Revelation Lesson #17 Series

A thorough study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show his servants things which must shortly come to pass. (Rev. 1:1)

Welcome to our study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ given unto Apostle John.

I am Phillip Smith, your host and fellow servant of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

As we continue our study in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, as given to John, we begin in chapter 17.

We begin this lesson with a rewind back during a time of these vials of wrath being allowed and we get a better description of one reason for the wrath of God becoming severe. In the evil spirit realm, Satan and his beast have created an evil influencer to tempt mankind to fornicate–sin–by turning from the will of God to doing the will of Satan. This influencer is described as a great whore.

Rev. 17:1-2. 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: 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.

In the time of the wrath of God by the pouring of these vials, the vials of the last of the wrath of God, God is going to punish the great whore who was the cause of the people of earth turning from God and being consumed in her fornications. God is judging her ‘that sitteth upon many waters’.

‘Waters’ represents many nations and languages of peoples. Her fornications have influenced all peoples of the earth. There is no where she has not influenced.

‘The inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.’ The people have intoxicated themselves with her abominations–things detestable unto God. Her influence is so great, very few could keep themselves pure and clean from her inticings. Therefore, God is going to judge and punish her severely.

We remember Babylon from Revelation 14:8. 8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. This was written describing the presence and influence of angelic servants performing their allowed tasks for both Satan and God. During this time, God would punish Babylon for its evil influence upon mankind. God shall show His power over all things He has made. It will be during the last vials of the wrath of God upon mankind that this happens.

In chapter 16:19 we see God remembering Babylon and the things she did to turn mankind away from God. This was at the end when the seventh angel poured out his vial and a voice from the throne said, It is done. Let us reread Rev. 16:17-21. 17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. 18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. 19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

The Great Whore Identified to John.

The angel is taking John to see this woman. Here he describes what he saw. Rev. 17:3-5. 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. 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 appearance of this woman was allouring to the eyes of mankind. She attracted attention as a woman of ill repute might. She was inviting mankind to partake of her filthiness and abominations. She was given a name, Mystery, Babylon The Great.