REVELATION LESSON 44

REVELATION

LESSON 44

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?

Revelation 18:3   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 pertains to the time of the antichrist and to all that Babylon has represented from the very beginning of time. This is a picture of government and business becoming obsessed with, and controlled by a concept. Every nation on earth has bought into the idea of world government and world trade.

The fall of democracy and moral conduct has paved the way for a world economy and a world government. The global web is slowly tightening around us every day. By the time the tribulation period arrives they will be intoxicated with it. This idea will receive their full support and the people in business will become extremely wealthy.

Many people ask what does prophecy say about the United States. Some think the United States will collapse or be destroyed because it is not specifically mentioned. That is impossible to prove. The United States would be wise to support Israel during the tribulation period.

With the church gone, due to the rapture it seems reasonable to conclude that the United States will be closely aligned with Europe and the antichrist.

From his headquarters in Babylon the antichrist will make it possible for many to get rich during the time of the great tribulation. He will endear the nations of the world to himself.

Revelation 18:4   ⁴ And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

A voice from heaven will urge Gods people to leave Babylon for two reasons. So they will not become involved in Babylon’s sin, and so they will not fall victim to the plagues God will inflict on Babylon.

Those living in Babylon in the end time who are Christians, “yes even though times are evil there will still be people who are saved”, are urged to flee Babylon. Even during this terrible time of Gods wrath being poured out, it is obvious that God still cares about his people.

The church has been raptured out, so these are tribulation saints not the church. It is clear that God will have people living on earth at the time of the tribulation period.

How they survive in Babylon without taking the mark of the beast is a mystery, but they will and some will make it into the millennium.

Revelation 18:5    ⁵ For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

In the old testament, God did not overlook what Nimrod was doing in Babylon when he tried to build a tower to heaven. He will not overlook what is happening in Babylon at this time. To stop the construction on the tower of Babble he confused their language and scattered them around the world.

In the future to stop their sins from piling any higher God will burn Babylon to the ground. Some may argue that though a long time has passed since the early wickedness of Babylon it only seems as if God has forgotten her sins, but the Lord will recall them to mind.

Revelation 18:6   ⁶ Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

Another voice from heaven exhorted them to punish Babylon in keeping with her illicit sin and luxuries. The judgement does not come in a long drawn out situation but by the immediate judgment of God which will come on a given day.

Life in Babylon will be like never before. Gods law of sowing and reaping will come into effect. Those who show no mercy, will receive no mercy. Its kind of like what goes around comes around. Babylon’s cup will be filled with abominable things.

Revelation 18:7   ⁷ How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

This godless city will be filled with the proud and haughty. Her residents will declare her beauty, greatness, glory and her reign over all the earth. They will treat her as a queen in that she is married to the kings of the earth. She is not a widow but a wealthy queen who has nothing to mourn about.

They will be self-deceived, not remembering that God brought her down in one day during the reign of Belshazzar. The city of Babylon was captured in BG 541 by Cyrus, who was mentioned by name in prophecy 125 years before he was born.

The conquerors name was Agardites but God surnamed him Cyrus. As predicted in these verses Josephus said that this prophecy was pointed out to Cyrus on his conquest of Babylon an he determined to fulfill what was written, he probably knew about it from his mother Esther.

The voice from heaven will say in the measure that she, Babylon, glorified herself and lived luxuriously in the same measure give her torment and sorrow. This will be one of Gods standards of judgment when he remembers Babylon. The great grief of the godly will be turned into glory and the glory of the godless will be turned into great grief.

Until our next lesson,

Stay in the word.

Brother Andy

REVELATION LESSON 43

REVELATION

LESSON 43

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?

Revelation 17:17   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.

This is an interesting verse. God will plant the idea of destroying the false religious system into the heart of the Antichrist, as well as the heart of his ten puppet kings. They will be instruments in Gods hand to accomplish His purpose and fulfill his word.

Now having come to the mid-point of the seven years, men worship the dragon because he has given authority to the beast. They also worshiped the beast, and asked who is like the beast. Who can make war against him?

The whole religious system having its source in ancient Babylon is brought to its close because the final form of religion, the worship of the world leader is atheism and does not need this support.

Revelation 17:18   ¹⁸ And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

This verse identifies the woman as the great city that rules over the earth. Unfortunately, the ten nations have their own agenda. God will use it to bring about His will. The chapter which follows will deal with Roman power that is centered in the city of Babylon.

Revelation 18:1   18 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

Chapter 17 was about mystery Babylon, the great, the mother of harlots and the abominations of the earth. Chapter 18 refers to the word mystery and picks up the word city. Its time to shift our focus from mystery of the city to city from the coming one world harlot religious system to the home of the coming one world political and economic system. From the bride of the antichrist to the city of the antichrist.

Satan will be cast down to earth at the middle of the tribulation period. He will try to copy everything Jesus does. The ancient city of Babylon and the coming rebuilt version appear to be that old serpents’ pathetic effort to have wicked men build him a capital city on earth that will rival the holy city, new Jerusalem that Jesus ad God will occupy on the new earth.

The interpretation of this chapter depends on the question of whether Babylon will be rebuilt as the capital of the world in the end times or whether Babylon will be fulfilled by the role of Rome in the period preceding the second coming.

After witnessing the coming destruction as the one world harlot religious system John received a new revelation, he saw another angel coming down from heaven that will tackle the powerful and wealthy one world political and economic system.

When this angel arrives, it will not be the sun, moon or stars that light on earth, but the angel’s glory. This suggests that he will come directly from the presence of God. Due to the magnificence of that coming and especially of the one who is coming very well could be either Gabriel or Michael.

Revelation 18:2   ² And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

Facts about Babylon: it is the first city mentioned after the flood, it was the plains of a land called Shinar, it is also the city where the tower of babble was built by Nimrod, and where he tried to start a one world religion based on astrology, sorcery and mysteries of Semiramis. It was also the place where the one world government originated.

The angel will prophesy about the future of Babylon the great. It will fall and become the dwelling place of demons a prison for every foul spirit and a cage for every unclean bird. In other words, it will be the capital of evil in all the world. Vultures and the like are use at times in the word of God as symbols for demon spirits.

The city of Babylon that began the times of the gentiles are mentioned more than 275 times in the bible second only to Jerusalem. More that 10 percent of the book of revelation is about Babylon. The antichrist is called the King of Babylon. It will never be inhabited, it would require a future destruction of what is there today.

Isaiah 13:19-20   ¹⁹ And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

²⁰ It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.

Its final destruction will occur during the day of the Lord. Scriptures are not clear whether this destruction of Babylon is immediately before the second coming or immediately afterward. The second coming will destroy the cities of the gentiles and it very well could be that Babylon will be destroyed at the same time.

Until our next lesson

Stay in the word.

Brother Andy

REVELATION LESSON 42

REVELATION

LESSON 42

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?

Revelation 17:10   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.

The word kings can also be translated Kingdoms. It makes more sense in this case to say the seven heads are seven kingdoms. History and scripture reveal that there have been seven gentile world kingdoms.

The five who have fallen are the five gentile world kingdoms. Assyria, Medio-Persia, Greek, Egypt, and Babylon. These existed before Johns lifetime “and one is” refers to the sixth kingdom. The roman empire that existed during Johns lifetime. The other has not yet come refers to a seventh future kingdom, the revived Roman Empire.

The revived Roman empire will exist after Johns lifetime. This seventh kingdom will remain and refers to the ten-nation confederation symbolized by the ten horns, which in Johns day had not yet come, and has to this day not come.

This seventh kingdom will remain. It must continue for a short time, throughout the duration of the seven-year tribulation period.

Revelation 17:11   ¹¹ And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

As years progress leading up to the second coming of Christ this world empire which its ruler is the eighth king, and is stated as “the beast who once was and now is not.” This beast is the antichrist. He will be one of the seven already mentioned, since he is not yet come. He must come out of the seventh gentile world kingdom which will be the revived Roman Empire.

As an eighth king he will take over the seventh gentile world kingdom and establish his own brand of world government. A new World Order. The antichrist will rise in power in that government. He will take over and transform it into a satanic state. The beast that was and is not is the beast that will come out of the bottomless pit… the antichrist.

Revelation 17:12   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.

The ten horns are the ten kings that will rule with the antichrist. This is a picture of what the end time world government will look like. The antichrist will rule the world which will be divided into ten divisions. There will be a separate leader in charge who will answer to the antichrist.

The ten kings will receive military authority for one hour. One hour is a biblical term meaning for a short time. In this particular case it means the ten kings will reign with the antichrist for the tribulation period.

The significance of this is the fact that Jesus promised to keep faithful believers from the hour of trial that is coming upon the world. To me all the signs point to a pre-tribulation rapture. 

Revelation 3:10   ¹⁰ Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

The church will not be on earth during the one-hour reign of the ten kings with the antichrist.

Revelation 17:13   ¹³ These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

These ten rulers controlled by the antichrist will be nothing more than puppet kings who will submit to him. Dictators usually come to power by using one or more of these tactics. Violence, force or political trickery. After coming to power, they usually have to continue to use force to stay in power. Because of that they usually outlaw basic freedoms such as the freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and freedom of worship. According to the bible the antichrist will do these things also, and do much worse than any previous dictator.

Revelation 17:14   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.

At the end of the tribulation period the antichrist and his ten puppet kings will make war against the Lamb and his called, chosen and faithful followers. Unfortunately for them the outcome was determined long ago. The Lamb will defeat them in the battle of Armageddon because he is the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings. Only those who are called, chosen and faithful will be with Jesus.

Revelation 17:15   ¹⁵ And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

Both the woman and the beast, the ecclesiastical and the political, are opposed to God and those who put their trust in the Lord at that time. This indicates that the false religion promoted by the woman as well as the political power promoted by the beast are worldwide.

This base of power and support will give the harlot religious system tremendous control. She will ensnare and deceive people on a worldwide scale.

Revelation 17:16   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.

The next development is a tremendous additional revelation. The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked, this beast who was dominated by the harlot system is the one who rises against her system completely. Without a doubt the harlot system was in competition with the religious worship of the beast.

Promoted by the false prophet, her destruction is brought about so that the beast may be the sole object of false worship as he claims to be God. The antichrist will enter the Jewish temple in Jerusalem and declare at this time to be God.

There is no more room for Babylon and her one world religion and one world government, the antichrist can not be God and subject to those who worship him at the same time. Someone has to go, the antichrist and his allies will destroy the harlots of religious system and confiscate her expensive clothing, gold and precious stones. They will persecute and kill her deceived people.

What the antichrist does not realize is that God has sovereignly moved to give him the ability to overthrow the Babylonian system and that soon it will be the antichrists turn to experience the judgment that is swift, total and dreadful. The destruction of the city of Babylon will come later on.

Until our next lesson,

Stay in the word. 

Brother Andy

REVELATION LESSON 41

REVELATION

LESSON 41

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?

Revelation 17.5   ⁵ And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth.

In this section the revelation concentrates on the influence of Babylon religiously. The religion of Babylon was in the form of a secret religious rite in which they worshiped certain idols. It requires divine revelation to understand completely what they held.

The wife of Nimrod, who was the founder of Babylon, headed up the mystery religion which characterized Babylon. She was given the name of Semiramis and according to the adherents of belief she had a son conceived miraculously whose name was Tammuz. He was portrayed as a savior who fulfills the promise of deliverance given to Eve. However, this was of course a satanic description which permeates pagan religions.

This harlots title reveals where she came from and what she will do. She came from Babylon and she will go back to Babylon during the tribulation period. She will be known as the mother of harlots and the mother of abominations. The harlot which is the one world religious system, originated at the tower of babel.

Which is located at old testament Babylon. Babylon was destroyed, but is rebuilt. Nimrod whose name means, “let us revolt”, attempted to establish a one world religion based upon astrology, sorcery and the mysteries or legends of Semiramis and Tammuz in order to have fellowship with them, she, the prostitute, drinks the wisdom of many religions.

Whether this is Buddhism, Hinduism or Islam all are welcome by the harlot Babylon. It makes no difference that the Lord Jesus is still the only way to God the father. If it is not Christ crucified then it is labeled by the Lord as harlots and abominations. Regrettably that includes much of modern Christianity as well.

Revelation 17:6   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.

The harlot will not only make others drunk, but she too will be drunk on the blood of the tribulation saints. This great ecumenical religious system will be actively involved in the persecution and death of Gods people.

She will be so determined to establish her one world religion that she will actually be filled with the blood of the saints. Obviously, mystery Babylon, the apostate pagan church of the last days will not develop overnight.

Such an ecumenical organization involving many diverse religious groups will be created by negotiation and conferences over a number of years leading up to the beginning of the seven-year tribulation period.

It is therefore quite probable that we will witness the initial steps toward this one world church of the last days before the rapture takes the Christians home to heaven.

Revelation 17:7   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.

Gods angel saw that John was astonished and probably even confused so he told John that he would explain these two things, which were the mystery of the woman and the mystery of the beast with the seven heads and ten horns.

The remaining verses of chapter 17 are about the meaning of the beast and the identity of the woman. It is important to keep in mind that at the rapture all believers will be caught up the to the Lord from the earth to heaven. Leaving no believers on the earth.

The earth will be without born again Christian leaders or members, regardless of what church to attend. As we discuss the world church after the rapture it would obviously be apostate teachings.

Revelation 17:8   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.

As we previously discussed the references to the beast as one who once was and yet will come has been taken as proof that the world leader is one who was, will ascend out of the bottomless pit. The beast will have satanic ties to the subterranean abode of demonic spirits since he will come out of the abyss. He will eventually go to his destruction since God will cast him into the lake of fire.

He will take his followers, the inhabitants of the earth whose names that have not been written in the Lambs book of life.

When the fifth trumpet sounds, Satan will open the bottomless pit and releases the demonic spirits being held there. A world leader will quickly arise on the international scene promising to bring peace and economic stability. He will receive the support of the European community and eventually control the whole world.

Revelation 17:9   ⁹ And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

Interpreting this verse requires spiritual understanding of scriptures, not of world geography. The seven heads on the beast are seven mountains on which the woman sits. This might seem simple enough however, it is not as it appears.

Chapter 17:10 the next verse, tells us these seven mountains are not even actual mountains but are seven kings, ie kingdoms or world governments. Here is the problem, is this the religious system that sits on seven mountains, or seven kings or both?

The bible tells us that hills or mountains are a symbol of kingdoms, therefore, the seven mountains must be seven kings or kingdoms. Some say the seven mountains are a reference to Rome. The city on seven hills. Even if this is right this is only saying the harlot will be in control and be supported by Rome.

Until our next lesson,

Stay in the word.

Brother Andy

REVELATION LESSON 40

REVELATION

LESSON 40

Are We Living in the End Times?

Revelation 17:1   17 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:

In chapter 17 we will be looking at the punishment of Babylon, the mother, the great religious harlot and what God plan to do with this harlot religious system.

In the bible, seas and waters represent great masses of people. They represent the people, nations and tongues. The fact that this wicked woman is pictured as sitting upon these great masses is an indication that she will be supported by them, and she will exercise control over them. She will exercise control over them during the tribulation period.

An extensive study of the religions of Babylon demonstrates that many of them were carried over in part into Roman Catholicism, forming the background for some of the ceremonies. The Babylonian influence however is always contrary to the truth. Her final hour will be described in this chapter.

Revelation 17:2   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.

From the very beginning most nations have been ruled by some type of religion. The harlot religious system will commit adultery with the kings of the earth, she will conspire with world leaders to produce a merger of religion and government. Here is a final religious system, united with a political system to manipulate the people of the earth into a false government approved religion.

The wine of her fornication is referring to demonic possession. This wicked woman will cause people to be led astray by deceiving spirits. Teachings of eastern religions have infected even the church itself.

Driving it increasingly toward apostasy and a false interpretation of Gods word. There will be world wide religious deception so out of control that it is easy to understand how worldwide ecclesiastical trends are even now leading to the dawn of a one world church controlled by Satan.

The one world religion will have a lot of Catholics in it but it will also have a lot of protestants and other religions. The people that are saved regardless of religion or denomination will be raptured and the lost regardless of their false religious beliefs will be left behind.

Revelation 17:3   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.

John saw a woman on a scarlet colored beast with seven heads and ten horns. We already know the beast with the seven heads and the ten horns is the antichrist. Since the woman will be sitting on the beast, we must assume that her harlot religion and the antichrist will exist on earth at the same time. The political power of this day is supporting this apostate church.

At first the antichrist will support her one world religion and be under her authority. Things will eventually turn bad between the two, the relationship will be hindered by the woman’s double identity. Remember she is both mother, the false religious system and the great city Babylon. We can see from this that all three, the false religious system, the city of Babylon and the antichrist will exist during the first half of the tribulation period.

Revelation 17:4   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:

When it peaks here of the woman arrayed in purple and scarlet colors it pertains to Israel, with a carry over into the church age. The purple represents the dominion of these religions over nations, the scarlet color represents the persecution of Israel.

Decked with gold and precious stones and pearls means this woman is a rich harlot of royal stature. Look at the golden cup she will be holding. This cup will be filled with abominable things and the filth of her fornication.

When the false religions drink from this cup they will drink the wine of fornication. This is symbolic of deceiving spirts and demons.

Today many people think our modern society is too enlightened to believe in the existence of demons. These demons are no less dangerous than Satan. They are his cohorts, doing his will. It is unfortunate but this includes many of the worlds religious and political leaders.

Until our next lesson, 

Stay in the word.

Brother Andy.