Babylon the Great

June 24, 2020 (Wednesday)

    If I were titling Revelation 17, I would call it “Apostasy Revealed.”

    Lets start with the definition of apostasy. The Oxford dictionary calls it “abandonment of a belief or principle” (Greek: desertion). Jude 3 states, “Dear friends, I wanted very much to write to you concerning the salvation we share. Instead, I must write to urge you to fight for the faith delivered once and for all to God’s holy people.” [CEB] Meanwhile, 2 Thessalonians 2:3 warns, “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doom to destruction.” [NIV] Jesus warns us in Matthew 24:10, 12: “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other … Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold …” [NIV]

    Revelation 17 is THE description of apostasy. There are two images to pay attention too. The first is “The Woman.” In verse 1 – She is described as “the great prostitute” (reflecting the “Spirit of Jezebel”). This is the bride of Christ (the corrupted church), the woman who gave birth to the male child who would rule all nations…

    In verse 3 she is in the desert right were we last saw her but now she is sitting on a scarlet beast that matches the description of the Antichrist in chapter 13 (minus it’s crowns). This is an unexpected twist.  She has gone from being chased by the dragon [12:6], rescued by God, and now ruling the conglomeration of the Antichrist [13:2]. In verse 4 she has become extremely wealthy (expensive clothes, adorned with gold, jewel, and pearls).

    So how do we identify this woman? I am so glad you asked!

    The woman is a symbol of religion. In Revelation 12 and Ephesians 5 she is the bride of Christ. (The church is ALWAYS referred to as a female). The “whore” is an immoral and unfaithful woman.  It was a symbol of fallen Israel … symbol of fallen religion.             

    Another point of reference is the name. “Babylon the Great” is loaded with meaning. In history the Tower of Babel was humanities’ FIRST deliberate and coordinated attempt to defy God. It is often seen as the first attempt to create a religion, the first attempt made to “reach heaven.”

    Common interpretation here is of a “one world religion.” I am not sure this is necessary. However, it fits the one world government theory. Since some events in Revelation are global in scope, it makes sense to understand the government and religion as “one world.”

    The woman is described as the “Mother of Prostitutes” (KJV says “harlots”). The figure here is one similar to Jezebel (see Revelation 2:20). If we look her description there are five points to consider. She is 1.) A woman who calls herself something she isn’t and seizes power. 2.) A woman who misleads them through manipulation.  3.) A woman who knows how to intimidate a man. Sex and food are used as examples. 4.) A woman who know what she is doing [2:21]. She is unwilling to repent. 5.) A woman who has an Ahab [2:22]. In other words to have power someone must give her power.

    The woman is described as the “Mother … of the abominations of the earth.” Generally this means a perversion or distortion of true religion. The Greek word translated “abomination” occurs six times.  It comes from the word generally translated “idolatry.”

    How can the church become involved in “idolatry? I am glad you asked. First, there is spiritual idolatry. This is when we put ANYTHING before God (First Commandment). Second, there is literal idolatry. The use of icons (pictures) and idols (statues). For example, “Crucifix” is an example of what the Israelites were doing when they carried their “pocket gods.”

    “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on earth beneath or in the waters below.” [Exodus 20:4 NIV].