The Revelation of The Great Harlot | Revelation 17:1-18 | Richard Caldwell

Scripture

• Revelation 17:1–18

About this sermon

Introduction: Something that characterizes the world running headlong into the depths of its sinfulness, is an exaltation of what is ugly like it is beautiful, and a hatred for what is truly beautiful like it is ugly. You see this clearly in the moral insanity of the sexual revolution. Those who live like prostitutes are celebrated (especially in the entertainment industry). Those who devote themselves to modesty and family are mocked. Those who treat unnatural sexual acts as sin are shouted down as hateful, those who encourage people on a course that will mean their destruction are celebrated as loving, educated, and tolerant. Up is down and down is up. Light is called darkness and darkness is called light. This comes to mind because of a great contrast that we find in this 17th chapter when compared with the 21st chapter. In the 17th chapter we meet with a prostitute. In the 21st chapter we meet with the Lord’s bride. We can see that we are meant to connect these two things, because of the way that each is introduced. 17:1 – “Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters. ESV Revelation 21:9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb." The Lord wants the world to see what happens to the great harlot, and He wants the world to see the glory of His redeemed bride. At the end of chapter 16, we were told that Babylon the great was remembered for judgment (16:19). Now, beginning in chapter 17, we are given extended information about that judgment. We must remember as we look at this that both the name Babylon and its harlotry are symbolic. That is not to say that antichrist’s empire might not center itself in a rebuilt and glorious Babylon. It is true that Babylon exists on the Euphrates River. But the true significance of Babylon is its historical connection with idolatry and rebellion against God. We can see, for example, that when Babylon is described as being seated on many waters that the waters are symbolic because the symbol is explained in verse 15. ESV Revelation 17:15 And the angel said to me, "The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. THE WATERS, FOR THIS BABYLON, REPRESENT THE GLOBAL INFLUENCE OF THE EMPIRE OF ANTICHRIST. And as Babylon is described as a great harlot, we have many Old Testament texts that demonstrate that what is being described is SPIRITUAL HARLOTRY. This is the kind of language used to speak of people being ENTICED to follow FALSE GODS. This is the description of people given over to IDOLATRY. ESV Judges 2:17 Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the LORD, and they did not do so. ESV Exodus 34:12 Take care, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you go, lest it become a snare in your midst. 13 You shall tear down their altars and break their pillars and cut down their Asherim 14 (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), 15 lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when they whore after their gods and sacrifice to their gods and you are invited, you eat of his sacrifice, 16 and you take of their daughters for your sons, and their daughters whore after their gods and make your sons whore after their gods ESV Hosea 4:12 My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles. For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore. This is the kind of HARLOT that Babylon the great is. In the global influence of antichrist there will be a system of political influence, economic influence, and RELIGIOUS influence. This harlot EMPHASIZES the RELIGIOUS ELEMENT. ALL OF IT WILL REPRESENT GLOBAL DECEPTION AND DAMNATION. I. AN INVITATION CONCERNING BABYLON THE GREAT (vs.1-2) One of the angels who poured out one of the seven bowls of wrath comes to John and invites him to see something. He will be shown God’s judgment upon the great harlot who sits on many waters. In this invitation the angel describes the influence of this great harlot.

Topics

• Bible Study
• Prophecy & End Times