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REVELATION – LESSON 8
I. JUDGEMENT UPON THE GREAT HARLOT (17:1-
A. The “great harlot” (17:1) – the city of Rome (17:18) representing seductive materialism and worldly lust and power
1. Sits upon many waters – widespread influence through commerce on many peoples (17:1, 15)
2. Kings of the earth commit fornication with her – united with her in false religion of emperor worship for selfish gain (17:2).
3. Sits on scarlet colored beast – scarlet suggests royalty and luxury which Rome had as supported by Roman Empire (17:3).
4. Arrayed in luxury, but holds abominable things (17:4)
5. Upon her forehead her true character is set forth – “MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (17:5).
6. Drunk with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus – cause of great amazement as a strong center for persecutions (17:6)
7. Rome is the sum of the four harlot cities of the Old Testament:
a. Nineveh – harlot of conquest and cruelty (Nah. 3:1,4)
b. Tyre – harlot of commerce (Isa. 23:15-
c. Babylon – harlot of pride and pleasure (Isa. 47:5-
d. Jerusalem – harlot of unrighteousness and religious whoredom (Isa. 1:21, Jer. 2:20)
B. The scarlet colored beast – the supporting Roman Empire (17:3, 8-
1. Same beast as revealed in chapter 13 – similar characteristics
2. Seven heads – seven mountains – seven kings (17:9-
a. Rome was a city known as built upon “seven hills.”
b. Seven emphasizes the completeness of the emperors in their
worldly wisdom and power as they dwelt in Rome – figuratively presenting Past, Present and Future. Five are fallen (many of the rulers had already fallen) one is (in power at the present –
Domitian) and one is not yet come (there will be more after Domitian, but only for a little while).
3. Beast is also “an eighth” and is “of the seven” (17:11)
a. While the Roman Empire was supporting lustful Rome, another facet of the “beast” would appear after the fall of the Roman Empire. Though not a world empire, it would have the character of the beast in that it would be antagonistic toward the principles of God. It would be of the seven in that through rulers it would continue to support lust, greed and materialism.
b. After the Empire is destroyed, an enemy of God and His people would arise (Gog and Magog) only to be destroyed or suffer perdition (cf. 19:20; 20:7-
4. The ten horns: the vassal kings who support the Roman Empire (17:12-
a. Receives no kingdom, but receives authority through Rome for a short time – one hour (17:12)
b. Have one mind – obey Rome (17:12)
c. Wars against the lamb – the cause of Christ and His faithful ones (17:14)
d. Shall hate the harlot – only serve for selfish gain (17:16-
C. The fall of Babylon – seductive Rome is judged (18:1-
1. Angel lights earth with authoritative announcement that Babylon is fallen (18:1-
2. Rome deserves to fall because she has become a guard or prison for unclean spirits and things (18:2b-
3. Saints are called to have no fellowship with her idolatry, and therefore escape God’s wrath that is to come upon her. God will “double unto her the double according to her works” – will reward her with a balanced or proper punishment for her severe works (18:4-
a. Rome’s sinful works are on one side of the scale and God’s punishment is on the other side; Rome filled her cup with wine of sin now God was filling another cup – thus making 2 or “double” – with His judicial wrath. (cf. Isa. 40:2, Jer. 16:18).
4. She thought herself as “queen” – boastful of position, “not a widow” – not in need; never will mourn – never will sorrow; but she would suffer destruction, like the Babylon of old (18:7-
a. Destruction would come suddenly in contrast to such boastful pride – total ruin (death, mourning, famine and fire).
b. Many kings, merchants, shipping people will mourn her demise (selfishly) (18:9, 11-
c. Heaven, saints, apostles, prophets – God’s persecuted cause and people rejoice that they have been vindicated (18:20).
5. Rome, like a millstone cast into the sea, never to rise again as it once was in its prosperity (18:21-
a. Amusement, business, home-
D. Saints have reason to rejoice (19:1-
1. Four “hallelujah’s” (19:1-
a. Rome judged for her whoredom and bloodshed of God’s servants; Lord reigns in truth and righteousness.
2. The marriage (espousal) of lamb is come (19:7-
a. Espousal is described in Scripture as marriage (cf. Matt. 1:18,20; 2 Cor. 11:2) – saints made ready by “righteous acts.”
b. Final consummation later (cf. Rev. 21-
3. John, in awe, falls before the angel to worship him. – told to worship God (created beings).
a. Angel is a fellow servant with those who hold the testimony of Jesus – the life of the prophecy of this book.
QUESTIONS:
1. What TWO general characteristics describe the woman in chapters 17-
2. Is the great harlot a “city?”
3. Identify the “mighty waters” upon which the harlot is sitting:
4. Identify the “great harlot:”
5. What similarities exist between the beat of Revelation 13 and the beast of Revelation 17?
6. Why is the “scarlet” connected with the beast of Revelation 17
7. Who are the “seven heads?”
8. How is the beast “an eighth” and yet “one of the seven?”
9. Identify the “ten horns” in Revelation 17:
10. What two things do they do in connection with the beast?
11. Why is it imperative to “not have fellowship” with Babylon the great’s sins?
12. What does it mean for God to render to the great harlot “double?”
13. Who mourns over the fall of Babylon the great? Why?
14. Who rejoices over the fall of Babylon the great? Why?
15. Why is the great city described as a great millstone cast into the sea?
16. What does “hallelujah” mean?
17. For what two reasons did God judge the great harlot?
18. The marriage of the lamb that is come refers to what part of the ancient custom of marriage?
19. Who is the wife of the lamb? What is she wearing?
20. Why does the angel tell John not to worship him?
21. What relationship does the testimony of Jesus have with the prophecy of this book?
REVELATION – LESSON 9
I. VICTORY OF GOD’S CAUSE AND HIS SAINTS (19:11-
A. Christ as the victorious warrior and leader (19:11, cf. 3:14)
1. He leads the heavenly pure to victory over persecuting Roman Empire (19:11, 14).
2. His character:
a. Faithful and true – trustworthy (19:11, cf. 3:14)
b. Name: Only He knows – unique relationship with God; The Word of God (19:12; John 1:1-
c. Right to execute judgment – Arrayed in garments sprinkled with saints’ blood, He now treads the winpress of God’s fierce wrath upon the enemy – a righteous judgment (19:13, 15, cf. 11).
d. Victorious: many diadems on head – abundant rule (19:12); “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS written on thigh -
3. Powerfully equipped – piercing flaming eyes – penetrate to heart of enemy (19:12, cf. 1:14); sharp sword out of mouth – smites nations (19:15; cf. Psalm 2:9, 110:7, Isaiah 11:1-
B. The Great Battle – God’s victory through Christ (19:17-
1. Angel standing in light gathers birds of prey for the great supper of God
(19:17-
a. All connected with the enemy will fall in this battle.
2. The Beast and vassal kings unite to battle God’s cause (19:19).
3. Beast, false prophet (the other beast of Rev. 13:11-
4. The rest – the kings and others united with the beast (the Roman empire and surrounding authorities leading in the persecution of saints) will be killed with sword and the birds feast as they were promised (19:21, cf.
Dan. 7:11-
C. Reign with Christ – the cause of the persecuted Christian is vindicated (20:1-
1. Satan is bound in the abyss by a strong angel from heaven – angel has key to the abyss and chain (20:1).
2. Satan is bound for 1,000 years – symbolic of a complete time – Devil not able to deceive nations with emperor worship (20:2-
a. Action is protective, not punitive.
3. First resurrection: souls beheaded – sit on thrones. Their faithfulness to the testimony of Jesus is vindicated. They reign in victory with Christ (the cause) for the 1,000 years which is symbolic of a complete time where
Devil does not work his havoc through forceful emperor worship (20:4-
D. The Loosing of Satan (20:7-
1. A time FOLLOWING the complete time of Satan being bound will see Satan again deceiving many to threaten God’s cause.
2. The enemy personified in Gog and Magog (cf. Ezek. 38-
E. Final Judgment (20:11-
1. Before the Great White Throne
2. Present time on earth will have ended – earth and heaven fled before face of God (20:11, 2 Peter 3:10-
3. Everyone gathered: dead, small and great, rich and poor, kings and slaves (20:12; Rom 14:12; Acts 17:30-
4. Open Books (20:12)
a. Books – source of judgment (standard, works of men)
b. Book of Life – “another book” – God’s record of the righteous (Exodus 32:32-
5. The Sea (vast humanity) and death and hades (humanity’s fearful enemy) is judged according to works (20:13-
a. Those of all humanity not in the Book of Life is cast into the lake of fire.
b. Death and Hades cast into the lake of fire,
c. Lake of fire – second death (cf. 20:6).
QUESTIONS:
1. What was the rider on the white horse called?
2. Who followed Him on white horses?
3. What characteristics paint the picture of VICTORY for the one on the white horse?
4. What FOUR identities from this book fall in the great battle?
5. Who are “the rest” in 19:21?
6. How do they tie together in the announcement to the birds in 19:17?
7. What is the “binding” of Satan accomplishing in 20:1-
8. To what does the 1,000 years have reference?
9. From 20:4-
10. What is the “first resurrection” in 20:5?
11. From the Old Testament, explain the meaning of Gog and Magog here in Revelation:
12. What happened to those who compassed the camp of the saints to battle?
13. What were “the books” that were opened when John saw the great white throne?
14. What is the book of life?
15. What is the second death?
16. Who and what are cast into the lake of fire in this section?