CHAPTER 17

There are two women that we can compare. Remember that Satan has counterfeit for everything the Lord has, even the resurrection. The first woman is clothed in the sun from heaven. Revelation 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: The second woman is clothed in purple. Revelation 17:4 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: This Chapter is about the judgment of the great harlot.

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:

The sins of this woman come into remembrance. Revelation 14:8 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. He is going to show John the judgment of this woman. The woman is the religious system of the false prophet and she is sitting on the people and nations of the earth. Revelation 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

Revelation 17:2 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.

The kings of the earth corporate with the religious system, They commit spiritual fornication with this woman so they can have economical gain. The kings of the earth have chosen to be part of this religious system but the people of the earth have been deceived by this system. Revelation 18:3 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.

Revelation 17:3 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 is taken into the wilderness out side of Israel. This religious system does have a city as its headquarters. This city is Babylon not Rome. The ten horns are ten kingdoms that will help the beast (the anti-Christ) come to power.

Revelation 17:4 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.

The woman has great wealth and royalty and is involved in running the system of the beast. Her symbol is a golden cup. Paul warns the church that there is a cup of blessing and for the church not to have fellowship with devils. 1 Corinthians 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

Revelation 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

This woman has a title written upon her forehead for all to see but her name is not easy to understand. The people have to learn what this woman has done. She has done great things in Babylon. She is the source of all the religious systems of the world since they started.

Revelation 17 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 religious system has caused the death of many of the saints. All those that failed to take the mark of the beast were be-headed. When John looked at the woman he had great admiration because of all the great things she has done with the religious system throughout the world.

Revelation 17 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 angel is going to show John the mystery of the woman, the beast, the seven heads, and the ten horns. The woman is the religious system. The beast is the political system of the ten kingdoms, which are the ten horns. The seven heads are seven kings.

Revelation 17:8 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.

The beast is a counterfeit of the Lord Jesus Christ. Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. The beast was a man that dies by the sword and is raised from the dead and when Satan is put out of heaven he enters into this man and he is raised from the dead and then he becomes the son of perdition. Revelation 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

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

The seven heads are seven mountains. The mountains are seven kingdoms on which the woman sits.

Revelation 17:10 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.

There are seven kings: (1) King of Egypt (2) King of Assyria (3) King of Babylon (4) King of Persia (5) King of Greece (6) King of Rome. (7) Kingdom of the anti-Christ. There are five that are fallen. King of Egypt, King of Assyria, King of Babylon, King of Persia and King of Greece.

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

The beast was the eighth king that appeared and was one of the seven heads of Satan. He is out the seventh kingdom and now is the son of perdition because Satan has entered into him.

Revelation 17:12 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.

These ten kings who are found in Daniel Chapter Two are Satan’s angels, which shall receive power from Satan for one hour. This hour could be the last three and half years of the tribulation period. Revelation 14: 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Daniel 2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. Daniel 7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

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

The ten kings will give their power unto the beast and they have one mind.

Revelation 17:14 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.

They will make war with the Lord Jesus Christ at His second coming and He will overcome them.

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

The woman is a religious system of the world and is control by the false prophet the beast controls the political system that uses the woman to control all the world.

Revelation 17:16 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.

Revelation 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.

God shall use the ten kings, that the beast controlled at one time, to turn against the woman (the religious system) and destroy it.

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

The seven mountains are the seven kingdoms that the woman will be sitting on. The city is going to be Babylon not Rome. Revelation 18:2 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. Revelation 18:5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Jeremiah 51:6 Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD's vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence. During John’s day, Rome ruled the world. John is caught up and get to see the future events that happen in the tribulation period. At that time, Satan’s seat is in Pergamos but near the end of the tribulation period his seat has been moved to Babylon where the queen is at. Isaiah 14:4 That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! Revelation 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. Revelation 18:7 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.

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