FORERUNNER SCHOOL OF MINISTRY
THE BOOK OF REVELATION
I. SATAN’S 2-FOLD STRATEGY TO DECEIVE THE
NATIONS
A. Rev. 17-18 is one of the most significant End-Time
prophecies because it gives us insight into Satan’s strategy to deceive the
nations while causing many Christians to fall away from the faith. Those who
are deceived by the Harlot will end up in the Lake of Fire and some saints who
resist the Harlot will be killed (Rev.
17:6). This prophecy deserves much careful study and dialogue.
B. The main message of Rev. 17 is easy to understand. The main themes are
the seductive power, cruel persecution along with the inevitable destruction
of this Harlot system. The Harlot is the counterfeit of the Bride that the
Holy Spirit is raising up.
C. Rev. 17 is the most symbolic passage in Revelation with many intricate
details which makes it the most difficult chapter in Revelation to understand
in all its intricacies. Since the angel gave John the meaning of the symbols,
we have a solid foundation for understanding this passage.
Why is this most important
prophecy veiled in such cryptic language? One reason i because it
causes us to pour over every line of it and discuss it often to understand its
every nuance.
D. In this session, we will focus on
Rev. 17:1-6, giving us details about the emergence of the Harlot Babylon
as a one-world religion describing her sinful seductions and cruel
persecutions. She will be a counterfeit justice movement that unifies
multitudes from the largest religions on earth. The rest of Rev. 17-18
describes her relationship with the Antichrist and how she is finally
destroyed.
E.
Review: the
five chronological sections in the Book of Revelation tell us the main story
line of judgment events that are released on the earth by the Praying Church
in the order they occur. After each of the chronological sections, an angel
explains to John why the events just described are necessary. These
explanations function as a parenthesis that puts the story line on “pause” as
they answer questions as Why is God’s wrath is so severe? and What will happen
to the saints?
F. In the angelic explanation in Rev. 17-18, we are told why the bowls of
wrath are necessary and we are assured of the defeat of Babylon. The angel
explains why billions of people will be killed in the bowl judgments and why
the infrastructure of the nations will be dashed into pieces by Jesus. It is
because the seduction of Babylon’s religion of evil will permeate so many of
these structures.
8 I will give You (Jesus)
the nations for Your inheritance…9 You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel. (Ps.
2:8-9)
26 The nations…27 shall be
dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels (Rev.
2:26-27)
G.
The 7th Trumpet focus is on replacing evil leaders and the bowls focus
on replacing the social infrastructures (tax codes, education or business
policies, etc).
II. OVERVIEW OF REV.
17:1-19:10
A.
The
Harlot Babylon: will be established in the literal re-built city of
Babylon in Iraq (50 miles south of Baghdad) that will be restored and used as
one of the headquarters for the Antichrist.
1. It will function as the center of worldwide demonic religious and economic networks (Rev. 17-18; Isa. 13-14; 21; Jer. 50-51).
2. As Jerusalem suddenly came out of the ashes and was rebuilt so Babylon (in Iraq) will be suddenly rebuilt. The judgments prophesied in Jer. 50-51 that suddenly destroy Babylon forever have not yet happened.
B.
It is the longest prophecy in the NT (42 verses).
The longest prophecy
in the OT is Jer. 50-51 (110 verses) and
also focuses on Babylon in the
End-Times as does Isa. 13-14 (54 verses). This prophecy is so long because God
wants us to understand its significance and danger.
The second longest
prophecy in the NT is focused on the New Jerusalem (33 verses;
Rev. 21:1-22:5) which pictures the Bride of Christ in her glory.
The
Harlot is the counterfeit of the Bride of Christ.
C. God’s wrath on Babylon will come in two stages. Rev. 17-18 describes the
two falls of Babylon.
D. Focus of Rev. 17:
the first phase of the fall of Babylon (Rev. 17) relates to worldwide religion
system of toleration and syncretism. This occurs in at the beginning of the
Great Tribulation at the hands of the ten kings (Rev.
17:16) who burn the Harlot to replace it with Antichrist worship.
E. Focus of Rev. 18:
the second phase of her fall will be at the end of the Great Tribulation. It
focuses on the collapse of the Antichrist’s global economic system at God’s
hands (Rev.
18:8).
F. Focus of
Rev. 19:1-10: the Marriage supper of the Lamb and the rewards for
each believer occurs in context to the Second Coming and the Rapture (Rev.
19:7-10).
III. THERE ARE TWO STAGES
IN SATAN’S END-TIME PLAN
A. There are two stages in Satan’s End-Time plan to be
worshipped by all nations and to rule them.
4 They worshiped the
Dragon (Satan)…and
the Beast, saying, "Who is like the Beast? Who is able to make war with
him?"…8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him... (Rev.
13:4-8)
B. Satan knows that it is too big of a step for a compromising Christian,
Muslim or Hindu, etc. to suddenly become a devoted Satan worshipper.
Therefore, he will first call all to join a one-world religion of tolerance
that will declare that all paths lead to God and salvation. As multitudes are
seduced into joining this Harlot Babylon religion it will weaken their
conscience concerning their religious heritage. Next, Satan will demand that
they all become Satan worshippers.
C. The emergence of this false worship movement will lead to falling away
in the Church. The two signs that Paul gave to indicate the time of Jesus’
Coming are a falling away from the faith combined with the revealing of the
Antichrist on the world stage to establish peace (1
Thes. 5:3).
3 Let no one deceive you
by any means; for that Day (Jesus’ Second Coming) will not come unless the
falling away comes first, and the man of sin (Antichrist) is revealed… (2
Thes. 2:3)
D. The nations will rejoice in the unity it brings and that it will help
establish world peace
3 When they say, "Peace
and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them. (1
Thes. 5:3)
E. People will defile their consciences and break relationships related to
their religious heritage by renouncing their former beliefs in absolutes and
the people who hold to those absolutes. Once people leave their religious
ideals whether Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, or Buddhism there will be no
absolute truth to keep them from worshipping Satan as an angel of light (2
Cor. 11:14).
F. The Harlot religion will prepare the nations to receive the Antichrist.
It will be a religion of affirmation and toleration without absolutes.
It will be a counterfeit
justice movement that will feed the poor and be deeply involved in
humanitarian projects. He will inspire acts of compassion but for all the
wrong reasons. The goal will be the dignity and happiness of man. Humanism is
man seeking to make God in man’s image.
G. The voluntary Harlot Babylon religion will be replaced by a mandatory
Antichrist religion.
First, people will voluntarily join the
Harlot Babylon
one-world religion of tolerance (Rev. 17). Second, all will be forced to be
Satan worshippers in the
Antichrist religion (Rev.
13:4,
8,
15).
H. Many believers will fall away in the seductions and deceptions of the
Harlot’s religion.
There will be a falling away from the faith at the end of the age (Mt.
24:9-13;
2 Thes. 2:3;
1 Tim. 4:1-2;
2 Tim. 3:1-7;
4:3-5;
2 Pet. 2:1-3). A doctrine of a demon is a teaching inspired by demons.
1 Now the Spirit expressly
says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to
deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy,
having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry… (1
Tim. 4:1-3)
I. Sound doctrine teaches obedience to Jesus and His plans. It requires
endurance. To turn the ear away means that the people will no longer hear what
God intended in various Bible passages.
3 For the time will come
when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires,
because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4
and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to
fables… (2
Tim. 4:3-4)
J. Love for the truth is more than adherence to it but it takes a firm
stand regardless of the cost. Loving truth requires that we commit to accept
any new ideas as long as they are substantiated in the Scripture regardless of
how different they are from our religious background. Those who love the truth
will conform their agendas to it without bending the truth to fit their
agendas.
9 The coming of the
lawless one (Antichrist)
is…with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and unrighteous
deception…because they did not receive the love of the truth (2
Thes. 2:9-10)
IV. THE GREAT HARLOT:
BABYLON THE GREAT
1 Come, I
will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with
whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the
earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication"…3 I saw a woman
sitting on a scarlet Beast (Antichrist)… 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and
scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her
hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.
5 On her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, the mother
of Harlots and of the abominations of the earth. 6 I saw the woman, drunk with
the blood of the saints…15 He said to me, "The waters…where the harlot sits,
are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. (Rev.
17:1-6,
15)
A. Before the angel shows John the wealth and counterfeit beauty of the
Harlot religion, he shows him her inevitable judgment and sure defeat (v. 1).
This system will fail and be utterly destroyed.
B. The Harlot will sit on many nations (v. 1) or will have authority over
the nations by seducing and controlling the world’s most powerful leaders
(kings and merchants) through global networks. It is a religious network (Rev.
17) and an economic network based in Babylon (Rev. 18).
C. The Harlot’s system will cause the nations to be drunk with her
seductions that offer great benefits including humanitarian aid, unified
religion (that minimizes wars) and a prosperous world economy. The nations
will rejoice in her “goodness” and get drunk (intoxicated) with her “promises
of compassion and theology of tolerance” based in deception.
2 The inhabitants of the
earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication. (Rev.
17:2)
D. The Harlot religion will have great prominence. It will be arrayed in
purple (royal status) and will be respected by the elite financial leaders of
the earth who will give their allegiance to her.
4 The woman was arrayed in
purple and scarlet (royalty),
and adorned with gold…having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and
the filthiness of her fornication. (Rev.
17:4)
E. The Harlot will be adorned with gold. It will be the wealthiest
religious network in all history. The Harlot will have a golden cup in which
she “serves” the nations. It will appear golden (valuable and good). She will
offer the nations unprecedented humanitarian service in helping the poor. As
the Harlot emerges with religious unity, war will disappear and for first time
in modern history there will be world peace (1
Thes. 5:3).
F. She will be an evil cup of abomination and filth. Abomination refers to
being filled with demonic activity. In the OT, abominations refer to
idolatrous (demonic) activity. Filthiness points to being filled with moral
perversions.
G. The Harlot will deceive the nations by sorcery which is a combination of
drugs and demonic power (witchcraft). Her dark supernatural power will
fascinate people and appear to be good. Her worship music will be powerful in
that it will have a supernatural demonic element to it.
23 For by your sorcery all
the nations were deceived. (Rev.
18:23)
H. Sin will be allowed to reach its fullness in the End-Times. The Harlot
Babylon is the context in which the nations will reach the heights of sin and
their experience of the demonic realm.
23 In the latter time of
their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king
(Antichrist) shall arise…who understands sinister schemes. (Dan.
8:23)
I. We evaluate a ministry and the lifestyle it produces in others not by
how fast it grows or how much money it has. Because serving the poor and
walking in unity is foundational to preaching the gospel many will think that
all who proclaim this represent the truth.
15 For what is highly
esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. (Lk.
16:15)
J. The influence of Harlot will cause multitudes to be drunk or intoxicated
with the blood of the saints who expose her (v. 6). The more she kills the
bolder she will become in killing the saints. The one great enemy of the
Harlot religion will be the saints of Jesus in the prophetic Church.
6 I saw the woman (Harlot
Babylon), drunk
with the blood of the saints… (Rev.
17:6)
K. The Praying Church must expose the Harlot for who she really is. The
Church will be despised among the nations for this. We declare the seductive
nature of her perversion and her judgment. This will cause the Body of Christ
to be hated by all nations.
9 They will deliver you up
to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My
name's sake. 10 Then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will
hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. (Mt.
24:9-11)
L. The kings (political leaders) will understand some of the lies that
empower the Harlot system. However, they will support her agenda to gain her
wealth. In this way, they will knowingly prostitute themselves or commit
fornication with her in knowingly supporting her lies for money.
2 The kings of the earth
committed fornication…the inhabitants were made drunk… (Rev.
17:2)
M. The Harlot will depend on the Antichrist who will carry her (provide
resource and protection).
3 I saw a woman sitting on
a Beast (Antichrist)
which was full of names of blasphemy…7 I will tell you the mystery of the
woman and of the Beast that carries her… (Rev.
17:3,
7)
N. Surprisingly, the Harlot worldwide religion will be hated and destroyed
by the jealousy of the ten primary kings that serve the Antichrist (Dan.
7:7,
20,
24). They will burn the Harlot in the middle of the final 7-year period.
Satan’s kingdom is a kingdom of hatred not unity. After a short season of
prominence and prosperity, she will be burned by leaders of the Antichrist’s
empire.
12 The ten horns which you
saw are ten kings… 16 The ten horns…on the Beast will hate the harlot, make
her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. (Rev.
17:12,
16)
O. In the middle of the final 7 years of this age, the Antichrist’s plan is
to replace the Harlot religion of tolerance with Antichrist worship. This new
worldwide religion will be strict (without any toleration). All who refuse to
worship the Antichrist will be killed (Rev.
13:4-18). Satan’s purpose for the Harlot religion is as a “forerunner” to
prepare the nations for Antichrist worship.
V. THE END-TIME CONFLICT
OVER THE TRUTH OF WHO JESUS IS
A. In the End-Times there will be a battle for the truth
about Jesus. Some believers will give heed to doctrines that lie about Jesus.
The conflict will center on defining who Jesus is and how we love Him. We must
love God on His terms. It is expressed with allegiance to the Jesus of the
Bible.
B. Allegiance to Jesus is our main issue along with being lovers of His
truth (2
Thes. 2:10). Tolerance is the main issue in the counterfeit forerunner
movements to the Harlot Babylon. We greatly value the people in different
religions. They possess great dignity before God. We are not willing to let
them perish in hell by refusing to tell them the truth about Jesus and His
salvation.
C. Three truths about Jesus that offend humanists include, first, His deity
thus His right to establish absolute standards for which the nations are
accountable to Him for. Jesus does NOT accept humanistic views of
righteousness and love. Second, the only way of salvation is through Jesus.
Third, that He possesses the wisdom and love to judge sin in time and
eternity.
D. Anyone who confesses the name of Jesus must stand for His deity or His
way of salvation. If they do not then they are operating under the spirit of a
false prophet. This is true of famous people who work in the White House, host
talk shows, fill stadiums with concerts for the poor or lead mega-churches. We
must apologize to Jesus for so much man-pleasing preaching with lies.
E. There are counterfeit forerunners that are preparing the nations to
embrace the Harlot Babylon. These false forerunners tell lies about Jesus.
Some are not yet false prophets yet they operate in the same spirit as one.
Some of them are still in the balance. The issue is not being positive or
negative but faithful witnesses to the truth. We are not running for office
but we are His messengers who will give an account at the Judgment Seat of
Christ.
F. The End-Time Praying Church will steward the greatest hope and justice
movement in history. We have a far superior hope than humanistic movements.
Forerunners are the greatest hope bringers in history. They will be filled
with love (purity and humility), deeds of compassion while giving a clear
witness of the truth. They will magnify Jesus’ love, wisdom and tenderness.
G. We are called to judge people so that we can win them to righteousness
so they may be saved. If one confesses to be a follower of Jesus they put
themselves under the standards of God’s Word.
1 It is reported that
there is sexual immorality among you…3 I have already judged him who has so
done this deed…5 Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh,
that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus…11 I have written to
you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral,
or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not
even to eat with such a person. (1
Cor. 5:1-11)
H. only to judge in the way we want to be judged (accurately, patiently and
tenderly).
1 Judge not (with
false measures),
that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be
judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. (Mt.
7:1-2)
VI. THE HARLOT’S ORIGIN:
THE TOWER OF BABEL
A. The Harlot’s name was a mystery. In other words, the
angel gave John new information that had not yet been clearly revealed in
Scripture. Her name surprised John.
5 On her forehead a name
was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE
ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (Rev.
17:5)
B. The angel revealed her name as Babylon. This name linked her to her
origin which goes back to the tower of Babel (where Babylon began). This
reveals her true nature to us as we understand what happened at the tower of
Babel. Babel was the city in which the first organized religion in history
developed resulting in the first organized rebellion and war against God by
mankind.
C. The residents of Babel sought to build a tower whose “top is in the
heavens.” This refers to reaching into the spirit realm (not to the height of
the building made of mud bricks).
4 They said, "Come, let us
build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a
name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole
earth." (Gen.
11:4)
D. In
Gen. 1:28, the Lord told the people to multiply and fill the earth. The
people of Babel wanted to stay together so they could accomplish more (Gen.
11:4).
E. Nothing they set their heart to do will be withheld from them in terms
of reaching their full potential in sin. NAS/NIV translates that nothing which
they plan to do “will be impossible for them”. This refers to their unity in
sin that reaches into the demonic realm (top is in the heavens).
6 The LORD said, "Indeed
the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin
to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.” (Gen.
11:6)
F. God was not referring to their architectural abilities having no limit
but to their progression in evil. This refers to synergism in their sin
escalating faster than other issues in human history.
G. In Gen. 11, God scattered their language to slow down the escalation of
sin. God scattered the people of Babel so that man would not reach his full
potential for evil until God’s timing.
7 Come, let Us go down and
there confuse their language…" 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from there
over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. 9 Therefore
its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all
the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all
the earth. (Gen.
11:7-9)
VII. JACOB’S LADDER: ANGELS
ASCENDING AND DESCENDING
A. In Jacob’s dream he saw a ladder that gave him access to
the heavenly realm in the will of God. Jesus prophesied of Jacob’s ladder
where the angels would interact with the earthly realm.
12 He (Jacob)
dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to
heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. (Gen.
28:12)
51 He (Jesus)
said to him (Nathanael),
"Most assuredly, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God
ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." (Jn.
1:51)
B. In the Harlot church, there will be a “ladder of access” to the demonic
realm enabling the nations to escalate in their experience of sin and demons.
The people of Babel sought this. In the Babylonian language, Babel means the
“gate of heaven” (in Hebrew it is “confusion”). The people of Babel were
attempting to reach a demonic open heaven (Gen.
28:12;
Jn. 1:51).
C. Satan and billions of demons will be dislodged from their place in
heaven and cast to earth. They will appear to people and interact with them at
a level never known in history.
7 War broke out in heaven:
Michael and his angels fought with the dragon…8 but they did not prevail, nor
was a place found for them in heaven…9 The great dragon was cast out, that
serpent of old, called the Devil…was cast to the earth, and his angels…with
him. (Rev.
12:7-9)
2 The dragon gave him (Antichrist)
his power, his throne, and great authority. (Rev.
13:2)
D. In the End-Times, there will be an unprecedented interaction between the
demonic and human realm leading to a worldwide judgment. The time before
Jesus’ Second Coming is compared to the days of Noah which includes the
demonic realm touching the earth leading to murder, etc.
37 But as the days of Noah
were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. (Mt.
24:37)
E. The people in Gen. 6, walked in a “counterfeit” open heaven as demons
interacted with humans in the natural realm in an evil way (Gen.
6:4;
2 Pet. 2:4;
Jude 6). At this time, there was an unprecedented connection between the
natural and demonic realm. It resulted in great violence causing God to
destroy the earth with the flood in Noah’s day (Gen.
6:7;
7:1-24).
5 The LORD saw that the
wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the
thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 The LORD…was grieved in His
heart. 7 The LORD said, "I will destroy man…from the face of the earth." (Gen.
6:5-7)
11 The earth was corrupt
before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 So God looked upon the
earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the
earth. 13 God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the
earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them
with the earth. (Gen.
6:11-13)
F. John was surprised that the Harlot will be the mother of harlots
(source) of false religion through history as well as the primary source of
false religion and abominations in the End-Times. Her offspring (false
religion through history) will crescendo and set the stage in the End-Times.
5 BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE
ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (Rev.
17:5)
G. The Harlot will have a murderous heart despite her
humanitarian appearance. John marveled at this mysterious plan that will
result in bringing forth the salvation of Israel, as it purifies and empowers
the Church to be used in the End-Time revival. As we understand this prophecy,
we will marvel like John as we feel the weightiness of what is in God’s heart.
6 I saw the woman, drunk
with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And
when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. (Rev.
17:6)
H. Humanists believe man is basically good and innocent, thus they hate
God’s judgments. Some are naïve about the depth of sin in which many will walk
during the End-Times.
21 They did not repent of
their murders...sorceries...sexual immorality or thefts. (Rev.
9:21)
24 They…hated both Me and
My Father. 25…They hated Me without a cause. (Jn.
15:24-25)
9 They will…kill you, and
you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. (Mt.
24:9)