Rev 17

REVELATION 17 - Babylon, prostitute on beast

OVERVIEW

• Chapters 17-18 is a pause in the chronological events of the end times found in the book of Revelation

• It is similar to taking a break when hiking up a mountain, allowing a view of where you've come from and where you are about to go

• In this case, John is looking back on how Babylon was destroyed in Rev 16

• John turns his focus to the Harlot riding the Beast in Rev 17-18, and identifies the woman harlot as the actual city of Babylon <W213>

Revelation 17:18 NIV

[18] The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”

• Some believe Babylon is involved in a commercial-spiritual-political system, something with which we are not familiar

• Others believe the universal church or Catholicism, that was once in control of not only religion but kings and governments, will try to regain what it lost in the Reformation – namely religious and political control – using the geo-political one-world system that WEF and elites are promoting during the last days <C36>

• This would fulfill the Luciferian order to create a one world government, one world religion under a one world leader; we see what’s happening in the world today fall into one of these categories (Jun 2024)

• Rome never changes and is willing to work with the geo-political pundits to get the control they want

• Regardless of the details of Babylon, the Harlot and Beast are willing to use each other to gain what they want but at some point, the Beast will destroy the Harlot when he claims himself to be the only God at the midpoint of the Tribulation

SPIRIT OF BABYLON

• Babylon in the end times will be the ‘fountainhead of idolatry’ and mother of every pagan system; basically the culmination of an adulterous false religion that is man-centered & man-designed wanting to replace God <M131> <G797>

• The spirit of the first Babylon can be seen at the Tower of Babel in Genesis where people, who were lovers of themselves, attempting to replace God

• Babylon is not one geographic location (Rev 17:15) but is more of a spiritual power; it was present in Nebuchadnezzar's day and filtered down through the empires and exists today <G71>

• Some believe John is not referring to Babylon as an actual city in Iraq for, according to Revelation, it sits on many waters; it is a global spiritual and political empire under the reign of the beast <S187>

• In this way, some see Iraq as a mess as a country and that it could not support a physical Babylon like its origin

• Modern day Europe has imported the spirit of Babylon over the past decades getting closer to the Antichrist

• Even the original gates of Babylon now setup in a museum in Berlin (Oct 2022)

• This spirit of the Antichrist can be seen all over the world

Revelation 17:3-5 NIV

babylon the great, the mother of prostitutes, and of the abominations of the earth.

BABYLON'S LOCATION DEBATE

Differing views exist regarding not only what Babylon is, but it's location

• Babylon will be headquartered in the region of the former Roman Empire <S187>

• It will not be a revived geographical city in Iraq today <T203>

• It would be quite the undertaking to build a conquering Babylon located in modern day Iraq, which is currently a mess <B23>

• Babylon will actually be in Rome based on the description of location on seven hills (Rev 19:9), reach to peoples and nations (Rev 17:15), and city that reigns over kings of the earth (Rev 17:18) <S198>

• History has shown that nations rise up against nations even if they agree with them, like Russia going to war against the Nazis; Russia wanted to be the ‘Big Cheese’ when all was said and done which is one reason why future Babylon will not be a centralized revived Roman Empire or nation-state because it would be too easy to combat; rather, if it’s a ‘system’ then it can be made up of global members that is difficult to identify and attack… like how do you go to war against Pfizer? <D40>

• Babylon will be built where the Tower of Babel once stood and will become an international city when the Antichrist moves in; Scripture refers to Israel 800x, Babylon 300x, Jerusalem, etc and they are all literal, so why not final Babylon? <W213>

• Still others teach that Babylon in Revelation is an actual city with its location as New York City, the United States, the EU, etc

• All of the other cities mentioned in the book of Revelation were literal cities

• Some understand it's literal location is in Iraq, believing the ancient city of Babylon will be rapidly rebuilt during the Tribulation period, and it will be the headquarters of the one-world economic system and the one-world religious system

• They do not think Babylon needs to be a big city like New York City, for it will need only a few buildings for offices, staff, AI, a communication system, etc <D41>

• America looks more and more like a mirror reflection of that prophesied entity called Babylon

• America fits God's description in His Word of a city, nation, and commercial influence of tremendous magnitude during the time of what John was told to call the Apocalypse: the “Revelation of Jesus Christ.”

• America is, in terms of human achievement and attainment of every conceivable development of material convenience, the absolute apex of all nations of all of history!

• This isn’t being boastful of the American nation; it’s simply fact

• At the same time, as witnessed over these closing days of the age, America is the exporter of evil even the likes of Sodom couldn’t claim and will experience God's judgment <J100>

• Eventually all references to particular religion — such as Christian, Jew, Islam, etc — will be irrelevant because everything/one will fit under the one world religion called Babylon; you will be either ‘spiritual’ or not <T203>

• Regardless of what and where it is exactly, God will allow this to happen to judge her and take her out

• We are not sure of physical location but focus on the system

Revelation 14:8 NIV

[8] A second angel followed and said, “ 'Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,' which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”

OTHER FACTORS

• The Antichrist is going to rise from a revived Roman Empire based in Europe, not Iraq

• America is not Babylon because it will decline and not play a part in end times prophecy according to Ezekiel 38

• The religion of Islam will not play a major role in this either because it is being diluted, gaining ground to accept the one world religion that wants to join hands and find common ground with all religions

• God uses the name of Babylon similar to that of the previous (actual) city, just like the Christ’s New Jerusalem will not be a version of the existing city called Jerusalem; the spirit of these places is similar, however <T203>

NOTES BY VERSE

Note: each ** comment in this document is listed in numerical order according to the verse(s) from this chapter

** God's plan is to use evil and their civil war in the Tribulation to accomplish His plan <S190>

DEFINITIONS

• Seven angels and seven bowls

• Prostitution = in spiritual sense

• Many waters = could be physical area containing Gentile people

• Some form of religion takes people away from worshiping God

• Scarlet colored beast = Antichrist

• Woman = city of Rome; some believe in the revitalization of Roman Empire

• Babylon the Great = center of all abominations

• Seven hills = makes us believe it’s city of Rome

• Seven heads = seven governments (Egypt, Syria, revived Roman Empire, meta-Persian empire, etc) make battle with the Lamb in Tribulation in last 3.5 years

• 10 horns = 10 kings that are short-lived; tenure is brief but purpose is to war against the Lamb

BEAST

• Antichrist (beast) wants to make peace but then destroys when he wants to rule

• Beast = claims to be God when he is not; blasphemous; Antichrist

• “Once was, not now, will be”

• Continues to kill believers; believers at this time are in perhaps most difficult time

Revelation 17:8 NIV

[8] The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction.

• The Beast has a mortal wound that does him in; will be spiritually dead

• Inhabitants of the world who follow the Beast do not have names in Book of Life

• Non-believers buy into his deception

• If the Antichrist can dethrone God then Satan owns us; but the Lamb is victorious because He is Lord of Lords

• Reason they hate the Lamb because they want control, because He is the truth the Life... opposite to what the Beast stands for

• Message for believers: have discernment and wisdom which comes from God

• Does wisdom mean action? the Pharisees prove that you put knowledge into action

Revelation 17:11 NIV

[11] The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

WOMAN

• Scarlet represents blood; woman is most attractive, dressed and ready to go

• Inside gold cup she holds is filth, much like what we would find inside the 'heart' of the woman; like fool's gold

• Woman represents Babylon, centralized evil place of power (Rome?)

• She takes on the full wrath of God

• Babylon has history all way back to Genesis where Tower of Babel existed

• Babylon is a symbol of evil world system that opposes God

• Babylon may accept Roman Catholicism; regardless, this end religion is destroyed

• Where do the Muslims come into the scene with the migration into all areas of the world?

BEWARE

• Be on guard of what lures us

• That which appeals to us is short-term; these things in the long-term, however, are deadly

• Are we more attracted to the things of the world or God? Can we give up what we value?

• Things can own us if it gets in the way of following God

• Look at financial prosperity: money itself is not evil but the motive & purpose we place behind it

• In the eyes of the world, financial prosperity is deemed successful but it can really be a curse

• Our challenge is to discern and avert from that which lures us away from God; we must daily choose the cross of Christ over the world

• Only God can help us triumph over sin so we must align ourselves with Him!

SCENARIO

• Prostitute sits on many waters, where waters are people's, nations, the world; will be punished

• Woman on Beast = who is in control? most likely the Beast is tired of being dominated

• Spiritual adultery defining the relationship with God: unfaithful, idolatrous, breaking commitment with God

• Enemies of God fight against each other; by definition they hate everything and everyone (even themselves)

• Their evil unity is based on self-interest and fails

PURPOSE

• God's plan is to use evil and their civil war to accomplish His plan; the best example is Christ on the cross, using evil men to accomplish His purpose

• Despite the difficulty and persecution: remember that they can kill the body, but they cannot kill the soul

• Our life is but a speck and we have heaven waiting

• Perspective on life is important: pessimistic or optimistic?

• Much like remembering there is a sun behind months of clouds

• Need to keep perspective of tribulation period when Satan appears to be winning, remember the eternal perspective that God is winning as His plan is unfolding

Revelation 17:17 NIV

[17] For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God’s words are fulfilled.

** The harlot is not just a false religious system but the 'Mother' of them, which means that all the false religious systems of the world had to have originated from her <B315>

Revelation 17:1 NIV

[1] One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters.

** Many will prostitute themselves to adultery in a spiritual sense in the last days; the head of this corruption is represented by a Queen (Babylon / Rome?) in her centralized form of pomp, power, ease and luxury, eager to entice the nations and followers of God to destruction <S190>

Revelation 17:1-2 NIV

Revelation 17:3,12-13,15 NIV

[3] Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. [12] “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. [13] They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. [15] Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.

** Revelation 17-18 is an inserted description of Babylon during the Tribulation while the rest of this book is in chronological order; chapter 17 is first half and chapter 18 is the second half and end result of the Tribulation

Revelation 17:1-5 NIV

[1] One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. [2] With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.” [3] Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. [4] The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. [5] The name written on her forehead was a mystery:

babylon the great

the mother of prostitutes

and of the abominations of the earth.

Merchants and governments are involved in the new Babylon that will take place in the Middle East; God will eventually end this system headquartered (?) in the new Babylon somewhere in Iraq

The kings and merchants get power and wealth IF they push her system involving lawlessness, that simply opposes God’s law — what is evil is good, what is good is evil, etc

Today, a global oligarchy is being formed by the elite few for complete domination as can be seen by the way they are taking over all facets of power in the US — including government branches (judicial, legislative, executive) and economy (banks, Wall St) who will join others around the world becoming puppets of this global system

All these companies that are now ‘green’ don’t care about the latest social issues or care about reduced profits when conservatives boycott because they just want a seat at the table with the big players — they either play for big profit or get put out of business like the small guys <H86> (Feb 2021)

Revelation 18:3 NIV

[3] For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”

We know how it ends, however!

Revelation 18:9-11 NIV

[9] “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. [10] Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: “ 'Woe! Woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon! In one hour your doom has come!' [11] “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore

** Seven heads = seven hills of Rome = head of the Roman Empire <B23>

• The woman riding the beast represents the one world religious system that tries to manipulate the political power of the Roman Empire

• Political beast will get tired of this and will destroy the city of Rome and Romish Church

• The Antichrist will require people to worship him and not the one world religious system

Revelation 17:9 NIV

[9] “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits.

** Notice the color blue is not associated with the end times beast indicating the absence of God's Word <M1501>

• God specifically mentions different colors throughout Scripture and each has an association

• For instance: Blue = God's Word, Purple = royalty and Scarlet = sin and Christ's blood that saves us from sin

• We are witnessing an increasing separation from God's Word today (Dec 2024)

• Governments around the world are including the Bible as blasphemous, and thus building the scarlet beast system of the end times

Revelation 17:3-4 NIV

Exodus 25:3-4 NIV

[3] These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; [4] blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen

** God allows the ten kings to destroy the whore of Babylon with fire- the very system of power they sit on

• God will use the leaders of this world to destroy the current world order and bring it to its knees in order to accomplish His will

• God’s will is supreme and, while earthly leaders think they have the upper hand, God’s will is playing out <G71>

• Ten kings will pave the way for the Antichrist to seize control of the entire world and they will do it with assistance from the Harlot <B315>

Revelation 17:16-17 NIV

[16] The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. [17] For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God's words are fulfilled.

Revelation 18:8 NIV

[8] Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

** The iron teeth in Daniel’s vision signify consuming while bronze claws signify Grecian swiftness of tearing things apart; the changes in ‘green policy’ religion happen quickly and all nations across the globe are on board, thus the one world global system will devour the whole earth as recorded in Daniel

Daniel 7:19,23 NIV

[19] “Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws---the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. [23] “He gave me this explanation: 'The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.

Another perspective to this is found in Revelation 17 where the Whore of Babylon is supported by this one world government; the kings make a deal with this wealthy woman draped in scarlet from Babylon (where it is the center of all false religions and center of the Antichrist) to unite everyone

Revelation 17:1-6 NIV

The green agenda is a religion:

• Worship — of the government who ‘promise’ to resolve the problem

• Salvation — is saving the planet

• Sin — of pollution and carbon emission

• Enemy — are humans

• Eschatology — is the threat to Mother Earth if global warming is not stopped

• Priests — are the globalists, corporations, Saudi Arabia

• Disciples — who promote are in education, legal, media, politics, entertainment, those who want to stay woefully ignorant, etc

• Sacrifice — standards of living so once seal judgments come many are starving and dying to enhance depopulation to solve the problem <H86> (Sep 2022)

** The woman riding the beast and the words 'Mystery Babylon the Great' are symbolic because in the passage recorded in Revelation, the angel describing them says they are, and tells us what they symbolize <K117>

Determining the MYSTERY:

• In the Greek language, the word 'mystery' literally means a 'revealed secret'

• The pagan religious system first practiced in Babylon had been transplanted to Pergamus (an ancient Greek city located in Asia Minor) in Biblical times (see Rev 2:12-17)

• The mystery was that the religion would be merged with Christianity in Rome In the 4th century AD

Determining the symbolism of the BEAST:

• Satan, who would become the object of worship in the world and manifest himself in one we call the antichrist

• The seven heads were seven hills and also seven kingdoms

• Five of these had fallen when John was writing (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece) one was currently in power (Rome) and one was still to come

• The ten horns were ten kings who didn’t yet have a kingdom but would each receive one for the purpose of serving the Antichrist and making war against the Lord

• And finally, the woman was the city that in John’s time was ruling over the world

Determining the LOCATION of Babylon:

• Most scholars accept the fact that in John’s time, when the Revelation was written, the vision of the woman on the beast represented ROME, and that’s why she was called Mystery Babylon

• Through out much of church history Mystery Babylon has been a euphemism for Rome

• A ruler will emerge from a revived Roman Empire at the end of the age, and most believe it will be from the European Union that is a modern version of the Roman Empire

Revelation 17:5-7 KJV

[5] And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. [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. [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.

** The Symbolism

The Beast Construction or Makeup

1. The Seven Heads = These are seven seats (mountains) of power where the woman (the religious system) sits. There are also seven kings (five fallen, one is, and one which will come in the future) (see Rev. 17:9-10).

a. Fallen: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece.

b. The one current to when John receives this is Rome.

c. Rome 2.0 will also become the last/future earthly kingdom. This coincides with the multi-metallic statue in Daniel 2 (legs of iron and toes/clay), the "Fourth Beast" in Daniel 7-8, and this Beast coming out of the sea in Revelation 13.

2. The Ten Horns = These are Ten rulers/kings who have no kingdom as of yet, receive authority as with the beast for one hour; are of one mind with the Beast (Rev. 17:13). The Little horn = The Antichrist (Dan. 7:8, 8:9) is one of the horns who rises up, supplants three of the horns, and takes the majority share of power.

3. The Seven/Ten Crowns = These appear as seven on the Dragon (Rev. 12:3) and as ten on the chimera Beast (Rev. 13:1). These appear to be seven/ten positions of power or realms/domains of authority. The difference in the numbers could mean that in the demonic realm, there are seven demonic princes/authorities, while in the physical realm, there are ten who manifest as governments.

Beast/Government Qualities

4. Like a Leopard = Historically linked to ancient Greece during Alexander the Great.

5. Feet like a Bear = Historically linked to ancient Persia from Cyrus to Artaxerxes

6. Mouth like a Lion = Historically linked to ancient Babylon via Nebuchadnezzar

7. Dragon = Satan has seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems (crowns) on his seven heads.

8. The Harlot = Not listed in the above verse, but later in Revelation 13 under the authority of the Second Beast (the False Prophet). This is the religious system the Bible calls 'The Whore' or 'The Harlot' who rides the Beast and she accepts the worship of all gods and religions except that of the one true God (hence spiritual harlotry). She is the false religious system of the Beast government system (Rev. 17:1-6) for at least the first half years of the seven-year tribulation. <G70>

• The one-world religion described as ‘the great harlot’ that will be part of the end-times scenario

• The term ‘harlot’ is used throughout the Old Testament as a metaphor for those who follow false religion <G72>

• Any time Israel turns from God to another pagan religion, it is referred to as a ‘spiritual prostitution’ or harlotry

• The Whore of Babylon continues this imagery into end times events <C36>

** Religious persecution will increasingly come from nominal (Laodicean) Christians in addition to non-Christians who don't claim a faith in Christ at all <G77>

Revelation 17:6 NIV

[6] I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God's holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.

** Vision details regarding the red dragon <G70>

• Heads = seats of power

• Horns = authority

• Crowns = rulers

Revelation 12:3 NIV

[3] Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads.

Revelation 17:9-10,12-13 NIV

[9] “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. [10] They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. [12] “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. [13] They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.

** The coming Antichrist will have human components, according to Zechariah’s description of his physical limitations

Zechariah 11:17 NIV

[17] “Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye totally blinded!”

At the same time, the Antichrist will not to completely human because of its superpower reappearing capability <G70>

Revelation 17:8 NIV

[8] The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.

** Differing views regarding “Mystery Babylon”:

• Nothing more than a commercial-spiritual-political system, something with which we are not familiar

• Babylon will be headquartered in the region of the former Roman Empire <S187>

• Not be a revived geographical city in Iraq today <T203>

• We are not sure of physical location but focus on the system

• It would be quite the undertaking to build a conquering Babylon located in modern day Iraq, which is currently a mess <B23>

• Babylon will be built where the Tower of Babel once stood; Scripture refers to Israel 800x, Babylon 300x, Jerusalem, etc and they are all literal references, so why not final Babylon? <W213>

Revelation 17:5 NIV

[5] The name written on her forehead was a mystery:

babylon the great

the mother of prostitutes

and of the abominations of the earth.

Revelation 14:8 NIV

[8] A second angel followed and said, “ 'Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,' which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”

** The Antichrist in Revelation will use the harlot (false religion) as a means of control, leading nations into spiritual apostasy in allegiance to him, but the harlot will be destroyed once her usefulness has been served

Revelation 17:8a NIV

[8] The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction.

Revelation 17:16-18 NIV

** Those wanting to achieve their own version of a godless nirvana need to lean on politicians to legislate the masses into following their pagan agenda; those politicians and constituents who don’t agree will typically bow the knee and go along with the crowd

Psalm 2:2 NIV

[2] The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed

• This ‘forced attrition to paganism’ is how the future beast system in the end times will function as it combines the realms of religion + politics + justice + economic to its desired ends <H86>

Revelation 17:8 NIV

** While some see the Rapture kicking-off the Tribulation period, other eschatology scholars have noted as many as 25-50 years between the Rapture and Tribulation — giving opportunity for (actual) Babylon to be built as indicated in Revelation 17-18 <W213>

Who knows? With trillions of WEC money available, the elite world leaders could easily build themselves a city once the Rapture happens and the world goes global; good thing this is not a salvation issue and we don’t need to know for sure <H87>

** When the Lord describes the Beast kingdom to John, He starts by describing the progression of global kingdoms leading up to it this way: “Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. “

What does this all mean? Well, we can trace back to post-Babel, the great kingdoms that have ruled over God’s people since Abraham’s call. Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, the Medo-Persian Empire, and Greece had all come and gone by the time the Lord appeared to John. That’s the fallen five.

Then He says, “One is” and that would be the Roman Empire that was ruling at the time of John’s visitation. And there is still one yet to come. That would be the Beast kingdom. It has to be an iteration of the Roman kingdom because Daniel only spoke of 4 great kingdoms to come before the Lord’s kingdom so Rome must be resurrected at the end to be the model from which will come the final global kingdom. And we know the Antichrist will come from that Roman area which dominated the first-century world (Dan 9:27).

We can also ascertain that the Beast kingdom will not originate in this world but will be one that comes up from Hell, out of the Abyss.

... So the Beast who once was (a satanic government of fallen heavenly angels) but was banished to the Abyss by the time Jesus addressed John, will come up from the Abyss and indwell the 7th kingdom (revised Roman regional model) to be an 8th kingdom (satanic global kingdom of Antichrist). Coming up from the Abyss and going to its destruction will be the Beast system. <B315>

Revelation 17:8 NIV

** We can understand John’s vision of the Beast in Rev 12 and the 10 kings in Rev 17 because its foundation is found in Daniel’s prophecy when he interpreted the king’s dream

• We know from history, the Persian kingdom came after Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian kingdom

• The Greeks then conquered the Persians and divided their kingdom into four

• These four offshoots then got absorbed into the Roman Empire

• The Roman Empire has never ended but just morphed and changed in 7 stages over time until we get to present day Roman Imperialism

• Don’t forget the dividing of Roman Empire into east (ended 1453 AD) and west (ended 476 AD), when the east eventually fell into the Ottoman’s hands in current day Turkey

• It is anticipated that the Roman kingdom will revive and extend into the Last Days when initially 10 kings (with feet & toes of iron & clay) will rule before the Antichrist takes control

• The second coming of Christ will then take down the Antichrist and the King of Kings rules thereafter <G70>

Daniel 2:39-45 NIV

[39] “After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. [40] Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron---for iron breaks and smashes everything---and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. [41] Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. [42] As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. [43] And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay. [44] “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. [45] This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands---a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. “The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.”

Revelation 12:3 NIV

[3] Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads.

Revelation 17:9-14 NIV

[9] “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. [10] They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. [11] The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction. [12] “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. [13] They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. [14] They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings---and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

** Knowing the impending punishment requires of us a wisdom and vigilance to decipher that which is of God and that which is not <S190>

• Be on guard of what lures us

• That which appeals to us is short-term; these things in the long-term, however, are deadly

• Are we more attracted to the things of the world or God? Can we give up what we value?

• Things can own us if it gets in the way of following God

• Look at financial prosperity: money itself is not evil but the motive & purpose we place behind it

• In the eyes of the world, financial prosperity is deemed successful but it can really be a curse

• Our challenge is to discern and avert from that which lures us away from God; we must daily choose the cross of Christ over the world

• Only God can help us triumph over sin so we must align ourselves with Him!

Revelation 17:8-9 NIV

** Some advocate the Antichrist and Islam’s coming Madi will be the same; this is refuted among Christians for the following reasons:

• Jews would not accept an Islamic messiah especially since the current rising orthodoxy in Israel want to build their temple and worship their god, not Islam’s

• We don’t take our cues about the Antichrist from the Qua-ran but from God’s holy scripture

• Of course, the Qua-ran is going to promote their Madi in this manner so he can rule over the Jewish people

• The Gog & Magog War, which may happen around the Antichrist’s signing of the peace treaty, will wipe out all Islamic dominance in the Middle East

• Don’t forget, the Antichrist is going to proclaim himself to be above every object of worship; this thought can’t enter the mind of a Muslim who worship Allah

• Scripture says he will rise out of the SEA of Gentile nations, a revived Roman Empire <K113>

Revelation 13:1 NIV

[1] The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.

Revelation 17:9-11 NIV

** In the last days, restrictions will be placed on the earth’s citizenry including limited use of vehicles, consumption of energy, eating certain foods like red meat; climate alarmists will institute restrictions in an effort to save Mother Earth and eventually the Antichrist will rule this global effort <H87>

Genesis 9:3-4 NIV

[3] Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. [4] “But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.

1 Timothy 4:1-3 NIV

[1] The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. [2] Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. [3] They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.

Revelation 17:12-13 NIV

[12] “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. [13] They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.

** The concept of 10 kings may be a mix of government leaders, technocrats or anyone with power that can control the masses and suppress dissidents; Satan can’t control the masses without technology <F61>

Traditional view:

• Most dispensationalists believe the 10 kings will govern over 10 geographic regions designated by the Club of Rome

• Out of this would come the final Beast System

Alternate view:

• Scripture does not say these kings will reign over ‘regions’ for they will be kings without kingdoms (Rev 17:12)

• These kings (or power brokers) would have unusual influence and transcendent power

• Babylon may be European based but then go to the tech 'controligarcs' who want to control everything

• The Antichrist is not omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent so he will need artificial means to mimic God

• The Antichrist will need technological capabilities and go to the 10 kings (tech influencers) for answers

• According to Greek text, the 10 kings will demonstrate unusual or transcendent power, so they don’t have to be literal kings holding political power over nations <G77>

• Current day technocrats hold vast amounts of money and influence over governments

• The 10 kings then hand their power over to the Antichrist (Rev 17:13)

Daniel 7:24 NIV

[24] The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings.

Revelation 17:12 NIV

[12] “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.

** A small number of individuals have acquired more wealth than some countries; since the ten kings described in Scripture do not have (governmental) kingdoms, these wealthy influential people may fit the job description <W2202> (Dec 2023)

Revelation 17:12 NIV

[12] “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.

** As we look at end-time prophetic events coming to pass, it is becoming increasingly apparent that some of the most influential entities in both global policy and societal changes are not found in governments at all. Instead, multinational financial and technological oligarchs are eager to conform the world to their own technocratic purposes.

Could these figures be the Ten Kings (influencers) who give their “authority and power to the Beast (Antichrist)” and in return “receive authority to rule as kings with the Beast for one hour” (Rev 17:12-13)?

Time will tell, but a compelling case can certainly be made that the technology these Ten Figures control will help the Antichrist consolidate and enforce his tyrannical rule over the entire earth. <C400>

Revelation 17:12-13 NIV

** Every generation faces uncertainties, but what the world now faces is unique in a hundred different ways; more than ever, we need to remember the blessed assurance found in Jesus!

• Jesus is our Rock

1 Corinthians 10:4 NIV

[4] and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

• Jesus is our Redeemer

Titus 2:14 NIV

[14] who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

• Jesus is our Creator

John 1:3 NIV

[3] Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

• Jesus is our Foundation

1 Corinthians 3:11 NIV

[11] For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

• Jesus is our Way, Truth and Life

John 14:6 NIV

[6] Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

• Jesus is the Gate

John 10:9 NIV

[9] I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

• Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, Beginning and the End

Revelation 1:8 NIV

[8] “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

• Jesus is the same — yesterday, today & forever

Hebrews 13:8 NIV

[8] Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

• Jesus is the Holy One of Israel

Isaiah 41:14 NIV

[14] Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

• Jesus is Lord of lords, King of kings

Revelation 17:14 NIV

[14] They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings---and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

** Paul had a triumphal procession in mind when recognizing the awesome privilege of putting on the uniform and being part of the Lord's army <M130>

• The word 'triumph' denotes victorious generals returning home from war, being honored by a procession through city streets

• Rome's Arch of Titus is a good visual example of a procession that celebrated victory of war in the first century

• The arch contains panels depicting the triumphal procession celebrated in AD 71 after the Roman victory culminating in the fall of Jerusalem, and provides one of the few contemporary depictions of artifacts from Herod's Temple <W2201>

2 Corinthians 2:14 NIV

[14] But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.

Colossians 2:15 NIV

[15] And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Revelation 17:14 NIV

[14] They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings---and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

** The purpose of genocide is to segregate people into those who follow Babylon world agenda and those who follow God, regardless of the issue at hand (such as vaccines, race, abortion, sterilization, climate, etc)

The target is to ultimately identify Christians and those they consider causing the problem; thus allows them to justify imprisonment and eventual extermination of the undesirables

We are experiencing the wicked stair-steps to genocide in the Tribulation — but don’t forget that God promises we will be raptured before this agenda’s fruition

Revelation 6:9-11 NIV

[9] When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. [10] They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” [11] Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.

Ten stages of genocide observed from countries around the world; not necessarily a linear process but some stages may occur simultaneously <H86> <B295>

1. Classification of people into 2 camps of “us and them” — basically those who go along with vs those against the social agenda at hand, even though facts & evidence don’t support the agenda

2. Symbolization when they give names and symbols (identification) to these different groups

• Current day examples of the “unvaccinated”, “homophobes”, “climate deniers”, “racists”, “the clean vs the unclean”, etc

3. Discrimination by dominant group withholding rights through illegal mandates without any appeal process — the dominant group gains power

• Forced mandates, genetically altering food

• Not allowing people in public areas

• Shaming those who do not comply

• Labeling opposers as terrorists so others will fear them

4. Dehumanization is seen when the dominant group says the opposers are evil & inhumane — we are talking about overt action intended to incite negative feelings against the undesirables

• Hate speech targeted at ‘deniers’ often seen printed in textbooks & articles, references in films & comic books, etc

• Doctors not treating unvaccinated

5. Organization of this agenda of segregation is not random but well-organized using proxies to accomplish tasks

• Someone had to organize the riots and deliver the bricks for those promoting the agenda during the summer of 2020

• Hezbollah and other groups targeting Israel so countries don’t get blamed

• Internal organizations (legal, media, education, military, etc) supporting the agenda

6. Polarization driving people apart by extremists

• Issuing emergency powers to control the situation

• Laws prohibiting social interaction such as closing churches or prohibiting holiday gatherings

• Banning articles & videos that go against the narrative limiting the conversation; one-sided

7. Preparation of a final solution to combat benign-sounding agendas such as ethnic cleansing, purification, counter-terrorism, etc

• Stealing elections

• False judicial system

8. Persecution (hard) can look like death lists, separating into ghettos, deprivation, de-sterilization, etc and the world will cheer them on

9. Extermination is the mass killing that will occur in the Tribulation; the book of Revelation outlines that Babylon will support this and, eventually, the Antichrist will take over and exterminate anyone who doesn't take his mark

Revelation 17:3-6 NIV

[3] Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. [4] The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. [5] The name written on her forehead was a mystery: Babylon the great; the mother of prostitutes; and of the abominations of the earth. [6] I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God's holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.

10. Denial of genocide will be prevalent by the perpetrators as it has been in the past

• Post-war Germans digging up mass graves to cover up the evidence

• “Nothing to see here”

• We are experiencing deniers today which tells us how close we are to the Tribulation (Oct 2021)

** Understanding the Antichrist starting with Daniel 11 <H87>

Daniel 11:36-37 NIV

[36] “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. [37] He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all.

• The will of the Antichrist (vs 36); he is not subject to anyone beside himself but will act in harmony with Satan, allowed by God

2 Thessalonians 2:9 NIV

[9] The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie,

• The way of the Antichrist (vs 36); he speaks blasphemies against the Most High and has big plans such as the covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:27)

Daniel 9:27 NIV

[27] He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. ”

Revelation 13:3-4 NIV

[3] One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. [4] People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?”

• The wickedness of the Antichrist (vs 36); he has a wicked agenda and the labeling of white Christians as terrorists (as is going on today in 2021) will continue

Revelation 13:7 NIV

[7] It was given power to wage war against God's holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.

• The worship of Antichrist (vs 37); he thinks only of himself and will use the religion of the last days to accomplish what he wants and then get rid of it

Revelation 17:16-17 NIV

• The Antichrist thinks he is the Messiah; he will be part of the Unholy Trinity that mimics the true Trinity

Holy Trinity = Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Unholy Trinity = Satan, Antichrist and False Prophet

2 Thessalonians 2:4 NIV

[4] He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

• The wars of the Antichrist (vs 38); he will place his confidence in military power or “god of fortresses”, replacing current police force with another to support his agenda and initiating a false peace that will be broken

Daniel 7:24 NIV

[24] The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings.

Revelation 13:4 NIV

[4] People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?”

** The Bible warns that in the last days, a false religious system will emerge, uniting the world in worship under the Antichrist <H9993>

• Revelation 17 describes this system as a harlot who sits on many waters, symbolizing a global religious entity that exerts influence over nations and peoples

• In recent years, the ecumenical movement has gained unprecedented momentum as faith leaders and influential figures worldwide advocate for unity among religions (Jan 2025)

• The driving message of this movement is one of tolerance, peace, and coexistence, but it also comes with the assertion that there are multiple paths to heaven

• A claim that directly contradicts the foundational teachings of biblical Christianity

• One of the most prominent symbols of this movement is the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, a complex that houses a mosque, a synagogue, and a church side by side.

• While the stated goal of such initiatives is to promote interfaith harmony, a closer examination reveals their alignment with prophetic warnings in Scripture regarding a coming one-world religion

• While its proponents celebrate it as a symbol of coexistence, its underlying message is one of theological compromise

• By placing Christianity on an equal footing with Islam and Judaism, it denies the unique role of Jesus as the Messiah and Savior

• Such initiatives pave the way for the religious pluralism that will characterize the one-world religion found in Rev 17

2 Timothy 4:3-4 NIV

[3] For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. [4] They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

• This unified religious influence in the end times will be temporary and be destroyed once its usefulness has been served

Revelation 17:16-18 NIV

** Evil ends up destroying its own, like the Nazis and Communists eventually destroying those who helped bring them to power <B23>

• The great prostitute, or whore of Babylon, will have worldwide rule over the peoples, multitudes, nations and languages of the earth

• The whore will have control over the ten kings but then at some point the kings will turn on her and destroy her <G72>

Revelation 17:16 NIV

[16] The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

Revelation 17:1 NIV

[1] One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters.

** According to Daniel 7:23-24, the Roman Empire that is currently divided in east and west (4th beast) is active in the first half of the Tribulation (Apr 2020)

STAGES OF GOVERNMENT

The first stage is reported in vs 23, the second stage in vs 24.

FIRST STAGE: when you hear of “trample and break it” then prophecy is talking about a global one world government.

SECOND STAGE: 10 divisions rise up out of the one world government. (Rev 17)

There is a THIRD STAGE where the little horn (Antichrist) rises from the 10 nations and subdues 3 kings: 3 of the 10, the other 7 submit to him

Daniel 7:23-24 NIV

[23] “He gave me this explanation: 'The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. [24] The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings.

** Satan will realize his end times strategy when the kingdoms come together under his rule <K113>

Revelation 13:1 NIV

[1] The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.

Revelation 17:12-13 NIV

** God's plan is to bring judgment on those who promote and follow evil; we need to keep perspective on this tribulation period when Satan appears to be winning <S190>

• God's plan is to use evil and their civil war to accomplish His plan; the best example is Christ on the cross, using evil men to accomplish His purpose

• Despite the difficulty and persecution: remember that they can kill the body, but they cannot kill the soul

• Our life is but a speck and we have heaven waiting

• Perspective on life is important: pessimistic or optimistic?

• Much like remembering there is a sun behind months of clouds

• Remember the eternal perspective that God is winning as His plan is unfolding

Revelation 17:16-17 NIV

Revelation 17:8 NIV

** The world will end up with 'ten kings' joining forces in their agenda <M131>

• This is the direction we are headed as Satan uses the many means at his disposal for advancing his globalist agenda

• Heading it up will be the Antichrist

• People all over the planet will worship the beast

• He will have complete power over the entire globe, overseeing a truly global government

Revelation 17:17 NIV

[17] For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God's words are fulfilled.

** God is sovereign over all events and only what He permits will transpire <H87>

Revelation 17:17 NIV

[17] For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God's words are fulfilled.

** Some believe Rev 17 focuses on the actual city of Babylon and the mystery of how she will be destroyed, where Rev 18 further describes the commercial aspects of the city <W213>

Revelation 17:18 NIV

[18] The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”

Rev 17.

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