Faith Baptist Church
4258 Botetourt Road
Fincastle, Virginia 24090
(540) 473-2325
As we get to verse three we continue with the description of religious Babylon, that system wherein mankind seeks to impress God and himself with a system of works and ritual. Religion is where the righteousness of God and the righteousness of man collide.
John is shown, by an angel of the Lord, God’s judgment on this religious harlot.
v.3
John as we remember was exiled on the Isle of Patmos when he wrote this Revelation of Jesus Christ. And at this point he is carried away [ aorist .active indicative of apophero], he is taken immediately into a state or a trance. John’s body remained on Patmos, but his spirit was carried by this angel of the Lord into a place called “the wilderness”.
Paul according to II Cor.12:2 was caught up into the spirit into the third heaven where he received a vision of which he could not share with anyone. What he received was too wonderful to write down; however, at times God gave inspiration to divine revelation given in a vision.
The Apostle John received such a vision when this angel took him into the wilderness, this desert place.
John saw a woman sitting [ present, middle participle from kathemai]. With the middle voice where the subject participates in the action, we see a joint participation of common interest between the woman and the scarlet colored beast upon whom she was sitting.
The woman is religious Babylon and the scarlet colored beast, the one who was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns is the same beast of Rev.13:1-3. It is the Antichrist whom religious Babylon rides. Organized religion has for thousands of years ridden upon the backs of political kings and kingdoms. But this time the beast will turn on the rider.
He is not for peace, but for war, but he allows religious Babylon to think he wants world peace.
He is said to have seven heads. Some expositors believe the seven heads, or mountains as they are referred to in 17:9 are representative of the seven powers that have been enemies of Israel; namely Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, and the future revived Roman empire.
This beast has ten horns. Horns represent power and the ten horns according to Dan.7:7 are seen on the head of the Roman empire. Of course that empire has fallen, but prophecy tells of a revived Roman empire which will be headed up by the “little horn” the Antichrist who rises up from the ashes of that old empire, Dan.7:8. He will have as a part of his power structure a ten nation confederation headed up by 10 subordinate kings.
v.4
The pomp and majesty of this religious system at the time of the tribulation period; the system which rides the back of the Antichrist, will be breath taking as we know it to already be. She is seen as extremely prosperous, like the church at Laodicea, Rev.3:14-18 who is increased with goods and had need of nothing. John sees this religious system having a golden cup in her hand; a cup full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication.
What kind of abominations does John see? The Greek word here for abominations is [bdelugmaton], and refers to idol worship and all things associated with the idol.
It is things which God particularly abhors which are an insult to his person; things which are improper and shameful, things which are beyond normal sin.
All man made worship systems which we have come to identify from Scriptures as Mystery Babylon has created objects of veneration, or has esteemed some person or persons to supernatural status. These are pagan abominations.
The true worship of God is redirected to an object made by man. Even pantheists do this as they worship the creation above the Creator. But organized religion, both Romish and Protestant has its objects of devotion, and they stem from Religious Babylon.
Yes, we do not dismiss the apostate Protestants who seek ecumenical unity at the expense of God’s revealed word.
The abominations of this religious system has include the making of the Golden Calf when Moses was up on Mt. Moriah receiving the Ten Commandments, and as we noted in our last lesson, apostate Israel’s practice in the Old Testament of offering little children to fires dedicated to Molech, the sun god, as noted in II Kings 21:1-6; Jer.32:35. Deut.12:31; II Kings 16:3-4.
This is an example of an extreme abomination, but subtle examples exist today as well.
All things which mankind has invented in his foul and depraved heart, even his self-righteous bent which calls on ones religious worshipful devotion and adoration fills this cup, from the insidious selling of indulgences for payment of previously forgiven sins, to mysterious prayers prayed in the name of patron saints.
These distractions from God’s true revealed word work against the grace of God. They put men under bondage and fear. The traditions of men set forth as a form of worship to God’s pure word are an adulteration of divine revelation. These are but filth to God.
v.5
Here the name of this great religious harlot is given. Mystery Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots and Abominations Of The Earth.
Mystery Babylon is that system that invents ways to God apart from the simple Gospel message. Whenever you add to grace you frustrate the plan of God. Whenever God says whosoever will, may come, and others say, only some may come, you frustrate the grace of God. Whenever someone says you must believe and be baptized to be saved, you frustrate the grace of God. Whenever someone says you must come forward to receive salvation, they frustrate the grace of God. Whenever someone says acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior is not enough to know for sure if you’re forgiven and going to heaven, they frustrate the grace of God.
Whenever the word of God says to remain pure to the doctrines of the Bible, and others say doctrine divides, they frustrate the grace of God. Whenever the word of God calls a sin a sin, and others say it doesn’t matter they frustrate the grace of God.
Mystery Babylon in many religions over the millennia has enslaved willing subjects, and it also has persecuted those opposed to it.
It is important to note that John was shown that Mystery Babylon will be centered in the city of seven mountains, Rome, at the time when the tribulation period occurs.