Revelation 20

Dan 9:24-27 (ESV) "Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.  25  Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. 27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator."


• A prophetic year is 360 days, as were Jewish years. They would add an extra month in there ever so often to adjust the months
• What is the purpose of the seventy sevens?
1. To finish transgression (Israel's rejection of the Messiah)
2. To put an end to sin
3. To make atonement for sins
4. To bring in everlasting righteousness (new age)
5. To seal or shut up or (literally) to cause a cessation of prophecy
6. To anoint the Most Holy Place - the new temple (or fourth temple) of the Messianic Kingdom
• The seventy sevens are broken up how?
1. Seven sevens
2. Sixty-two sevens
3. One seven
• When does the counting start?
• At the issuing of the decree
• 4 Possibilities
1. The decree of Cyrus, 539 BC (Ezra 1:1-4) "… build him (God) a house …"
2. The decree of Darius, 519 BC (Ezra 5:3-6:12) "… let the work on this house of God alone …"
3. The decree of Artaxerxes to Ezra, 457 BC (Ezra 7:11-26) -- authorization to travel and to provide for the temple
4. The decree of Artaxerxes to Nehemiah, 444 BC (Neh 2:1-8) -- authorization to rebuild the city
• The fourth decree is the only one that gives permission to rebuild the city.
• We know it is in the month of Nissan, if we assume the first day (of the week) of the month which would fit Jewish custom, the date is March 5, 444 BC
• It took 49 years to rebuild the city and 69*7 or 483 till the coming of the Messiah.  Taking into account that the prophetic year is a little different (360 days versus 365 days), we end up at March 30, 33 AD
• Most likely the day that Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem
• The last seven is set aside (it is not consecutive, it could have been, but it is not)
• Verse 9:26 So what happens at the end of the 69th seven?
• Jesus is cut off (crucified)
• In AD 70, 37 years later, the temple is destroyed as the Roman army comes and attacks.  When flood is used symbolically, it refers to an Army
• 3 1/2 years is 1260 days. Rev 11:2-3 describe the first half as that length. Rev 12:6 describes the second half as that length. Both passages, more or less, since they actually reference specific events, but then we deduce the timeframe
• The passage describes the three main events of tribulation: the beginning, the middle, and the end
• Beginning starts with the signing of the peace treaty between the Antichrist and Israel for seven years
• The middle is the breaking of the peace treaty at 3 1/2 years, the stopping of sacrifice, and the desecration of the temple
• The end is the decree against the desolator (the end of the seven years)


Dan 12:1-13 (ESV) "At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3  And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase."


5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. 6 And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream,  "How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?" 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. 8 I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, "O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?" 9 He said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10  Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12  Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. 13  But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days."


• Verse 2 could be the Law of Double Reference
• Those to everlasting life occur at the end of the tribulation
• Those to shame occur at the end of the millennium. Nothing says they have to be at the same point in time (initial thought)
• Our focus is on verses 11-12
• Time of abomination set up is middle of tribulation
• Time to end of tribulation is 1260 days (Rev 11:3 length of the two witnesses ministry (first half); Rev 12:6 time set up for Israel to flee into the wilderness (second half))
• Time to end of abomination is 1290 days (an additional 30 days, probably to cleanse the temple)
• Time to some undefined event (Millennial kingdom) is 1335 days


Rev 20:1-6 (ESV) Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.


• We have already dealt with the Antichrist and the false prophet. They are the first two thrown into the lake of fire. But Satan is dealt differently, why?
• God still has a purpose for him
• Even with Jesus ruling on earth, men's hearts will still turn away from God
• Why only him?
• He is the only one of the three who was supernatural
• Why 1000 years?
• Not sure, but there is no reason to suggest a non-literal view
• It could suggest a total of 7000 years for man on earth, which would mean we are still a couple hundred years away from Tribulation or that the Jewish calendar does not include the correct starting date (maybe it starts with Noah)
• Nations still exist, why?
• In order to complete the promises to Israel for the land and the rule of David


4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6  Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.


• Multiple thrones, why?
• We will have authority to judge, or at least some of us
• We will be involved in the ruling of the planet. Our responsibility will be dependent upon how we lived our Christian life on earth
• Who are the specific group of believers? Tribulations saints
• Remaining dead, who are they? All dead unbelievers
• Who are a part of the first resurrection? Believers of all types. The last type are the OT saints and the tribulation saints
• What will the earth be like?
• This verse is clearly referring to the millennial kingdom and not to the Eternal order. Rev 21 refers to the eternal order -- similar wording but different subjects
Isa 65:17-19 (ESV) "For behold, I create new heavens
and a new earth,
and the former things shall not be remembered
or come into mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever
in that which I create;
for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,
and her people to be a gladness.
19  I will rejoice in Jerusalem
and be glad in my people;
 no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping
and the cry of distress.
• The earth will be recreated in the 75 day period. It will be different. Age limits will be different. Animals will be different
• APPLICATION: Do I take my responsibility to live for Christ seriously? Do I care about how God will use me or reward me in the age to come? Do I not see my rewards as thanking God for my salvation?


Rev 20:7-10 (ESV) And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.


• Why release Satan?
• To make a point
• To finish God's judgment
• How long?
• It doesn't say
• What is the end result?
• Devil finally joins beast and false prophet
• Description of punishment?
• Eternal torment


Rev 20:11-15 (ESV) Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.


• At what point in history are we?
• Somewhere after the millennial kingdom
• Plus whatever time it took for man to rebel again
• This section is commonly referred to as the great white throne judgment
• The is also the second resurrection
• All unbelievers are resurrected
• All are thrown into the lake of fire
• It is called the second death (this is the one to fear)
• What about "obliteration?"
• Earlier, the lake of fire is referred to as a place of torment for the Antichrist and false prophet
• Here, there is no mention of torment, just the phrase "second death"
• They may also have resurrected bodies that are different from their mortal bodies and are indestructible, and so Hell will be torment
• APPLICATION: Eternal torment is not very popular, but who are we to decide what the Holy Judge of all the earth has decreed is an acceptable punishment. We are just the clay

Revelation 19, Physical Babylon

Rev 19:1-5 (ESV) After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,


"Hallelujah!
 Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2 for his judgments are true and just;
for he has judged the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her immorality,
and has avenged on her the blood of his servants."


3 Once more they cried out,


"Hallelujah!
 The smoke from her goes up forever and ever."


4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!" 5 And from the throne came a voice saying,


"Praise our God,
all you his servants,
you who fear him,
small and great."


• NOTE: We are telling the story again but this time with a few more details (5 Hallelujahs and details about the second coming)
• "After this" refers to what?
• The destruction of Babylonianism or the Babylonian System. We see this in verse 2, referencing chapter 17 and the great prostitute (this is the first Hallelujah)
• The destruction of physical Babylon. We see this in verse 3, referencing the actual fire that burns her (this is the second Hallelujah)
• The third Hallelujah  and rejoicing comes from two sources (possibly three)
• The 24 elders
• Possibly 12 representing the old covenant
• Possibly 12 representing the new covenant (the church)
• The four living creatures representing the angelic host
• THOUGHT: Verse 5 says that it is not just men who have fought against Babylon but all of God's creation. The final verse reiterates that all servants are to praise God for what he has done


Rev 19:6-10 (ESV) Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,


"Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8  it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure"—


for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.


9 And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God." 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God." For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.


• The fourth Hallelujah refers to the coming marriage of the Lamb. The bride is the church and the marriage supper invitations go out (prior to the second coming)
• A Jewish marriage had four distinct steps
1. The father made the arrangements for the marriage and paid the bride price
2. A year or more later is the fetching of the bride
1. The father of the groom determined the timing
2. Prior to the fetching, the groom must prepare a place for her
3. The wedding ceremony. The bride undergoes a ritual immersion for ritual cleansing. The honeymoon lasts seven days. They are at the place prepared in the Father's house
4. The marriage feast (it can last seven days). This is at the wife's family house
• This process is repeated for the church
1. God the Father makes the arrangement. The blood of the Messiah is the price
2. The rapture is the fetching (at the Father's time and Jesus prepares the place)
3. The ceremony occurs in heaven after the judgment of the saints
1. Ritual cleansing is the judgment of the believers (burning away of the wood and hay) see I Cor 3:10-15
2. The honeymoon was seven days long and was at the Father's home in place prepared
3. The family and friends are kept away
4. The feast takes place on earth after the second coming
1. Usually at the wife's home
2. Invites the family and friends
3. Party is usually seven days in length
• Verse 7-8 show us that the bride has made herself ready. The marriage occurs prior to the second coming (also why the rapture could not occur at the end of the tribulation or in the middle since it would not include all tribulation saints)
• The marriage feast begins the millennial kingdom on earth
• The guests are bidden to come suggesting that they are not all in heaven. Who are the guests?
• The tribulation saints (Martyrs and those who live through the period) since they are not members of the church
• OT saints who are resurrected at the beginning of the millennium
Dan 12:1-2 (ESV) "At that time Michael, // the great prince who watches over your people, // will arise. // There will be a time of distress // unlike any other from the nation's beginning // up to that time. // But at that time your own people, // all those whose names are found written in the book, // will escape. // 2 Many of those who sleep // in the dusty ground will awake - // some to everlasting life, // and others to shame and everlasting abhorrence.
• John is caught up in the worship and starts to worship one of the angels
• He is strictly rebuked, why?
• Because Satan was an angel and he willingly took the worship of others
• We learn that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. What does that mean?
• It is all about Jesus
• The future centers on Jesus
• He is the object of everything and the true person to worship


Rev 19:11-21 (ESV) Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12  His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15  From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.


17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18  to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great." 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.


• What is the event? This is the second coming described in much more detail than previously
• How is Jesus described and what is the meaning of the descriptions
• On a white horse
• The Antichrist also rode a white horse
• Called faithful and true (in contrast to the Antichrist)
• Jesus judges and makes war (this is the second coming)
• His eyes are like flames of fire
• Goes back to chapter 1
• All-seeing; all-knowing; he judges man's sin
• His head has many diadem (king of kings)
• A name written that no one knows
• (unknown in John's day but may be made known on his return)
• People thought knowing a person's name gave them power over the person. No one will have power over Jesus
• Clothed in a robe dipped in blood
• In context, could be the blood of the enemies (called proleptic, anticipating his victory)
• He is not a redeemer here but a warrior and a judge
• Called the word of God
• Identifies as the second person of the trinity going back to Genesis and John
• The word is the instrument of Justice (the measuring rod)
• Armies of heaven follow
• Only arrayed in fine linen
• No weapons
• The sharp sword out of the mouth (also goes back to chapter 1)
• Strikes down the enemies of God (his Word)
• Treads the winepress of the fury of God's wrath (references back to previous discussion in 16)
• On his thigh and robe is written: King of kings and Lord of lords
• The battle is … the campaign of Armageddon which starts at Bozrah
• An angel calls to the birds to eat the flesh of men
• Beast is captured and the false prophet
• Both thrown alive into the lake of fire (eternal torment)
• ALL the rest are slain be the sword that comes from Jesus' mouth
• This time, no one else fights, only Jesus
• APPLICATION: the key weapon that will end all battles and history is the word of God. How flippantly we handle such a powerful tool

Revelation 18, Babylonian Worldview

Rev 18:1-3 (ESV) After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. 2 And he called out with a mighty voice,


"Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
She has become a dwelling place for demons,
a haunt for every unclean spirit,
a haunt for every unclean bird,
a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
3 For all nations have drunk
 the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality,
and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her,
and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living."


• "After this" meaning what?
• After the image of the Babylonian system's destruction, we repeat the story but now in a physical sense
• Specifically, Verses 2 and 3 repeat the previous prophecies, thereby reaffirming the fact that Babylon was never destroyed
• Here, we are told that Babylon's new inhabitants are
Isa 13:19-22 (ESV) And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms,
the splendor and pomp of the Chaldeans,
will be like Sodom and Gomorrah
when God overthrew them.
20  It will never be inhabited
or lived in for all generations;
no Arab will pitch his tent there;
no shepherds will make their flocks lie down there.
21 But wild animals will lie down there,
and their houses will be full of howling creatures;
there ostriches will dwell,
and there wild goats will dance.
22 Hyenas will cry in its towers,
and jackals in the pleasant palaces;
its time is close at hand
and its days will not be prolonged.
• A Dalhan is a demon that rides an ostrich in the desert. All the animals listed are pictures we have of demons
• Three groups have engaged Babylon
• Nations (people of the world) - drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality
• Political leaders (kings of the earth) -  committed immorality with her (larger sense than just sexual, but anything immoral and against what God has said is true)
• Merchants of the earth - have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living (greed, the super-rich, those who are incredibly wealth at the expense of others, …)
• APPLICATION: These are sins that God is judging the world. And these are the things that are increasing in our society, and in our Christian lives. They are warning to us regarding our own behaviors.


Rev 18:4-8 (ESV) Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,


"Come out of her, my people,
lest you take part in her sins,
lest you share in her plagues;
5 for her sins are heaped high as heaven,
and God has remembered her iniquities.
6  Pay her back as she herself has paid back others,
and repay her double for her deeds;
mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.
7  As she glorified herself and lived in luxury,
so give her a like measure of torment and mourning,
since in her heart she says,
'I sit as a queen,
I am no widow,
and mourning I shall never see.'
8 For this reason her plagues will come in a single day,
death and mourning and famine,
and she will be burned up with fire;
for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her."


• The story adds more detail.
• God warns his people to get out. Not sure how they could survive in the city without the "mark" anyway
• Judgment is coming because of her sins (this goes back all the way to the time of Babylon and before)
• The reaching to heaven reminds us of one of Babylon's first sins (the bricks used to build the tower of Babel)
• Babel represents a system that was opposed to God
• It is not just idolatry but luxury
• In both cases, you can own something but it doesn't have to own you
• You can have nice things, but you don't have to live for your nice things
• The entire destruction takes a day. The burning probably occurs in the last hour
• Two more reasons for her destruction (or insight into Babylon's character is seen here)
• Her arrogance (APPLICATION: this is the first sin, pride)
• Her belief that she was above the troubles of the earth
• Implication is that she really did not care about other's problems -- they were never her problems (otherwise in compassion she would have hurt for others)


Rev 18:9-10 (ESV) And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. 10  They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, "Alas! Alas! You great city,
you mighty city, Babylon!
For in a single hour your judgment has come."


• How is it that the judgment comes in a single hour?
• The attack appears to take much more than an hour (probably a day - verse 8), yet the transformation to fire and to something like Sodom and Gomorrah may be the "hour" event that the observers are referencing
• This is the first group that laments over her loss
• The kings of the earth -- the political leaders
• Involved in the sexual immorality
• Involved in the luxury
• APPLICATION: The destruction of Babylon is because they disobeyed God's moral laws on sexuality. Also, they lived for luxury items. If God destroyed them, what will He do to protect his children from those sins?


Rev 18:11-20 (ESV) And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, 12 cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, 13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.


14 "The fruit for which your soul longed
has gone from you,
and all your delicacies and your splendors
are lost to you,
never to be found again!"


15  The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,


16 "Alas, alas, for the great city
 that was clothed in fine linen,
in purple and scarlet,
adorned with gold,
with jewels, and with pearls!
17 For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste."


And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off 18 and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning,


"What city was like the great city?"


19 And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out,


"Alas, alas, for the great city
 where all who had ships at sea
grew rich by her wealth!
For in a single hour she has been laid waste.
20  Rejoice over her, O heaven,
and you saints and apostles and prophets,
for God has given judgment for you against her!"


• This is the second group (vs 11-16), the merchants (businessmen)
• Interesting in this list of 29 items
• Human trafficking is listed
• Second most lucrative crime globally, surpassed only by the drug trade (US State Dep., June 2012)
• APPLICATION: The world loves wealth above the dignity of humanity (this is such a sick sin)
• The third group are the middle men, transporters, and sailors
• Their concern is the loss of wealth
• The emphasis on the ships suggest that the city will be a seaport (this could argue against Babylon being rebuilt). Or it could just suggest a transportation center.


Rev 18:21-24 (ESV) Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,


"So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence,
and will be found no more;
22 and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters,
will be heard in you no more,
and a craftsman of any craft
will be found in you no more,
and the sound of the mill
will be heard in you no more,
23 and the light of a lamp
will shine in you no more,
and the voice of bridegroom and bride
will be heard in you no more,
for your merchants were the great ones of the earth,
and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints,
and of all who have been slain on earth."


• This verse is a reference to a passage in Jeremiah
Jer 51:60-64 (ESV) Jeremiah wrote in a book all the disaster that should come upon Babylon, all these words that are written concerning Babylon. 61 And Jeremiah said to Seraiah: "When you come to Babylon, see that you read all these words, 62 and say, 'O Lord, you have said concerning this place that you will cut it off, so that nothing shall dwell in it, neither man nor beast, and it shall be desolate forever.' 63 When you finish reading this book,   tie a stone to it and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates, 64 and say, 'Thus shall Babylon sink, to rise no more, because of the disaster that I am bringing upon her, and they shall become exhausted.'"
• Two more reasons are emphasized
• Deception of her sorcery (engaged in the occult)
• Blood of the saints (killed believers)
• CONCLUDING THOUGHT: God finishes all of his prophecies against Babylon at the end of tribulation

Revelation 17, The Destruction of the Babylonian Religion / Worldview

BACKGROUND: Last chapter finished God's wrath and the period of tribulation. The next two chapters describe the detail surrounding the last two judgments against Babylon

Rev 17 (ESV) -- Read entire chapter first

[OPTIONAL] Satan and Babylon in history

• King of Tyre story (Antichrist and Satan description)
• Ezek 28:1-10 - possibly Antichrist (death by foreigner could be original death)
• Prince of Tyre
• Vs 10 death of circumcised would be a shameful death
• Vs 10 hand of foreigners (could reference his actual death in the first half of the tribulation)
• Ezek 28:11-19 - Satan indwelling the Antichrist in the last half
• King of Tyre
• Babel (Great disagreement among scholars on where Babel was originally; good argument that it was in the city of Babylon) (Gen 10:10; 11:9) Nimrod leads a revolt to storm heaven
• First nation to defeat Israel and destroy Jerusalem (Babylon)

17:1 (ESV) Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters,

• One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls
• The vision concerns the second half of the tribulation
• "Come and I will show" suggests that this section is in a vision
• Many waters (see verse 15) - every tribe and language - all the people of the earth
• "Great prostitute"
• A prostitute is a way of physically enjoying yourself without a covenantal relationship (no commitment or sense of responsibility, except a payment of cash)
• A prostitute is a way of getting around God's law (and creation) to satisfy one's sexual desire
• Israel was called a prostitute because she forsook God and worshipped idols (overwhelming number of scriptures describe idol worship as harlotry)
• She gave up her responsibilities to do what God's law required
• She controlled God when she made him into an idol (the image of God that she created)
• THEREFORE: The great prostitute wants to pull us away from commitment to God, his rules of life, to pursue our own satisfaction, and to control our own destinies (by controlling our image of God)
• Phrase: "… my God is not like that …" to scripture that is not understood
• Any religion or idea that opposes God's true rule and law
• APPLICATION: What things are idols in our life? Modern society has just as many idols. They are all man-made objects that require our devotion

17:2 (ESV)  with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk."

• Kings of the earth
• political leaders have drank her wine (philosophy) to the point of drunkenness
• Also the "elites" who think they know what is best for you
• Drunk
• You can't think straight (irrational)
• You allow your baser emotions to control your life (live for pleasure)

17:3 (ESV) And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns.

• Vision (carried into a wilderness)
• Woman on a scarlet beast
• Woman in scripture, when used symbolically, describe a religion or a nation
• The woman encapsulates any worldview that opposes the worship of the one true God
• Possibly a world religion is established early in the tribulation period to pull all religious beliefs together
• Scarlet (beast)
• Scarlet is seen as a good thing, mostly. Scarlet is used often when vivid color is desired. Scarlet is associated with wealth. Scarlet is used in the tabernacle covering, clothing, and as a color for lips
• Scarlet is used by Rahab first in scripture to identify her house
• Scarlet is used negatively first in Isa 1:18 "… though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; …"
• Jer 4:30 uses it negatively to describe a woman who covers her desolation with clothing and makeup
• Jesus is dressed in a scarlet robe for the soldiers to mock him
• Beast is the description of Antichrist and the false prophet (Rev 13)
• THEREFORE: Scarlet beast can represent religion, wealth, standing out in the crowd, and also sin
• Blasphemous names
• Discussed earlier. Possibly atheistic. Man is the god of his world, but it could be any religious system that is opposed to the true God
• Babel is a two-fold picture
1. What man can create
2. Man tries to storm heaven and conquer God
• Seven heads (Rulers of the world) and Ten horns (regions) describes both Satan and the Antichrist. The diadems are not mentioned, but Satan had seven diadems (probably seven because he wants to be like God) and the Antichrist had all ten diadems (he controls all the regions)
• Again, I think the Antichrist, by this point, is essentially Satan living through the man's flesh

17:4 (ESV) The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.

• Woman is wealthy
• Purple and scarlet is also religious
• Woman is corrupt
• Abominations would be things that displease God and are unlawful
• Sexual immorality has been a key attacking point Satan has used to draw people away from God (Example of article about living together. Used opinion regarding divorce which is the opposite of the actual statistics)

17:5 (ESV) And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: "Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations."

• Babylon is a mystery
• Babylon represents more than just a city
• Babylon is the mother of prostitutes (she births new idol worship) and abominations on the earth (she births new ways to sin)
• Everything that is counter to the worship of God
• Everything that exists to satisfy self above obedience to God
• It could very well be a new worldwide religion

17:6 (ESV) And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. // When I saw her, I marveled greatly. 7 But the angel said to me, "Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.  // 9  This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 10 they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while.

• Not only is it a religion (could include atheism since that is also a religion), it fights against everything that is Christian (drunk with the blood of the saints)
• I believe that the Antichrist will go after religion, specifically Christianity, in order to cleanse the world of the "evil"
• Why does John marvel?
• Interesting question. Foolishness of the world or desirability of her wares
• We seem to get ruder, more selfish, more sinful, and we think we are progressing
• Beast (previous depiction of was, is not, and about to rise) -- this is the Antichrist indwelt by Satan
• He fools the dwellers on earth by his resurrection occurring around the midpoint of tribulation
• Seven heads
• Seven mountains which seat the woman (upon which the woman gets her authority)
• The 7 mountains could be literal: Jerusalem -- doesn't make sense; Rome -- as the continuation of Babylon (but that doesn't fit as well with the drying up of the Euphrates or as the historical origin of Babylon)
• Seven mountains could be symbolic of authority (used that way in scripture, example: Dan 2)
• Seven heads are ALSO (double meaning is permitted here because the passage permits its use--notice the phrase "they are also") persons
• 5 (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece) have died, 1 living (Rome), and 1 to come (Antichrist) -- these are historical powers who have attacked Israel
• Ten horns - are the ten rulers who give the Antichrist his rule and authority

11 As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. 13 These are of one mind and hand over their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful."

• … "the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven …" - this is the Antichrist
• One commentator suggested Antiochus IV Epiphanes (would have to be someone like him)
• The ten kings - the rulers of the ten regions who cede power to the Beast. Three are subdued, but seven become vassals
• One hour could also be translated, "one time" (Adam Clarke's Commentary)
• They make war on the Lamb - the whole second half of the tribulation is a war on believers and Jews
• With the seventh seal judgment, Jesus comes to Bosrah and leads a battle against the Antichrist, resulting in his death, and the defeat of the enemy's forces

15 And the angel said to me, "The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16 And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, 17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth."

• The waters are the peoples of the world
• The woman is mystery Babylon, she is also called the great city that controls the earth
• The outcome of the woman:
• The ten horns, representing the ten regions and the beast (Antichrist) hate the woman, this new religion
• The destruction of the mystery Babylon by the ten kings and the Antichrist would occur during the middle of the tribulation, possibly during his attack on Christians
• APPLICATION: