In this week’s study, I start a new Chapter, Chapter 16. Once again before I begin I go into this study I talk about the November 18, 1990 meeting between Chabad leader Menachem Schneerson and Benjamin Netanyahu, where Menachem asks Benjamin to ‘hasten in the Messiah.’
In are last study when we were together we concluded chapter 16 described the final bowl judgments that will be poured out upon the earth, concluding with the slaughter that will occur at Armageddon. And at that moment the Lord will return in power and great glory, but the chronological flow of all of that will not resume until chapter 19 where the Lord reveals his glorious Second Coming.
So here beginning in chapter 17 as well as chapter 18 you have an insertion. Inserted at this point is an important parenthesis that details the nature of Satan’s world system that we already see emerging today and gaining momentum, a one-world government that will be ruled by Satan’s apes, the antichrist and the false prophet. The Lord calls this coming empire “Babylon” which he also uses to describe the name of an actual city that will serve as the headquarters of the antichrist. And, of course, this is an appropriate name given the exceedingly vile history of Babylon that ancient kingdom.
1 And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven Vials, = Which of the seven we are not told;
and talked with me, saying : Spake to me. The word “talk” would imply a more expanded conversation than occurred here.
Come hither = Greek, δεῦρο deuro - “Here, hither.” This is a word merely calling the attention, as we should say now, “Here.”
I will shew unto thee = Partly by symbols, and partly by express statements; for this is the way in which, in fact, he showed him.
The judgment = kree'-mah; a decision (the function or the effect, for or against [“crime”]):
Of the great (meg'-as)whore = The search for the answer concerning the identity of the harlot leads to an interesting discovery. Every symbol which surrounds this woman is interpreted in plain language in this very same chapter!
That sitteth upon many waters = “Sits on many waters.” What does that mean? Verse 15 explains it. “The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.”
2 kings of the earth = that one world system
fornication = porn-yoo'-o; to act the harlot, that is, (literally) indulge unlawful lust (of either sex), or (figuratively) practise idolatry:
inhibiters = The texts rend "they that inhabit the earth were made drunken"
made drunk = meth-oo'-o; to drink to intoxication, that is, get drunk:
3 So he carried me away in the spirit; = and he carried, etc..
Sit upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. = This associate's harlot with the scarlet beast, which itself is associated with the similarly described dragon with seven heads and ten horns
Here again, as in "wilderness", we have "beast," without the article; but the identity of this "beast" with that of Rev. 13:1 is established by
(1) the same outward characteristics of names of blasphemy, seven heads and ten horns;
(2) its connection with "kings," etc.; (vers. 12-14 and Rev. 19:19, 20)
(3) its connection with the "false prophet"; (Rev. 13 and Rev.19:20)
(4) its connection with the harlot the one representing the world power, the other the faithless, worldly portion of the Church.
Join me as we go Chapter by Chapter, Verse by Verse, Unraveling the Words of Yahweh!
Have any questions? Feel free to email me at keitner@netzero.net
