The Great Harlot

• 1^st – Great Harlot… vs. 1-6
  • 1^st – One Religion… vs. 1
    • 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!
    • Immediately after the pouring out of the SEVENTH bowl of wrath…
    • One of the SEVEN angels – commanded [imperative] John to come and see…
    • The Great HARLOT [πόρνη] – used to describe the RELIGIOUS system created by the Antichrist…
    • There will ONLY be one RELIGION during the SEVEN years of the Tribulation!
    • Revelation 13:8 – “All who dwell on the earth will worship him.”
    • We have seen in recent years – a growing trend towards the interfaith [ecumenical] movement…
    • Jesus is ONE way to get to heaven – but NOT the ONLY way…
    • If someone is a sincere MUSLIM – or BUDDHIST – God will accept them…
    • This will be the mindset for the FINAL world RELIGION…
    • The Great HARLOT will sit on MANY waters [different beliefs of many people]
    • So long as they WORSHIP the Beast above all others!
  • 2^nd – Fornication… vs. 2
    • The Kings…
      • Whom the kings of the earth committed fornication.
      • All of the LEADERS [kings] of the earth will support this ONE world RELIGION…
      • They will commit SPIRITUAL fornication – cheating on the LORD!
      • In the OT and NT – both Israel and Church are likened to the BRIDE of God…
      • And when a BRIDE is not faithful to her husband – she commits FORNICATION…
      • When we are not faithful to the Lord – we are guilty of SPIRITUAL adultery!
        
    • The People…
      • The inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication!
      • As a result of the all the leaders of the world supporting this one RELIGION…
      • Everyone on earth will become DRUNK [passive] by this false RELIGION…
      • They will lose the ability to think clearly [drunk] – deceived by the LIE!
      • We live in world that would love to try to get us to live for something others than Jesus…
      • We can go to church on Sunday – but every other day is for having FUN…
      • But we are called to live for Jesus every day – we are the BRIDE of Christ!
      • Romans 12:1 – “Present your bodies a living sacrifice – holy – acceptable to God – which is your reasonable service.” 
  • 3^rd – Scarlet beast… vs. 3
    • Wilderness…
      • So – he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness.
      • John was taken in the SPIRIT into the Wilderness…
      • WILDERNESS [ἔρημος] – first used in the NT describing Judea – Matthew 3:1
      • It seems likely the heart of this false RELIGION is the city of Jerusalem!
    • Riding the Beast…
      • I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy.
      • Having seven heads and ten horns!
      • This one world RELIGION – sits on the back of a scarlet BEAST [Antichrist]
      • A BEAST with SEVEN heads and TEN horns – full of blasphemous names…
      • The same description we saw in back in – Revelation 13:1
      • The idea being this one world RELIGION is founded on the RULE of the Antichrist!
      • The symbol of Europe today – is the goddess Europa – www.europa.eu
      • It is a women who rides a beast!
      • God created a separation of power in the Bible…
      • He ordained Priests [OT] and Pastor [NT] to lead the people spiritually…
      • He established Kings to rule over the people practically…
      • Because He did not want too much authority to be in the hands of ONE man…
      • There is WISDOM in separating the CHURCH from the STATE!
  • 4^th – Her Wealth… vs. 4
    • The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet – adorned with gold – precious stones and pearls.
    • Having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication!
    • The woman wore [passive] PURPLE clothes – color of Kings – Acts 16:14
    • And she also wore SCARLET robes – to show her allegiance to the BEAST – Revelation 17:3
    • But she also had [passive] EXPENSIVE jewelry – gold – precious stones – pearls…
    • Because this one world RELIGION – made her [passive] VERY rich…
    • In exchange for her cup – that was full of ABOMINATIONS – Daniel 9:27
    • As she deceived the whole world into worshiping the BEAST [fornication]!
    • The Catholic church is estimated to be worth over 1.7 TRILLION pesos…
    • The Mormon church is estimated to be worth over 5.7 TRILLION pesos!
    • RELIGION is BIG business – it is often ABUSED to make a LOT of money…
    • Forcing people to give out of a sense of obligation – even when they do NOT want to…
    • Putting a guilt trip that if they do not tithe – they are robbing God – Malachi 3:8
    • But God does NOT need anything – He created everything – Colossians 1:16
    • Whatever we give – we are to do it with a hilarious heart – a cheerful giver!
    • II Corinthians 9:7 – “[We] must each decide in your heart how much to give. And do not give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
  • 5^th – Her name… vs. 5
    • And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY – BABYLON THE GREAT.
    • THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH!
    • The NAME of this one world RELIGION – is MYSTERY Babylon…
    • Note – not literal Babylon – it is MYSTERY Babylon…
    • MYSTERY [μυστήριον] something that is hidden or a SECRET…
    • The MYSTERY the religion is HIDING – is that it is leading people to HELL…
    • It will be the SOURCE [mother] of all spiritual ADULTERY [harlot]
    • As it leads the world in the worship of the Antichrist [Abomination] – Matthew 24:15
    • Sadly – we even see this in many churches today…
    • Rather than giving people TRUTH – they tell them what they WANT to hear…
    • Hiding the dark truth – that dead RELIGION does not lead people to heaven!
    • II Timothy 4:3 – “A time is coming [and now is] when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will… look for teachers who will tell them what they want to hear.”
  • 6^th – Blood of the saints… vs. 6
    • I saw the woman – drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.
    • And when I saw her – I marveled with great amazement!
    • One of the defining characteristics of this one world RELIGION – is intolerance for Jesus…
    • She will be DRUNK [active] on the blood of the SAINTS [ἅγιος] and MARTYRS…
    • Note – this RELIGION will have no problem with MUSLIMS – or HINDUS…
    • ONLY those who follow Jesus Christ – will be executed for their faith – Revelation 20:4
    • We live in a world where this is already coming to pass…
    • You can believe in anything – and people will accept and even celebrate you…
    • But if you believe in Jesus – then you will be mocked and marginalized…
    • Because there is only ONE truth – and everything else is a LIE…
    • So satan does not care what version of the LIE – which RELIGION – you follow…
    • But if you dare to stand up for the TRUTH – Jesus – then you are the ENEMY!

• 2^nd – The Beast… vs. 7-14
  • Getting answers… vs. 7
    • But the angel said to me – Why did you marvel? 
    • I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her.
    • Which has the seven heads and the ten horns!
    • Having seen the Great HARLOT – John was AMAZED [not sure what to think of her]
    • But the ANGEL who showed him the HARLOT – told him do NOT be AMAZED…
    • Because he would explain to John the MYSTERY of the WOMAN and the BEAST!
    • There are always going to be things in the Bible we do NOT understands…
    • If we have a hard time understanding a certain passage – it is GOOD to ask questions…
    • ASSUMPTIONS will only get us into trouble – answered questions give us the TRUTH!
  • 1^st – Fall of the Antichrist… vs. 8
    • The Beast…
      • The beast that you saw was – and is not – and will ascend out of the bottomless pit.
      • And go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel.
      • Whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world.
      • When they see the beast that was – and is not – and yet is!
      • FIRST – the ANGEL describes the FATE of the BEAST…
      • The one who WAS – is NOT – and yet IS [a reference to his resurrection] – Revelation 13:3
      • He will ascend out of the bottomless PIT [ἄβυσσος] – satanically empowered…
      • But after his SEVEN year reign – he will be cast into PERDITION [destruction]
      • When Jesus returns – he and the False Prophet are cast in the Lake of Fire – Revelation 19:20
      • Then all who worshiped him – ANYONE whose name is NOT written in the Book of Life…
      • Will be AMAZED – because they will realize too LATE they have been following a LIE!
    • Book of Life…
      • The ONLY way to get into heaven – is to have our name in the Book of Life…
      • But our names are written in the BOOK – from the foundation of the world!
      • God is ETERNAL – meaning He has no beginning or end – Revelation 1:8
      • It does not mean God has an endless amount of TIME – it means God is outside of TIME…
      • God sees all of time – from Genesis to Revelation all at once – Isaiah 46:10 
      • Since God sees EVERYTHING – He knows exactly who will believe in Jesus…
      • God knows our CHOICE – before we ever make it…
      • He then CHOOSES – those who He knows will CHOOSE Him – Romans 8:29
    • If we WANT to be in the Book of Life – all we have to do is CHOOSE Jesus…
    • And we will find our names were written from the foundation of the world!
  • 2^nd – Final Kingdom… vs. 9-11
    • Seven Mountains… vs. 9
      • Here is the mind which has wisdom:
      • The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits!
      • SECOND – the ANGEL goes on to give John WISDOM regarding the KINGDOM of the beast…
      • The SEVEN heads of the BEAST – are SEVEN mountains the HARLOT sits upon…
      • This has commonly been interpreted as the CATHOLIC church…
      • Because Rome is known as the CITY on SEVEN hills…
      • But that does not seem to fit the passage – as it is seven MOUNTAINS [ὅπου] – not HILLS…
      • It is more likely pointing to the SEVEN kings!
    • Seven Kings… vs. 10
      • There are seven kings. Five have fallen – one is – and the other has not yet come. 
      • And when he comes – he must continue a short time!
      • The SEVEN kings – refer to SEVEN major world EMPIRES…
      • FIVE of them had already FALLEN: Egypt – Assyria – Babylon – Medo Persia – Greece…
      • The SIXTH was currently in power: Rome [in the days of John]
      • The SEVENTH was to come: European Union [Revived Roman Empire]
      • But it will only last for a SHORT time – as the BEAST will rise from this SEVENTH empire!
    • Final King… vs. 11
      • The beast that was – and is not – is himself also the eighth.
      • And is of the seven – and is going to perdition!
      • The BEAST [Antichrist] will rise out of the European Union [seventh] – Daniel 7:7-8
      • He will be the EIGHTH and final world EMPIRE [of men]
      • But his REIGN will not last for long – before he is DESTROYED – Revelation 19:20
      • As we look at how God orchestrates the EMPIRES of the world – from beginning to the end…
      • It gives great PEACE – because no matter how chaotic things seem – God is in CONTROL…
      • We see everything unfolds according to His PLAN – leading to one pre-determined end!
      • Daniel 2:44 – “In the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed… it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms – and it shall stand forever!”
  • 3^rd – Ten Horns… vs. 12-14
    • One Hour… vs. 12
      • 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!
      • THIRD – the ANGEL describes the leaders who support the BEAST…
      • When Daniel interpreted the dream of Nebuchadnezzar – the great Statue – Daniel 2
      • Each part of the statue represented different KINGDOMS of men…
      • Starting with the Babylonian Empire – was the head of GOLD…
      • The Medo Persian Empire – was the chest of SILVER…
      • The Grecian Empire [Alexander the Great] – was the waste of BRONZE…
      • The Romans Empire – was the legs of IRON…
      • The Revived Roman Empire [European Union] – was the feet of IRON mixed with CLAY…
      • IRON because it came from ROME – CLAY because of the weak bonds holding it together…
      • The TEN horns – are thought to be the same as the TEN toes – Daniel 2:42
      • We are NOT sure if these TEN horns [toes] are TEN nations – or TEN leaders!
      • From 1981-86 – there were only TEN nations in the EU [prophecy buffs went crazy]
      • The problem is they kept adding nations – and there are now 27 member nations in the EU…
      • But it should not come as a SURPRISE we do NOT see what these TEN are yet…
      • Because their time [kingdom] has NOT come – they rise up with the BEAST…
      • But they will only have power [authority] for ONE hour – a SHORT time!
    • One Mind… vs. 13
      • These are of one mind – and they will give their power and authority to the beast!
      • The TEN have ONE mind – they are united in TWO ways…
      • They are UNITED in supporting the BEAST [Antichrist] – he is their KING!
      • If I were to ask – who is the leader of the UNITED States – Joe Biden
      • If I were to ask – who is the leader of China – XI Jinping
      • If I were to ask – who is the leader of Europe – ??? – Ursula von der Leyen
      • There is a power VACUUM in EUROPE – waiting for a leader to step up and fill it…
      • And when the time is right – they will give the Antichrist their POWER and AUTHORITY!
    • One War… vs. 14
      • These will make war with the Lamb – and the Lamb will overcome them.
      • He is Lord of lords – King of kings and those who are with Him are called – chosen – faithful!
      • The TEN will also be UNITED – in their war with the LAMB…
      • They are DECEIVED by the Antichrist – and convinced to go to war – Revelation 16:14
      • They will come to Armageddon to fight against Jesus – Revelation 16:16
      • But when He appears out of the clouds – He will have the NAME…
      • KING of all other kings – and LORD over all other lords – Revelation 19:16
      • And Jesus will be VICTORIOUS [νικάω] – with ONE word He will WIN – II Thessalonians 2:8
      • But He will not come alone – those with Him are called CHOSEN – and FAITHFUL…
      • It will NOT be a small number – beyond counting [μυριάς] – Jude 1:14
      • Speaking of the CHURCH – believers who have been in HEAVEN during the TRIBULATION…
      • We will return with our LORD – to rule and reign alongside Him – I Corinthians 6:2

As the time of the END gets closer – we need to ask ourselves – do we SHINE!

3^rd – The Judgement… vs. 15-18

1^st – Many waters… vs. 15

Then he said to me – The waters which you saw – where the harlot sits.

Are peoples – multitudes – nations – and tongues!

Having described the HARLOT – and the FALL of the BEAST…

John turns back to show what the BEAST will do to the HARLOT…

This one world RELIGION – that sits on MANY waters…

Many waters that represent people – nations – and languages…

Emphasizing this is worldwide – universal nature – of this final world RELIGION!

2^nd – Sovereign God… vs. 16-17

Ten Horns…

And the ten horns which you saw on the beast.

These will hate the harlot – make her desolate and naked – eat her flesh and burn her with fire!

The TEN from the European Union – will turn on the HARLOT…

After the FINAL bowl judgement – with the world being SHAKEN – Revelation 16:19

The POLITICAL arm of the BEAST – turns on the RELIGIOUS [hate]

They will take all of her WEALTH [naked and desolate]

Then they will devour anything left [flesh] – burning the RELIGION to the ground!

Purpose of God…

For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose – to be of one mind.

And to give their kingdom to the beast – until the words of God are fulfilled!

The REASON – they turn on the HARLOT – God put it in their HEART to do His WILL…

These TEN – who are fully devoted to the BEAST [Antichrist]

Are still clay in the hands of the POTTER – that God can mold for His PURPOSE…

They do what He wants – until His WORDS are fulfilled!

As we look around the world today – and see false religions gaining in popularity…

We are called to be able to defend the faith – I Peter 3:15

But I love that God is more than able to take care of them… 

He is SOVEREIGN over all – and even turns the hearts of wicked Kings to do His WILL!

Proverbs 21:1 – “The kings heart is in the hand of the LORD. Like the rivers of water – He turns it wherever He wishes.”

3^rd – Jerusalem… vs. 18

And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth!

The HARLOT [woman] John saw – is the GREAT city…

GREAT City – most likely a reference to the city of Jerusalem…

Where the one world RELIGION will have its roots – Third Temple – Revelation 11:1

Jerusalem – that God chose to be a LIGHT to the nations – Isaiah 60:1

But sadly will become the heart of a false RELIGION that spreads DARKNESS!

God chose us to be a LIGHT to a lost world – Matthew 5:14