i. Cf. Jeremiah 3:6, 8-9; Ezekiel 16:32; Hosea 1:2; 2:13

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1 INTRO: The 17th chapter of Revelation is one of the main reasons why most pastors and churches will not teach the book of Revelation. It s controversial and difficult to say the least. However, we are going to look at the Text and observe what the Text says, then interpret it and try and identify who this Great Harlot is. I. The GREAT HARLOT. (v. 1-6) A. (v. 1) 1. And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: a. the great whore - Gr. lit. the whore the great 1) whore - Gr. porné - harlot; prostitute; idolatress a) NOTE: In the Scriptures, Harlotry is used in a spiritual sense to speak of idolatry, false devotion, and flatteries. i. Cf. Jeremiah 3:6, 8-9; Ezekiel 16:32; Hosea 1:2; 2:13 2) Cf. Revelation 2: Jesus warned that there will be a part of the visible Church (not true believers) that will go into the Great Tribulation period. b. that sitteth upon many waters 1) Cf. Revelation 17:15 - peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. a) KEY: This woman has WORLDWIDE INFLUENCE!!! 1 of 15 B. (v. 2) 1. With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

2 a. fornication - Gr. sexual immorality 1) Spiritual fornication is any form of worship other than the worship of the true and living God. (i.e. Idolatry) b. NOTE: The Great Harlot is a RELIGIOUS SYSTEM that has BEEN IN BED WITH ALL WORLD LEADERS ( the kings of the earth ), and the whole world has been influenced by her idolatry. 1) Cf. Revelation 14:8; 18:3, 9, 23; 19:2 c. KEY: Whoever this Woman is, she is a Religious System that has a GLOBAL and WORLDWIDE Influence! 1) Karl Marx said, Religion is the opiate of the masses, and he was partly right because empty religion is the opium of the masses! d. The whole world will be INTOXICATED by this Woman! C. (v. 3) 1. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. a. The Woman is sitting upon many waters (v. 1) and sitting upon the Beast. 1) NOTE: The Woman is DISTINCT FROM the Beast - she is sitting upon him! b. the Beast = AntiChrist (13:1) 2 of 15

3 1) scarlet coloured - Gr. crimson ; deep red with purplish tint D.(v. 4) 1. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls a. The Woman s CLOTHING and JEWELRY speaks of Her GREAT WEALTH. (18:16-17) 1) This is in contrast with the modestly and simplicity of the godly woman (cf. 1 Timothy 2:9-10; 1 Peter 3:3). 2. having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication a. filthiness - Gr. impurity; uncleanness; lewdness b. abominations - Gr. accursed things; detestable things; foul things ; idea of disgustingly abhorrent and moral stench before God. 1) Cf. 1 Kings 14:22-24; 2 Kings 21:2, 9; Jeremiah 51:6-8; Revelation 18:4-6 c. Alexander Hislop: In 1825, on the occasion of the Jubilee, Pope Leo XII struck a medal, bearing on the one side his own image, and on the other, that of the Church of Rome symbolized as a Woman, holding in her left hand a cross, and in her right a CUP, with the legend around her, Sedet super universum, the whole world is her seat. 1 1) NOTE: The Roman Catholic Church identifies itself with this Great Harlot, however I believe it s nearsighted to say that the Roman Catholic Church ALONE is Mystery Babylon. 1 Alexander Hislop. The Two Babylons, p of 15

4 REVELATION E. (v. 5) 1. And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. a. upon her forehead was a name written 1) Roman prostitutes would often wear a headband with their name on it. b. This Woman is ASSOCIATED WITH BABYLON.2 1)She is a MYSTERY. a) mystery - Gr. something hidden until now i. Used 22x in the Bible. ii. Used 4x in Revelation (1:20; 10:7; 17:5, 7) b) This Woman had been hidden and a secret throughout history, but God has now revealed who she is! 2)She is a MOTHER. a) Babylon - Heb. Babel - Confusion i. From Bab ( gate ) & El ( God ), thus Gate of God ii. Babylon mentioned 286x; Babel 2x a. A City on the Eastern bank of Euphrates, about 20 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq.3 iii.the Bible is a Tale of Two Cities. a. Jerusalem - God s City. 2 David Hocking. Sermon Outlines of Revelation. 3 Picture link: 4 of 15

5 b. Babylon - Man s City. 3) KEY: ALL FALSE RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS have their ORIGINS in Mystery Babylon - The Mother of Harlots (plural: a brothel!) c. Cf. Genesis 10:8-12; 11:1-9 1) After the Flood, Noah s great-grandson Nimrod became the first World Dictator and established Babylon, and they built the Tower of Babel during the time of his reign. a) NOTE: It was around 2396 B.C., the time that Peleg was born (101 years after the Flood), that their languages were changed and people spread out over the earth. (cf. Genesis 10:25, 32) 2)Nimrod was DEIFIED by the people as a god. a) He was known as a mighty one in the earth, and the word mighty was used of the Nephelim before the Flood (Gen. 6:4), which were mighty men which were of old, men of renown. b) They had classed Nimrod in the same category as offspring of the sons of God, thus a god himself. 3)Nimrod was a KING. a) The beginning of his kingdom was Babel in the land of Shiner. i. He was the 1st World Dictator, a foreshadowing of the AntiChrist (Nimrod II). 5 of 15 4)Semiramis - Nimrod s Wife / Mother:

6 REVELATION a) The historian Eusebius records that Nimrod s wife was Semiramis. i. In the Sumerian language, her name is Sammur-amat, which means gift of the sea. ii. NOTE: The word sammur is translated into Hebrew as Shinar, and is the word from which we derive Sumeria. Thus, the land of Shinar is the land of Semiramis, Nimrod s wife. b) Since King Nimrod was Deified as a god, his wife Semiramis became Deified as his queen, thus she became THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN. i. Cf. Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17-19, 25 5)The Babylonian Religion of Semiramis and Tammuz Goddess Mother/Child Religion: a) According to various Legends, Semiramis had an affair and got pregnant. Around the same time, Nimrod died a violent and untimely death. b) To hide what she did, she declared that a light beam from the Sun shown on her, and that her son Tammuz was miraculously conceived (i.e. virgin birth), and her son would be the reincarnation of Nimrod, thus connecting Nimrod/Tammuz as the Sun god. c) KEY: According to the story of Semiramis, the Queen of Heaven was both Nimrod s Wife and Mother. i. NOTE: The legend is that Nimrod died at the Winter Solstice (~Dec 22), and was resurrected (as Tammuz) in the Spring as the days get longer. a. Since the belief was the Nimrod and Tammuz were the same 6 of 15

7 person, they started celebrating his birth on December 25th burning a Yule log (Chaldean: infant), replaced by a trimmed tree the next morning (cf. Jeremiah 10:1-5) and the mistletoe (fertility). b. Then in the Spring, they would celebrate the resurrection of Nimrod in Tammuz. 7 of 15 6)The Worldwide Dispersion of the Myths and Legends after the Tower of Babel. a) Cf. Joshua 24:1-2, i. Abraham and his family were part of the Babylonian Religion until God spoke to Abraham and called him out! a. Cf. Genesis 11:26-12:4 ii. I like to give Jewish people a hard time and remind them that Abraham was a Gentile, pagan Babylonian worshipper before God called him! b) KEY: All the various cultures took with them the story of the Queen of Heaven s miraculous conception (Virgin Birth) and resurrection of Tammuz, her Child. i. Phoenicia - Ashtoreth and Tammuz ii. Egypt Isis and Horus (Osiris) iii.india Isi and Iswara iv. Asia Cybele and Deoius v. Pagan Rome Fortuna and Jupiter vi.ephesus - the great goddess, Diana of the Ephesians & Jupiter (cf. Acts 19:34-35) vii.greece Aphrodite and Eros

8 viii.italians Venus and Cupid 7)Babylonian Religious Practices and Traditions. a) Baptismal Regeneration (Infant baptism). b) Justification by works. c) Belief in Purgatory and prayers for the dead. d) Idol Processions. e) Relic Worship. f) They would clothe and crown images. g) They would wear a Rosary and worship the Sacred Heart. h) They would light up wax-candles to their gods. i) They would superstitiously make the sign of a T (i.e. a cross) for Tammuz and use it as a sacred symbol. j) They established a clergy (priesthood, monks, nuns). i. Crept into the church early on doctrine of Nicolaitans (Rev 2:6, 15). ii. Their priests were to be celibate. d. From Babylon to Rome: 1) 540 B.C.: When Cyrus conquered Babylon, the high priest of the Babylonian religion fled with his initiates and their sacred vessels and images, and came to Pergamos, where Satan s throne is. (cf. Revelation 2:12-17) a) The king was also the high priest and took the title Pontifex Maximus. 2) 63 B.C.: Julius Caesar was elected to the position of high priest. 8 of 15

9 9 of 15 a) All Roman emperors, from Augustus to Constantine, held the title Pontifex Maximus! 3) 312 A.D.: Constantine set out to defeat the forces of Maxentius, his rival, for supreme power in the empire. His father had prospered when he had prayed to the God of the Christians, and Constantine, in his extremity, resorted to the same action. It is said that on the next day he saw a shining cross in the sky with an inscription above it: in hoc signo vinces : In this sign thou shalt conquer. He defeated Maxentius at the Milvan bridge, and immediately declared his conversion to Christianity. a) Constantine relocated the capital of the world to Byzantium ( Constantinople ) in the East. 4) 325 A.D.: Edict of Toleration established freedom of religion; favored Christians at court; exempted Christian ministers from taxes; issued a general exhortation to all his subjects to become Christians. 5) 330 A.D.: Moved the capital of the empire to Byzantium, calling it Constantinople. a) Constantine ceased the gladiatorial fights, reduced the killing of unwelcome children, abolished crucifixion as form of execution, repealed the persecution edicts of Diocletian, assumed headship of the church, advanced Christians to high offices, declared Sunday a day of worship (forbid work on Sunday), and reduced slavery. 6) : Julian, The Apostate sought to restore paganism. 7) : Jovian reestablished the Christian religion. 8) 378 A.D.: Damascus, the Bishop of Rome, took on the office of Pontifex Maximus (high priest of the Babylonian religion), which previously was the prerogative of the Roman Emperor, thus combining

10 the Christian church with pagan religion, and completed the absorption of Babylonianism into the Roman Church. a) February 27, 380 A.D., Theodosius made Catholic Christianity the state religion. i. Babylonianism was Christianized. a. Pagan temples became Christian churches. b. Heathen festivals were converted into Christian one. i. Easter; Christmas; etc c. Pagan priests slipped into offices as Christian priests. 9) 395 A.D.: After the division of the Roman Empire, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria, acknowledged the leadership of Constantinople in the East, thus the beginnings of the struggle between the Constantinople (East) and Rome (West). 10) A.D.: The Bishop of Rome claimed universal authority over the entire Church, but with the Empire divided (East/West) in 2 locations, he struggled. 11)476 A.D.: When the Western Empire came to an end, the Roman Pope became the most commanding figure in the West. 12) A.D.: Gregory I is regarded as the 1 st Pope. 13)869 A.D.: The claims of the Roman Church became unbearable to the Eastern Church, thus the East separated itself. 14) A.D.: Pope Innocent III was the most powerful of all the popes. He claimed to be the Vicar of Christ and Vicar of God, Supreme Sovereign over the Church and the World. 10 of 15

11 a) All the monarchs in Europe obeyed his will, including the Byzantine Empire. b) He ordered 2 crusades. c) Decreed transubstantiation. d) Confirmed the Confession. e) Declared Papal Infallibility. f) Forbade the reading of the Bible in the common language. g) Instituted the Inquisition. i. KEY: Pope Innocent III murdered more Christians in one afternoon than any other Roman Emperor in their entire reign! (v. 6) 15) A.D.: Boniface VIII, in his famous Bul, Unam Sanctam said, We declare, affirm, define, and pronounce that it is altogether necessary for salvation that every creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff. e. KEY: The Great Harlot currently has it s Headquarters in the Vatican, yet the Vatican is only part of this Mystery Babylon! It is greater than the Vatican! 1) Book Recommendations: a) The Woman Rides the Beast (Dave Hunt) b) The Two Babylons (Alexander Hislop) F. (v. 6) 1. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: a. Cf. Revelation 6:10; 16:5-6; 18:24 II.The Mystery REVEALED. (v. 7-14) 11 of 15

12 A. (v. 9) 1. And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. a. Some point out that Rome is the City of Seven Hills. However, there are MAJOR PROBLEMS with that view: 1) Many cities have seven hills, and Rome itself has more than seven. 2) The Roman Catholic Church does not sit on the Seven Hills of Rome, but has its headquarters in Vatican City and its churches all over the world. 3) The Greek word for mountain (oros) is used here, not the word for hill (bounos). 4 b. It refers to THE SEVEN KINGDOMS OF HISTORY. 1) Mountains have been used for symbols of WORLD GOVERNMENTS. (cf. Daniel 2:25, 44) 2) The next verse mentions the seven kingdoms (v. 10). a) NOTE: The Mountains are where the Woman is sitting! i. She is sitting on the waters (v. 1), which are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. (v. 15) b)key: This Woman has been sitting on the World Governments throughout Human History! 3) Cf. Revelation 12:3; 13:1; 17:8, 11; 19:20 B. (v ) 4 Henry Morris. Revelation Record, p of 15

13 1. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. a. kings - Gr. kingdoms 1) Some argue for the seven kings being the first Roman Emperors, and that Nero will be reincarnated. 2. he is the eighth, and is of the seven a. Cf. Revelation 17:17; Daniel 7:8 1) The AntiChrist will be of the Revived Roman Empire (Rome II), and in a sense all of the seven, yet is distinct as the 8th World Empire! C. (v. 18) 13 of 15

14 REVELATION 1. And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. a. THE WOMAN IS A GREAT CITY! 1) Q = What Great City is he referring to? TWO Main Views a) The City of ROME. i. reigneth - Gr. present tense - is continually reigning ii. The City reigning in John s day was Rome! b)the City of BABYLON. i. the great city = Babylon (14:8; 16:19; 18:2, 10, 16, 18-19, 21) 2) Q = Which is it? Is it Rome or Babylon? YES! BOTH!!! a) KEY: The Woman is One-World Religion whose present headquarters is the Roman Catholic Church, and she will be DESTROYED in the Middle of the Tribulation Period! i. Cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 b)from Italy to Iraq! (Rome > Babylon) i. Cf. Zechariah 5:1-11 a. KEY: I believe that the Vatican will relocate back to Babylon where it originated, and will Unite All Religions, which will eventually worship the AntiChrist! III.What About YOU? 14 of 15

15 A. If you follow any Religious System, you are partaking with this Great Harlot and will fall with her judgment. B. If you separate yourself from her and attach yourself to Jesus Christ, the true Son of God, and He will rescue you from the judgment! 1. Cf. Revelation 18:4 2. Cf. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 a. In Context, Paul the apostle is warning the Christians at the Church at Corinth not to be unequally yoked with False Teachers. b. KEY: This October 31, 2017, it will be 500 years since the beginning of the Reformation and Martin Luther! 1) Not all those institutions that are called a Church are really churches as far as Jesus is concerned! a) DON T be yoked with Roman Catholicism, Mormonism, Jehovah s Witnesses, or any other Cult under the banner of Christianity. b)be YOKED up with JESUS, THE SON OF GOD! i. Cf. Matthew 11: Jesus said, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 15 of 15