As In The Days Of Noah November 1, 2017 Part 11 Pastor Grant Williams In Chapter 17 of the Book of Revelation, John is telling the reader who the False Prophet will be. The angel tells John that it s not a mystery and that He will show and prove to John who it is. The Apostle is sharing details, characteristics, locations of who the apostate Christian leader will be and the religious system he will come out of as well. He will join the Islamic leader or Antichrist coming out of the 7th Kingdom (Mystery Babylon - Syria/Lebanon/Iraq) 42 months into the 84 month or seven 7 year Tribulation. This joining together of the False Prophet (apostate Christian one world leader) and the antichrist (Islamic one world government leader) is the woman/harlot sitting upon the scarlet/red colored beast or government system. Revelation 17:3 KJV 3 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. 1 of 16
The countries that the Antichrist is ruling over/representing are Islamic nations who believe in Allah as their God. They also believe in Jesus but, that Jesus was only a prophet because Allah has no sons. The Bible says that the spirit of the antichrist are in the ones who don t believe that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 2:22-23 KJV 22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 1 John 4:1-3 KJV 1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. We studied Rev. 17:1-2 for the identity of the False Prophet Revelation 17:1 KJV 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: 2 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 of 16
Pope Francis and Mahmoud Abbas President of the Palestinian Authority in one of several meetings they have had. The Palestinian Authority has stated that their desire it to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. The Catholic church christian church meeting with Islamic heads of state or kings of this earth meet to discuss the Jewish people and their future. 3 of 16
Pope Francis and Abdel Fattah el-sisi, President of the Egypt in one of several meetings they have had. Egypt has been increasingly hostile against Israel since the Egyptian Revolution which led to the removal of President Mubarak in 2011. Egypt is 90% Muslim and the Antichrist comes against Egypt at the Time of the End. (Dan. 11:40) June 9, 2014: Pope Francis unites Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in prayer as they plant an olive tree together in the Vatican Gardens. The Pope united the leaders through the power of prayer as they put their political and religious differences aside attending Jewish, Christian and Muslim worship. The Pope spoke after Jewish rabbis, Christian cardinals and Muslim Imams read and chanted from the Old Testament, the New Testament and the Koran in Italian, English, Hebrew and Arabic in the first such inter-religious event in the Vatican. At times the chanting made it seem that participants were in a synagogue or outside a mosque in the Middle East rather than a primly manicured triangular lawn, a spot the Vatican chose as a 'neutral' site with no religious symbols. Peres, after leaving office in 2014 said that he would work tirelessly until he died alongside Islam to make the Pope the head of the United Religions. 4 of 16
Now, let s get back to our text in Revelation Chapter 17 regarding the Fullness Of Iniquity Revelation 17:4-5 KJV 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth. The woman arrayed or clothed in purple and scarlet are colors worn by the cardinals and bishops. The precious stones and pearls represent the wealth the Catholic Church has acquired through donations for centuries. Note: Remember in Verse 7 the angel said to John, why do you marvel? or why are you surprised?, I m telling you the mystery of the woman/apostate leader and the government or nations of the antichrist which is right in front of you. It s easy to see who this is. The golden cup has been said by many scholars to symbolize the Pope s communion cup, and it was noted that the Roman churches throughout Europe have countless gold and silver chalices (goblets) in their treasuries. Revelation 17:6 KJV 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 5 of 16
The blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus or those who killed Christ is a clear reference to the Roman Empire, including Roman emperors who martyred the righteous and Roman soldiers who oversaw Christ s crucifixion. Revelation 17:7-8 KJV 7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. We have studied these 2 passages in the past and it is clear that there is no misunderstanding to who the false prophet is or who this 7th, 8th and final kingdom will be. Revelation 17:9 KJV 9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. The seven mountain reference was common knowledge, as the city of Rome is built on seven mountains/hills. The dual meaning of this passage is not limited to Rome but the 7th Kingdom following Rome which was the political and economic headquarters of the empire in John s day. Since the 6th century, the Roman Church has influenced and controlled the rise and fall of kings and leaders throughout Europe (Rev. 17:2). 6 of 16
The woman is also over a religious system. This woman/false prophet believes she/it could control the souls of men. Revelation 18:3 KJV 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. This is a Reformation argument as the doctrine of purgatory was one of the conflicting doctrines that the Reformers resisted. The teaching basically taught that if a person died in unrepentant sin, he or she would endure a time of purifying fires (purgatory). The relatives of the deceased could pay to get that person out of purgatory through the prayers of the priest, helping him or her gain God s forgiveness and access to heaven. There is no doubt that this is a symbol of the Rome (Roman Catholic Church) as John was told she was the city which reigneth over the kings of the earth who in John s day were the emperors and armies of the Imperial Rome Empire. Revelation 17:18 KJV 18 And the woman (false prophet/ great whore/ adulterer/ harlot, apostate relgion) which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. Back to verse 9 of Chapter 17 to speak to the dual meaning of the seven heads. They represent seven mountains on which the woman is sitting (Vatican City) and the seven prophetic empires. 7 of 16
The map above shows the seven mountains/hills referring to Rome that everyone knew about at the time of John s writing. This is why the angel said, you know the area of what I m talking about. (Rev 17:7) Revelation 17:9 KJV 9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. These empires are five former (Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, Media/ Persian, Greece), one in John s time (Rome), and one to come (7th Kingdom or Mystery Babylon). This 7th kingdom will be in existence for the first 42 months of the Tribulation and will continue for a short space (Rev 17:8,10). 8 of 16
Revelation 17:10-11 KJV 10 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. 11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. When these ten kings (Rev 17:7) merge their kingdoms with the Antichrist for a short space (42 months) into the Tribulation, he will organize the eighth empire (Rev 17:11). This will be the final kingdom on earth before Christ s return to rule as king. The ten kings/horns give their kingdom to the beast in one hour out of fear after they see Rome wiped off the face of the earth by the antichrist with a nuclear weapon in verse 16 and (Rev.18:10,7). Revelation 17:12-14 KJV 12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. 14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. These kingdoms will war against Israel and the Jewish remnant, along with slaying those who have turned to Christ, they will be in reality warring against Christ Himself. 9 of 16
Revelation 17:15 KJV 15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. The waters is a metaphor for all the nations, people, races that the Catholic Church has influence over. Revelation 17:16-18 KJV 16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. 18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. Under approval of the kings, the City of Rome, what is left, is wiped out in one hour. (Rev 18:10,17,19). In John s day, Rome was built of marble, stone and wood and could have never been destroyed in one hour. When Nero burned Rome, the fourteen sections of the city took six days to burn. This sudden destruction I believe is a result of a nuclear detonation that completely destroys the city in one hour. Notice, that God is controlling the events, He is the One who placed in the hearts of the ten kings the desire to destroy the (harlot city) fulfilling prophecy found in Rev 17:17. So when the cup of iniquity in the earth becomes full of sin and starts to overflow that is when the Antichrist comes 10 of 16
2 Thessalonians 2:6-12 KJV 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2:6-12 AMPC 6 And now you know what is restraining him [from being revealed at this time]; it is so that he may be manifested (revealed) in his own [appointed] time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness (that hidden principle of rebellion against constituted authority) is already at work in the world, [but it is] restrained only until he who restrains is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one (the antichrist) will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and bring him to an end by His appearing at His coming. 11 of 16
9 The coming [of the lawless one, the antichrist] is through the activity and working of Satan and will be attended by great power and with all sorts of [pretended] miracles and signs and delusive marvels [all of them] lying wonders 10 And by unlimited seduction to evil and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing (going to perdition) because they did not welcome the Truth but refused to love it that they might be saved. 11 Therefore God sends upon them a misleading influence, a working of error and a strong delusion to make them believe what is false, 12 In order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe in [who refused to adhere to, trust in, and rely on] the Truth, but [instead] took pleasure in unrighteousness. This is when the restraining power of the Holy Spirit is taken away and the judgments strike the earth. This is what happened after Noah and his family came unto the Ark, that is when the judgment by water started to take place. The third thing that has to be full after the fullness of time and the fulness of iniquity is the gospel must be preached. The church preaches the gospel up until the edge of the Tribulation according to Jesus in Matthew 24. Matthew 24:14 KJV 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 12 of 16
Then, for the first 42 months of the Tribulation, 2 witnesses come and there is a number of Jewish converts at that time. Revelation 11:1-8 AMPC 11 A reed [as a measuring rod] was then given to me, [shaped] like a staff, and I was told: Rise up and measure the sanctuary of God and the altar [of incense], and [number] those who worship there. 2 But leave out of your measuring the court outside the sanctuary of God; omit that, for it is given over to the Gentiles (the nations), and they will trample the holy city underfoot for 42 months (three and one-half years). 3 And I will grant the power of prophecy to My two witnesses for 1,260 (42 months; three and one-half years), dressed in sackcloth. 4 These [witnesses] are the two olive trees and the two lampstands which stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone attempts to injure them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their enemies; if anyone should attempt to harm them, thus he is doomed to be slain. 6 These [two witnesses] have power to shut up the sky, so that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying (their prediction of events relating to Christ s kingdom and its speedy triumph); and they also have power to turn the waters into blood and to smite and scourge the earth with all manner of plagues as often as they choose. 7 But when they have finished their testimony and their evidence is all in, the beast (monster) that comes up out of the Abyss (bottomless pit) will wage war on them, and conquer them and kill them. 13 of 16
8 And their dead bodies [will lie exposed] in the open street (a public square) of the great city which is in a spiritual sense called [by the mystical and allegorical names of] Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days men from the races and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and will not allow them to be put in a tomb. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will gloat and exult over them and rejoice exceedingly, taking their ease and sending presents [in congratulation] to one another, because these two prophets had been such a vexation and trouble and torment to all the dwellers on the earth. 11 But after three and a half days, by God s gift the breath of life again entered into them, and they rose up on their feet, and great dread and terror fell on those who watched them. 12 Then [the two witnesses] heard a strong voice from heaven calling to them, Come up here! And before the very eyes of their enemies they ascended into heaven in a cloud. 13 And at that [very] hour there was a tremendous earthquake and one tenth of the city was destroyed (fell); seven thousand people perished in the earthquake, and those who remained were filled with dread and terror and were awe-struck, and they glorified the God of heaven. 14 The second woe (calamity) has passed; now the third woe is speedily to come. Then in the last 42 months of the Tribulation an angel comes down with the Eternal or Everlasting Gospel warning people not to take the mark and of the coming judgment. 14 of 16
Revelation 14:6-10 AMPC 6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, with an eternal Gospel (good news) to tell to the inhabitants of the earth, to every race and tribe and language and people. 7 And he cried with a mighty voice, Revere God and give Him glory (honor and praise in worship), for the hour of His judgment has arrived. Fall down before Him; pay Him homage and adoration and worship Him Who created heaven and earth, the sea and the springs (fountains) of water. 8 Then another angel, a second, followed, declaring, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She who made all nations drink of the [maddening] wine of her passionate unchastity [idolatry]. 9 Then another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a mighty voice, Whoever pays homage to the beast and his statue and permits the [beast s] stamp (mark, inscription) to be put on his forehead or on his hand, 10 He too shall [have to] drink of the wine of God s indignation and wrath, poured undiluted into the cup of His anger; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. The church preaches up to the Tribulation, then two witnesses come to preach and then an angel comes and preaches one last time. If we, the Church are still here then we would be preaching the gospel but we are not. This is just another reason why I believe that God s Word teaches a pre-tribulation Rapture. So, what is another thing that is withholding or restraining Christ s return? The right amount or correct number of people has to be in the Kingdom. 15 of 16
Romans 11:25 KJV 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. Romans 11:25 AMPC 25 Lest you be self-opinionated (wise in your own conceits), I do not want you to miss this hidden truth and mystery, brethren: a hardening (insensibility) has [temporarily] befallen a part of Israel [to last] until the full number of the ingathering of the Gentiles has come in, What does this mean, the fulness of the Gentiles? We will find out next week. 16 of 16