The Book Of Revelation (Sermon On Revelation By Pastor Odell Belger)

(1)In warfare

(2)In sports In order to compete against somebody or some team, one needs to know as much as possible about them in order to compete against them.

(3) It applies in Christianity as well.

• If we are to avoid sin, we have to know what is sinful.

• If we are to avoid demonic forces, we have to understand how the operate.

This does not mean we have to indulge in sin.

Illus: Bob Harrington

Chapters 17-18 describe the ultimate end of the demonic forces that oppose God.

Let me summarize where we left off in Revelation and how it applies to this chapter:

These judgments were designed to teach the inhabitants of the world that God is in charge.

During these judgements on earth some will survive. For example in Rev. 20 we read of Jesus ruling on earth. Jesus has to rule over "somebody", therefore some has to survive. ,

This leads to Chapters 17-18: The destruction of "Babylon". These two chapters fill in some details from previous chapters.

What is Babylon, why is it destroyed and why should we care?

Babylon was an ancient city that was the capital of the Babylonian Empire. It is located in modern Iraq. Part of the city has been excavated and it is now inhabited, although it is no longer either a capital or even a significant city.

• The term "Babylon" has its roots in Genesis. The "Tower of Babel" is in that location. (That story in Genesis 11)

• It was about a mighty hunter (of men) named Nimrod (Genesis 10:9) who organized the first rebellion against God.

The term "Babylon" refers to a literal city, BUT it can also refer to any and all organized rebellion against the God.

The Babylonian religion had multiple gods.

The point is even though the Babylonian city and empire fell a long time ago, its influence, especially on pagan gods, was still around at the time of the Romans during John's writings and today in our society.

Babylon is a literal location. It is also a symbol term for any religious system that opposes the God of the Bible.

These two chapters (17 and 18) focus on the destruction of Babylon.

This chapter is about the destruction of Babylon which is not just the destruction of:

1) An organized government that opposes God,

2) But an organized religious system as well.

Remember Chapter 17 covers the entire Great Tribulation era.

Verse 1 describes the purpose of these chapters (17 and 18). In these verses, an angel ("one of the seven") tells John, who is writing Revelation to come and see the "punishment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters".

Before we discuss this "great prostitute", let's set the scene a little. John spent the last two chapters 17-18) describing the final judgment on earth.

Chapter 16 described seven angels with seven bowls. Each bowl was filled with some sort of "judgment". One at a time, each angel poured his bowl out on earth, and then some judgment happened on earth.

Here in Chapter 17, the seven angels are all done. This chapter is like one of the angels saying, "Hey John, now that it's all over, let me fill in some details about one of those seven specific judgments.”

You see, there is this great prostitute who sits on many waters. Let me explain what that means.

This chapter is filled with what is known as word pictures. For example, the first word picture is a PROSTITUTE.

Let’s look at some of these word-picture means.

(1)Let's start with the "prostitute".

Look at Revelation 17:1 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." That means the prostitute is not a literal woman. Also, we will see in verse 18 says the prostitute is a city.

If you haven't figured it out yet, the city is "Babylon".

(2) Next word pitcures is in Verse 1 this prostitute "sits on many waters". Chapter 17:15, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages."

The point is this city "sits" on peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. The idea is this city controls and influences a large worldwide empire. (Rev. 13 All the world)

• At the time of John's writing, Babylon was an insignificant city.

• At the time of John's writing Rome controlled the world.

It would make sense that if John is writing about life in his time, the word "Babylon" is a code word for Rome, as the Roman Empire ruled the world. The point is when the antichrist runs this worldwide empire, there will be a central city that benefits from being the head city of that empire.