Three Easy Questions

Three Questions when you read the chapter you wish to study:

1. What does the chapter say?

2. What does that mean – specifically – to me?

3. What am I going to do about it?

Some add an optional memory verse as a part of the process to

help them retain what God has said to them.

KV 1: The Doom of Babylon

1 - 6: The woman who rides the beast...

7 - 14: Who is this beast that wars with the Lamb?

15 - 18: The judgement of the prostitute...

Remember – at least four six(!) levels to understand!

1. To the believers at that time in that place (Historical context)

2. To all the churches (Ecclesiastic context):

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

3. To all believers (Homiletic context):

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

4. To world historical events (Prophetic context)

5. The Symbolism and interpretation thereof (Symbolic context)

6. Geopolitical context (won’t say much here)

Some principles of Bible study:

Take the text in context

Be sure of literal or symbolic interpretations

Don’t be afraid to ask the Author ;)

Cooper’s first rule of Interpretation:

If the plain sense of Scripture makes good sense, then seek no other

sense!

The woman who rides the Beast:

She is called (v.5) “Babylon the Great, mother of

harlots and the abominations of the Earth.”

As it turns out, she has been the source of the

persecution against all believers and witnesses of

the testimony of God throughout history.

Scripture here describes her as a “mystery.” The

Greek work is “musterion,” meaning something

hidden. And it is being declared here what that

mystery is! The woman is a city (v.18).

Many have described this as a false belief system

that will come to fruition during the days of the

“Beast’s” world system, and will ultimately be

struck down by those who are in power at that

time. (v.16-17)

The Beast:

Verses 9-11: The beast is seven hills on

which the woman sits. (Conjecture here by

some is that this is a description of Rome,

and that would make the city either Rome or

Vatican City. Others suggest that this is the

ancient city of Babylon, and yet others

suggest that it could be an ancient city in

Assyria.)

A thought I heard that kind of resonated

more than others was this one from Dr. C.

Missler on the next slide:

1. Egypt

2. Assyria

3. Babylon

4. Persia

5. Greece

6. Rome

7. “Rome II”

Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are

seven mountains on which the woman sits, and they are

seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet

come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while.

The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth

and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction.

--Revelation 17:9-11

Currently where we are in History

I do not understand the full implications of this, but I can

understand that we are perhaps about to transition into the next

kingdom I have termed “Rome II” at a point in the near future.

The Ten Horns:

The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have

not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority

as kings with the beast for one hour. These have one

purpose, and they give their power and authority to the

beast. These will wage war against the Lamb, and the

Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords

and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the

called and chosen and faithful.

--Revelation 17:12-14

Pretty clear these are the ten leaders of the world

system instituted by this Beast, and possibly the

leaders of the armies that will gather in that valley of

Megiddo.

The Waters:

Verse 15: “The waters which you saw where

the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and

nations and tongues.”

This is a well known symbology that occurs in a

number of places, particularly within

Revelation, but also in other places in

Scripture.

Sitting on top of them is symbolic of power and

position over the waters.

The fate of the woman riding the beast…

“And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate

the harlot and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her

flesh and will burn her up with fire. For God has put it in their

hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose,

and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God

will be fulfilled.”

--Revelation 17:16, 17

God is able to use the enemy to get results for His own plans.

Any who chose to be a part of this great false belief system will

suffer the same fate as she does.

There is no good end to those who will oppose God. (Psalm

53:1 – The Fool has said in his heart, “there is no God…”)

There are two ways to read this…

Judgement is coming to everyone that lives on Earth.

It is not based on our good works, that is simply part of that false

belief system.

It IS based on how you respond to God’s limited time offer of

redemption in Jesus Christ. (We talked about that last week and

we’ll review it again now.)

We know that we have violated God’s holy standards, each of

which carries the sentence of death. We are condemned to eternal

separation from God.

Jesus Christ, God the Son, became human with one specific

purpose – to pay that penalty on our behalf and redeem humankind

to God!

Ever hear THIS Bible verse? “For God so loved the world, that He

gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not

perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NASB)

He came to redeem, or RECONCILE (an accounting term) our lives

with God. He did that by dying on the cross in our place.

We can learn four very straightforward truths from John 3:16:

1. God loves us and has a plan for your life! Otherwise why bother

to send Jesus?

2. There is an issue – our SIN separates us from God, and we just

looked at that.

3. Jesus paid the price for OUR sin – and in believing that, we

receive God’s pardon personally.

4. It is a gift that is yours for the taking.

But how do we take that gift?

Two things are required:

1. Repent

2. Believe

“…that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe

in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and

with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” (Romans 10:9-

10)

And you don’t need to go anywhere to get it! Jesus comes to you,

and brings everything needed for your own situation.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice

and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and

he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20 NASB)

Through Christ’s work on the cross, we are offered companionship

instead of condemnation. We would be fools not to take that offer.

This is where it all begins – and the even better news is that from

this point, God will always be with you. This DOES NOT mean you

will not have troubles and trials – you may have more! But God will

use them to make you the person that He made you to be.

So:

1. Do not flee God’s discipline in your life.

2. Turn to Him and give Him glory during discipline.

3. Choose now for Jesus – it is a limited-time offer.