The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Revelation Chapters 17 through 19

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.

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.

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;

[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.

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

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:

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.

Now, looks 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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

[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.

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.

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.

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,

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;

[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.

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?

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

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

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.

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)

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:

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

[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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

[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.

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 Ephesians 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.

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.

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

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.

[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.

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.

[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.

[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.

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

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!

In chapter 17 we learned that the great whore who "sitteth upon many waters (peoples of the world)", was is not a woman at all, but is in fact that Great City, which will reign over the kings of the earth, the city where the beast, Satan, sits atop the one world political and religious systems, the city in which the son of perdition sits in the temple and claims he is Jesus Christ. The woman is that great city, Jerusalem, where also our Lord was crucified.

Let's review the last verse of chapter 17 so that no one gets any brainy idea to identify the woman as something other than that great city.

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

And so we see and understand why people are confused! They believe their religion, their church, is right and holy and pure and good! They cannot see that they have already been led astray from the TRUTH by the traditions of men, perpetuated by Biblically illiterate pastors and ministers, though many are well meaning, who follow the doctrines of their church. But they lead our people astray from the God's Word and let them wander the hills of confusion!

Is something new? Not a chance! It's been going on since ancient Babylon who "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 (Jeremiah 51:7)."

In order for us to more fully understand this chapter 18 of Revelation we all need to go back and read the 50th and 51st chapters of the Book of Jeremiah. It concerns Babylon and it will read much like that which we shall read in Revelation 18 and it is relative to TODAY!

The apostle Paul taught us a principle that we must always remember as we study God's Word. And that is that the history of the events that happened to our people occurred and are recorded as examples for us, in these end times, TODAY, to LEARN from and SEE in detail the types set forth.

1 Cor. 10:11
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

It will not be "Jesus in Jerusalem" when the false-christ arrives. It will be "Satan in Babylon"!

The false messiah comes first but he will "Look Like the Lamb Slain", "With Two Horns", i.e. wielding both the power of King of kings and Lord of lords, both the powers of the one world political system and the worldwide religious system with him as Jesus who performs miracles in the sight of men. Do you remember chapter 13? Rev. 13:11 "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon." The "beast", the "dragon"! Come on, you know who that is! We've seen it revealed many times?  In the last chapter, Rev. 17:8, we were even told that the beast is the son of perdition. What does it take for a person to "see"?

Satan is coming as Jesus Christ and the whole world will believe him! It is that simple, but the world doesn't see it. The waters are confused because they have sipped from the filthy, muddy, golden cup of Babylon. And if they don't wake up they will get to share the whore's name, which is the same as the beast's mark!  Why? Because you'll be a little HARLOT! You'll be worshipping Satan!

You remember the "Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne?  Well, you'll get to wear (not literally, of course) the "Scarlet Number" by Satan the Beast, which is "666" !

So our people are confused and led astray. Whose fault is that, other than their own for not studying His Word? Have you read Jeremiah 50 and 51 yet?  Live Links to- Jeremiah 50 and 51

Jeremiah 50:6
My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.

Now, with all that as background, and if you understand chapter 17, then you can read and understand chapter 18 all on your own! It is simply the judgment and fall of that great city. Sure, there are a few English words that don't quite bring forth the full meaning of the Greek, which we will look up, but even as it is written in the KJV you can read and understand this chapter.

Let's begin.

Rev. 18:1
And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

[2] And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

[3] For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

abundance
dunamis, doo'-nam-is, Greek 1411; from Greek 1410 (dunamai); force (literal or figurative); specially miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself) :- ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, might (wonderful) work.

delicacies
strenos, stray'-nos, Greek 4764; akin to Greek 4731 (stereos); a "straining", "strenuousness" or "strength", i.e. (figurative) luxury (voluptuousness) :- delicacy.

[4] And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

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.

[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.

[5] For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

[6] Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

[7] How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

And she claims she's a Queen!  She says she is not a widow, which means she has a HUSBAND. Did she wait until the great wedding feast of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to wed Him? No, she's a WHORE!

Is she married to the real "Jesus in Jerusalem"? No, she's married to "Satan in Babylon".

[8] Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

[9] And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,

[10] Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

[11] And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

[12] The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

[13] And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

Do you recall from chapter 12 that the dragon (you know who) drew a third of the sons of God away from God in the 1st earth age?  Do you know how he did that? Have you ever read Ezekiel 28 concerning the prince and king of Tyrus, Satan?

Ezekiel 28:2
Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:

[3] Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee: [4] With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:

[5] By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:

Written by the hands of Jeremiah and John, are the words from the Lord our God, "Flee out of the midst of Babylon", "Come out of her my people!"Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen. The end of all religious confusion has come, for Jesus Christ has returned.

And so it is that we are reading in chapter 18 of Revelation the advanced news report about the fall of Babylon the great. We continue now in verse 14 with the lament of her lovers over her demise.

Rev. 18:14
And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

[15] The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

[16] And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

[17] For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

hora, ho'-rah, Greek 5610; apparently a primary word; an "hour" (literal or figurative) :- day, hour, instant, season, × short, [even-] tide, (high) time.

[18] And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

[19] And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

[20] Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

[21] And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

"Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder shaped like a millstone and threw it into the ocean and shouted, 'Babylon, that great city, shall be thrown away as I have thrown away this stone, and she shall disappear forever.' (Living Bible)

[22] And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

Daniel 3:7
Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

We have studied in this Book of Revelation that the beast, Satan, "sets up" his image, i.e. that he is Jesus, and the people who go to church will hear the sound of the music and sing praises to the one sitting in the temple claiming to be God. (They know not that he is the son of perdition). Yes, they will kneel to and worship Satan, who will appear in the image of Christ.

Well guess what? It's going to end with the fall of Babylon! His music shall be heard no more!

[23] And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

Now, do you remember in the last chapter what we read concerning the great whore? Rev. 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."

The analogy is also made here that they have been drugged by her poison, i.e. deceived by her sorceries. Here's Strong's definition of "sorceries".

pharmakeia, far-mak-i'-ah, Greek 5331; from Greek 5332 (pharmakeus); medication ("pharmacy"), i.e. (by extension) magic (literal or figurative) :- sorcery, witchcraft.

pharmakeus, far-mak-yoos', Greek 5332; from pharmakon (a drug, i.e. spell-giving potion); a druggist ("pharmacist") or poisoner, i.e. (by extension) a magician :- sorcerer

Oh the awesome power and deception of religion! It is ever so intoxicating. Our people are spiritually drunk already but they know it not, for they are in denial! They think they are OK! That is what deception is. Their church is so big and beautiful and the people are so nice and friendly. Let us go sip from the cup!

[24] And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

We now conclude this study of chapter 18 with the words of Jesus Christ direct from His explanation of the first of the 7 Seals in Mark 13 and Mat. 24. Here is the #1 WARNING:

Matthew 24:4
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

[5] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

So next time, before you take a sip, look in the golden cup and see if what's in it is from the Word of God. Of course you'll have to know what the Word of God says to make that determination, won't you?

We've reached the 19th chapter in the great Book of the Revealing and there's about to be rejoicing in heaven. The 7th Trump is still sounding as Jesus Christ returns to this earth having judged the great whore and avenged the blood of His servants. Babylon the great is history!

However, before we begin this chapter let's take a preview look at some of the terminology and symbols used in this chapter. You see, if you have studied line by line with us from the beginning of this book, then you will have no problem understanding most of this chapter because you already know what most everything means. For example, here of some the symbols and phrases used that we've read of and learned about to this point in the Book of Revelation:

vs. 2 The great whore

vs. 4 The four and twenty elders and the four beasts (living beings)

vs. 6 The voice of many waters

vs. 8,14 Fine linen, clean and white

vs. 11 A white horse

vs. 12 "Eyes as a flame of fire"

vs. 15 Sharp sword proceeding from Christ's mouth

vs. 15 the winepress of God's wrath

Therefore the rest of the words and phrases in in this study, such as Lamb, Word of God, Kings of kings and Lord of lords, etc., are to be found previously in God's Word.

The point is that if a person were to pick up the book of Revelation and try to read and understand it without the foundation from the Word, you just can't imagine what kind of scenarios they would come up with. On second thought, you've probably seen some of the wild and crazy interpretations of this book. I actually heard one nationally televised preacher tell the viewers that there are going to come "huge locusts, down out of the sky, the size of horses, with stingers in their tails, and when they sting you it will hurt for 5 months".

Confusion, confusion! And it all comes from not studying the Word of God!  And so it is written that the time is fast approaching when the whole world will be confused about who the true Christ is. Will you? Not if you are sealed with His Word in your forehead.

Chapter 19 verse 1:

Rev. 19:1
And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

By the way, this is the first time this word "Hallelujah" is used in the New Testament and it is connected with the punishment of the wicked. Do you know what? The first time it is used in the Old Testament it is connected with the same thing.

Psalm 104:35
Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.

So John observes them praising God in heaven.

[2] For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

[3] And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

Don't let the phrase "and her smoke rose up for ever and ever" conjure up some image of an ever burning hell fire. It simply means that when something is burned and it "goes up in smoke" it is gone for ever and ever.

[4] And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.

[5] And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

[6] And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

[7] Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Rev. 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

"Yes, but salvation is of grace and not of works", you say. True, but you are rewarded by your works, so will you be saved with your clothes on or will you saved stark naked.

Rev. 16:15
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Now John is given some instructions. Back to work John!

Rev. 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

[10] And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

What is the testimony of Jesus? It's the entire Word of God. We could say it's both the Old Testimony and the New Testimony. Yes, I like it!

[11] And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

The rider on this white horse is Jesus Christ, and He is coming to make war with His enemies, who we read in Rev. 17 are preparing to make war with Him. Rev. 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 that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful."

[12] His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He himself.

Yes, He will have many crowns on His head for all the crowns of the earth will have been surrendered to Him.

The word "knew" used here is "oido" which means to "know intuitively without effort". Do you know His name?

[13] And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Rev. 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Did you notice that everyone who rides with Him is fully clothed in white linen.

[15] And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

[16] And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

1 Tim. 6:11-16
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

[12] Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

[13] I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

[14] That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

[15] Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

[16] Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Christ is coming to make war (Rev. 19:14-15) and to subdue all nations, taking all their "crowns", and placing them all under His rod of correction. We observed Him returning with His armies, who rode upon white horses, and were clothed with fine white linen, meaning their righteous acts.

Just wait until you see this army of the Host of Heaven led by the King of kings! It will truly be an awesome sight to behold! Of course when we read about the horses we wonder if these horses are real horses like "Trigger" or "Secretariat" or "Silver". Well, not exactly. Do you remember in 2 Kings chapter 6 when Elisha and the young man were surrounded by a host of enemy horses and chariots, and how Elisha prayed to the Father to reveal the heavenly army to the young man?

2 Kings 6:17
And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

In any event, when Christ returns to make war at the sound of the 7th Trump, we read that His armies will follow Him. It is at this time that His Kingdom will be ushered in, which is to say that His Millennial reign will begin. This is one statement to which most everyone agrees. But there is something which happens at Christ's return which is a "mystery" to most.

Do you recall how many times we've said that an understanding of the rest of the Bible is essential in order to come to the fullness of the understanding of the Book of Revelation? That makes sense, doesn't it? You can't just pick up a book and read the last chapter or two and understand the whole book, can you?  Here's what we said:

"Plus, if you've studied, i.e. read with understanding, the entire Bible from the beginning, from Genesis on, line by line then you will completely understand this chapter, for as we said from the opening study, there is nothing really new in the Book of Revelation that hasn't been discussed before in God's Word. It's just that in this Book of the Unveiling, this PICTURE BOOK, prophecy is all tied together and simplified for our understanding."

So before we see the picture, let us first understand what Paul said. The subject is he is addressing is the death and resurrection of the body from flesh to spirit:

1 Cor. 15:44
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

1 Cor. 15:50
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Paul explains it and makes it very simple for us to understand, which I guess is why it is a "mystery" to most.

[51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

And about how long, and precisely when will this change of bodies take place?

[52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Now don't let the phrase "the dead shall be raised incorruptible" cause you to switch subjects in the middle of a sentence. The subject is the change of bodies from flesh to spirit. We read in verse 51 that it is ALL who are changed and here in verse 52 Paul breaks it down into two categories. (1) The "dead", who are the "spiritually dead", i.e. the figuratively dead (see appendix 139 in the Companion Bible regarding the different use of the word nekros translated "dead" in the NT). They too will be elevated, or raised to incorruptible bodies, and (2) we Christians also!

Paul is simply saying both the good and the bad, those who are saved and those who aren't, will be changed, i.e. ALL, EVERYONE!

[53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

And so there is much confusion in the ranks of Christianity concerning the subject of "resurrection" because of the lack of understanding of the use of the word "nekros" and the failing to understand the simplicity of the "mystery" that Paul explains in 1 Cor. 15.

So we have learned from the apostle Paul that ALL flesh will be changed when Christ returns, and it is at that point to which we have arrived in Rev. 19. Here then is the PICTURE of the end of all flesh at the sound of the 7th Trump:

Rev. 19:17
And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

The original texts read "to the great supper of God". The word "supper" used is here is the Greek word "deipnon" which comes from "dapane", dap-an'-ay, Greek #1160; from dapto (to devour); expense (as consuming) :- cost.

Again, don't be confused and bring in subjects that are not being discussed. This verse is not talking about the marriage supper of the Lamb which takes place later. Jesus Christ is returning and the flesh age is over and all mankind will be changed into their spiritual bodies.

[18] That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

So do you get the PICTURE that there will be a lot of carcasses lying around for the birds to feast on and clean up? Pretty graphic isn't it?

[19] And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

The 14th chapter of the Book of Zechariah gives us this same account of Christ's return when His feet touch down upon the Mount of Olives. Remember we just read in Rev. 19:18 that "ALL FLESH" is going to be consume away at His return and that includes the earthly kings and their armies which Satan has gathered at Jerusalem to make war against the Lamb.

Zech. 14:12
And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.

Rev. 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Now let's think for a moment. We know that Satan will be loosed for a short time after the Millennium to be used as a final test for those who go through the Millennium.  But he will NOT be given a one political system again (for Christ is taking charge as King of kings forever when He returns), nor will he afforded the role as false Messiah again, i.e. the false prophet.

Here's verse 21 to complete the 19th chapter:

Rev. 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Again, I hope you can see that there is nothing new here that we haven't read of before! We are reading the final chapters of the Word of God. We should know all of this before we get to this point. Revelation is simply the uncovering, a final Pictorial Look at the events consummating the end of this age, i.e. it is mostly summary material.

In chapter 20 we will go into and even pass through the Millennium to that final judgment when all that is evil and wicked is consumed away in the lake of fire and the 3rd Heaven and 3rd Earth age, which will exist for all eternity, is finally come!

How truly exciting is the Revelation from our Father to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear!