The Two Babylons

Editor's Notes

1. We are taking reservations for eternity - Do you prefer - Smoking or Non-smoking? A "god' whose will is resisted, whose designs are frustrated, whose purpose is checkmated, possesses no title to Deity, and so far from being a fit object of worship, merits nought but contempt. A.W. Pink Look at history to understand the context. Look at the present to understand the relation. Look at ourselves to understand the application.
2. “ Sincere” Word of God Some information may be shocking… to shock so as to turn to God’s Word. How do we know this is referring to religious system? The two things that bind or unite are religion and economy, and covered in these two chapters. We elaborate… Blasphemy, abominations…words against God. Vs 6. wonder…’church’ turned against Christ. Vs. 5. 18. MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT: This title is not for literal Babylon; but its spiritual (mystery) representation, which is the source (mother) of all idolatry (abominations) and spiritual adultery (harlots).
3. Nimrod was the first full time minister of satan.
4. Nimrod was the first full time minister of satan. In Asia, the mother was known as Cybele and the child as Deoius. "But regardless of her name or place", says one writer, "she was the wife of Baal, the virgin queen of heaven, who born fruit although she never conceived.“ For nearly 300 years since Christ Satan had tried to destroy Christianity from the outside with persecution and destruction. With Constantine he started to work from within.
5. The pagan practices found its way in to Christianity… this is not to find fault with practices, but to warn how the world is readying itself for the last days. The stage is set, the transition will be easy and the world will swallow hook, line and sinker.
6. ii. Our world, with its “it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you believe” philosophy, is ripe for the harlot’s seductions. We see the casual disregard for the truth crippling the church today.
7. rev 13 – comes from among the people. Here from the hades….false resurrection. Sways the people to believe on the beast. I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her: The focus of the explanation is on the beast. It appeared that the harlot ruled (rode) the Antichrist’s system, but he is the dynamic factor, using her as tyrants have always used religion - as a mere tool to accomplish their purposes. When we first met the beat in revelation in chapter 13, he came out of the sea, the mass of world humanity. But ow we see him arising from the bottomless pit. 17:8. the reason for the change has to do with his being killed and coming bck to life in greater Satanic power and influence than before rev 13. After his ‘resurrection’ he arises from the abyss with satanic power to deceive the world. Other explanation: Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come: This is one of the more difficult passages in the Book of Revelation. Some explain these seven kings, five past, one present, and one to come in the succession of Roman Emperors in John’s era. But there are many historical difficulties with this approach. More likely, it is a reference to: · Five have fallen refers to the five world empires before John’s day: Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Medo-Persia, and Greece · One is refers to the world empire of John’s day: Rome · The other has not yet come refers to the one world empire to come: a revival of the Roman Empire b. When he comes, he must continue a short time: This seventh will quickly be taken over by an eighth - and will become the state of the Antichrist (Revelation 17:11). i. There are problems with this viewpoint as well (so some have taken the seven as symbolic). This plainly is a difficult passage! 5. (11) The beast (the Antichrist) is clearly identified as the eighth king.
8. i. There is little doubt of the credentials of the EEC to claim itself a successor to the ancient Roman Empire. The EEC started in 1957, when six European nations met to talk about combining their nuclear, coal, and economic resources. They met together in Rome, and signed the treaty of Rome - the beginnings of the present EEC. In many places in Europe, the EEC flag is just as prominent as any national flag. In the spiritual dynamic of things, it’s no accident that on the back of the Eurodollar coin is a woman riding a multi-headed beast. a. God has put it into their hearts: God has directed the judgment against religious Babylon. God will sometimes use a wicked group (here, the ten kings) to be an instrument of His judgment against another wicked group (here, religious Babylon). b. To be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast: God has ordained the political support of these ten kings for the Antichrist. In doing so, God gives the world exactly what it wants: godless religion and godless rulers. That great city: In John’s day, there was no doubt which city reigns over the kings of the earth. Rome was the political, economic, and religious center of the world in John’s day. i. But Babylon - in the sense of the world system - has always been that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth. The question for Christians is, “Does it reign over me? Or am I the citizen of a better city, the Jerusalem above?” (Galatians 4:26)
9. Why Babylon is the imagery of World economy? The image has not be destroyed – ten toes.
10. No doubt all history in the last resort must be held by Christians to be a story with a divine plot. C.S. Lewis In a boxing match when the trainer grabs the towel, the fighter is in bad shape and he is about to throw it in the ring to stop the fight.  When the Body of Christ grabs the towel it means we are about to take it to the “next level”.  Jesus taught a valuable lesson to His disciples right before He went to the Cross.  ( John 13: 3-5 ) A woman on her deathbed told her pastor she wished to be buried with a fork in her right hand. “when attending church suppers,”, she explained, ï ws always told, ‘Keep your fork’ that meant something good was coming, like hot apple pie for dessert. So when people see me in the casket with a fork in my hand, you tell them it’s because I know something good is coming!”