rev 17:2 The kings of the world have committed adultery with her, and the people who belong to this world have been made drunk by the wine of her immorality." Rev 17:5 A mysterious name was written on her forehead: "Babylon the Great, Mother of All Prostitutes and Obscenities in the World."