| The Woman on
the Beast "17:1)
One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came
and said to me, 'Come, I will show you the punishment
of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. 2)
With her the kings of the earth committed adultery
and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated
with the wine of her adulteries.'"
|
As John saw the
falling of the plagues, he must have wondered about
the fall of Babylon mentioned in the second angel's
message (Revelation 14:8). How do you feel about seeing
"punishment?" Why?
What have others said?
|
| "3) Then the
angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert.
There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that
was covered with blasphemous names and had seven
heads and ten horns." |
The church-state
power that carried the woman has been identified in
Revelation 13 and Daniel 7. |
| "4) The woman
was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering
with gold, precious stones and pearls." |
What do these bright
red colors suggest to you?
What
have others said? Cross
Reference: How does the gaudy description of
this woman compare with the early Christian view of
beauty?
1 Timothy 2:9;
1 Peter 3:3, 4
What
have others said?
|
| "She held a
golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things
and the filth of her adulteries. 5) This title was
written on her forehead: MYSTERY
BABYLON THE GREAT
THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES
AND OF THE
ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH"
|
This is the sixth
reference to a forehead marking the Revelation and is
opposite to "holiness unto the Lord" on the
headband of the high priest. Review
the symbolism study "Beauty and the Beast."
What does the woman represent?
What
have others said?
Cross Reference:
How did deceivers begin to work, even in New
Testament times, in the name of Christianity? Acts 20:28-30; 3 John 9-10; Revelation 2:6
What
have others said?
|
| "6) I saw that the woman was
drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of
those who bore testimony to Jesus. "When I saw her, I was greatly
astonished. 7) Then the angel said to me: 'Why are
you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of
the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the
seven heads and ten horns. 8) The beast, which you
saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of
the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants
of the earth whose names have not been written in the
book of life from the creation of the world will be
astonished when they see the beast, because he once
was, now is not and yet will come.'"
|
Before the angel
explains the mystery of the woman he gives some
further information on the beast of the abyss (chaos
on Earth). Why do "Book of life" and
"creation" have special meaning for you
amidst the description of the beast?
What have others said? |
| "9) 'This calls
for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven
hills on which the woman sits. 10) They are also
seven kings. five have fallen, one is, the other has
not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain
for a little while. 11) The beast who once was, and
now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the
seven and is going to his destruction.'" |
The seven heads and
ten horns have been seen in Revelation 12:3
and 13:1. They
represent the powers and kingdoms Satan has used
against God's true people. In Revelation 13 John saw
the beast receive a deadly wound ("is not")
which is healed ("comes up" again.
"Eight" in the Bible is a resurrection
number). How do you feel about the double emphasis
that Satan and the religious-political and
church-state powers he has used go to destruction
(verses 8 and 11)?
What have others said? |
| "12) 'The ten
horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received
a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive
authority as kings along with the beast. 13) They
have one purpose and will give their power and
authority to the beast. 14) They will make war
against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them
because he is Lord of lords and King of kings -- and
with him will be his called, chosen and faithful
followers.'" |
In the end political
governments, kingdoms, and powers apparently unite
with the church-state power to try to stop the truth
of the Lamb and His second coming. What spiritual and
military potential does humanity now have to attempt
this?
What
have others said? How
can Jesus overcome any nuclear device or erroneous
teaching?
What
have others said?
|
| "15) Then the
angel said to me, 'The waters you saw, where the
prostitute sits, are people, multitudes, nations and
languages.'" |
Now the angel explains the second
symbol to John. Why do you think "waters"
is a good symbol for the varied population of earth?
What have others said? |
| "16) 'The beast
and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute.
They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they
will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17) For
God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his
purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to
rule, until God's words are fulfilled. 18) The woman
you saw is the great city that rules over the kings
of the earth.'" |
As the political
powers and multitudes of earth see they have been
deceived by the "woman," their support
(Euphrates) dries up. How would you feel towards
someone who had deceived you so that you lost forever
your most prized possession?
What have others said? |
| THE FALL OF
BABYLON |
The true woman,
representing the true church, has been described as a
city (Revelation 21:9, 10).
The deceptive woman is now represented by the
city-state of Babylon. God's
most enlightening final message warns that Babylon
cannot stand.
|
| "18:1) After
this I saw another angel coming down from heavengreat
. He had authoritywas , and the earth illuminated by
his splendor. 2) With a mighty voice he shouted: "'Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!
She has become a home for demons
and a haunt for every evil spirit,
a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird.'"
|
Cross
Reference:
What was Satan's original lie that laid the
foundation for spiritism? Genesis 3:2-5
What have others said? How did God warn Israel against imitating
the heathen spiritist practices? Deuteronomy 18:9-13
What
have others said?
|
| "3) 'For all the
nations have drunk the maddening wine of her
adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery
with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich
from her excessive luxuries.'" "4) Then I heard another voice from
heaven say:
"'Come out of her, my people,
so that you will not share in her sins, so that you
will not receive any of her plagues; 5) for her sins
are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her
crimes.'"
|
Unfortunately, the
church-state which dominated Christianity through the
Middle Ages amalgamated some of the practices of
paganism with true religion, causing a 'Babylon' or
'confusion.' Are you surprised to find that many of
God's true people are in Babylon?
What
have others said? Cross
Reference:
Notice how religious pride and salvation by
works characterized ancient Babylon and the
Neo-Babylonian empire (Genesis 11:4; Daniel 1:1, 2; 4:28-30). What
similarities do you see between the story in Daniel 3
and the crisis over worship in Revelation 13?
What have others said?
|
| "6) 'Give back
to her as she has given; pay her back double for what
she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own
cup. 7) Give her as much torture and grief as the
glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she
boasts, "I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I
will never mourn."'" |
Babylon is
"mother of harlots" but sees herself as a
"queen." Why is God's view of greatness so
often very different than earthly powers?
What
have others said? While
it is possible that whole church organizations may
officially take upon themselves the principles of
Babylon, in what way could an individual in any
church have the spirit of Babylon?
What have others said?
|
| "8) 'Therefore
in one day her plagues will overtake her: death,
mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire,
for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.'" "9) When the kings of the earth who
committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see
the smoke of her burning, they well weep and mourn
over her. 10) Terrified at her torment, they will
stand far off and cry:
"'Woe! Woe, O great city, O
Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has
come!'
"11) The merchants of the
earth will weep and mourn over her because no one
buys their cargoes any more -- 12) cargoes of gold,
silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen,
purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron
wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory,
costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; 13) cargoes of
cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and
frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour
and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages;
and bodies and souls of men."
|
Those that have
trusted Babylon are stunned at her overthrow. Notice
that for Babylonian Christianity, gold is first and
souls of men are last. In what order of importance
would you rate these 28 items or substances?
What
have others said? How
will your scale of values affect all of your dealings
and relationships?
What
have others said?
|
| "14) The will
say, 'The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All
your riches and splendor have vanished, never to be
recovered.'" |
Cross
Reverence: What are the true fruits of the
spirit, and how do they differ from Babylonian
religion? Galatians 5:19-23
What have others said? |
| "15) The
merchants who sold these things and gained their
wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her
torment. They will weep and mourn 16) and cry out: "'Woe! Woe, O great city, dressed in
fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with
gold, precious stones and pearls! 17) In one hour
such great wealth has been brought to ruin!'"
|
At least six time God
accuses Babylonian Christianity of
"adultery." What lessons can you learn from
God's warning to His ancient people when they
committed spiritual "adultery" (Ezekiel 23:36-41)?
What are some things that they were doing? Ezekiel 22:23-29
What
have others said? How
did God feel about paganism and features of sun
worship being integrated into his true worship? Ezekiel 8:5-18
What have others said?
|
| "Every sea
captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and
all who earn their living from the sea, will stand
far off. 18) When they see the smoke of her burning,
they will exclaim, 'Was there ever a city like this
great city?' 19) They will throw dust on their heads,
and with weeping and mourning cry out: "'Woe! Woe, O great city, where all who
had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!'"
|
"Seas" represents
multitudes and nations (17:15). Those who have
exploited the people in the name of Babylonian
religion will be shocked at its overthrow. What for
you are some of the most precious things money can't
buy?
What
have others said? Cross
Reference:
There is great emphasis in Revelation 18 on apparent
riches and wealth in Babylon. How does God view the
affluence of much Christianity in these last days of
present world history?
Revelation 3:17, 18
What
have others said?
|
| "20) 'Rejoice
over her, O Heaven! Rejoice, saints and apostles and
prophets! God has judged her for the way she treated
you.'" |
Those who answered the call and
came out of Babylon were identified as the
"Remnant." What are the characteristics of
those who escape spiritual Bablylon? Revelation 12:17; 14:12
What have others said? |
| "21) Then a
mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large
millstone and threw it into the sea, and said: 'With such violence the great city of
Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.
22) The music of harpists and musicians, flute
players and trumpeters, will never be heard in you
again.'"
|
What contrast do
you find to this music-less scene in Revelation 15:2-4?
What
have others said? |
| "'No workman of
any trade will ever be found in you again. The sound
of a millstone will never be heard in you again. 23)
The light of a lamp will never shine in you again.
The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard
in you again.'" |
Cross
Reference:
Who is the stone?
Matthew 21:42-44
What
have others said? Who is
the light?
John 8:12
What
have others said?
Who is the bridegroom?
Revelation 19:7
What have others said?
|
| "'Your merchants
were the world's great men. By your magic spell all
the nations were led astray. 24 In her was found the
blood of prophets and of the saints, and of all who
have been killed on the earth.'" |
It would seem
impossible that vast millions of humanity could be
tricked by the false woman with her
"confusion" of truth and error, paganism
and Christianity. Some people have seen good people,
"my people," in Babylon and thought the
system was right, but the "magic spell"
leads to disaster. Can you
remember any modern situation when a magic spell of
religious deception led people to disaster? What
happened?
What have others said?
|