|
The
Bible: Sunday Sermon Tape # 71 |
 The
Harlot
Who Rides the Beast! |
|
The
Bible: Sunday Sermon Tape # 71 |
The
Harlot
Who Rides the Beast! |
Don't
miss the pictures of the zoo days. The Lord willing, Creation Creature Features
soon.
Review:
See
the previous sermon notes on the Web -
|
|
Every warning, struggle,
temptation, promise, strategy, and victory
in the Revelation can also play out in your life, your family, and your church!
The choice is yours ................
The Text ("Blue Letter
Bible"): Revelation
17
(Strong's numbers, Hebrew-Greek lexicons,
cross references, etc., can be accessed from the above link)
Review: Outline
of The
Revelation: Key verses = Rev 1:8 & 19
I. Character of Christ
for His Father's Glory (Who Was) (Things You've Seen) Chapter 1
What about your character, & your family's character, & that of your
church?
Can other people see Jesus' goodness, unselfishness, & humility through each
one?
A. Introduction (1:1-8) Of Jesus to His servants (1:4 Church)
(see also 6:1 Israel)
B. Post-Incarnate, glorified Jesus (1:9-18)
II. Counsel of Christ for the Church (Who Is) (Things Which
Are) Chapters 2-3
This counsel also applies to you personally, your family, your local church,
& all of "Christianity".
A. Command to Prophesy (1:19)
B. Seven Churches Counseled (1:20) ESP-TS-PL (Praise
before correction!)
C. Ephesus (2:1-7)
Loveless
D. Smyrna (2:8-11)
Persecuted
E. Pergamos (2:12-17)
Compromising
F. Thyatira (2:18-29) Corrupt
G. Sardis (3:1-6)
Dying
H. Philadelphia (3:7-13) Revived
I. Laodicea (3:14-22)
Lukewarm (no praise)
III. Consequences of Christ
for the Church, Israel & the World Chapters 4-22
(Who is to come again!) (Things
which will happen soon!)
Are you ready for your future? The judgment seat of Christ?
A. Church In Heaven
1. The Rapture (Jesus Rescues His Bride) up to Heaven (4:1)
2. The King & His Bride prepare for the future. (4:1-5:14) (see also Ch 19)
B. Tribulation of Israel (Jacob's) Trouble on Earth (6:1-18:24) (Daniel's 70th Week)
1. Seals (Seven) of Judgments (Rev 6:1-8:2), includes chapter 7's message of encouragement
** Ch. 7 Who Can Stand? Those God Has Chosen, & Who Choose Him
2. Trumpets (Seven) of Judgments (Rev 8-9)
a. The Little Book (Rev 10)
b. The Two Witnesses (Rev 11)
3. Players (Seven) on the Tribulation Stage of His-story (Rev 12-14)
(Woman, Child, Dragon, Michael, 144,000, Sea Beast, Earth Beast)
* These three chapters are an interlude, zooming in for a personal look at the people.
4. Bowls (Seven) of Judgments (Rev 15-16)
5. Babel's Final Fall (Rev 17-18) The Woman Who Rides The Beast
C. Christ's Wedding & War (19:1-21)
D. Millennial Kingdom (20:1-6)
E. Final Futile Rebellion (20:7-10)
F. Great White Throne & Second Death (20:11-15)
G. New Heaven & Earth Coming (21-22:15)
H. Jesus' Promise & Warning for YOU, your family,
& your church (22:16-21)
** Be sure to see the more detailed, biblical analysis of
"Lucifer" in our online booklet,
"The Real Soul War".
III.
B. 5. The Harlot Who Rides the Beast
Questions to answer biblically:
(and note that each must be seen in light of all prophetic
passages like Dan, Eze, Zech, ...)
*** These two chapters are a look back in the chronological
flow of Revelation,
just as Genesis 2 is a look back into the personal, historic details of Gen. 1.
* What is the main point of these two passages?
* Who is this woman, called a harlot, revealed as a city?
* Why does the woman ride the beast & not vice versa?
* Who is this beast, and why is he scarlet?
* Who are the seven kings?
* Who are the 10 kings?
* Why do the kings & beast destroy the harlot city, Babylon?
* Is the Babylon of Ch. 17 different from the one in Ch. 18?
* What is the ultimate consequence of Babylon's rebellion?
* What is the main point of these two passages?
Judgment - 17:1 Judgment is the focus, not the woman or the beast!
- All of the Revelation reveals the coming consequences of Christ.
- Submissive faith in Christ yields blessing, while rebellion yields destruction.* Who is this woman, called a harlot, & revealed as a city?
Rome - 17:18 "that great city", "seven hills", ("Babylon" 1 Pet 5:13).
- Spiritual & geopolitical influence throughout His-story, above all other global entities.
- The Antichurch, false nominal "Christians" who are left behind after the rapture/rescue of the true Bride of Christ.* What does it mean that the "city" rides the beast & not vice versa?
Control - 17:2, 18:3 Its political power controls Antichrist in the first half of the Tribulation.
- Possibly the Vatican's vast web of economic & political power pulls the strings.* Who is this beast, and why is he scarlet?
Antichrist - 17:11 Eighth ruler over a world empire of violent bloodshed.
- He starts as the seventh, but appears to be killed.
- Resurrected & possessed as a new, improved pseudo-savior & lord.
- He promises "you shall be gods" just like "I AM".
- Many will reject Jesus, because says He is the one and only God/Man.* Who are the seven kings?
Kingdoms - 17:10 "also" seven kings (as well as literal hills).
- Series of seven empires spawned at Babel, directly affecting literal Israel.
(many other empires have existed, but they did not affect Israel significantly)
- Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, Rome-Revived.
- Evolutionary pantheistic socialism as the core ideology.* Who are the 10 kings?
Coalition - 17:12 Future, short lived, united confederacy under Antichrist authority.
- The hope of the hopeless.
- The blind are led by the Prince of Darkness.
- The Prince of Darkness is Lucifer ("Light-bearer").* Why do the kings & the beast destroy the harlot city, Babylon?
Envy - Antichrist claims self-deification and demands worship (Satanism).
- Rev 17:16-17 (2 Thes 2) humanistic evolution leads to Luciferic Mormonism.* Is the Babylon of Ch. 17 different from the one in Ch. 18?
Yes & No - Same origin (Lucifer/Nimrod's Tower of Babel) & system (Evolutionary pantheism),
yet a shift in the geographic location of its heart/throne.
- Ch. 17 possibly Vatican (religious center).
- Ch. 18 possibly the rebuilt Iraqi Babylon (commercial center).
- After Rome is destroyed, antichrist will attempt a takeover of Jerusalem as his new religious center, worshipping himself as supreme deity.* What is the ultimate consequence of Babylon's rebellion?
Destruction - 17:14-17; 18:8 The Lamb, the Prince of Peace will end all rebellion (1 Cor 15).
- Hot wrath of God (Thermonuclear entropy ending with the glow of toxic radiation)
- The world will "stand at a distance for fear of her torment" 18:10, 17.
- This personal look back in chapters 17-18 at the destruction of the Babylonian system of luciferic humanism picks up the literal time flow of the seven year Tribulation as it transitions into Ch. 19. These events parallel the very end of the 70th week of Daniel, when Christ returns to rescue a repentant Israeli remnant. The World foolishly gathers to fight Christ and His people, the Jews, at Armageddon (Psa 2; Rom 9-11; 2 Thes 2:8; Rev 14:20; 16:16; 19:11-16).* Why will so many fight against Jesus?
Antichrist says "You can be gods, like I AM".
Jesus say, He is and always will be the only God/Man.
So all who refuse to bow to Jesus as the only LORD, will mount a futile effort to stop Him from setting up His physical kingdom centered in Jerusalem.
** So, what is the message for you and me today?
- Your response to Jesus Christ will bring guaranteed consequences.
- Who do you say that He is? Legend? Lunatic? Liar? LORD!
- 1 Cor 15 = Good New or Bad News. You decide!
- Words are cheap, folks. The fruit of your life proves your heart. (Mat 7)
Remember,
every warning, struggle,
temptation, promise, strategy, and victory in the Revelation can also play out in your life, your family, and your church!
The choice is yours ................
What do you need to change?
(The final question to ask God, whenever
you study God's Word)
Lord, how
am I doing on your conflict meter, for your glory?
Giving Up < < < < Standing
Firm > > > >
Blowing Up
Remember there are only two
modes for a believer:
* Marching forward with the gospel.
* Standing firm when conflict arises!
Return to related articles from "The Bible: One Bite at a Time" -
Biblical Prophecy: A Jigsaw Puzzle with Pieces Throughout the Bible
(Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, Mat 24, 2 Th 2)
For further study of prophecy:
Prophecy
Today - http://www.gospelcom.net/shofar/pp/htm/report.shtml
Soulcare's
Recommended Materials on Prophecy (books, audios, videos, etc.)
http://www.soulcare.org/Resources_Biblical_Authority.htm#Prophecy
Booklet: The
Rapture,
by Thomas Ice & Timothy Demy
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1565073924/qid%3D980349983/104-6768955-3395119
John
MacArthur, D.D., The Second Coming of Jesus: Signs
of Christ's Return & the End of the Age.
- Book: This text is an excellent
overview, placing the puzzle pieces together until the picture is clear.
*- Audio Set (9 tapes): This tape set is the best I've heard
yet. Nothing beats the spoken word for clarity.
J. Vernon McGee, B.D., M.Th., Th.D.,, Thru the Bible Commentary Series,
Revelation. Dr. McGee's commentaries are probably the simplest, most
practical, yet thorough and biblical that are available on the Bible.
_______, Reveling Through Revelation.
Chuck Missler, Revelation
Commentary in MP3 on CD. Chuck's commentaries on Daniel, The
Revelation, etc., on CD not only contain extensive study notes, but also many
hours of audio teaching.
Henry Morris, Ph. D. (Physical Science doctorate), The Revelation
Record. A theologically and scientifically sound commentary on the
book of The Revelation. Dr. Morris explains the amazingly accurate
scientific parallels described in the Revelation that were unknown to the
culture of the first century. Only God's direct revelation to John can
explain such accuracy. For example, the "flaming mountain"
crashing into the sea during the second trumpet judgment. How would John
have known of even the possibility of massive asteroids that would ignite in our
atmosphere as a result of the friction and tremendous speed?
Dwight Pentecost, Ph.D., Things to Come: A Study in
Biblical Eschatology. This is a 600 pp encyclopedic reference
to all of the major passages, topics, and issues involved.
_________ Thy Kingdom Come: Tracing God's Kingdom Program &
Covenant Promises Throughout History. 1995.
Randall Price, Ph.D. Jerusalem
in Prophecy (Th.M. graduate of Dallas Theological
Seminary and holds a Ph.D. in Middle
Eastern Studies from the University of Texas at Austin.
He has done graduate study at the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem, and conducted archeological
excavation in Israel with the University of Texas
in conjunction with the teaching of courses in biblical
archaeology and the history and culture of modern
Israel.)
Renald Showers, Th.D., Maranatha, Our Lord, Come! A Definitive Study of the
Rapture of the Church. [Dr. Showers, a graduate of Grace Theological
Seminary, serves with Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, as well as the
Institute of Biblical Studies.]
John F. Walvoord, Every Prophecy of the Bible. This
reference commentary is over 600 pages long and is an invaluable tool for those
studying prophecy regardless of their perspective. When studying
eschatology, nothing is more important that having a comprehensive awareness of
all that the Bible says on the subject. This new work is more than
comprehensive. It is exhaustive. Dr. Walvoord was on the faculty of
Dallas Theological Seminary for 50 years, and is recognized even by those who do
not hold to a premillennial perspective as being one of the most knowledgeable
scholars in the area of prophecy and eschatology.
Audio Message: "The
Rapture: The Great Escape", John Ankerberg
http://www.khouse.org/media/conferences/steeling/stmankerberg98.html
Article: "The
Great Snatch", by Chuck Missler
http://www.khouse.org/articles/prophetic/19950101-35.html
Article: Byzantine
Text Discovery & the Rapture
http://www.khouse.org/articles/biblestudy/19950601-39.html
Revelation
17-18