Mystery Babylon and Its Judgment
“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: 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. 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. 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” (Revelation 17:1-6).
The San Giovanni Laterno Church is the first church of Rome and an inscription on the front (translated from Latin) says, “MOST HOLY LATERAN CHURCH, MOTHER AND MISTRESS OF ALL CHURCHES OF THE CITY AND THE WORLD.” God calls this “Mother and Mistress” “the great whore” and “THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS.”
Revelation 17:1 introduces us to the subject matter of the next two chapters (17 and 18). One of the seven angels with the Bowls of God’s wrath (seven Vial Judgments) tells John to “come hither.” He is going to show John a vision of the “great whore . . . MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS” (v 5). However, she is not the subject of the vision. Her judgment is the subject. Revelation chapters 17 and 18 detail this judgment. There is little doubt to me that this refers to Roman Catholicism, Ecumenicism and its pervasive religious apostasy.
“For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand” (Revelation 19:2).
“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” (Revelation 17:6).
In these two verses we see God’s view of this system of apostasy. This is what the historical period of Church history call Thyatira developed into.
“18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; 19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. 20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. 24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden” (Revelation 2:18-24).
The “fornication” at Thyatira was the introduction of paganism into Christianity. It was during this period of Church history that the blasphemy of transubstantiation began to be fully practiced in the continual sacrifice of the Eucharist (Mass). The words of Revelation 17:1, “sitteth upon many waters” is explained in 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 17:15).
Her influence is worldwide. She has become a dominant religious, political, and economic influence in almost every nation of the world. The kings of the earth have joined themselves to Roman Catholicism. Many nations have ambassadors to the Vatican. Roman Catholicism is the largest and most influential cult in the world. Her teachings are a contradiction against the Word of God and an opposition to the gospel of Christ. Plainly, her doctrines are the doctrines of men and are lies. She is a seducer and deceiver of mankind. She seduces kings and people to join them to her. She truly is a spiritual harlot.
The San Giovanni Laterno Church is the first church of Rome and an inscription on the front (translated from Latin) says, “MOST HOLY LATERAN CHURCH, MOTHER AND MISTRESS OF ALL CHURCHES OF THE CITY AND THE WORLD.” God calls this “Mother and Mistress” “the great whore” and “THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS.”
Revelation 17:1 introduces us to the subject matter of the next two chapters (17 and 18). One of the seven angels with the Bowls of God’s wrath (seven Vial Judgments) tells John to “come hither.” He is going to show John a vision of the “great whore . . . MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS” (v 5). However, she is not the subject of the vision. Her judgment is the subject. Revelation chapters 17 and 18 detail this judgment. There is little doubt to me that this refers to Roman Catholicism, Ecumenicism and its pervasive religious apostasy.
“For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand” (Revelation 19:2).
“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” (Revelation 17:6).
In these two verses we see God’s view of this system of apostasy. This is what the historical period of Church history call Thyatira developed into.
“18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; 19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. 20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. 24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden” (Revelation 2:18-24).
The “fornication” at Thyatira was the introduction of paganism into Christianity. It was during this period of Church history that the blasphemy of transubstantiation began to be fully practiced in the continual sacrifice of the Eucharist (Mass). The words of Revelation 17:1, “sitteth upon many waters” is explained in 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 17:15).
Her influence is worldwide. She has become a dominant religious, political, and economic influence in almost every nation of the world. The kings of the earth have joined themselves to Roman Catholicism. Many nations have ambassadors to the Vatican. Roman Catholicism is the largest and most influential cult in the world. Her teachings are a contradiction against the Word of God and an opposition to the gospel of Christ. Plainly, her doctrines are the doctrines of men and are lies. She is a seducer and deceiver of mankind. She seduces kings and people to join them to her. She truly is a spiritual harlot.
The religious apostasies of Roman Catholicism and Ecumenicism have truly made “all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” (14:8). Now, in Revelation 17:2, they are drunk with it and under its influence and control.
This “fornication” is the perversion of truth and involvement in the world system. Roman Catholicism has been the leading proponent of Amillenialism. She has been a leader in promoting the establishment of an utopian kingdom on earth through socialism and political means. Roman Catholics have been the front-runners of the social gospel that has become the foundation of the welfare system of this nation.
They have been the leading proponents of Liberation Theology that proposes revolution to establish socialism (and the social gospel; redistribution of funds) in nations all over the world. The vast majority of the “inhabitants of the earth” have accepted these philosophies. They embody the political and religious movements called Liberalism and Fabian Socialism. We will see later that political Liberalism will eventually turn upon the “great whore.” We are seeing the beginnings of that even today. Expect it to happen and don’t be fooled into considering her an ally.
In Revelation 17:3 John is transported to another place and time. He is taken away from this system of apostasy into the “wilderness.” What is this “wilderness“?
“And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days” (Revelation 12:6).
“And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent” (Revelation 12:14).
This is where the 144,000 sealed Jews are being preserved, separated by God from this world system. It is only by detachment from the apostasy that anyone will be able to completely escape her seduction and deception and see her for what she really is. From this vantage point with God’s people, John will be able to see her as God sees her, the “great whore” of spiritual fornication.
“And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days” (Revelation 12:6).
“And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent” (Revelation 12:14).
This is where the 144,000 sealed Jews are being preserved, separated by God from this world system. It is only by detachment from the apostasy that anyone will be able to completely escape her seduction and deception and see her for what she really is. From this vantage point with God’s people, John will be able to see her as God sees her, the “great whore” of spiritual fornication.
From this perspective John tells us what he sees “in the Spirit.” He sees a “woman . . . upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.” Here is revealed the real source of her influential power and her real object of worship. She rides the beast!
“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads” (Revelation 12:3).
“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:9).
“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy” (Revelation 13:1).
She is of the Antichrist. She is therefore a force of evil disguised as truth, but “full . . . of blasphemy” (17:3). Don’t be seduced by her. In Revelation 17:4 we see she is covered with regal splendor, surrounded with pomp and circumstance and adorned in royal robes. Alexander Hyslop’s The Two Babylons has the following to say about this vision:
“In 1825 . . . Pope Leo the XII struck a medal, bearing on the one side his own image, and on the other, that of the Church of Rome symbolized as a ‘woman,’ holding in her left hand a cross, and in her right hand a cup, with the legend around her, ‘sedet super universum,’ the whole world is her seat.”
The “cup” has historically symbolized the Eucharist, containing the blood of Christ offered in the Roman Catholic Mass. This Mass and cup are central to the apostasy of Roman Catholicism and its denial of the sufficiency of the “once for all” sacrifice of Christ. It is therefore a cup of blasphemy. This cup is central to her “abominations” and filthiness of her fornication (Rev. 17:4). It is her method of enticement and seduction. Through it she keeps her people dependant upon her for forgiveness of sin.
“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads” (Revelation 12:3).
“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:9).
“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy” (Revelation 13:1).
She is of the Antichrist. She is therefore a force of evil disguised as truth, but “full . . . of blasphemy” (17:3). Don’t be seduced by her. In Revelation 17:4 we see she is covered with regal splendor, surrounded with pomp and circumstance and adorned in royal robes. Alexander Hyslop’s The Two Babylons has the following to say about this vision:
“In 1825 . . . Pope Leo the XII struck a medal, bearing on the one side his own image, and on the other, that of the Church of Rome symbolized as a ‘woman,’ holding in her left hand a cross, and in her right hand a cup, with the legend around her, ‘sedet super universum,’ the whole world is her seat.”
The “cup” has historically symbolized the Eucharist, containing the blood of Christ offered in the Roman Catholic Mass. This Mass and cup are central to the apostasy of Roman Catholicism and its denial of the sufficiency of the “once for all” sacrifice of Christ. It is therefore a cup of blasphemy. This cup is central to her “abominations” and filthiness of her fornication (Rev. 17:4). It is her method of enticement and seduction. Through it she keeps her people dependant upon her for forgiveness of sin.
In Revelation 17:5 God gives us four definitive statements about her. First she is a “mystery.” There is something mysterious and hidden about her and what she really is. It will be necessary that God reveal this “mystery” to us. Beginning in Revelation 17:7 God will do just that.
Second, she is “Babylon the great.” This city was historically the center of pagan apostasy and every imaginable form of religious perversion. It was the center of all idolatry and false teachings. As people came into this city, everything in it drew them to its perversions and seduced them to join in with them.
Third, she is “the Mother of Harlots.” Roman Catholicism is not only a seductive harlot, seducing mankind into paganism and apostasy; it is a system that has mothered many other apostate religions. The majority of so called Christian religions that have joined themselves with her in her ecumenical seduction came out of her during the Reformation period of Church history.
Ecumenicism itself is a bed full of harlots. If it is ecumenical, it is involved in seducing others into its spiritual fornication and the seduction of mankind. Don’t ever confuse this seduction with evangelism. If the true gospel of repentance from the world and faith toward God is not preached it is nothing more than seduction, not evangelism.
Fourth, she is “the Abominations of the earth.” Every perversion of truth find their source in her. She is satanic. Satan is a liar and the father of lies. The implication of Revelation 17:6 is that the “great whore” has found pleasure in the murder of saints of Christ. The murder of Christians began in ancient Rome under the imperial rule of the Emperors. It resumed under Papal imperial rule again in the dark ages and the Inquisition where millions of believers were mutilated, tortured and murdered because they refused to accept the false doctrines of Roman Catholicism.
John says, “When I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.” The word “admiration” means John was completely astonished by what he saw. He had seen the Church of Christ at its inception. He saw the history of the Church unfold before his eyes through the seven epistles of Christ in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. Yet he stands in amazement at what the Church became in its final state of apostasy.
John is astonished that the Church would finally become the very source of deception that would lead mankind into the worship of the Antichrist. I am amazed that so many Christians have allowed themselves to be coerced into being silent about Roman Catholicism and Ecumenicism. It is Satan’s system for the propagation of a false belief system. It is filled with lies, deception and is the seducer of mankind into apostasy.
“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. 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 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” (Revelation 18:4-6).
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them” (Romans 16:17).
“11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. 12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:11-18).
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11).
“This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith” (Titus 1:13).
“A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject” (Titus 3:10).
“3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself” (1 Timothy 6:3-5).
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:5).
“And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed” (2 Thessalonians 3:14).
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
“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. 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 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” (Revelation 18:4-6).
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them” (Romans 16:17).
“11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. 12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:11-18).
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11).
“This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith” (Titus 1:13).
“A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject” (Titus 3:10).
“3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself” (1 Timothy 6:3-5).
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:5).
“And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed” (2 Thessalonians 3:14).
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
“10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds” (2 John 1:10-11).
“3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:3-4).
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment