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Revelation 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:13-14
[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

This Bible Study was originally written by Roger Christopherson,
published at http://www.theseason.org/

Without the leading by the Holy Spirit, there is no understanding of the truths, for all the truth of the Scriptures are revealed to us by God's Spirit.

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Chapter 17, like all the others, was written in symbology. We are taught here by the use of idioms, and symbols. Though these terms are covered over in symbols; each of these terms are explained as to their identity. There simply is no mystery to these symbols when we have the explanation. As we unravel the mysteries in this chapter, many other mysteries of God's Word will also be revealed at this time.

Revelation 17:1 "And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials [bowls], and talked with me [John], saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore [harlot] that sitteth upon many waters:

Remember, the seven seals, vials, plagues, trumpets, and thunders are all the same acts. Only a different vision of John's, giving a different profile of the same occurrence, or event. This angel is one of the seven angels that "he" [John] has seen before, and the discussion John and this angel are having is about this "one world religion" that sits, or rules over the peoples of the earth. The "great whore" is a religion, while the "waters" represents the people that follow after the whore, or religion.

This "whore" is identified as "Mystery, Babylon", as we look ahead to the 15th verse. We will also establish in our minds exactly what the "waters", or "seas", or "rivers" truly represents. These bodies of water are peoples, and nations, tongues and languages right here on earth. This harlot is not the Catholic church, or any other church now in operation, but it is a deception created by these Kenite scribes that will so change your church, or any church, to accept the one world political and religious beasts. In the end, it will be the spurious messiah's, Satan's, religious system.

The approach the Kenites will use to draw you and your church into their system, will be through your own doctrines like the "rapture theory", or another false doctrine spun out to draw certain churches in to their deceptions. To the Roman Catholics, they will use idols, miracles, or even a statement from the pope, to make the Catholics accept. To Buddhist and the Hindus it will be something different, but all religions will be open and willing to allow themselves to enter into the false-christ's system.

You will not understand what "the tribulation" is all about, if you do not understand that it is a spiritual warfare. The lies Satan uses will be distortions right out of the Bible. Why is the Christian world the focus of Satan's attacks over all other religions of the world? Christianity is the only religion where it's Messiah and founder claims to be the "Son of the Living God". All other forms of religious practice are created by man for man. Any supernatural action then would automatically draw the other forms to that supernatural entity. Christianity is the only religion that is exact and absolute, Jesus said, you either come to the Father by Me, or you are not saved and don't have eternal life. Jesus said in John 14:6; "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh to the Father but by Me."

Revelation 17:2 "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."

This is the answer given to John, by the angel. The "people" of the earth have become intoxicated on her [this one world religious system's] wine, which is confusion and false doctrine. They are being drawn to accept this religious system that these Kenites will devise upon the arrival of, Satan as the false-christ, to earth.

Revelation 17:3 "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 wilderness is the same as Joel spoke of; where before the locust arrived, it was like the Garden of Eden, lush and flourishing; and behind the locust army it became a wilderness. [Joel 1:19-20]

So this "wilderness" is a "time", not a place, when all truth of God's Word has dried up.

Amos 8:11 "Behold the day come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:"

Amos 8:12 "And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they [the people of the earth living in their flesh bodies] shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it."

The "blasphemy" she is spouting out is against our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit of God.

In Revelation 13:1, we were given the seven dominions, or continents which cover the entire earth, with it's ten rulers, or authoritative agencies.

All these powers are riding under a beast, which is a world wide government. When this government started, it was in a political form following a world war.

However, after the United Nations was established, then a troubling spiritual time came.

The Political form of this world wide system will die, and out of it's destruction a religious order, or religion which the entire world will accept will come into being.

Revelation 17:4 "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:"

The "woman" is the religious order, or church system, that is riding on this beast. Again she is wearing the royal clothing, showing the strength of her power. The "gold and precious stones" that she will be wearing, show her attempt at priestly duties, which is a copy of the breast plate that one of God's priests would wear.

The "cup" is filled "with abominations", which in the Greek text are "bdelugma", and in the plural, its of "idolatry". It is unclean practices of worship.

The "cup" in the communion holds the wine, that represents the blood of Christ, and it is taken to our lips. The "cup" represents the purity of Christ's blood, and the sacrifice that was shed for our sins.

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

She, this one world religious system is the queen of all of Satan's dirty tricks and fornications.

Though it will appear like God is blessing this harlot, and that this religious system is a pillar of the truth, but the system you see is a lie, and from the pit.

Satan's religious order will enter prosperously and successfully, yet, it will be very short lived [five months], as we read in Revelation 9:5, 10.

Daniel 8:23 "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up."

When the one world political system [United Nations] created by the Kenites has come to completion and is accepted by the peoples of the world, then it will cease as a political government because this "king of fierce countenance and understanding dark sentences" will arrive here on earth. That king is Satan.

Daniel 8:24 "And his [Satan's] power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people."

We know that Satan will be supernatural, because in Revelation 9:1, we saw that God gave Satan the power and authority to do those things that he shall do. Remember that God put limits on Satan and he will only be allowed to deceive those that do not have the seal of God in their foreheads, their minds.

Daniel 8:25 "And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand."

The policy of any company or organization sets the limits to what the entity will do, or how it will function. It sets the nature of the entity. Satan's policy will be to bless those that follow him, and destroy those that will not. Satan's "policy" is to "magnify himself" in his mind, and that is done when people bow to him, and call him God. That is the "Abomination of desolation" that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24:15.

Revelation 17:6 "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 her, I wondered with great admiration [wonder]."

This "woman" [One world religious system] is drunken with the pride of deceiving the saints of God who were not prepared to face her, or could they even understand how Satan would mold his church. These "martyrs" for Jesus are God's two witnesses. [See chapter eleven.]

This word "admiration" is one of the sickest translations in the whole Bible. In fact it is an outright insult. "Admiration" as used here means "to be shocked", or "to wonder in astonishment in disbelief". This religion, or "woman" was the depth of blasphemy. How could an intelligent and educated world, in this century accept the simplicity of all the Kenite, and Satanic lies and perversions as of God. This shows just how low the religious world will sink.

The lies and practices of idolatry, and perversions will be molded into the minds of this generation through the strict control of the four hidden dynasties, which the Kenites control now. They will shape your thinking and your lifestyle to where you will willingly accept it, if you are not sealed in your mind with the truth of God's Word.

Revelation 17:7 "And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns."

This angel is going to tell us the mystery of the woman, the beast, the heads, and the horns. Satan will work differently in this second earth age, than he worked in the first earth age [given in Revelation 12:1-6]. Then the crowns of power was given to the kings that sat over the people, where as in Revelation 13:1-3 we saw that it was the ten agencies of power that wore the crowns of power, not individuals.

Revelation 17:8 "The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is [shall come]."

This "beast" was in the Garden of Eden deceiving [beguiling] Eve; he is not here now, for he is in heaven accusing the saints before the throne of God. He [Satan] will ascend out of the bottomless pit, as we saw in Revelation 9:1, and 2, and "he will go to perdition", following the judgment at the end of the Millennium kingdom age. My fellow Christian, "he" spoken of here, is Satan, and don't let any one tell you any different. Satan is the "son of perdition" as recorded in II Thessalonians 2:1-4, and he will be the first Christ to come at the end of this earth age.

"Perdition" means to "perish", and only Satan has had that sentence passed on him at this time. We are told that those "whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world", [that first earth age], will wonder, or follow after Satan. They fell in the first earth age, and they will also fall in this earth age. Those of who were chosen in that first earth age stood against Satan then, and they will also stand now. They are God's elect.

When the last of the elect, and the 144,000 of Israel are sealed, then Satan will arrive as the false-christ.

They will follow false doctrine, and go into Satan's camp.
The deception will cover the whole earth, even though the truth is in your hands to forewarn those around you in this generation.

There will be no equal to the deceptions that are going to come, in the history of all mankind.

Yet the sermons of today are full of nonsense, with no sense of urgency given even as this great hour of deception is at our doorstep.

Revelation 17:9 "And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth."

If you understand God's prophecy, then you have "wisdom". The "Mountains" are seven nations, or dominions. They are areas of land, and all seven dominions comprise the entire earth. They will make up Satan's earthly kingdom. A "kingdom" is "a king and his domain". The "woman", or this false religion will sit and rule over all seven of these dominions. "She" is the religion of Satan created by the Kenites, and the eighth verse told us it is Satan [the beast] that will sit over the woman.

Revelation 17:10 "And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space."

Now we get to something a little different. When we go back to verse eight, we will understand it.

There were ten kings at first, but this deals with seven kings. These seven kings have been over their dominions for some time. There is only one king that Christ has given power over all the earth in the past two thousand years, and that king is Satan. These seven kings represent the seven offices that Satan has held, from the "dragon" in the first earth age, "serpent" in the garden, all the way through this age to the spurious messiah at the end of this age. There has been five roles that Satan has and is playing to this date, and Satan is our "accuser" before the throne of God today, but in time he will be right here on earth filling the role of the false-christ, which will be for a very short time. Satan's final role starts shortly, very shortly, with Michael casting him out of heaven [Revelation 12:7]. He will have only five months in his final role of this earth age.

Revelation 17:11 "And the beast that was, and is not even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition."

Remember in verse eight, "he" was the one out of the pit. Satan's "eighth" role is when he goes into perdition. Why, "of the seven"? Because he was over the seven, one entity in all seven positions; and now this eighth is his last.

No one except Satan has been judged and sentenced already to perdition, as recorded in Ezekiel 28:18. This beast is the son of perdition, and "perdition" means "to destroy" or destroyer.

Revelation 17:12 "And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power [authority] as kings one hour with the beast."

These "ten horns" are ten kings, and all these kings exists at the same time. They are not like the seven kings of the roles of Satan. They do not rule until a specific time, and then they rule for one hour.

The beast [the instead-of-christ] must appear first, then their power will be given to them by this false-christ.

This is after the deadly wound has been healed, the ending of the one world political system.

The warnings are given so that we will not follow, or be deceived by this beast in that final hour [of this age].

The elect and the sealed of God will not be tempted in that hour, for they know who the tempter is [Satan].

There is no "rapture" or escape from this hour of temptation here on earth, but God's armor is sufficient to protect you during this spiritual battle.

I am aware that this is the point that deceivers use to draw you in; however, it is this very deception that will lead you to the false-christ.

Revelation 17:13 "These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast."

There can be no doubt now who rules over the ten kings, or authorities, or agencies: it is Satan, the false-christ, the beast. The nations of the world have no borders, or boundaries. The Euphrates has dried up, and Israel and Babylon are one in mind and accord. These authorities must be similar to the ten agencies that now rule the earth, under the United Nations. These are UNICEF [for the children], the World Bank [economics], the World court [to settle disputes], Red Cross [the world health organization], Relief [starvation], the U.N. forces [military], Space, Environment, and the Beast [universal information and control computer], and Education, as well as the World council of churches.

Revelation 17:14 "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of Lords, and King of kings: and they [those sealed with the truth in their minds] that are with him are called, and chosen and faithful."

Thank God that you can be living in this generation, and understand what it is all about.

This is the generation most of the Bible is written about, for it is the final time of testing of those who fell in the first earth age.

If you understand, then God's plan makes sense and no deception can come for you.

That spiritual armor will be given at the close of this chapter, as recorded in Ephesians 6:10-20.

Revelation 17:15 "And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues."

He continues explaining the symbols. The "waters" are "the people, and nations of all languages of the earth" that the false-christ will sit upon. Mystery Babylon will control the entire earth, and that means you, unless you have been sealed in your mind, prior to when the spurious messiah arrives.

Revelation 17:16 "And 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."

In Revelation 9:4 we saw this army of locust will burn [deceive] all, with the permission of God, except for the elect.

They will make These professing Christians "naked" by taking away all their righteous acts, for when they take "the mark of the Beast", they throw away their acts and works before Satan.

Our garments in the next age are made up of our righteous acts. We will read of this in Revelation 19.

Revelation 17:17 "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."

It is God who puts the will in the hearts of these ten kings, or world rulers to fulfill God's will. It is God's will, and under His control and authority that all that should come to pass; will come to pass, exactly as His Word said it would. We are observers in this generation, with the mission to plant seeds of truth until the arrival of the Satan as the false-christ. Then be willing to be used by the Holy Spirit, as he talks through us during this time of the tribulation.

The plan of God is right on schedule, and we are in a position to see the awesome workings of God as He moves to fulfill His eternal plan.

Unbelievable peace talks are taking place, and enemies around the world are following the lead of the political beast.

"For God hath put it in their hearts [minds] to fulfill his will, and to agree, and to give their kingdom unto the beast." [verse 17] All things shall come to pass as they are written.

Revelation 17:18 "And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth."

This is a symbolic city. It is made up of one thing, Confusion. A mind set that brings all minds and thoughts of the world into a common bond. They agree to accept the idolatry, and the entire world order, both political and religious. The city is not a city as we think of cities today, but a state of mind, which is in accord and agreement with Satan's religious order. That state of mind will be what rules the authorities controlling all mankind, except God's elect. Got it? I hope so.

Just as it was in the days of Noah will be repeated/and is happening again in the life time of us 21st. century flesh and blood human beings.

In this study we will talk about:
The creation of the world.
The Kenites and where they came from.
The City and why God said, "Come out of her, my people,..., and that ye receive not of her plagues.""
The structure of that great City.
The Cup of God's Wrath.
The Four Hidden Dynasties.
The Nephilim and the Fallen Angels.
Satan and his Scorpions and Vipers.
The Second and the Last Woe.
The Two Witnesses and The Abomination of Desolation.
The coming of the Lord Jesus Christ
and The Seventh and Last Trumpet.
Jesus Christ's Millennium Kingdom.
The Judgment Day
The New Eternal Earth.

American Wisdom Series Editor's Note: We are going to stop here in this "Revelation of Jesus Christ" study to review some commentary from chapter 17 in an earlier study we published on the "Revelation of Jesus Christ." I don't believe you will find much difference in the general opinion of these 2 authors, but to read another person's perspective of events that did and will take place may prove helpful in our understanding of Jesus' revelation. Also, our introduction #9300 was taken from this earlier study so keep your eyes open for study tips and rules to help simplify your grasp of Jesus' end time revelation

In chapter 16 we saw the 7 Vials containing the wrath of God poured out upon those who had the mark of the beast in their foreheads (minds) and who worshipped Satan, the false messiah, as Jesus Christ. We will now see one of those 7 angels who poured out the vials come and give us a "close up" view of the judgment of the "Great Whore". Maybe we should update the terminology a little and call her the "Great Slut" because the Holy Spirit wants us to get a real good PICTURE of exactly how He looks upon the false religious system that spews forth from that great city where the "son of perdition" will sit claiming that he is God (2 Thes. 2). Also, be it known that our Father deals in reality, so if the terminology used here is offensive then one can always go to a church where they only teach nice things like cute little bunny rabbits and Ishtar eggs, real Biblical gems.

Now, if you have read all of God's Word, then you are already familiar with "whores" and "harlots" and how their actions are use to describe "idolatry". You see, idolatry is a far greater sin than being a whore, for the latter is of the flesh but the former is of the spirit. And while most whores know they are "whoring around" most idolaters of religion think they serve God, yet they violate the very 1st Commandment of God.

For those, however, who are not familiar with God's Word, for perhaps they are just beginning to study His Word, then it would serve them well, if they wish to understand this great chapter 17 of Revelation, to first read and understand the Book of Hosea in the Old Testament. Hosea means "salvation" which is what the Book of Hosea is about! That's right, the book titled "Salvation" is in the Old Testament. Then perhaps they will SEE how our Father feels about and looks upon "idolatry", false religion. As the apostle Paul documents in 2 Thes. 2:3, there's a Great Apostasy about to be born and this Great Whore in Rev. 17 will be its mother and give it birth.

Live Link to- Hosea

So if you read the Book of Hosea you will read that God tells Hosea to go marry a whore! That's right! "Go marry a whore, Hosea! I want you to know what it is like being married to someone who is unfaithful to you!"

Hosea 1:2
The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.

Again, you must read the entire book. Hosea's wife conceived and bore him children, Lo-ruhamah and Lo-ammi, and they were told by the LORD to say unto their brethren:

Hosea 2:2
Plead with your mother, plead: for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts;

Many think they are going to attend the marriage supper of the Lamb, but are there not those to whom He will say "Get away from me, I never knew you?"

[3] Lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst.
[4] And I will not have mercy upon her children; for they be the children of whoredoms.
[5] For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.

Got the PICTURE? God hates idolatry, spiritual whoredom. And His children are too Biblically ignorant to know to whom they are married! Yes they are! They will jump in bed with the first Bridegroom that appears on earth claiming to be Jesus and they will be seduced! They are the first women (no gender intended) taken in the field in Mat. 24:40, just as it was in the days of Noah. Is all this graphic enough? It is very serious. In this final generation you must have the seal of God (His Word) in your forehead (mind) in order to escape the vials from being poured out on you.

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge...

One final comment before we begin chapter 17. Remember in the first chapter of Revelation that which we learned regarding the symbology used in Revelation? It is either "old hat", i.e. we've seen it before and know what it means, or the Book of Revelation interprets it for us. For example, we read about 7 stars and 7 candlesticks in the first chapter and we were then told that the 7 stars were "angels" and the 7 candlesticks were "churches". The explanation was therefore supplied and we did not have to imagine what the symbols were or make up our own interpretation. We will see the same done here in this 17th chapter.

Here then is verse one of chapter 17:

Rev. 17:1
And 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:

This will be easy on our part because the angel is going to show us the judgment! I believe that's called a revelation.

By the way, here's Strong's definition of "whore". It is from where we get the English word "porno".

porne, por'-nay, Greek 4204; feminine of Greek 4205 (pornos); a strumpet; figurative an idolater :- harlot, whore.

Also when we get to verse 15 we'll be told exactly what the "waters" are, just like we were told what stars were in chapter one. So let's peek ahead: Rev. 17:15 "And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." No guesswork needed here, is there?

Now, look who's has been sleeping with this whore?

[2] 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.

Oh wow! She's slept with just about everyone. She must be a real doll!

Now the angel makes good his word and takes John in the spirit to the desolate place, even the place of the desolator, and shows him a PICTURE!

[3] 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.

What do we SEE? A "woman" sitting upon a "scarlet coloured" beast, full of the names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

Hey, we know who the "scarlet coloured beast" is. He's the "Red Dragon" of Rev. 12:3 & 13:1. It is Satan and his power structure. We've identified these 7 heads and 10 horns before! Now, if we just knew who this woman was! (Let's scan the rest of the chapter and see if we are told who the "woman" is, like we were told what the "waters" were). BINGO! Don't you just love it?

Rev. 17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Now where does Satan set up his headquarters when he's cast out of heaven in Rev. 12:7-9? We know that from chapter 11. It's where he sits in the temple with his angels! It is Jerusalem, where also our Lord was crucified, and where the two witnesses shall be killed.

Rev. 11:8
And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

It is "spiritually" called Sodom and Egypt which "spiritually" means Idolatry and Oppression. It's the city of Jerusalem! That's the great city!

Let's return to Rev. 17 and learn more about this woman.

Rev. 17:4 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:

Wow! This woman is "dressed to kill". She's clothed with Royal Colors (religion) and decked with enormous wealth and she has a "cup" in her hand. I'll bet she gives each and everyone of her "lovers" a drink from that cup! What do you think? I can just see it now. This beautiful "Queen" flashes those beautiful eyelashes and cuddles up real close and says "Here honey, this is for you, you sexy thing you!" GULP!

Ooooh! Did you see what was in that cup? I don't even want to describe it! Yeeeech!

You know what? We've seen this "golden cup" before. Not only that we've read of the "earth being made drunk with her wine", too! Have you read the entire Bible! Imagine how little we'd know if just ran around with half the book, like just the New Testament, and said "Just believe, little ones, and you'll be safe. Why don't you know, you're going to fly away into a place of safety (the ushers will now pass the collection plate as we listen to the beautiful special music)."

So where did this golden cup come from? Let's read Jeremiah chapter 51 and find out. Here's verses 6 & 7:

Jeremiah 51:6
Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD'S vengeance; He will render unto her a recompence.

The judgment of the great whore! The Day of Vengeance of the LORD!

[7] Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

BABYLON! So you see, the beautiful woman arrayed in Royalty holds the cup of Babylon from which the earth has been made drunken! False religion! Confusion! The nations are confused!

Again, "confusion" is what Babylon means. Here's Strong's definition of Babylon:

Babel, baw-bel', Hebrew 894; from Hebrew 1101 (balal); confusion; Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire :- Babel, Babylon.

So Babylon means "confusion" and Satan has so confounded the world's religions, including main stream Christianity though the traditions of men, that the world cannot see the pure water, the truth, of the Word of God. The nations indeed are mad! And their peoples do not have "eyes to see" for they are blinded by traditions and have all sipped from her cup. She looks so religious and good and right and holy. She is arrayed so beautifully in her robes and ornaments. But she is a WHORE! And the people don't know it. They are spiritually drunken! Her cup is filled with filthiness! It is time to wake up to the reality of churchianity!

Here now is the woman's official title shown to us by the angel:

Rev. 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

MYSTERY, BABYLON, MOTHER OF WHORES, ABOMINATIONS!

Next we'll document the simplicity of the meaning of this name written upon the woman's forehead!

Have you ever read the book "Sargon the Magnificent" by Mrs. Sidney Bristowe? It is a remarkable work revealing and tracing Cain in secular history as Sargon of Akkad. It begins with his ousting from the presence of God and his journey into the land of Nod, Sumer, and the founding of Babylon from whence originates the "golden cup" full of abominations. He is reported to have lived 730 years and founded many religions of the earth in his travels including sun worship, dragon worship, etc.,etc.)

We read of John's description of a beautiful woman clothed in purple and scarlet colours and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a "golden cup" in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication. In other words, she was gorgeous, but she was a whore! She had a name on her forehead which we will look at again shortly.

But first, haven't you ever wondered how it could possibly be that Satan when he comes to earth is able to "deceiveth the whole world" (Rev. 12:9)? If what "main stream" Christianity is teaching, i.e. their traditional doctrines, is true, then how could this be? Is the majority right when most professing Christians are completely Biblically illiterate? Think about it? If a person is deceived it means that they believe something to be true that is, in fact, not so. Folks, it is "religion" that prevents our people from seeing the truth of God's Word.

So, while the majority of Christianity today teaches that Jesus Christ can return at any moment, both Jesus Christ and the apostle Paul WARNED about being deceived concerning His return. Jesus said repeatedly that many would come claiming to represent Him, i.e. as Christian ministers, and would deceive MANY, the multitudes, not just a few! Take a look at what the majority teaches concerning our gathering back to Christ, then read what Paul says in 2 Thes. 2. Here it is:

2 Thes. 2:1
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

The subject is the 7th Trump, the return of Christ, and our gathering back to Him.

2 Thes. 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

We are NOT going to gather back to Christ until the son of perdition is revealed. There is only one son of perdition, Satan himself. What does this "revealing" mean?

[4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

What will he do when he is revealed? He will take over God's house, even the body of Christ which results in the great apostasy, and claims to be God, i.e. Jesus Christ. That's why he is called the "instead-of-Christ", i.e. His REPLACEMENT!

Satan will be revealed as Jesus Christ! It is a mystery to most. Hang on a few verses!

[5] Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

Paul says "Don't you remember I told you all of this?"

[6] And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

"You know what Satan's status is now."

[7] For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

What is this "mystery"? Let's look up the Greek word in Strong's:

musterion, moos-tay'-ree-on, Greek 3466; from a derivative of muo (to shut the mouth); a secret or "mystery" (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites) :- mystery.

It's RELIGION! Hidden Religion! Even the "Hidden (Secret) Dynasty of Religion" that has crept into the churches. It's "Churchianity", ceremony and religious rites, disguised as "Christianity". Do you not remember the 1st Seal in Rev. 6:2 and the rider of the first white horse? It is deception brought about by Satan, the rider of the white horse which looks like Christ's white horse, but it isn't! Don't be deceived! If you need a refresher then go back and re-read the 1st Seal!

Note: Many, way too many, churches teach that the "only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way" in verse 7 refers to the Holy Spirit departing the earth when they are Raptured away. That's because the "mystery" has already completely taken over their unlearned minds. They are not going anywhere before Satan as the spurious messiah is revealed. Paul just said so in plain and simple language.

The subject being discussed is when will the "man of sin" be revealed? The answer is when Michael let's him go in Rev. 12:7-9. Michael is holding him back! Here's verse 7 from the Living Bible translation:

2 Thes. 2:7 As for the work this man of rebellion and hell will do when he comes, it is already going on, but he himself will not come until the one who is holding him back steps out of the way. (Living Bible)

When Michael steps out of the way and let's Satan go, he will come to the earth as Jesus Christ.

Back to the KJV and continuing in 2 Thes.:

2 Thes. 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Most of Christianity is awaiting an evil, Hitler like, Saddam Hussein like butcher to be revealed. Don't you SEE the mystery at work? The Wicked one will be revealed as Jesus Christ. He won't appear to be doing anything wicked at all! He's very religious. He heals the "deadly wound". As Daniel shows us, the "little horn", Satan, brings peace and prosperity to the world. The whole world will love him! They will think Christ has returned! Is that hidden, or what?

[9] Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

Even if you see "religious" miracles performed by religious leaders, especially by one claiming to be Jesus, don't be deceived!

[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.

If you "love truth" you will study the truth, which is His Word. Look out across the land. How many folks do you know that truly study His Word? You can tell by just listening to people that they have not received the "love of the truth", even though they may attend a church!

[11] And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

What is the "lie" that they believe? It is that Satan is Jesus and that his "church systems", his "religions" are true Christianity. So let's look again at Rev. 17:5:

Rev. 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

We know what every word in this verse means:

Forehead = Brain location
Mystery is "musterion" = Hidden Religion
Babylon = Confusion
Mother = One who gives birth, brings forth
Harlots & Whores (same Greek word) = Idolaters
Abominations = Idolatries
Earth = World

It is Satan's religious system, that looks like the real thing, that causes great confusion (Babel) and deception, and brings forth multitudes of idolaters (those who worship Satan as Jesus) and abominations in all the world. That's what Rev. 17:5 says! It is really quite simple, isn't it?

Rev. 17:6 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 her, I wondered with great admiration.

Remember now who this woman is from the last verse of this chapter: Rev. 17:18 "And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth." It is where the son of perdition sits in the temple, in Jerusalem.

Note: Did you know that our Father chose Jerusalem to become the Headquarters of the Universe? You can read of it in Ezekiel 16 where He "took to wife" that location, and in Rev. 21 we see the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven to that location. Is it any wonder that Satan has so attacked this great city and has chosen it for his headquarters when he comes here with an "in your face" attitude?

It is true that the great city, Jerusalem, has been filled with the blood of saints and the blood of martyrs down through the ages. But the context of this chapter 17 is the judgment time of the great whore, when Satan and his angels will sit in the temple of that great city, exercising world domination both religiously and politically and shall kill the two witnesses as we learned in chapter 11. Then shall there be great rejoicing and merrymaking.

Rev. 11:7
And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
[8] And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
[10] And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

And when John saw the woman he marveled with great wonder! He was astounded!

Rev. 17:7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

"Relax John", said the angel, "I'll tell you the mystery of both the woman and the beast that carries that babe."

[8] The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

The beast was present on earth before. Of course he was in the 1st earth age but he was also present in the garden of Eden and at the time of Christ. But he is not present (here in person) now. We've covered many times already that he shall be cast from heaven (Rev. 12:7-9), which is to say released from the bottomless pit. And he shall eventually go into the lake of fire and PERISH with the rest of the elements (2 Pet. 3:12), i.e. evil rudiments, when our Father, the consuming fire (Heb. 12:29) comes.

And in verse 8 we also read for the "umpteenth time" that if you are not one of God's elect, if your name is not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, then you are going to love this beast! (For a further explanation of "from the foundation of the world" as also spoken of by the apostle Paul, visit Ephesia ns here on this site.

We continue now with who the beast is:

Rev. 17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

It's going to take just a little wisdom and common sense to understand this verse about the beast. We know from Rev 12 & 13 who the 7 heads, the 7 mountains are. Mountains are symbolic of governments and nations. They are the 7 dominions, meaning the complete or whole dominion of the world, the one world political system, whom the beast controls from that great city of Jerusalem.

Note: Many people would like to say that this means the "great city" is San Francisco or Rome or some other city that is built on 7 literal mountains. But first of all, the woman isn't even the subject. It's the beast and his political system. The angel doesn't change the subject to the woman until verse 18. That is why this verse is prefaced with "here is the mind which has wisdom". Wisdom comes from knowing God's Word, all of it. If you do then this verse and this chapter is a "no brainer". If you don't, you'll probably get out a topographical map and look for cities built on mountains. It's your choice.

[10] And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

Again, wisdom is required here. The subject is still the beast and these 7 kings have nothing to do with the 10 kings which we will get to in verse 12. The subject hasn't changed. These 7 kings are all one and the same person. Let's read verse 11 first and we'll explain.

[11] And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

The 7 kings are sequential roles that Satan has played (a) 1-5, that are past (fallen) i.e. down through the ages even from the first earth age where he was the dragon, in the garden of Eden as the serpent, at the time of Job as the accuser, and at the time of Christ as the tempter, (b) 6, currently where he is alive and in heaven organizing his troops while being physically restrained from earth, (c) 7, when he is cast out of heaven and he comes here again as the spurious messiah and "must continue a short space" until Christ returns and Michael tosses him in the abyss, and (d) 8, he is released for the final time at the end of the Millennium and eventually goes into perdition, i.e. is cast into the lake of fire.

Now, verse 11 makes it really simple. Again, what is the subject? We are talking about the beast that was and is not. The beast is who? Satan! In as much as he will also have an 8th role at the end of the Millennium, he is of the seven, ALL SEVEN, because he was 1-5 and is now 6 and shall be 7, i.e. he is all seven kings. So just as the 8th is of the 7, the 7th is of the 6, and the 6th is of the 5. The 7 kings are the same king in series of reigns not 7 contemporary kings.

Here come the 10 kings who are contemporary kings:

[12] And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

One hour is the hour of temptation (Rev. 3:10). It is the 5 month reign of the false-christ, the time of the locusts of Rev. 9 and Apollyon, Satan, their king.

[13] These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
[14] These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

What are you called? If you are with Him in this generation then you (1) were called, (2) were chosen before the foundation of this earth age, and (3) are faithful unto and through the final hour!

Rev. 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

"Waters" = "the peoples of the world". If you miss this symbol you'll drown in uncertainty while trying to understand Revelation.

[16] And 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.

Don't let this verse be confusing or seem contradictory. It is not. Just remember that in Rev. 9 all those who do not have the seal of God in their forehead are consumed away and made desolate. It is God's plan to use Satan and his kings to fulfill His will.

[17] For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

Yes, God even calls the locust army "His army", for it exists only by His permission. God is in complete control. He always has been, He always will be.

[18] And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

We documented previously that this great city is Jerusalem, where also our Lord was crucified.

Next we will get an even closer view of the Great Fall of the Great Babylon of the end times. It is most fascinating indeed!