Grafted Into Israel from Romans 11:24

It is essential to understand what God means in Roman 11:24.

For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, which be grafted into their own olive tree?

vs 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

I'll give you some points which will help us understand this scripture:

Gentiles in Hebrew means Lost, Confused and Without God. Case in point, He is talking about those who are lost and confused coming into the Kingdom of God; in other words, believing in Jesus because that is salvation. There is no other way to come into the Kingdom of God accept through Jesus Christ.

Mystery: The mystery is God dwells in us. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

10 Tribes of Israel were driven out of the Land Of Israel in 721 BC and have not returned. But God has prophesied that He will gather and regather them. First they will begin to return to their Hebrew roots while they are still in the nations. This is happening even now and does not mean they are turning to Judaism, but rather returning to their Hebrew Roots. Scripture says we who have the Holy Ghost will come with Jesus in our hearts and on our lips and will be obeying His commandments.

In Ezekiel 37 we find that God will take two sticks, the lost ten tribes from the nations,called Ephraim and Judah which is in the land of Israel now,and will make them one. Judah is in the land of Israel today and is made up of Judah, Benjamin and Half the Tribe of Levi. Judah is the largest of the three so the group is called Judah. Ephraim is the lost ten tribes still in the nations, scattered, being the remaining 9 1/2 tribes. Ephraim is the largest of the lost ten tribes and represents that group of tribes.

Now, Ephraim includes those who are grafted in, or, in other words those who were lost, confused and without God and were redeemed, becoming believers in Jesus while still in the Nations.

Here is the point of all this: If you believe in Jesus you are grafted in to Israel, you are a part of the Tribe of Ephraim. Slowly God is waking Ephraim and Ephraim is returning to their Hebrew Roots, again, not Judaism. God is coming back for a Bride without spot or wrinkle, not a religion.

It is my prayer that this issue is settled with you and that any antisemitism is purged.

We are Hebrew which means "One who has crossed over from death to life. Just like Abraham, who was not Jewish but became Hebrew when he looked forward to the cross and believed in Jesus. Yes, Jesus said that. "Abraham looked forward to my day and He say it"

There are three kinds of people who will read this. The first are those who never realized these things and I want you to know, it's OK. The Second are those who had a suspicion about these things but just never quite got their arms around it. and Third there are those who say "I knew that".

However you reacted, it is OK because God's word will have it's way with you. At least in this short article we got you thinking. God said His word would not come back void.

In future articles we will dive into these matters one by one in great depth.

Grafted

The Last Great Revival In Search of the Truth Finding the Hebrew Roots of our Faith This is a series of Lessons produced to lead Christians to the truth of God. It is a provocative series, filled with challenges concerning what we have been taught to believe and presenting to you the great Revival that God has brought to the world beginning in 2000. This Revival is the transition period into the 1,000 year reign of Jesus. This is a description of the movement of God on the earth, bringing redemption the mankind. There is a remnant of people called to follow God’s plan, the one new man is awakening and responding to the call of God, and the revival is growing. This is not to be ignored. I encourage you to keep an open mind, pray, study and let the Holy Spirit of God speak to you. In this revival Christians are witnessing to Jews and they are responding by believing in Jesus. Jewish Rabbi’s are bringing the standards of God to Christians, giving us a more complete understanding of how to live in God’s Kingdom. Together, the body, the one new man, the Bride of Christ is growing. Follow the Lessons “The Last Great Revival” and be blessed.

THE LAST GREAT REVIVAL

THE LAST GREAT REVIVAL HAS STARTED Volume 1, Lesson 1

It’s not hard to notice there’s a lot of trouble in the world. There are a lot of changes taking place. Everything seems to be changing. Nations are being rearranged, economies are faltering and in the United States church attendance is declining and the moral fiber of our nation is eroded. Our lives are being severely impacted and politicians seem to be helpless to do anything to remedy the situation, in fact, they seem to be contributing to unemployment and our financial decline. Most Christians are at a loss for even a clue as to what’s going on. We know that all these things are in God’s plan. Without condemnation we know it’s because Christians have not been exposed to the full meaning of God’s word.
People are searching for answers in all the wrong places. Now is not a time to be backslidden or found outside the kingdom of God because it’s time people of God understand the mandated mission of God and the plan of God. Those who immerse themselves in the word are excited. The prophets of old would die to be living in these times as the final phase of God 7000 year plan of redemption progresses.

Isaiah 2 go through, go through the gates, prepare the way of the people; cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.
Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, say ye to the daughter of Zion, , behold thy salvation,, behold his re-ward is with him, and his work before him.
And they shall call them, the holy people, the retained of the Lord: and thou shalt be called, sought out, a city not forsaken.

Again, without placing blame, it is time to understand and expose the paganism that has infiltrated the religions and denominations of the world in order to understand the true word of God. If you are truly seeking to understand God’s plan this is a study for you. We will declare here it is not our intent to bash any religion denomination or anyone involved with them, but rather to guide you to a more complete understanding of the word of God and his redemptive plan.

Question: how do we find the truth with so many very, diverse interpretations of the word?

Answer: We returned to the original word of God.

Revival begins when we put aside our study of the unknown where we have to put a spin on it to make it comfortable and study the known, undeniable word of God.

The Bible was written in Hebrew, by Hebrews, for the sake of Hebrews, given by a Hebrew speaking God. We should then study it through the filters of the Hebrew language and the Hebrew culture which is the same basis God used to write it.

Before you reject this, consider these facts:

Paul stated God speaks in Hebrew.

Zep 3:9 - tells us Hebrew will be the language of his kingdom.

Jesus, John and Paul were Jewish rabbis.

85% of the New Testament is a restatement of the Old Testament.

So all of Scripture agrees. The known is the consistencies of Scripture on which we must dwell to find the truth. Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 that the law of God as stated in the first five books of the Bible stand as God’s government, His Character and His standard. We can conclude therefore, Christians are under both law and grace. Law if we wish to please God and grace if we fall short. God is interested in the desire of your heart, not whether or not you are perfect. We have fallen victim to the theologies of man trying to make God in the image of man, which is in opposition to God’s plan of making man into his image. John, Paul and Jesus were Jewish Rabbis and Jewish Rabbis know the Bible by heart. We know that Paul could recite the entire Bible from memory before he turned 13 years old. John and Paul, like Jesus never abandoned the Old Testament, the complete Bible in Jesus day. The old and the new Testaments agree and if we see they don't we can be sure we are not understanding it properly. God is consistent. He has a purpose for his creation which is the establishment of His kingdom here on this Earth. How do we know wheter or not we are pleasing God. It's not just our opinion you know. It's not what others think of us. So How do we know? We don’t have to wonder. He wrote the instructions down for us.

Matthew 5:17 Jesus said:
“think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill..
For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no way pass from the law, till all or fulfilled.”

With these words Jesus he deleted the division that man has installed between the Testaments. I say to you now, it’s all God’s word from Genesis to Revelation stated and restated through countless lives and their stories. Jesus spoke in parables for a greater understanding of the points he wanted to emphasize. These parables are also supported by the patterns in the entire Bible. It’s important to realize this because that’s God’s way of teaching us. We have been taught through a Greco-Roman mindset which supplies few straight answers for us and leads to confusion and contradictions in our understanding of the various Scriptures. The reason there are so many discrepancies is that the Hebrew language cannot be interpreted over linguistic lines. One Hebrew word can have a number of different meanings, therefore, translators must choose from as many as 12 different meanings of one translated word. It often time takes one or more sentences to translate one Hebrew word. Compound this when Hebrew is translated first into Greek, then into English, and the original concepts are lost in the translation.
The Greco Roman mindset is always linear, having beginning and end and fits things into timelines called dispensations. The Hebrew mindset and the character of God always views things as cyclical. One example of this is God’s plan. The Greek view is man fell, and God will pick and choose those who will be redeemed and go to heaven. Those chosen will be translated out of here into heaven for eternity. This is escapism. Secondly, in the Greco-Roman mindset the church replaces Israel. This is contrary to Scripture. The Greco Roman mindset has man escaping through death into a blissful life in heaven and all of Israel going to hell. This is in direct contradiction to scripture. God says all Israel will be saved. In fact scripture bares out only Israel will be saved. Boy, I'll bet that stirred you up. Well don't worry, if you love Jesus and have made Him your Lord, you are Hebrew. Check Romans Chapters Nine, Ten and Eleven. Jesus was Hebrew you know, and Israel is God's chosen people. So quit being anti-semetic as you have been taught.

The Hebrew acknowledges that God created man and gave him dominion over the earth to rule and reign with God. God has not changed his plan and implemented a seven day plan( 7000 years) to return mankind to the status God originally gave him in the Garden of Eden. Based on all Scripture and God’s patterns given to us in Scripture and the end of the book of revelation, it is clear the Hebrew view is more accurate.

So God conveys His message to us in parables, and patterns, through the lives and the stories of the Bible and finally, through the Hebrew culture.

Hebrew scholars tell us there 72 layers to God’s word. The word of God is like a diamond, multi-faceted. The more times you read it, the more ways it will speak to you. The word is alive. It is a two edge sword dividing even the bone and morrow.

In the lesson’s to come we will begin to study the methods we should use to correctly understand the Bible

Revelation Bible Study 5 Ephesus

Revelation Bible Study
To the Church at Ephesus

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lamp stand: I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil, And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My; name’s sake and have not become weary, Nethertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place- unless you repent. But this you have that you hate the deeds of the Nicolations, which I also hate.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.

Revelation 2:1-7

The apostle Paul preached and Ephesus from AD52 to AD55 (Acts 19:1-41, Acts 20:31). During his ministry the whole town was shaken and a cult books were burned.

Paul was arrested five years later in Rome and wrote a letter to the Ephesian church from prison in AD61.

Ephesians 1:17-18 : Paul prays the Ephesian church will no Christ in the fullest sense.

Other pastors ministered there also:
Onesiphorus 2 Timothy 1:18
Tychicus Ephehesians 6:21, 2 Timothy 4:12

Timothy - Paul left Timothy in Ephesus only pass through trip 1 Timothy 1:3

Christ sent his letter to the churches including Ephesus about six years after Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians.

Normally we measure churches by:
Pastoral leadership
Attractiveness of facilities
Location
Liberal or conservative theology
Evangelistic fervor

But God has other criteria for measuring churches.

John 13:35 by this all men shall know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

1/8 of the book of Revelation is taken up with the letters to the churches which means these letters are both revelant and important today.

One must understand the format in which Jesus writes to the churches.
1. To each church he introduces himself in a way that addresses their need or problem.
2. After His Introduction comes the review of the church and its ministry - a diagnosis.
3. In each review there is good news and bad news.
4. Jesus always gives instructions on how they are to conduct themselves according to their circumstances.
5. There is a kingdom promise to each church for him during or overcoming their problems.

Jesus salutes the church at Ephesus as: “He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven Golden candlesticks.

We know from Revelation 1:20 the seven stars ARE THE Angels (Pastors) of the seven churches and the lamp stands are the seven churches.

This is a prelude to his identification of their shortcomings, however, the initial report sounds good on the surface.

1. Ephesus is a dynamic church - Jesus says he knows their works.

They are a busy church with lots of work going on.-Remember, we are not saved by works.

2. Ephesus is an energized church-a missionary church that was instrumental in spreading the gospel throughout Asia.

3. Ephesus was a dedicated church. Jesus said “I know thy works and labor” . these people held jobs, raised families and Them together, and labored to exhaustion in the work of the church. 2 Samuel 24:24 ; the Saints were blessed because they were willing to sacrifice..

4. Ephesus was a determined church: Jesus said “I know that patience”.

Patient’s occurs twice in this letter. In verse two regarding service and in first three regarding suffering.

The patients reflected in first two is enduring while maintaining forth motion.

If you study this church in the book of acts you will find they had opposition. They were hated for the sake of the gospel. Trade unions tried to drive them out. It’s hard to keep going when severe pressure is applied. This church got better under pressure.

5. Ephesus was a disciplined church. Jesus said “How thou canst bear them which are evil”. They were not patient with evil men. They would not tolerate people calling themselves Christians and conducting themselves as unbelievers. A church that does not practice discipline cannot be blessed by God for he is a God of order.

6. Ephesus was a discerning church. Jesus said “Thou hast tried them which say they are apostles and are not, and hast found them liars.” Ephesus cared about the purity of doctrine in its pulpit. They saw the truth of God’s word.

In that day many were claiming to be apostles and were not. Many claim apostolic succession, that is, an original apostle had laid hands owned them transferring the apostolic power to them. This church determined they were liars. This claim of transferred apostolic power continues today and is just as false today as it was in that day. We must be as diligent as the church of Ephesus in our discernment. Perhaps Ephesus discernment was aided by the fact that John, a real apostle, had pastured this church.

Verse six is a little harder to understand. Jesus applauded their dislike of the deeds of the Nicolations which God also hated. Nicolations is a compound Greek word.
Nico - means to conqueror.
Lations - means the general church population.
So the compound word meant “To Conqueror the Laity.”
This is the first evidence of the division between church leaders and clergy. Later when we study the churches st Thyatira and Pergamos we will find this system in full Bloom with bishops and archbishops and other religious dignitaries dominating the people and controlling the congregation.

The more you study church history the more you will realize how much paganism has infiltrated the church.

The Nicolations taught there were classes of people. Nicholas was a deacon in the church at Antioch and he founded the whole sect which was dominated by impurity and immorality.

The church at Pergamos had the same problem.

The Ephesian church had taken a stand of opposition against the deeds of the Nicolations..

Jesus took this same stand.

An early church writer, Clement, spoke of the Nicolations saying “They a abandoned themselves like goats.”

The Nicolations supposed they could do what ever their flash wanted and because they were Christians, they were forgiven.

They were not!

Rev 2:4 “nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee” - “you have left your first love”

Remember - Jesus has eyes that pierced the flesh and look straight into the heart. He tells the Ephesian church - you look good on the outside, but you have a heart problem!

What is first love?

First love spoken of by Jesus is that which is characterized by brand new believers who have just met Jesus.
Ferverent Love
Personal love
Uninhibited love
Openly displayed love

New converts just love Jesus and don’t care who knows it.

Jesus is telling them your first love is Gone from our relationship and from your relationship with each other and with new people coming into the church.

They left this first love and Jesus admonishes them to find their way back to it. “or else”

Jesus has the prescription-

1. Remember from where you fell.
2. Repent: turnaround-go the opposite direction. Find your way back to the point where you worked but calls you love me.
3: Repeat: love is the most important factor of any church.
Love of God
Love of each other

Feelings follow actions - actions do not follow feelings. Just do it and trust God will give you the feelings.

Remember, repent and repeat.

A great prescription.

Jesus gave them an ultimatum “or else” …. I will take your light away.

Your testimony will die
Your witness will end
Your influence will end

ICOBOD - The Spirit of God will depart!

Remember - It’s not our works, it’s God’s merciful love.

Many have forgotten how merciful God really is.
He forgives constantly and repeatedly
He forgives completely
He forgives permanently

I wish those around me were that merciful. They want to charge me for a long time over my mistakes. They want to increase their scrutiny of my behavior so they can keep up the penalty of a indiscretion. They want to make a big deal over little things. They want to hate me and judge me. Sounds just like humanity doesn’t it. That’s what it is, humanity, Babylon, but it is not the Kingdom of God. Jesus was quick to put his finger on the problems of those who came in contact with, but only in a truthful, helpful way. He spoke in a way that said, I love you and want a better life for you. He said, I came to seek and to save that which is lost and I am willing to lay down my life to save them. Life here and in the Kingdom of God. He loved them enough to die for their sins, to make the payment of sin for them. In life we meet those with this spirit on rare occasions, but they are much too rare.

Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and body.
Love each other.

God is love, and without Him you can do nothing.

Look at history, Israel broke covenant with God and he divorced them.

Jesus promises manna from the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God for those who will return to the Love of God.

It’s worth the trip!

Remember
Repent
Repeat

May the love of God and fellowship of His Holy Spirit abide with you always.
Amen

Revelation Bible Study 4

REVELATION
Bible Study Four
Description of Jesus
Church at Ephesus

Revelation is the documentary of Jesus Christ coming to take rulership of the earth.

It is the story of Jesus in relationship to the church.
His appointment by the father.
His campaign against the attending forces of evil
Jesus final victory.
The establishment of God’s eternal kingdom on earth.

I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I am the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, and, what you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. Revelation 1:9 - 11

Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lamp stands, and in the midst of the seven lamp stands one like the son of man, closed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow and his eyes like a flame of fire; his feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and his voice as the sound of many waters; he had in his right hand seven stars, out of his mouth when a sharp to edged sword, and his countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
Revelation 1:12 - 17

1. Seven Golden lamp stands. Verse 20 gives us the answer to the identity of the seven lamp stands. They are the seven churches.
2. Seven stars: again in verse 20 we find the answer to the identity of the seven stars. They are the Angels of the seven churches.
3. Jesus is standing in the middle of his churches.
4. Out of Jesus mouth went a sharp two edged sword.
5. There follows a description of Jesus:

There is a countenance or and aura around Jesus that is as bright as the sun shining in its strength. He is close to an a garment which is long, all the way to his feet. He has a golden girdle around his midsection. His head and hair are like wool, white as snow. His eyes are like a flame of fire and his feet like burned fine brass as if they were burned in a furnace. Finally his voice is like the sound of many waters.
John Saul Jesus as Yeh Hey Vay Hey the Lord himself. The Jews call him the Lord is one. John sees Jesus in his role as the eternal one the creator. Notice that John is in the spirit.

Exodus 33:20 but he said, you cannot see my face: for no man shall see me, and live. And the Lord said here is a place by me, and you shall stand all the rock. So it shall be, while my glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with my hand while I passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not the seen.

John had access to see Jesus as God because he had a covering, his name is Jesus. You cannot see God unless you have Jesus Christ.
Moses had this experience
Ezekiel had this experience
Daniel had this experience

When you look at Jesus: he is the fulfillment of the principles of God

We see protection awarded to the Saints of God throughout the Bible:
Noah
Israelites
Daniel
Moses
Shadrach, Meeshak and Nabendigo

When we examine the passage in Exodus; we come to realize that Jesus is the hand of God. God said I will put my hand before your eyes as I pass by. And when I have passed by I will remove my hand so that you may see my backside.

John’s reaction was the same as Abraham, Daniel, Ezekiel and others. He fell at Jesus feet as if he were dead.

The description of Jesus in this passage of revelation 1:14 - 15 are carried forth throughout the book of Revelation.

The description of Jesus lets us know that he sees and hears all. He speaks to each of the churches with a description of himself that applies to their circumstances.

Never forget Jesus is about the work of purifying the Saints and making the way ready for the establishment of his rule upon the earth. We are the ark meant to carry the principles of God, the Torah.

It is important to know the character of Jesus and what he looks like spiritually. It is also important to know what the spirit of the antichrist looks like.

We see an accurate picture of Jesus Christ in Revelation 19:11 – 16

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called faithful and true, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed him on white horses. Now out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he had on his robe and on his thigh a name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Jesus is the beginning and the end.
Consider Genesis 1:1, John 1:1 – 4, and Isaiah 46:9 – 11
Jesus is the ”EHT” , the Aleph and the Tav
Jesus is the creative power of God
He is ADONIA creative power injected did into you

He has shown us his character
He is the loving father:
1. He rebukes his children because it is not good for us to remain in Sin.
2. He delivers and restores us.
3. He will be in us and with us – a sustaining power.

Vic Reasoner: “there is nothing in Revelation to frighten the followers of Jesus, but plenty to empower us. We are victors. Jesus Christ cannot be stopped, we are blessed.”

He is Elohim - The power which cannot be stopped
He is Adonai - The righteous force of God that forces Himself into submissive believers and overcomes the power of the enemy in us

Satan may claim authority over this Earth, but the legality of who owns this world was settled at the cross. The cross is where it all happened. Jesus action on the cross started the kingdom forcing itself into the world and it‘s rolling like a steamroller.

Revelation 1:4 Grace be unto you. Shalom

John 16:13
However, when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak; and he will tell you things to come. He will glorify me, for he will take of what is mine and declare it unto you. All things that the father has are mine. Therefore I said that he will take of mine and declare it to you.

Notice that God speaks to the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit speaks what he hears to us.

God speaks his principles to the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit speaks his principles to us.

The Holy Spirit comes to those who love Jesus Christ and who are submissive to the word of the Lord, obeying His principles (Commands).

Now, this Jesus Christ whose eyes are like a flame of fire spoke through the Holy Spirit to John, a book, given to the seven churches of Asia, which represent all churches in all times.

Revelation 2:1
To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lamp stands: I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars, and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for my namesake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you. That you have left first love. Remember therefore from where you have followed: repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place – unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolatians, which I also hate.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to the from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Here is an apostasy: this church has left its first love. It has left the faith.

The first church, Ephesus, and the last church Laodicea, are guilty of apostasy. They have left the faith. Ephesus is doing many things right. Let’s review the things they are doing right:

They have lots of works.
They are not afraid of hard work.
They have patience.
They do not tolerate those who claim to be apostles but are not. They have tested the spirits of those around them.
They have labored long and hard for the sake of Jesus Christ without becoming weary.
They hate the deeds of the Nickolations which God also hates.

We’ll go over the things they did right. But the message is: You can do many things right and be totally wrong. This church has left the love of Jesus Christ. And he is saying to them come back to the days you obeyed me because you loved me.
They’ve gotten caught up in work and in legalism. They have forgotten where they were when Jesus found them and saved them and loved them without hesitation.
They have failed to remember the most important thing is love and compassion for the Lord Jesus Christ

Revelation Bible Study 2

Revelation Bible Study 2
January 25, 2011

Revelation is an Apocalypse - It is part of a body of Apocalyptic writings. Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, ect
It is written in literary style. The Prophecy is given through a series of visions.
Unveiling, a Revealing of Jesus
It is an intentionally veiled style with:
Coded Imagery
Coded References. Written to a specific group of people. It references something you studied or know.
The study of Revelation will therefore encompass a study of much of the bible.
Revelation reveals Jesus Christ in all of his offices:
There are seven:
Yeshua
King of Kings
The Lamb
The returning King
His Reign
The word of God

1st Corinthians 2:12-13
Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Through the mysteries revealed in this book, God reveals the things of the world and the things of the world to come. We will better understand our world from this study.

In Revelation 1:1 we find that God sent this message from the throne of God, to Jesus Christ, unto his angel to John, and he signified it through his angel. In other words, God sent it and interpreted it. Then he certified it.
To understand Revelation we cannot leave any Scripture in contradiction to any other part of the word of God.

In the sixth chapter of the book of Ephesians we read about powers and principalities. The study of Revelation is about angels and demons: powers and principalities: agents and nations, potentates and people.

The end days are dominated by the coming of Jesus to judge Babylon and make war against the world’s system called Babylon and its author Satan. Jesus comes with a two edged sword coming out of his mouth which is the word of God.

All of the soft persuasion of love and caring are put aside as Jesus faces the Satanic forces of this world. Jesus is coming to judge sin and the sinful.
Notice God sends this revelation to show his servants what must shortly come to pass.
This is a message of deliverance to the people of God. We should take great encouragement in this book because it shows our deliverance from the evil ways of this world that personally makes me sick.
It is a covenant promise from God of a much better life, an eternal life without the harassment of Satan and his demons.
Revelation 1:8
I am the alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
Thus saith the Lord of host.
We must see and understand something else in this Scripture. It speaks of things which will shortly come to pass.
Please understand this introduction to Revelation.
God’s time is not our time. God measures time by order and events or dispensations. He has spoken a plan that he uttered before the world was established. His plan of events were made before the foundation of the world. Each event has a built-in timer. The next event takes up where the previous event left off. Each period is called the dispensation of which most theologians determine to be seven.
What he is saying in Revelation 1:1 is that there are only a few dispensations between the writing of Revelation and the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ.
Interestingly, there are seven dispensations. (He is truly a God of order and events, a dispensational God.) Things will occur with a timing that suits God’s overall plan.
We would prefer that God just come right out and say it in our earthly dialogue, however, we must be sanctified and become like Jesus. If God chose our means of communication, man would distort the truth.

The creator will not become like the created; the created must become like the creator. God gives his word so that it takes an understanding of his character to understand it.

You cannot find his character without his word because his word reveals his character. In other words you have to have a personal relationship with Jesus and you can’t have that without his word. Jesus and God’s word are inseparable: Jesus is the Word. Spiritual knowledge and wisdom are found in his word; he is the word. His word is alive, because he is alive and he is real. The Holy Spirit brings us the truth.
The principles of God speak to the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit gives them to those who are God’s people; guiding them in all truth.
So the mysteries of his word in Revelation are conveyed through symbolism to those who belong to Jesus and have accepted his Lordship.
Symbolism is not weakened by time and it cannot be distorted. God has to give the discernment (through the Holy Spirit) to understand it.
James 1:5
if any of you lack wisdom, letting ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and unbraided not; and it shall be given to him.
“Unbraideth not” means do not separate the strands. Since we put wisdom will be given providing you don’t try to interpret Scripture out of context.
The whole word of God is true and you cannot separate it. You will not find any part of the word which disagrees with another part, therefore, the word is inerrant.
Many evaluate the word as having errors in it because human hands wrote it down disregarding the fact God gave it to man. If we find passages that disagree with other passages it is an error in our theology. God’s word is consistent, consistently correct! Scripture is a repeated message. You can’t unlink part of it from the rest.
The word of God is inerrant. If you seek him through his word, you will find him.
Symbolism, through discernment, imparts values and arouses emotions. It’s one thing to call a man a dictator, but call him a beast and it conveys a stronger message.
There is an ongoing war between good and evil, between the kingdom of God and the armies of Satan. Revelation shows the grand culmination of that war and God’s kingdom come to earth. God has given His plan to His Elect.
Revelation makes no sense to those who don’t know Scripture. It made no sense to the Roman soldiers. But it is:
A meaningful book:
In Revelation 22:10
And he said unto me, seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. When God spoke to Daniel in Daniel 12:4 he said shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the end. He instructed John not to seal it, but open it.
The time for this book is now!
It is a book written to the Body of Christ to encourage us and warn us so we will know how to handle the attacks of the enemy, Satan and his demons. (Know the enemy and his operations) Sadly, most Christians today can’t defeat even a small insignificant demon. Firstly, they can’t recognize one. Secondly, they would not know how to deal with him if they did. More on this later!
The spirit of God outlined the book. There is something here that’s not seen anywhere else in the Bible. That is: a picture of the whole plan of God. Revelation is laid out as follows:
Things that are seen-chapter 1
Things which are-chapters 2 and 3
Things which shall be hereafter-chapter 4 to the end of the book.
In chapter 4:1 it says: and I will show you things which must take place after this.

Let us summarize what they are:
In chapter 1 visions of God in glory.
Chapters 2 and 3 the dispensation of grace-visions of the church on earth.
Chapter 4 and following: visions of the final defeat of Satan, Babylon and the world system. The end of man’s futile attempt to govern himself without God.
Chapter 22 the end of the book: God’s glorious kingdom established
In the beginning there was God.
Grace - the church age
Government - God’s kingdom
Glory - the New World under God’s reign.
This is God’s outline!
The most exciting thing to me is that the spirit of God operates within the book!
This is a self interpreting book.
In Revelation 1:16 what are the seven stars?
Answer: Revelation 1:20 the angels of the seven churches.
Revelation 4:5 what are the seven lamps burning?
Answer: Revelation 4:5 the seven spirits of God
Revelation 5:6 what are the seven horns? or-seven eyes?
Answer Revelation 5:6 spirits of God sent to the earth.
The vast majority of symbols are explained in the book.
It is a miraculous book
Revelation deals with past, present and future; the only prophetic book in the New Testament. It is the future part of God’s presence.
It is a motivational book:
If there is anything we need today it is to be refreshed in Jesus Christ,
Prayer: Lord, wake us up. Lord your church is asleep. Lord we have lifted into complacency. Our relationship has gone stale. Make our study of Revelation bring us back to a passionate relationship with Jesus Christ. Amen

You will be blessed in the reading and the studying of this book, blessed if you read it understand it and obey it.
Revelation is a personal Book.
It is written to you !
God promised to exhalt His Son Jesus. Jesus sent this book through His unnamed angel to John for You.
Philipians 2:9-11
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Revelation is an opening or unsealing of what has not been disclosed, through Jesus Christ. God chose to work through His Son.
Let’s review a few facts concerning this book to prepare ourselves for our study.
The throne of God is mentioned 46 times in this book
The term King Jesus is mentioned 37 times
It talks about power and authority 40 times.

We will be tremendously moved to see God’s glory through his plan for those who love him.
This is the last book of the Bible which ushers in God’s kingdom come down to earth. In God’s time in order these things will shortly come to pass. This makes the message of Revelation urgent and holy.
We see in Genesis:
The beginning of Earth and the fall of man.
The beginning of Satan and his activities on earth and God no longer residing with man.

In Revelation we see:
The end of Satan and his activities.
We see man and God in a face to face relationship as it was in the beginning.
In Genesis the tree of life was relinquished and in Revelation is regained.
As a result of man’s Sin, death makes its entrance in Genesis, but is wiped out in Revelation.
In Revelation we are ushered right into God’s new Earth and eternal kingdom.
As we study Revelation we will feel as though the period of time from Genesis chapter 1 to Revelation chapter 21 is a parentheses in man’s chapter of life.
Real life was before the fall of man and resumes after his restoration.
Christians have much to celebrate and be joyous about in this book.
It is about the destruction of sin - Satan can harass us no more!
It’s about the end of Death, Pain and Suffering.
The one we have committed our lives to will Rule his Father’s Kingdom.
Revelation contains information to build our faith and prepare us for a successful life on this earth and a glorious future in the Kingdom of God.
Revelation is a book about overcoming.
Revelation 12:11
And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony: and they loved not their lives unto the death.
This book is about Jesus Christ and you.
No man can boast credit for anything.
Man is without excuse.
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Jesus does it all in Justification.
Then He sends the Holy Spirit with Sanctification. The process of making us like Jesus Christ.
We overcome evil by our testimony of what Jesus has done for us.
We overcome only when we are washed in the blood of Jesus. Empowered by the Holy Spirit
We overcome by the testimony of what Jesus did on the cross.
We overcome because we lose our life in his.
Revelation is about the great I AM, the alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
My friend Vic Reasoner said-
Prophecy is not to tell the future, it is to enable us to see the present from the perspective of the future.
The spirit of prophecy is to give us life and change our lives.
God’s great plan is an intimate relationship with man.
God has determined that the things of Revelation will come to pass. They must occur. They will occur. God has determined these things are necessary to fulfill his purposes.
Blessed be the name of our God, the father of our LordJesus Christ.
God is gathering back to Israel the Jewish people. He has already started “ingathering” those of the tribes of Israel scattered among the nations, not physically to Israel, but spiritually through the principles of His word. Many are coming out of sin and into a study of the Torah, the principles of God.
Jesus gave us Revelation to prepare us. Those who love the Lord and obey His principles will be sustained even during the tribulation to come. Yes, we have much to joyous about. Ten Thousand may fall at our left and Ten Thousand may fall on our right, but our Lord Jesus will keep those who are known by Him. He said “If you love me, obey my commandments”. It’s time to return to the Principles of God. The call is out, Who will answer the call?

Statistics:
There are seven songs in Revelation
7 Promises to overcomers
7 Churches
7 Lamps
7 Candlesticks
7 Spirits
7 Heads
7 Kings
7 Seals
7 Stars
7 Crowns
7 Beatitudes
7 Horns
7 Eyes
7 Angels
7 Pleagues
7 7 vials
7 Mountains
7 Trumpets
7 Thunders
7 Years of Judgement
7 I Am of Jesus

Numbers:
2 3 3.5 4 5 6 7 12 42 144,000 2,000,0000

The Beatitudes of Revelation are found in the following passages:
Rev 1:3
Rev 14:13
Rev 16:15
Rev 19:9
Rev 20:6
Rev 22:7
Rev 22:14

Overcoming:
By the blood of the Lamb
The word of their testimony
Not loving their own lives
John is commanded often to write it down:
1:11
Chapters two and three: Write it down
14:13
19:9
21:15

Revelation is about the glory the Father promised the Son and those who will follow him
The destruction of sin and death
The glory of god as revealed through his son.

Revelation is not:
Intended to produce fear
About judgment
Only for the Jews - The house of Judah. It is for the house of Israel
Not warning us to hide in Mountains or caves
Not a survival manual or escape plan.

There is no need to fear if you are the Bride
Ex 14:10 - 14
Do not be afraid, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Your enemies will be seen no more.

Romans 7 -- It’s either grace or the law. No bride can have two husbands, otherwise that person is an adulterer.

If Revelation is not encouraging, you have been on the Egyptian side of the Red Sea as you look at it.

- End -

Revelation Meeting 1

Revelation Bible Study 1


Revelation 1:1
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servant’s--things which must shortly take place. And he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.

Things that John saw:
Weathermen in the United States do a good job of warning people of pending severe weather. People on the coast line and in low lying areas are always warned to evacuate in face of a hurricane. Officials go to great lengths to make sure there is an escape route provided. Many US officials warned the government of the strong possibility of an attack on Pearl Harbor. No matter how strong the warnings many choose to ignore them.
We are warned about drug usage, smoking, overeating, the usage of alcohol, and of many other things that may adversely affect our help.
Many choose to ignore these warnings.
But what about our spiritual life?
We’re living in a day when Bible prophecy is being fulfilled almost daily.. There are more signs than ever announcing the end of this age.
Old Testament prophecies were about a coming Messiah who would be both a suffering servant and a reigning King. Revelation is a book of prophecy.
Revelation 1:3
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Revelation 22:7
Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.
Revelation 22:10
And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.
Revelation 22:18
For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, “if anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city and from the things which are written in this book.

Prophecy is to enable us to see the present from the perspective of the future. (Reasoner)

Prophecy gives us life and changes our lives. (Sancitification) If we read the words, hear the words and live by the words.
The Hewbrews relate it to the 213 principles of God for the Nations.
Isaiah 41:21-26
Present your case, says the Lord.
Bring forth your strong reasons, says the King of Jacob.
Let them bring forth and show us what will happen;
Let them show the former things, what they were,
That we may consider them,
And know the latter end of them;
Or declare to us things to come.
Show the things that are to come hereafter,
That we may know that you are gods;
Yes, do good or do evil.
That we may be dismayed and see it together.
Indeed you are nothing.
And your work is nothing;
He who chooses you is an abomination
I have raised up one from the north,
And he shall come;
From the rising of the sun he shall call on My name;
And he shall come against princes as though mortar,
As the potter treads clay.
Who has declared from the beginning, that we may know?
And former times, that we may say He is righteous?
Surely there is no one who shows.
Surely there is no one who declares,
Surely there is no one who hears your words.
Events which “must occur” means God has determined they will happen and God alone.
The apostle Peter warned us there would be scoffers in the end days.
Second Peter 3:3-4:
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts and saying, where is the promise of his coming? Four cents the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.
The book of Revelation actually predicts the end of the age; the climax of the ages.
Revelation is a book of signs, of grand scenes in heaven and terrifying scenes on Earth. Revelation speaks of Angels and Christ and demons; of war in heaven and Armageddon on the earth.
As we read and study Revelation we hear of trumpets, the breaking of seals on ancient scrolls. We hear of a new heaven and a new earth.
A theologian named Milton wrote:
“Revelation reveals the majestic image of a high-end stately tragedy shutting up and intermingling her solemn scenes and acts with a seven fold chorus of hallelujahs and harpining symphonies.”
Milton’s poetic language captures the mystery and Majesty of the book of Revelation. To help us get into the study of this book we must be reminded of five characteristics of this book.
It is a misunderstood book
It is a messianic book
It is a mysterious book
It is written in code. It is written with the dialect and the customs of an ancient Hebrew period as a backdrop.

It is a meaningful book.
Most people misunderstand what this book is all about. Therefore, we must purge our minds of all preconceived notions or ideas about this book.
We could say that basically there are three types of people when it comes to the book of Revelation.
1.There are those who have either not read or lightly read Revelation and see no reason why they should study it.. 2.These are the ones who show up in church without a Bible and judge the service based own how entertaining it is or how it feeds their emotions.
3.There are those who have read Revelation and are either in fear of its prophetic message or who are not morally inclined to know it’s truths.
Finally, there are a few who seek to study it, understand it, and live by it’s wonderful words. They are few.

Daniel 12:10
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; and none of the wicked shall understand it: but the wise shall understand.
If we, who know the Lord, struggle to understand this book; can you imagine those who have no interest in God ever picking up this book?
Most Christians pick up the book out of fear or selfishness. They are looking for it to tell them they don’t have to go through the tribulation. They want it to tell them that they are not going to have to sacrifice anything for the sake of the gospel.

1st Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
There are Christians who are not interested in Revelation because it takes them out of their comfort zone. Revelation is about judgment and change.
Then there are those who are hostile towards the book and will not take a literal translation of it. They spiritualize it so the truth is compromised and its message means absolutely nothing.

It is a messianic book - The Revelation of Yeshua, Jesus

In reality, Revelation is very simple. It is a book about Jesus Christ! Many over the ages including Martin Luther did not see Jesus in the book, yet it’s all about Jesus. It is truly hard to figure how these people missed Jesus in this book. The only explanation is that it was simply not God’s plan that it be revealed. The book is the revelation, or unveiling, of Jesus Christ. Look at the very first verse of Revelation chapter 1.
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.
Jesus is the unseen head of the church; the despised carpenter of Nazarus is the object of all heaven’s worship. The King that Israel rejected is sovereign and sits at the right hand of the Father waiting for his Father’s command to go get his children.
The Holy One of God, who was with God before the foundation of the world; the one man who volunteered to be convicted as a criminal and sent to Calvary after living the first perfect earthly life is the coming judge of all mankind. His long awaited coming will bring judgment against all who have followed the King of darkness. There is no other book in the Bible that totally reveals Jesus Christ as does revelation. The Gospels present the Lord as a humiliated servant. He was born in a manger, and walked the dusty paths of this world. Then he went to the cross and was executed as a criminal. He appeared in the Gospels as a servant, with only a hint of his glory which came primarily from his own lips and the miracles that he performed.
But Scripture announced His coming, His purpose and His mission.
Philippians 2:9-11
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the father.
There is no place in the Bible that you see Jesus Christ like this except in the book of Revelation. In Revelation; he is no longer seen in the manger. He is no longer walking the dusty roads of Israel. He is not seen on the cross. He is no longer seen as a humble servant. He is seen coming in glory with his saints to set up his kingdom on earth and rule with a rod of iron.
To study this book is to fall deeper in love with Jesus or else we have missed the very point of the book. Those who will read this book, study this book and live by this book have the promise of sharing his glory.
Revelation is the only book in the Bible in which God specifically blesses the reader.

Revelation 1:3
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Revelation is a mysterious book filled with symbols.

Many misunderstand this book or are intimidated because of the symbols in the book. God used symbols in Revelation so that time could not erode the message and so the truth would survive until Jesus second coming.
Revelation portrays the seen and the unseen. It portrays that which is seen in the natural and that which can only be seen with spiritual eyes.. Spiritual things cannot be seen with our fleshly eyes. The only way to see spiritual things is through the spirit of God. He controls what we are able to discern spiritually. One of the wondrous truths of the bible is the flow of power from God, through Jesus, into His children and back to God. We’ll talk more about that later.
Symbolism is not weakened by time
Symbolisim imparts values and arouses emotions

So Revelation is an Apocalypse - It is part of a body of Apocalyptic writings. Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, ect
It is written in literary style. The Prophecy is given through a series of visions.
Unveiling, a Revealing of Jesus
It is an intentionally veiled style with:
Coded Imagery
Coded References. Written to a specific group of people. It references something you studied or know.
The study of Revelation will therefore encompass a study of much of the bible.

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Revelation

Preparing to study the Book of Revelation
There are seven (7) things to remember about scripture:

1. The full authority of scripture

2. The Deity and Centrality of Jesus Christ

3. The Victory of the Cross

4. The Kingdom of God will come and time and conditions as we know it will end. God destroyed and recreated the earth once before, He will do it agaibn.

5. God commands we live Holy lives

6. We must anticipate the entire world being reached by Christ. (Scripture specificies how He does it and it's not the way we think ..

7. We must anticipate a falling away from the spiritual by many who claim to believe. The grey area of Christianity will disappear. (See Post on the Judas Vine)

There are certain truths to be realized from scripture and specifically the book of Revelation.

1. The church today needs to remove itself from denominationalism and move back toward a relationship with Jesus Christ. The Church nees to rediscover apostolic Christianity.

2. Scripture is not fallible - only those who read it casually and do not study every word and phrase.

3. To properly understand scripture, sentences or phrases must be placed in context and agree with all other scripture.

Over the centuries some of the most prominent theologians have avoided preaching and teaching Revelation. This is because they did not understand the true theme of the book and that the time was not yet come as ordained by God that we may understand it.

2nd Timothy 3:16 All scripture is profitable

Rev 1:3 - A two fold blessing is promised for the person who reads this book and lives by it.

This promise applies to all scipture, however, God ordained that this promise is registered in Revelation.

The entire bible is summed up in the book of Revelation, therefore, all scripture contains blessings.

The book of Revelation is complete truth summed up, however, many do not study it.

John wrote the book so that those in his day, being the Christian community would understand it in light of Old Testament Scripture and not one else. In other words it is written in code deceipered only by other scripture.

John identifies himself as the arthor of the book four times in Revelation and claims divine inspiration for the information: Rev 1:1, 1:4, 1:9 & 22:8......Rev 22:6

A lot of information used to verify events in the bible come from historical works that for one reason or antoher were excluded from scripture but nevertheless have remained as historical documents throughout history as historical resources.

This comes into play when giving consideration to the dating of the writin of Revelation by John. John was exiled to the lonely island of Patmos by the Roman ruler Domitian as punishment for writing that the Roman empire would quickly be rooted out. When domitian's reign ended John left Patmos and returned to Ephesus and lived out his life there. The book was probably written between AD 68 - 70.

The book of Revelation is full of figurative language and symbols because John is describing heavenly realities to earthly people, therefore, he must use physical comparrisons to describe spiritual truth. he ofter uses "as" or "like" to show these comparrisons. John works from the known to the unknown describing what he has seen by comparing it with what his readers things that are familiar to the reader. By using figurative language he was able to avoid censureship by the Roman government. john never mentions Rome by name, but everyone could imagine the identity of "the beast"

Remeber, John saw things we readily recognize today, but were unknown to him at that time. John would not have recognized tanks, helicopteres, missiles or even television.

CHRIST AND HIS CHURCHES

Do you ever think about the day in which Jesus lived? Do you ever wonder what Jesus looked like?

I really don't think what he looked like is important, but it is important that I see him spiritually. The Bible does give us a picture of Jesus.

Revelation 5:10-15 In the book of Revelation we are going to "see" Jesus spiritually, with our spiritual eyes.

During His time on earth according to scripture Jesus was a servant. He came to minister to the world and to seek and save that which is lost. In Revelation we will see the glorified, risen body of Jesus Christ. We will see Him as Almighty god with eyes as a flame of fire that pierce and burn. This Jesus is the lamb of God, but is seen in Revelation as the judge before whom all humanity will stand and be judged. In Revelation chapter one He is seen as the Lamb of the tribe of Judah and His eyes are as a flame of fire. The picture in Revelation is a picture which John saw while he was a prisoner on the island of Patmos, in exlile.

John was undere duress when he wrote it as were most of the writers of the books of the bible. God has an excellent opportunity to speak to us when we are in distress. Throughout history it is in times of duress when people have experienced God the most and when they have been used more by Him.

Moses wrote the Pentetuke, the first five books of the bible, in the wilderness.

David wrote many of the Psalms while running away from Saul.

Isiah lived in difficult days and died as a martyr

Ezekiel wrote in exile.

Jeremiah's life was a life of trial and persecution.

Peter wrote his two letters just before he was killed.

When Paul was in Antioch he tried to prepare the Christians for a life of duress.

Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must go through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

It is through tribulation that people come into the Kingdom of God

Paul suffered much and gave his life for his belief in Jesus and the carrying of the gospel to the world.

Tribulation is the common heritage of the people of God. John did not escape persecution for it was his vibrant testamony for Christ that caused the Roman ruler to put him in exile on Patmos. There he was isolated from family and friends and interaction with any other human beings. In this setting John was given the most extensive revelation of Jesus Christ and the future events which will take place in establishing His kingdom. John was shut out from the world and shut up to God.

Patmos is a small island in the Agean Sea ten miles long and six miles wide. It is located ten miles southeast of Ephesus. Revelation 1:9 says John was there "for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ" meaning he was there because of his stand for Jesus.

Exile was always preceded by scouraging and fettering. It was a time of trial and persecution. John was the patriarch and leader of the Church of Christ in Asia. he was a powerful preacher of the world of God and lived in Ephesus.

2nd Timothy 3:12 says all that live for Christ will suffer persecution. Satan's job is to stop the word of God from advancing. He does this by infiltrating the church with people who have spirits that are working for him. They work to disrupt, discredit and destroy the Pastor and the true Saints of God. He comes against the staff, teachers, deacons and any others in authority. He blinds the laity. If you are under persecution rejoice. If you are not examine the spirits that are guiding you, repent, and pray for deliverance.

John touted himself as the disciple Jesus loved. This was not pride, it was an explanation that he understood why he was persecuted. It is only through Jesus finished work on the cross that we are redeemed. There is a path to the cross but it is filled with trials and tribulations along the way.

Revelation 1:10 John says he "became in the spirit on the Lord's day". This means the normal bodily condition of limitation of time and space was momentarily set aside and he became in the spirit realm. He moved in the spirit realm in two directions, upward and forward. he moves upward to heaven to see things he could not have ordinarily seen. He moves forward into time to see the future he could never live in his body.

This is the "day of the Lord", not Sunday as many suppose. John was taken in the spirit to the day of the Lord. The greeks could not say this in the way the Hebrews say it. In the interpretation the Greeks had to say it the long way, therefore, the Lord's day is means the day of the Lord.

John was saying he became in the spirit, taken up to heaven and moved forward in time to see the universe in heavenly form and see ahead to the great day of the Lord.

John was ordered to see the vision, write it down and send it to the seven churches in Asia Minor. Our Lord kept reminding him to "write it down"

John sees seven golden candlesticks which are the seven churches. Lampstands are made for the night which tells us the church is the light of the world. Jesus said "I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day, for the night cometh" The day comes when no man can work, as long as I am in the world I am the light of the world.

Now that Jesus has been taken out of the world we will have darkness until he returns and it is day again. The Church is the only light in that darkness. Does our light grow dim? Jesus left the lampstands (churches) to provide light to His people until he returns.

In the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and gird about the paps with a golden girdle stood. The locations of the seven chruches of that day were in a circle. John sees Jesus standing in the center of these churches. He is standing there as the Glorified, Risen, Son of Man.

Others have seen this Glorified, Risen, Son of Man;

Moses on the mountain saw him and came down the mountain with his face glowing with His radiance.

Saul saw him and fell down and claimed Him as Saviour.

Isiah saw Him, then saw himself and cried out " I am unclean"

Now John sees Him and falls at his feet as if he were dead. What John saw is for all of us because Jesus told him to write it down.

The phrase "son of Man" is found often in the Bible, several times in Ezekiel and at least once in Daniel. Seventy times it is used in the Bible to describe Jesus.

1. Notice Jesus position in the midst of his church Rev 1:2.. He wants to be in the center of His church Matt 18:20. He wants to be in the midst of His people. Is he the center of your life, your church?

2. The portrait of Christ: It is symbolic, but presented to us in human terms. I doubt if anyone could paint it.

Clothing: two parts of his clothing is described: a long flowing robe down to the feet.

Makes me think about Isaiah 6: In the year King Uziah died...the train of the Lord's robe filled the temple, a Golden Girdle wrapped around His breast.

Jesus girded himself with a towel to wash the disciples feed - but here in Revelation He is not the servant, but the risen Christ. In all His majesty.

John goes on to describe his face and his hair.

His head and his hairs were like wool, as white as snow; and is eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his stength.

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

I am he that liveth, and was dead: and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Daniel 7:9 John sees Jesus standing in the midst of His churches closthed in a long white robe with a golden girdle about His waist and with hair like white wool and eyes as flames of fire.

John was the closest to Jesus while He was here. He saw Jesus eyes filled with tears, now what a sight this must have been to see Jesus eyes like fire, seeing all, knowing all. Nothing is hidden from Jesus, nothing escapes his eyes of fire. Scripture tells us the eyes are windows to the soul and through John's description of the eyes of Jesus he is ready to judge the nations of the world.

Hebrews 4:13 No one is going to fool God, His eyes pierce through our entire lives and he sees all our motives.

Psalm 11:4 His eyelids will try the children of men. his feet like unto fine brass, as if burned in a furnace, and His voice like the sound of many waters. Brass always speaks of judgement and the brass here speaks of judgement when Christ will put all His enemies and evey evil power beneath His feet. Burnished brass is like "military brass"

Isaiah 52:7 There are several contrasts here. His eyes and His feet. Now His mouth - His voice- His voice can be as soft as a bubbling brook, soothing, or the roar of a mighty body of water, the roar of the ocean.

His judgement comes in the circumstances of a wrecked world and a ruined church. His voice on judgement day will be the most awesome sound ever heard in the universe. We cannot imagine that sound.

Christ stand in the midst of His churches and He has in his right hand the Pastors of the churches. This is an encouraging word for Pastors. Preach the whole gospel brothers and do not dispair, Jesus has us in his right hand.

Daniel 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Paul saw the face of Jesus on the day he was redeemed and was blinded. Jesus face is the central part of His being and represents everything He is. The bible is filled with records of the brilliance of Jesus face.

Matthew 17:2 The transfiguration

Acts 26:13 Paul is giving his testamony before his King and describes Jesus face

2 Peter 1:19 A day star arise in your heart.

Rev 22:16 And the bright and morning star.

The picture of Jesus standing in the midst of his churches is not a picture of the friendly Lord, it is the picture of the Lord mighty in judgment, protecting his church.

2 Thessolonians 2:8 and then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, ans shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.

Every eye shall see him and they that pierced him.

When he comes all the stars will be gone along with the sun and moon. It will be dark. In this darkness caused by the tribulation events Jesus will come with a brightness.

Genesis 1:3 and God said, let there be light; and there was light.

Genesis 1:16 And God made two great lights, there greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night.

Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

Jesus was the light of Genesis 1:3 and he is the light of Rev 21:23

Revelation captures the expression on Jesus face: Here is the Son of Man, clothed with power and majesty,with awe and terror, that long royal robe, that golden buckle at the breast, the hair so glistening white, like snow on which the sun is shining. It is so bright it hurts the eyes. His eyes are flashing fire (judgment), eyes that read every heart and penetrate every corner of one's being, the feet glowing in order to trample down the wicked; the loud reverberating voice like the mighty breakers booming against the shore of Patmos; the sharp, long, heavy sword with two biting edges.

His appearance is too much for human eyes. It is an awesome picture of the one we will see face to face one day. This is Christ coming to purge his chruch.

John falls down in fear, but Jesus lays his hand on him and gives him three reasons not to fear.

1. I am the eternal God. I am the first and the last. There is none like me, I am first in the sense there is not other, last in the sense no other shall come after me. I am the living one, forever.

2. I am the resurrected Christ. I now live forever more.

3. Fear not, for I have the keys to hell and death. I alone hold the future in my hand. I am the righteous judge.

He is Jesus

He is the Christ

He is the faithful witness

He is the first begotten of the dead

He is the Prince of the Kings of the Earth

He is the one who loves us and washes our sin away with His own blood

He is the one who comes in the clouds

He is the one who was pierced for us on the cross

He is the Alpha and the Omeg, the beginning and the end

He is the first and the last and all that is in between

He is the Almighty El Shadi

He is the Son of Man

He is he that liveth and was dead and is alive for evermore

THIS IS THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

HE IS LORD

John saw the awesomeness of His coming... John has written it down for us.

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Mystery Babylon

Rev. J. Frank Smith


The last few verses of Revelation 16 speak of the sound of Voices, and thunderings and lightenings coming forth. A great earthquake occurs greater that the world has ever seen before. A great city is divided into three parts. Immediately we would ask what City? The answer lies in Revelation chapters 17 –18. Is it Rome? Five times in Chapters 17 –18 Rome is called the great city.

“Every island fled away, and the mountains were not found”

The earth is shaken so violently the islands disappear beneath the water and mountain ranges are leveled. I am reminded of building mountains in a container with sand. Shake the container and the mountains are leveled. The earthquake is indeed the most violent and widespread the world has ever seen. If the mountains worldwide are leveled in this great earthquake there will be no building left standing save only those protected supernaturally by the hand of God.

Perhaps the most astounding thing of all is man himself. Scripture tells us in the middle of all this destruction there is no repentance. Instead they blaspheme God. They speak evil about the Lord, disobey him and rail against him. Out of their rebellion against God’s punishment they speak evil of the Lord. How can this be except they are apostate. It is sad to realize those who were once tolerant of, and themselves spoke of, a belief in God, to completely turn from Him in view of such total destruction by His hand.

This is a great warning to those who so loosely speak of God, but reject his son, Jesus Christ; to those who practice religion without a relationship with Jesus Christ. How fearful it is to contemplate these matters. Men refuse the gospel truth of Jesus Christ and thereby refuse a relationship with God. After the rapture their hearts are hardened because God sends a powerful delusion to believe the words of the liar Satan. Look at 2nd Thessalonians 2:7-12:

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way
Vs 8 and then shall that wicked be revealed, who the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.
Vs 9 even him, whose coming is after the work of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
Vs 10 and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Vs 11 and for this cause God shall send them a powerful delusion, that they should believe a lie.
Vs 12 That they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

We can see iniquity at work in our world today. Politicians believe they can promise the people what they are yearning to hear and then break those promises when elected. This is an accepted practice in America by politicians and voters, but it is a lie. Americans, we have become lazy and selfish, a nation of spiritual cowards allowing the government and the anti Christian people to decide our moral standards. We kill innocent babies before they are born out of selfishness. We lie and cheat to make more money. We are a nation that abuses the freedom God gave us, pushing the government to eliminate laws that check our moral decay and to adopt more laws that allow us to live in greater moral depravity. Liberal, immoral politicians are happy to give us our way. We have slipped from the standard of integrity that our founding fathers established and our leaders are no better. We are dangerously drifting into the “man is his own God” mentality that is the “Babylonian Spirit”. We, therefore, do not have to wonder how men in the tribulation are so evil they blaspheme God when he deals out corrective judgment instead of repenting and turning to him.
During this judgment that is on the other side of the rapture, God will send disobedient men a strong delusion which will harden their hearts and they will not be saved.

We come now to the judgments by which the end of the pre-messianic age is consummated. John now moves to describe the fall of Babylon, the world system and the bloody harlot. Then he gives a scene of the multitudes of heaven singing their song of hallelujah over the righteous retribution of the harlot, Babylon the Great. Then the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus himself, completes his worldwide conquest and the City of New Jerusalem descends from heaven to earth.

We have seen through the writings of John the seal judgments, the trumpet judgments and the vial or bowl judgments and the awful things that will happen. Judgment has indeed been apportioned and the enemies of God and his church are defeated. Let us not be captivated by the world system because Babylon has no future. The future is in New Jerusalem. If your name is not written down in the citizenship book of that city, you have a dim future. The only way for your name will be there in the book of that city is through your belief that Jesus is the Son of God and his sufferings and death were to cover your sins and you accepted His work of atonement. Then and only then will you have a personal relationship established with him and then and only then can he be your savior!

Back in Genesis 10 the whole world came together to build one religious system, the tower of Babel.

Genesis 10:4 “ and they said, go to, let us build a city and a tower, whose top may reach into the heaven: and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”

The word Babylon itself is an interesting word in that it represents in scripture the false systems of religion that have grown up in our world since the tenth chapter of Genesis. Babylon is not just an ancient city, but also a system of thinking that grew out of the spirit that developed in that city. This spiritual system of thinking goes beyond the city of Babylon into religious practices since the beginning of mankind.

M.R. DeHaan, Md., Teacher of the Radio Bible Class said in his book “Revelation”

“Babylon was an ancient city, the capital of the Babylonian Empire, but in scripture, Babylon represents the program of Satan as opposed to the program of God. It began with Nimrod the rebel, of whom we read in Genesis 1, when he built the first Tower of Babel, which was destroyed by the coming of the Lord from heaven. It was a religious and political federation of all the nations of the world in opposition to God. Babylonianism has appeared in various forms, but always it has remained essentially the same. Whether Egyptian, Assyrian, Grecian, or Roman form, it has sought to accomplish two objectives: a world-federation which denies the right of Christ to reign and a religious system which denies the authority of Jesus Christ.”

In our study of Revelation we have reached the end of the Tribulation period. Chapter 16 gives us a future glance of Armageddon and the second coming of Christ, but that actually takes place in Revelation 19. Between Revelation chapters 16 and 19 there are three chapters which discuss one great topic, the judgment that is the final judgment of God on the ungodly world-federation of the nations in the end time under the leadership of the last great world dictator. The beast we saw come out of the sea of people in Revelation 13, the antichrist and now the system of the antichrist is judged. Babylonianism begins way back in Genesis and comes to an end in Revelation 17-19 under the judgment of God.

Babel was an ancient kingdom that flourished for a long time before it was taken over by a stronger nation. For students of scripture the words Babel and Babylon have a much more important meaning. Babel was not only a great city, it symbolizes a political ideal and governmental system that survived the death of the city. This governmental system is still at the root of the world’s disorders. Babylonianism is the spirit of the antichrist that operates the world kingdom that opposes the Kingdom of God. It is also a religious system that challenges the Church of Jesus Christ. After the Flood, the descendants of Noah, forgetting the lesson they should have learned, turned from God and moved to a region to the North of Palestine in the area of the original Garden of Eden. Called the land of Shinar, it was in the area of the Euphrates River, one of the principal rivers of the Garden of Eden.

A ruler named Nimrod was the leader of this movement. He began building a great city called Babel that was to become one of the seven great wonders of the world. In the middle of the city he built a gigantic temple dedicated to a God named Belus, later called Baal. During the construction he also began building a tower, which we know biblically as the tower of Babel. The tower of Babel became the symbolism of Satan’s program throughout the ages that is in direct opposition to the plan of God. The city of Babel had great splendor. Two people, a man named Nimrod, and a woman named Semiramis ruled Babylon. The King Nimrod ruled politically and was the head of the Babylonian State and Queen Semiramis ruled religiously being the head of the pagan system of religion and idolatry. Politics and religion merged into one great gigantic system of worship under these two and this system spread across the world. The word Babel literally means the “gate to glory”. God, as you will remember, changed the “gate to glory” to the “gate of confusion” by changing the language of those who worked on the tower of Babel so they could not communicate thereby halting work on the tower. God did this not only to stop work on the tower but more important to stop man’s attempt to bypass God’s plan of salvation.

Semiramis the leader of the religious system gave birth to a son whom she claimed was conceived by a sunbeam. She touted him as the great deliverer of the earth. His name was Tammuz, a God whose name is referred to in Ezekiel 8:14. Tammuz was killed by a wild boar after reaching manhood, an event that sent his mother into mourning. She mourned for 40 days, weeping. According to his mother, he was raised from the dead as a result of her mourning. This perpetuated their legend and the mother-son deity established. The legend and the worship of this mother-son deity spread across the world. Semiramis was known by different names in different countries so the legend varies from region to region. In Rome this mother-son deity is known as Venus and Cupid. As the religion spread, the liturgy of worship began to be defined. Semiramis also became known as the “queen of heaven” and was worshipped by the presenting of a little wafer or cake. The period of the 40 days became known as lent memorializing the 40 days Semiramis spent mourning for her son. At the end of the period of lent a celebration of resurrection was held called the “feast of Ishtar”. Ishtar was Semiramis Asyrian name. Part of the celebration included the exchange of Ishtar eggs symbolizing new life. Our word Easter comes from the name Ishtar and our Easter Eggs are actually Ishtar Eggs. The pagan religion that resulted has remained underground for most of the time between Babel and today and is clouded in mystery. However the liturgy and customs it brought to the world continued. This false religion has shown up in Priestly Ablutions, sacramental rites, the dedication of virgins to the God, Purgatorial fires and the celebration of the “sign of the cross”. Many of these practices are still used today in various forms. You might also be interested to know the “sign of the cross” was actually the pointing out of the letter “Tau” which stood for Tammuz. The commonality of these rituals is that they came out of this Babylonian system, all a counterfeit of the truth, which is found in God and through his son Jesus Christ. This is not just ancient history. God became very upset when this false religion made its way into the Jewish nation. Jeremiah wrote about it and warned the Israelites of this false religion and God’s displeasure of it.

Jeremiah 44:15 "Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other Gods and all the women that stood by a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah saying,
Vs 16 As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not harken unto thee.
Vs17 But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our Kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and say no evil
Vs 18 But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.

Israel had become heavily involved in the worship of the false religion. Read forward a few more verses and you will find Jeremiah admonishing them that their worship of the false religion was seen by God and prophesized his judgment would come. The lesson to be learned is that God has seen America’s sin; the murder of unborn children and the love of money, the worship of false Gods and He will respond. Greed is the reason for our present chaos and the faster we realize it and repent, the faster we will end our present problems. Jeremiah warned the people of this day:

Jeremiah 44:23 “ Because ye have burned incense, and because you have sinned against the Lord, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day”

Ezekiel addressed the same issue:

Ezekiel 8:13 “He said also unto me, turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they d, vs 14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord’s house which was toward the north; and behold, there sat woman weeping for Tammuz. Vs15, Then said he unto me Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these. Vs 16, and he brought me unto the inner court of the Lord’s house, and behold at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the alter, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. Vs17, Then he said unto me, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit to the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and lo, they put the branch to their nose. Vs18, Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.”

Ezekiel saw the women in the temple observing the 40 days of lent for the slaying of the Pagan Tammuz. The mother-son cult that was started in ancient Babylon with a system of worship that later moved into Rome when Cesar was Pontiphex Maximus was elected the great high priest. He became the high priest over this whole system of idolatry in the Roman Empire. When the office of emperor of Rome was eliminated the office of Bishop evolved into what is today, the office of Pope. Many claim the Pope is a successor of Simon Peter, but he is not. He is a successor to the High Priest of the heathen mysteries that began way back in Babylon. Constantine later rose to the throne in Rome and the first Pope assumed the title of Pontiphex Maximus and all those heathen associations and ceremonies that had their beginning with Nimrod by the worship of the “queen of heaven”, the eating of the wafer in honor of her, the doctrine of purgatory, the wearing of vestments and the observance of a 1001 lesser mysteries, were brought into the church and observed for over 1000 years all over Europe. Thus the Roman Catholic Church with all its God dishonoring doctrines and practices come into existence. The Roman Catholic Church is an amalgamation of the Christian church and the Roman Empire that took place when Constantine embraced the faith and merged the pagan religious practices with Christianity. He performed mass baptisms of government workers and the military and made Christianity the state religion. Unfortunately for Christianity all the pagan-Babylonian customs that had become a part of Roman practice were merged with the Christian faith. Today, many of these traditions still remain. If you ask most good, loyal Catholics today where these traditions come from, they have no clue. Study history and the facts will bear out their origin. In all scripture there is no such thing as the worship of a female deity. Women of God are never presented in scripture as anything but the humble servants of God; human vessels used by God for his purpose. Look at Revelation 17:5; the female deity that is worshipped is a false religion.

Revelation 17:5 “And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”

In the last days the religious system of man and the government of man will come together as the antichrist will marry this final form of Babylonian false cult that I believe is the spirit of religion that is in the world today. The marriage between the political system of that day and the religious system left here on this earth will complete and the final coalition world government of the antichrist. Satan will try to rule the world. What will follow prophetically is that this Babylonian system will be destroyed and the great city of Rome as well. Please understand, no present denomination is being condemned here, only the study of an evil world system that has infiltrated organized religion to the displeasure of God. This system, as said before, has infiltrated all denominations in various degrees.

Now you are prepared to understand why this is called the destruction of Babylon. It is the destruction of the Babylonian system of government and religion that we see today that has been incorporated into all denominations. The Catholic system happened to be the first. If you have any doubt about this, stay with us as we study in depth in the next few verses.


Revelation 17:1 “And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked, saying unto me, come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: vs2, with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. Vs3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw the woman sit up on a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. Vs4 and the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication. Vs5 and upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Vs 6 and I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw I wondered with great admiration.

There are two Babylon systems, religious and political. They come out of Babylon where wicked men aspired to make a gateway to God because of their in defiance of God’s plan of salvation. Babylon was destroyed and has not been rebuilt to this date. Scripture seems to indicate it will be rebuilt, however, many believe the system of the original city was transferred to Rome. The system is still around and will be destroyed. In either case scripture says God will destroy both the city that is central to the system and the system in a great earthquake in the tribulation. It will flourish and become the Mecca the bible predicts but its doom has been pronounced. These events unfold in the chapters 18 and 19 of the book of Revelation.

Revelation 17 reveals a great whore described in the beginning as “sitting on many waters.” The Holy Spirit often depicts a woman as a symbol of a religious system, usually an evil system, with one exception being the reference to the true church symbolized as the bride of Christ. Any time she is described as a whore it is always references religious fornication. Reference is made to Isaiah 23:17; Isaiah 57:3-7; Jeremiah 3:2-9 Ezekiel 16:1-63; Ezekiel 20:30-32; Ezekiel 23:7-49; Hosea 4:12-19 and Nahum 3:4. The reference in Rev 17 is to idolatrous religious practices. The woman is not a political power because she is not classified as one of the kings of the earth. What she does is cause the kings of the earth and the inhabitants of the earth to be drunk with the “wine of her fornication” a term which means they indulge in the sin of her pleasure and it is addicting. Their indulgence in the sin of her pleasure brings them into the bondage of her evil. Their hearts are captured and turned to evil because of the lust of their hearts. Since fornication here refers to religious harlotry, her influence over the nations is religion. It is a religion that draws people in but denies the truth of God. It pleases because it is full of rituals and the preaching of physical pleasures. It may be well to note here that the true church of God is gone, but religion that pleases the lust of the flesh remains. The word whore in the Greek is pornea and translated as harlot. God is using this word to describe a religious system. This is a very offensive word but there is a reason it is used. The symbolism of spiritual adultery is never used of heathen nations who do not know God but always of people who carry the name of God while actually worshipping and serving other Gods. The New Testament church is portrayed in scripture as a virgin and is warned continuously of adultery.

James 4:4 “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God”

Following the rapture of the true church of God the false church or religious system will flourish and God identifies it as a whore or harlot because religion will join together with the evil political system to deceive the nations. The church will ignore God and rest on the political system. In Chapter 17 of revelation, the woman, that is the apostate religious system, is riding on the beastly political system. This counterfeit religious system will adulterate itself before God by choosing the world political system as the source of its power. The “woman” commits spiritual adultery because she unites demonic spiritual power with political power that is the heathen Babylonian system of the world. The last verse of chapter 17 clearly tells us the identity of this woman. She is the city that is the seat of the world’s system, a great city that reins over the kings of the earth. Many believe this can only be Rome, the city that ruled the world in John’s day. Chapter 17:9 reveals this city sits on seven hills. Rome was built on seven hills that are Abentene, Kallaen, Captalene, Esquileen, Polatene, Koronol and Bibinol. The color scheme is also mentioned there, purple and scarlet. The Vatican counsel that governs Rome wears purple and scarlet robes. She sits on many waters, meaning peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues. Hers is a universal power. Rome is the logical place for a concentration of power. The Cesars reached out into the world from Rome. The church reached out from Rome to the rest of the world. It was from Sicily, which is near Rome, that organized crime reached out into the rest of the world.

Rome is certainly no stranger to power and political systems. The Roman system, centered in the Vatican, is a very strong political system. The one at the top of the power structure is the Pope himself. Under the Pope are the Cardinals, then the Roman Curier with its departments and commissions. The Papal diplomatic corps follows with its nuncios, internuncios and apostolic delegates. The ordinary government is beneath this structure, the extra ordinary government, the clergy made up of friars, sisters and nuns. Finally, at the bottom is the laity. How can anyone say it is only a religious system? There is no other religious system that gets a United States ambassador assigned to it because it is not only a religious system but a political system.

Revelation 17:3 gives us the position of the woman:

“So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns."

The woman is in partnership with the political system of the beast. They cooperate with each other in the same pursuit that is to rule the world. God is totally ignored. The seven heads and ten horns are the political system established by the beast during the tribulation period. This woman enjoys unlimited prosperity. She is literally decked out, arrayed in purple and scarlet color with gold, precious stones, pearls and a golden cup in her hand. There is a grave danger of any denomination or religion that becomes rich and powerful. The rise of material level brings a decline in spirituality and the church becomes spiritually powerless. God will not honor any system that becomes so materially rich it begins to imagine its doing well and has no need of him. Such quasi political-spiritual systems may present great liturgy, and impressive system of government and popularity among the masses. It may become a mysterious power that impresses men, but the power of God is not with them. They may be able to boast of silver and gold, but they cannot say, “take up thy bed and walk” for they have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. This woman is decked out but in her golden cup are abominations, and the filthiness of her fornication. Revelation 17:5 says her name is MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

There is a second warning to Christians here. Jesus Christ is the head of the church. When His leadership is negated the organization ceases to function as a church and becomes an apostate religious system with a governmental bureaucracy. It has a lot of function, but no power.

In summary, back in the beginning of history we find Babylon and the building of the tower of Babel. We have learned it is a system of idolatry that began in Genesis and continues to this day. This anti-god system has been centered in Rome since Cesar was elected Pontipas Maximus, a title that has been held by each Roman emperor from the time of Constantine. Constantine professed to be a Christian and the ancient pagan Babylonian mysteries were transferred completely into the Christian church. The entire system of Paganism was also incorporated into Christianity. The worship of “the queen of heaven, purgatory, the use of holy water, priestly ablusions, bells, candles, the celibacy of the priesthood, the dedication of virgins, prayers for the dead are some of the pagan practices drafted into Christianity. Men in Babel called it the “gate to God” but the Babylonian system is nothing more than a denial of God’s way to heaven; through the suffering of Jesus for sins and the atonement of his blood in sacrifice. Genesis 3:21 clearly revealed God’s way for he killed an animal, shed its blood, and used the skin to clothe the first sinners. God has made known his plan of salvation. Man must be saved through the shedding of the blood of an innocent substitute and by the death of another in payment for sins. The Babylonians denied God’s way and substituted their own works by attempting to build a tower that was to be their way to God. This is the spirit of religion formulated by Satan through the Babylonian world system that God warns us to avoid

Romans 12:2
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”