Study of the Book of Revelation

1. Study of the Book of Revelation Part 12 – The Challenges of the Church: The Need for Encouragement and Exhortation

2. Study of the book of Revelation • Chapter 17: 1, 2 is a continuation from Chapter 16: 17-21 • “One of the Seven Angels who had the seven bowls..” • It is not indicated in the text which Angel it is. • Most likely, the seventh Angel for that is the only one of the seven that mentions the name Babylon as it relates to sinful humanity. (16:19)

3. Study of the book of Revelation • The ultimate end of the “presence of sin” is preparing to commence. • Verse 1a-2 Up to this point there has been various punishments, destructions, and even deaths to sinful humanity a.k.a. BABYLON, but, now John is going to be shown the beginning of the end to the very presence of sinful humanity, which sits in the midst of humankind (“…many waters..” v. 1c).

4. Study of the book of Revelation • Verse 3-5 – Remember, this is a “vision” that John is having. • All that glitters is not gold and all that is beautiful is not kind • The woman described is beautiful yet in full cooperation with all of those who are against Jesus (the Lamb) and all Christians. Indicated by her sitting or being carried by the scarlet beast. She is symbolic of the sin filled society that is determined to destroy anything or anyone connected to Christ.

5. Study of the book of Revelation • What do we see? • The Woman – Representative of Babylon the sinfulness of society or the world! • The Scarlet Beast covered with blasphemous names, seven heads, and ten horns – The Sinful Leadership of the world who thinks that they are as reliable as God Himself (blasphemous names) and very intelligent and crafty Leaders or [kings] (“..seven heads..”), and very powerful Leaders or {kings} in the human sense (“..ten horns..”) • Society can be royal, beautiful, and powerful, but it can also be against God and sinful. Verses 4, 5

6. Study of the book of Revelation • Our culture has come up with many words that are more profane than “harlot”, “adulteress”, and “prostitute”, however, in the culture of that time, that was as profane as onecould get. To use those words in the text, to describe someone or something meant that whatever it is or whoever they are, they arecertifiably wrong and evil and in this case worthy of destruction.

7. Study of the book of Revelation • Verses 6-8 Those who look powerful and unbeatable will ultimately be destroyed, that is hard for even John to comprehend. When evil can look so powerful and organized, we must know that God will still destroy evil (the Beast) and all of those persons that follow and support evil!

8. Study of the book of Revelation • Verse 6 The taking of another persons life is never an easy thing for a sane person, even if it is in self defense or in war. However, the “woman” (all of the people who are representative of this title) are “drunk” with the killing of God’s people. The get great joy and emotion over killing. This is not revenge killing or even execution, this is like sport killing of deer or moose, ducks, etc….

9. Study of the book of Revelation • Verse 6c John’s Astonishment! • John is astonished because with his humanity he sees situations that look overwhelming. He sees, the power and influence of evil, the murder of many Godly good people, the celebration of evil in its glory. • It is almost similar to how Christians feel today when we look at the gains of evil versus the seeming decline of Christianity.

10. Study of the book of Revelation • Verses 7, 8 It is explained to John (and us) by the Angel, that the Powerful Beast (Sinful, Satan guided world leadership) will be destroyed and the people who have been following and obeying him will be surprised that he is destroyed! For at this point, not only have they taken his mark(13:16, 17), they thought that they would all live well under his guidance and leadership.