REVELATION CHAPTERS 17 and 18 The “Woman” on the “Beast” The Great Prostitute The Great City

INTRODUCTION Christians are raptured – (At the last Trumpet) God’s Wrath is being poured out on the world – ( 7 Bowls – Chapter 16) But here in Chapter 17 (and 18 &19) John is given a detailed look at one aspect of this “Wrath” of God, upon a particular entity. READ CHAPTER 17: 1-6

OBSERVATIONS Verse 1 – one of the 7 angels who had the 7 Bowls! – We are still in the “Bowl times!” - This is a clue to the “backing up” and taking a more focused look at this time. The purpose of the backing up – is to show the “punishment of the Great Prostitute - (who is this?) What do we know about the Great Prostitute? 1. It is an “entity” – “Prostitute” is symbolic. 2. Sits on many waters – (peoples, languages, nations, multitudes – v.15) – Power over Governments 3. Kings of the earth committed adulteries - (compromised with her wickedness) – Collusion with Governments 4. The “inhabitants of the earth” were intoxicated with the “wine” of her adulteries – (people BELIEVED lies!) 5. Sits on the “beast” – (intimately connected to the antichrist with some power over him) 6. The colors Scarlet and Purple & gold, stones and pearls – (riches) are closely connected with this entity. 7. This entity is responsible for the death of TRUE Christians – worldwide (blood of the saints) 8. This entity is a City that sits on “7 Hills” (v. 9) 9. The antichrist will come from the lineage of one of its “Kings” (v. 10) 10. Ten Kings of certain nations in the last days will make up a Coalition of nations that back up the Antichrist (v.12) 11. Their ONE purpose is to “make war” against the Lamb! (v ) - they will be ferociously anti Judeo/Christian! 12. The antichrist & 10 king coalition will eventually turn on this entity and destroy it – by burning it down! ( v. 16) 13. The “woman” is the “great city” that RULES over the KINGS OF THE EARTH! (v. 18) 14. When the word Prostitute was used symbolically in the Old Testament (the Bible of the early Christians) it was used to describe a “False Religious System!” God’s people were commanded not to compromise their intimate relationship with God with one of these “prostitute” religions. More than likely – the prostitute here is a Huge Religious System – that influences Governments of the World.

It is both a “city” and a religious system that sits on “seven hills” - and will be intimately connected to the antichrist in the last days. This religious system “rules” over many kings of the earth and is connected to government systems and world politics. This religious system is represented by the colors – purple and scarlet. It is adorned in silver, gold and precious stones. In other words, it is rich and “showy”. It is responsible for the persecution and martyrdom of many true Christians, worldwide and down through the ages. The Prostitute, The Great City, Babylon the Great

There is ONLY ONE – religious system that is this huge and is located within a city that sits on 7 hills. Only one in ALL the WORLD and in ALL of HISTORY. The City on 7 Hills - Rome The City (Nation) within the City – Vatican City The Religious System – The Roman Catholic Church The Official Colors – Purple and Scarlet Connection to World Governments - All of Central and South America, most of Europe, (Spain, Italy, France, Germany, etc.) The E.U. and the United States (huge influence).

VARIOUS FAMOUS COMMENTATOR’S VIEWS Revelation 17 In, it is expressly said that "this woman is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth"-- that is, as I suppose, papal Rome; and the design here is to represent it as resembling an abandoned female - representative of an apostate, corrupt, unfaithful church. (Barnes' Commentary) That Rome and the Roman Catholic system are involved here, readily be admitted …(from Seiss' Apocalypse Commentaries) Seven kings-- seven sorts of government. Rome was governed by kings, consuls, tribunes, decemviri, (a body of 10 Roman Magistrates) dictators, emperors who were pagan, and emperors who were Christian. Five of these were extinct when this prophecy was written; one was then in being, that is, the pagan emperor; and the other, that is, the Christian emperor, was yet to come, v. 10. This beast, the papacy, makes an eighth governor, and sets up idolatry again. (Matthew Henry's Commentary) The Woman Who Rides the Beast - By Dave Hunt (The Seduction of Christianity – In Defense of the Faith.) The belief that this passage could refer to none other than the RCC was also held by Martin Luther and all of the major Reformers, plus countless evangelical Christians martyred by Rome for 1,000 years before the Reformation. Verse 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.

Not the PEOPLE but the SYSTEM THE RCC – is a CHRISTIANIZED version of the old Jewish legalistic system …rituals, laws, rules and regulations for every aspect of life and worship, superstitions, traditions over scripture, Priests, High Priest (Pope), special days and routine “sacrifices” (indulgences, confessions, etc.) Jesus is stated as the way to salvation (in reality he is “added on”) but allegiance to MARY – “Queen of Heaven” (Jer.44) – THE CHURCH –(the RCC) and it “Sacraments” are ESSENTIAL to one’s salvation. The RCC - fails the 3 fold “Fundamental Doctrine Test” – Jesus, Bible, Salvation by Grace ALONE. Revelation Chapters written 95AD. The RCC – not official until 306AD! Over 200 years AFTER the prophecy given! The Word of God is ALIVE! It is sovereign, it is infallible and it is FINAL! The message of this word is that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD! You must be born again! No SYSTEM – Just Jesus!