1 REVELATION BIBLE STUDY Fall 2011 Week 11 An Apostate Church on the Throne of a World-Empire 1927-1959 -taken from Halley's Bible Handbook/Commentary by Henry H. Halley This description of Babylon the Great Harlot, Seated on the Seven-Headed Ten-Horned Beast, while it may have ultimate reference to a situation yet to appear, exactly fits Papal Rome. Nothing else in World History does fit. The desire for Worldly Power began to manifest itself in the Church on a broad scale, in the 4 th century, when the Roman Empire ceased its Persecutions, and made Christianity its State Religion. The spirit of Imperial Rome passed into the Church. The Church gradually developed itself into the pattern of the Empire it had conquered. Rome fell. But Rome came to life again as a World-Power, in the Name of the Church. The Popes of Rome were the heirs and successors of the Caesars of Rome. The Vatican is where the Palace of the Caesars was. The Popes have claimed all the authority the Caesars claimed, and more. The Papal Palace, throughout the centuries, has been among the most luxurious in all the world. Popes have lived in Pomp and Splendor unsurpassed by earthly kings. In no place on earth is there more ostentatious pageantry and show of magnificence than at the coronation of a Pope. The City of Rome, first Pagan, then Papal, has been the Dominating Power of the World for Two Thousand Years, 200 B.C. to A.D. 1800. Full of names of Blasphemy (17:3). Popes claim to hold on earth the place of God, to have Supreme Authority over the Human Conscience, to Forgive Sin, to Grant Indulgences, and that Obedience to Them is necessary to Salvation. How could anything be more Blasphemous? Scarlet (17:3, 4), color of the Beast and the Harlot, and also of the Dragon (12:3), is the Color of the Papacy. The Papal Throne is Scarlet. It is borne by twelve men clad in Scarlet. The Cardinals hats and robes are Scarlet. Originally the Devil s color (12:3), it has now become the Color of Atheistic Communism: they are commonly spoken of as Reds, Red Army, Red Territory, the Red Square in Moscow, the Devil again marshalling his hosts from Without. ( Filthiness of her Fornication (17:4). Appalling Immoralities of Popes of the Middle Ages are well known). Drunk with the Blood of Martyrs (17:6). The Horrors of the Inquisition, ordered and maintained by the Popes, over a period of 500 years, in which unnumbered millions were Tortured and Burned, constitute the MOST BRUTAL, BEASTLY AND DEVELISH PICTURE in all history. It is not pleasant to write these things. It is inconceivable that any Ecclesiastical Organization, in its mania for Power, could have distorted and desecrated and corrupted, for its own exaltation, the beautiful and holy religion of Jesus, as the Papacy has done. But Facts are Facts And History is History. And, most amazing of all, it seems exactly pre-figured in Revelation. No wonder John s vision made him sick at heart (10:10).
2 -Babel is where human government began its rebellion against God (Genesis 11:1-9). Later, it became the wonder city of the ancient world. Enslaved Israel. Chapter Nineteen Revelation 19:1-5 (NIV 1984) Hallelujah! 1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2 for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants. 3 And again they shouted: Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever. 4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: Amen, Hallelujah! 5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great! -After laments of chapter 18 (kings, merchants and seafarers), Heaven rejoices over the end of the evil worldly system. (The heavenly multitude, four creatures and 24 elders). -Verses 1-2: Multitudes in Heaven praise God for His victory and for His judgments. Specifically, judgment on the one who corrupted the earth and persecuted and killed the godly. -Hallelujah = halal + Jah = Praise Yahweh. -Verse 2: Answer to martyrs under 5th seal crying, How long O Lord? -Verses 3-4: Praise for final destruction of Babylon. The beasts and 24 elders respond in worship. -Verse 5: a voice from the throne. (one of heavenly beings that surrounded the throne). All His servants.
3 Revelation 19:6-8 6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) -Announcement and rejoicing over the wedding of the Lamb. -The Bride is -Fine linen = The wedding began with a procession to the bride s house, followed by a return to the home of the groom for the marriage feast. Revelation 19:9-10 9 Then the angel said to me, Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb! And he added, These are the true words of God. 10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. -7 blessings of Revelation: 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 22:7, 14. Isaiah 25:6-8 6 On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; 8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. Luke 13:29 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. -Verse 10: John falls at feet of angel to worship; testimony of Jesus in the spirit of prophecy.
4 Revelation 19:11-13 The Rider on the White Horse 11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. White Horse = victorious conquest Psalm 96:13 13 they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth. Faithful and True His Title Eyes - like blazing fire Many crowns unlimited sovereignty Robe dipped in blood judgment Isaiah 63:1-4 1 Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save. 2 Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress? 3 I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing. 4 For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redemption has come. The Word of God John 1:1, 14 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. In Hebrew thought, the word is an active agent that achieves the intention of the one who speaks. The Word of God is God fulfilling His divine purpose. Robert Mounce
5 Revelation 19:14-16 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. -Verse 14: armies of heaven may be redeemed who have already died -Verse 15: He treads the winepress judgment of God; source of lyrics for Battle Hymn of the Republic Isaiah 11:4 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Hebrews 4:12 12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
6 Revelation 19:17-21 17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great. 19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh. -Verse 17: Standing in the sun; position of splendor Ezekiel 39:17 20 17 Son of man, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Call out to every kind of bird and all the wild animals: Assemble and come together from all around to the sacrifice I am preparing for you, the great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel. There you will eat flesh and drink blood. 18 You will eat the flesh of mighty men and drink the blood of the princes of the earth as if they were rams and lambs, goats and bulls all of them fattened animals from Bashan. 19 At the sacrifice I am preparing for you, you will eat fat till you are glutted and drink blood till you are drunk. 20 At my table you will eat your fill of horses and riders, mighty men and soldiers of every kind, declares the Sovereign LORD. Armageddon Revelation 16:16 16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. -Verse 20: Beast and false prophet - secular power and false religion. Lake of Fire its first two inhabitants are the beast and the false prophet. Later the devil (20:10), death and Hades (20:14) and all evil people (21:8). Chapter Twenty Revelation 20:1-3 The Thousand Years 1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. Verses 2 & 3: ancient serpent from Genesis, and 3 other names for Satan; an angel bound him for a thousand years to prevent him from deceiving the nations 1000 years literal, or perhaps a significant amount of time
7 Revelation 20:4-6 4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ 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 are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. Thrones & Souls (do not know if they had bodies yet) -Verse 4: the dead in Christ rise first I Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. -Verse 5: Who is resurrected here? Possibly the unrighteous for judgment. I Corinthians 15:22-26 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. Revelation 20:7-10 Satan s Doom 7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth Gog and Magog to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. -Verse 7: Why is Satan released? See verse 3: must be set free for a short time. -people still can choose to follow Satan. -Verse 8: Gog and Magog -Verse 9: the camp of God s people, the city He loves. Satan s final end end of evil and sin! -Verse 10: tormented day and night for ever and ever