Mystic Babylon the Mystic Babylon the HarlotHarlot

• Lesson # 21

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• Revelation contains God’s last loving call to the people on earth (Rev. 14:6-14). It also expresses satan’s plots and snares and describes the organization through which he works. No book has ever been written that is more important to modern man today. Its message is so important and imperative that God pronounces fearful sentences upon all who in any way tamper with it (Rev. 22:18, 19).

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• Listen to these awesome words from Listen to these awesome words from Rev. Rev. 14:814:8 and and Rev. 18Rev. 18: “Babylon is fallen and : “Babylon is fallen and

is become the habitation of devils.” is become the habitation of devils.” “Come out of her my people that ye “Come out of her my people that ye

receive not of her plagues. For her sins receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath have reached unto heaven, and God hath

remembered her iniquities.”remembered her iniquities.”

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• The message is clear “Come out of The message is clear “Come out of Babylon or be lost”. Do you know what Babylon or be lost”. Do you know what Babylon is? Is there a chance that you Babylon is? Is there a chance that you might be in Babylon and not know it?might be in Babylon and not know it?

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• In this lesson we identify Babylon. May God’s blessed Holy Spirit speak to us all. You should have already read Revelation

17 & 18 - it will make the lesson much easier to understand.

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Symbol of Spiritual Apostasy

• 1. What is the second part of God’s great three-point message? Rev. 14:8

• “Babylon is fallen.”

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2. What is God’s command regarding Babylon? Rev. 18:4

• “Come out of her my people.”

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• Note: • The command is to God’s people. Many

are still in Babylon. God is lovingly calling them out beforebefore the plagues fall

upon Babylon. (Babylon will not be reformed but destroyed).

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3. What reasons does God give 3. What reasons does God give for calling His people out? for calling His people out?

Rev. 18:2 - 5Rev. 18:2 - 5• Babylon:Babylon:• a. Habitation ofa. Habitation of• DEVILSDEVILS• b. Hold of every foulb. Hold of every foul• spiritspirit• c. Nations drink herc. Nations drink her• wine (false doctrines)wine (false doctrines)• d. Kings committedd. Kings committed• fornication with herfornication with her

• e. Don’t partake of her e. Don’t partake of her SINS SINS

• f. Receive not herf. Receive not her• PLAGUESPLAGUES• g. Her sins reached tog. Her sins reached to• HEAVENHEAVEN• h. God remembers her h. God remembers her

iniquitiesiniquities

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• Note: • There is no question that God means

business about Babylon. Whatever Babylon may be, God’s people had better be making their exodus (way out).

4. Some say Babylon is the literal city restored. 4. Some say Babylon is the literal city restored. What does the Bible say about this?What does the Bible say about this?

Isaiah 13:19-21

• ““And Babylon … shall never be inhabited, neither And Babylon … shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither

shall the shepherds make their fold there.”shall the shepherds make their fold there.”

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• Note:• Restored literal Babylon is not a possibility;

God said it would never happen.

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5. Under what symbolism does God picture Babylon? Rev. 17:1-5

• “… I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast.”

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• Note: • God pictures Babylon as a whore riding

upon a beast. As we have previously learned, a pure woman represents God’s true church (Lesson 16). A corrupt woman represents a fallen church (Jer. 3:1-8, 20, Eze. 16:26,27, Isa. 50:1, Jer. 13:27, Hosea 2:2-5, Eze. 23:2-21 & Rev. 14:4).

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6. What is 6. What is “Babylon the “Babylon the

Great” called in Great” called in Revelation 17:5?Revelation 17:5?

• Answer:Answer:• ““The mother The mother

of harlots.”of harlots.”

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• Note: The symbolism here is of a great mother church and her daughters. It takes no genius to figure who this is. The great Roman church claims to be the mother- church. The daughters who came from her “protested” and pulled away and became known as “Protestants”. The name Babylon is a family name which includes both mother and children. It is shocking and sobering to realize that God is clearly indicting both mother and daughters as fallen.

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• This does not mean that those who are This does not mean that those who are still in Babylon are not sincere still in Babylon are not sincere

Christians. In fact Jesus refers to them as Christians. In fact Jesus refers to them as His peopleHis people (Rev. 18:4)(Rev. 18:4). But He is calling . But He is calling them them out out of Babylon, and His people will of Babylon, and His people will

gladly obey the Master’s voice.gladly obey the Master’s voice.• Many, many are coming out! Many, many are coming out!

Praise the Lord!!Praise the Lord!!

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A Universal Religious System

• 7. Let us review other evidence that “Babylon” is the Papacy.

A. The beast the woman rides (Rev. 17:3), is the same beast pictured in Rev. 13:1 which was identified as the Papacy in Lesson 19.

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B. She persecutes as did the beast of Rev. 13 (see Rev. 17:6).

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C. Rev. 17:18 says she is the power that was ruling in John’s day, which was

Rome (Luke 2:1).

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• Note:Note: Pagan Rome’s power and Pagan Rome’s power and authority was assumed by Papal Rome, authority was assumed by Papal Rome, and since then she has ruled in the and since then she has ruled in the place of pagan Rome. The prophecies place of pagan Rome. The prophecies of both Daniel and Revelation clearly of both Daniel and Revelation clearly identifies the beast and Babylon as the identifies the beast and Babylon as the Papacy. Virtually all the Reformation Papacy. Virtually all the Reformation preachers taught it! Even preachers taught it! Even the “New the “New Catholic Encyclopedia” says Babylon Catholic Encyclopedia” says Babylon here represents Rome.here represents Rome.

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8. What is the source of the name 8. What is the source of the name “Babylon”?“Babylon”?

• The name is The name is “called Babel “called Babel because the Lord because the Lord did there confound did there confound the language of all the language of all the earth.”the earth.”

Gen.10:9,10 & Gen. 11:5-9.Gen.10:9,10 & Gen. 11:5-9.

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• Note:Note: • After the flood wicked men defied After the flood wicked men defied

God by beginning to build a tower God by beginning to build a tower that would reach high enough God that would reach high enough God could not destroy them by another could not destroy them by another flood. In response God confused flood. In response God confused their speech so they could not their speech so they could not understand one another.understand one another.

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• The city of ancient Babylon became the The city of ancient Babylon became the center and origin of all satan’s false center and origin of all satan’s false

systems of religion that have confused systems of religion that have confused God’s people and that have stood in God’s people and that have stood in

opposition to God and His truth.opposition to God and His truth.

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False Doctrine Intoxicates.False Doctrine Intoxicates.

• 9. What causes the confusion of spiritual Babylon? Rev. 17:2,4

• “The inhabitants of the earth have been

made drunk with the wine of her

fornication.”

• Note: Her wine is her false doctrines or teachings (Jer. 51:7).. Her wine brings spiritual drunkenness. It causes people to not see the truth (Mal. 2:8); to flounder spiritually (Eph. 4:14); and to become dull of understanding (Heb. 5:11-14).

False Doctrines

and teachings.

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• 10. Why will God punish Babylon?10. Why will God punish Babylon? • Revelation 14:8Revelation 14:8

• Answer:

• ““Because she made all nations to Because she made all nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of drink of the wine of the wrath of

her fornication.”her fornication.”

• Note:Note: Her false teachings Her false teachings are God’s reason for are God’s reason for

punishing her and calling punishing her and calling His people out.His people out.

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11. What are some of Babylon’s 11. What are some of Babylon’s unscriptural teachings?unscriptural teachings?

• a. Ten commandments a. Ten commandments not binding (see not binding (see Lesson 11)Lesson 11)

• b. Sunday sacredness b. Sunday sacredness (Lessons 10 & 11)(Lessons 10 & 11)

• c. Second chance c. Second chance (Lesson 7)(Lesson 7)

• d. Secret rapture d. Secret rapture (Lesson 6)(Lesson 6)

• e. Eternal torment e. Eternal torment (Lesson 20)(Lesson 20)

• f. Immortality of the f. Immortality of the soul (Lesson 13)soul (Lesson 13)

• g. Counterfeit g. Counterfeit baptism (Lesson 16)baptism (Lesson 16)

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• Note: There is a great danger when a person reads clear Bible truth on these and other important subjects and is taught something different by his / her church. This causes many to think they are unable to understand the Bible. The truth is that they understood correctly but had been taught falsely.

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Papacy - Past, Present and Future

• 12. How does God describe the beast in Revelation 17:8?

• Answer: • “The beast that was, and is not and yet

is.”

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• Note: • Both chapters 13 & 17 of Revelation

depict the Papacy. In chapter 16 no distinction is made between the religious

and political aspects of this power. In chapter 17 a distinction is made. The

fallen woman is the apostate church. She rides upon the beast (state or

Government), which indicates she is supported by the state and is in control. Here a combination of church and state

is clearly indicated.

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Here is Understanding

• The mysterious phrase “was and is not and yet is” refers to the Papacy at different time periods. Since the specific setting or “time frame” for verse 8 occurs just after the Papal persecutions of Revelation 17:6, we suggest the following:

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• Was - During the 1260 years of Papal control (Rev. 13:5,7)

• Is Not - Time of Papal dormancy “deadly wound” until full recovery (Rev. 13:3)

• Yet Is - Time of last day, miraculous recovery from “deadly wound” until 10 kingdoms give power to the beast for one hour (Rev. 13:3; 17:12,13).

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13. What powers are represented by 13. What powers are represented by the seven mountains?the seven mountains? Rev. 17:9 - 11

• ““The seven heads are seven The seven heads are seven mountains on which the mountains on which the

woman sitteth”.woman sitteth”.

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• Note: • A mountain in prophesy represents a

king or nation (Jer. 51:24,25). Satan’s counterfeit system of worship has existed

since Babylon and has been openly supported by all major world

governments. Since the “time frame” for Revelation 17 occurs after the 1260 years

of Papal persecution, we suggest the following applications.

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• Revelation 17:10:• “Five are fallen”:

• 1. Babylon• 2. Medo-Persia

• 3. Greece• 4. Rome

• Papacy (during 1260 years)

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• “One Is” (verse 10):• 6. Papacy (from “deadly wound” until

recovered).• “Not Yet Come” (v. 10):• 7. Papacy (From Recovery till 10 kings

support).• He is the 8th (v. 11)• 8. Papacy (during 10 horns confederacy).

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14. What do the ten horns represent? Rev. 17:12

• “The ten horns are ten kings.”

• Note: • These kings refer to the nations of

modern Europe.

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15. Why do many say, “My church is so cold and worldly?”

Rev. 14:8

• ““Babylon is fallen.”Babylon is fallen.”

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16. Some say “let’s reform the 16. Some say “let’s reform the churches”. What does God say?churches”. What does God say? Rev. 18:4Rev. 18:4

• ““Come out of her my people Come out of her my people that ye receive not of her that ye receive not of her plagues.”plagues.”

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• Note:• The fallen churches will not accept

reformation. They will receive the seven last plagues and be destroyed. So God commands His people to get out before get out before

the plagues fallthe plagues fall. (We will study the plagues in our next lesson).

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17. What does Jesus say about His sheep? John 10:16

• “Them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice: and there shall

be one fold and one Shepherd.”

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• Note:• Jesus says: “My sheep hear My voice …

and they follow Me” (John 10:27). God’s sheep in Babylon today will also hear Him

calling and will enter His fold. Amen!

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• It is just as It is just as necessary for a necessary for a person to enter person to enter

God’s true God’s true church today as church today as it was for people it was for people to enter the ark to enter the ark in Noah’s day.in Noah’s day.

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• 18. Will you answer God’s call and enter into God’s ark (church) of safety?

• Your answer: __________________

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