CHAPTER 17 - MYSTERY BABYLON DESCRIBED AND FALLEN.

Chapters 17 and 18 are a flash back describing Mystery Babylon and her fall which is taking place simultaneously with the above action.


17:1-8 One on the angels which had (it has been poured out already) one of the seven vials now comes and speaks to John. He says to John, “Come with me and I’ll show the judgment of the great whore that sits upon many waters (nations) that has fornicated (defiled with women/false religion) with the inhabitants of the earth and made them drunk with her wine (false doctrine).

John is carried away in the spirit into the wilderness and he sees a woman upon a scarlet beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman is arrayed in purple, decked in gold, precious stones, pearls, and has a golden cup full of abominations, filth, and fornication. On her forehead is written: Mystery Babylon the Great. Mother of harlots and abominations of the earth. The woman is drunken with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus. John is in awe. The angel says why do you marvel? I will tell you her mystery and of the beast that carries her. The beast was, is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit. Those whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the earth will wonder when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

John is being shown a political/religious system that has been in the earth since Genesis 11 and the tower of Babel. Man has always rebelled against God and has tried to be like God. Satan, the spirit of the world, has always attempted
throughout history to unite the earth under his one world government. This is part of the beast that was. The other part of the beast that was is Christianity hijacked.

Once Rome made Christianity the religion of the empire you no longer had to be born again--you only had to be born into. In 312 A.D the emperor Constantine adopted Christianity. By 380 A.D. it was the official religion of the Empire.

At his point in time the spirit of the Nicolatians rose up. Nicolatians means “control of the lay people.” The nature of the church was changed forever--but the Holy Spirit still worked within and without this human controlled ecclesiastical government. In the end time there will be a great religious beast system built on the foundations of the past but denying the power of the church in Acts. The church of man is slowly removing God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit out of their government and replacing it with secular humanism. This is the great “deception.” There will be no sin in this system--only all inclusiveness.

I am not being judgmental. I am only speaking the truth. We have to lay aside our preconceived doctrine, dogma, and

denominationalism to really understand what is happening in the church. Until now God has worked within the religious system. The day is soon coming when we must “Come out of her my people.” Rev 18:4 Those who endure through the events of Revelation will only be loyal to the Lord. There will be no gray areas like today. He who has an ear let him hear. For now the Lord has worked within--that day is coming to a close. Seek the Lord on your own and ask Him for understanding. This man-made system was, is not, and yet is. It is not where we want to have our hearts and loyalty during the end times. Once the mark of the beast is on you it is too late. Rev 14:9-10

The religious system of men has killed in the name of God and persecuted in the name of God. Jesus told us this would happen. They will think they do God service. These are unpleasant things to think about and discuss. We may not see it in our day--but a coming generation will. I am not looking for an argument--ask God for wisdom and understanding.

17:9-13 The description continues: “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition. “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.

Is this a Muslim system forced upon the earth, a secular human system, or a system with its foundations based on Christianity? I believe the Muslims have been subdued in (Rev 9). This Mystery Babylon will be based on Christianity and human secularism, and is now an abomination in God’s eyes. This is the great deception and false church. This is the whore which rides the beast. The beast is the political and financial system and the whore is the glue--the spiritual false church which unites the various nations which make up the beast into one politically correct and all inclusive pseudo religion.

17:14-18 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

It appears that in the end the political system turns against the whore--civil war! The political system eats the religious system! The woman was the religious system that reigned over the nations “spiritually” until they turned on her. They don’t need her now--there is no sin and human secularism reigns. In the Old Testament we often see the armies of the enemies of Israel turn on themselves. Once again we see it happen.