Researched from J. Dwight Pentecost book âThings to Comeâ
By Pastor Gary Boyd
I have told of the opening of the seven seals that occurs in the first half of the Great Tribulation. Then I have shown you what takes place at the blowing of the seven trumpets and the three woes that take place in the last three. This article will endeavor to show you the knowledge of the judgment of babylon, the description of the harlot and her identity, and what happens to her. So who is this great whore of Babylon?
Revelation 17 outlines the judgment of the great harlot of Babylon, the apostate religious system that exists in the the great tribulation. The system bears the characterization of a harlot Rev. 17:1-2, âAnd there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 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.â It claims to be Christâs bride but had fallen from its pure position becoming a harlot. Revelation 17: 5 states, â And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth.â Spiritual fornication in scripture has reference to adherence to a false system. Rev. 17:3 says, â 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.â The system is a leader in political affairs and appears to be controlling the Beast system upon which it rides. The system has become very rich and powerful it tells us in Rev. 17:4, â 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.â The system represents a phase of the development of Christendom that was hitherto unrevealed in that it is called a âmystery.â This system has been the great persecutor of the true saints as it states in Rev. 17:6, âAnd I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.â This system is a organized religion of worldwide scope in Rev. 17:15 stating, âAnd he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.â In Rev. 17:16-17 it says this religious system will be destroyed by the Beast who is the world Antichrist that demands the world worship him as Christ as stated, âAnd the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.â So as you hear from God the this false system of religion will be destroyed by the Beast, the head of the Roman coalition, so that his supremacy may not be threatened.
The Identity of the Harlot
I do not believe it too much to say that Mystery Babylon is the Holy Roman Catholic Church whose colors are scarlet & purple that killed millions in the inquisitions both true Christians & Jews stealing their possessions and wealth by calling them heretics. By using false doctrine found within Romanism directly attributed to babylonian paganism combined with Christianity Constantine declared Rome to be a Christian empire.
This Beast, the Antichrist, who was dominated by the religious harlot system directed by the false prophet, the Pope, rises up against her after he declares himself to be Christ completely destroying Rome the city on seven hills. This would give the Antichrist sole claim to be worshiped as God here on earth.
Judgment of the Beast and His Empire
3 ½ years into the Great Tribulation after he does away with the false prophet and Rome the Beast goes after the tribulation saints who have taken a stand against him and his empire. No one can eat or buy without the mark of the Beast that shows allegiance to his end time system. Revelation 18: 10, 16-18 says it all, âStanding at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, âAlas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come. And saying, âAlas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.â Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, âWhat is like this great city?â
The destruction of the seat of the Beastâs power is accomplished in a divine visitation by fire in Revelation 18:8, â Therefore her plagues will come in one dayâdeath and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her.â
The fall of Babylon is final, absolute, and happens at the end of revelation. I believe this Babylon is a city here in America called New York City, but that is a story for another day. May God bless for reading this until the end. Maranathaâ¦..
Researched from J. Dwight Pentecost book âThings... (
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