1. #17 The Fall of the False Church of the Tribulation April 19, 2015 PM

2. Background  The political and religious life of Babylon started through rebellion to God.  Genesis 10,11 – Babel “Confusion”  Evidence is seen through the following centuries  Semiramis – Queen of Heaven Jer. 7:18; 44:17-19,25.  Her son, Tammuz – Ezek. 8:14  Baal worship in Canaan – temple prostitution  Cheap imitation of true religion – a stumbling block to God’s people.  Eventually, these religious and political systems will rule the whole world through the Antichrist and his false church.  The fall of the world-wide false religion of the end times is seen in Chapter 17 and the fall of the world economic system is seen in Chapter 18  Wherefore come out from among them…! II Cor. 6:17

3. Destruction of Religious Babylon  Her Defilement Described -17:1-7  Religious Babylon is described as a great harlot controlling people of many nations.  She has been UNFAITHFUL to God – even though her claim is faithfulness, her practice is unfaithfulness.  Her real interest is not God, but the kings and powers of the world.  The Woman’s Power vs. 3-b - the Beast uses her, but she uses the Beast.  The Woman’s Attire vs. 4 – Materialism and ritualism over spiritual reality.  The Woman’s Name vs. 5 – the true identity of the counterfeit religion is not known to its followers, but is REAVEALED to God’s people.  The Woman’s Condemnation vs. 6,7 – Her murder and hatred of God’s people is “astonishing.” Nothing is more cruel and vicious to Christianity than apostate religions.

4.  Her Destructors Described – 17:8-18 (Their identity)  “The Beast” – 17:8 – Antichrist – alive, killed, resurrected, and finally destroyed  And shall be wondered at by earth-dwellers “Whose names are not…  Never forget the link between Satan and the Antichrist  “Here is the mind that has wisdom” 17:9 – 7 mountains on which she sits  Rome – with 7 hills?  A coalition of 7 “faiths”?  “And ______ are 7 Kings” 17:10  Five are fallen (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece)  One is (Rome - during John’s time)  One is yet to come – to continue a short time -The revived Roman Empire  “The Beast” 17:11 – The Antichrist  Comes from the 7 th head – Revived Roman Empire  Is the 8 th Kingdom ruling for the last 42 months of the Tribulation.  “The 10 Horns” 17:12  10 kings ruling simultaneously in the Revived Roman Empire  The Antichrist will subdue 3 of them and all 10 will submit to him.  Permitted to rule “1 hour” – short time.

5. (Their Purpose)  Vs. 13 – They give their support to the Beast  Vs. 14 – With the Beast they will make war against Christ  Vs. 15 – to help rule the nations.  Vs. 16 – They will cooperate with ecumenical world religion only as long as it benefits them.  Following the Antichrist’s resurrection and the destruction of Russia, Antichrist will rule for 42 months.  He will destroy the world church since we read that he will demand the worship of the world for himself. Dan 11:36-39.  Vs. 17 – Although these men are fully responsible for their own actions, they are fulfilling God’s plans and His complete program.  Vs. 18 – Religious Rome (Babylon) held economic and political power over the world as well.

6. How does this apply to me?  I must remember that the “monsters” of the future have their bearing in history. What was it that will have caused the apostasy of the church of Revelation 17? Are those errors of the past and present?  I might use this information to help me witness to someone. What does God say the future will hold for those who do not believe and receive Christ?  God reveals much in this passage. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…”  What is right, what is not right, how to get right, how to stay right.  And…