In this week’s study, I continue in Chapter 17, verses 4 and 5. Once again I go into a rant about the upcoming 2024 WEF spearheaded by Klaus Schwab. I also discuss the article by Pastor Chuck Baldwin in a letter to evangelist’s throughout the US on their support of Zionist Israel.
This morning we will continue with the angel having this conversation with John on the ‘great whore’ sitting on the scarlet colored beast.
4 And decked with gold = After the manner of an harlot, with rich jewelry.
And precious stones = Sparkling diamonds, etc.
And pearls = Also a much-valued female ornament. Read and compare Matthew 7:6;
Having a golden cup in her hand = As if to entice lovers.
So here we see her depicted in the robes of royalty. She is adorned with all of the trappings of luxury and wealth. Here she is flaunting the success of her whoredom as an expensive prostitute would do.
5 And upon her forehead = In a circlet around her forehead. That is, it was made well-known and public, as if written on the forehead in blazing capitals. In Rev. 13:1 it is said that “the name of blasphemy” was written on the “heads” of the beast.
"BABYLON THE GREAT," the mother of the harlots and of the abominations of the earth. = Written on the woman's forehead, it was a secret sign or symbol.
The woman in Revelation chapter 17 is a word-picture, to mean the greatest city in the world. Even her name is the name of a city, Babylon, which was a great city six centuries before Yahshua Messiah.
These verses tell us two things about this symbolic harlot named “Babylon”:
1. In some way, “Babylon” gave birth to other harlots (verse 5).
2. In some way, “Babylon” is behind abominations, which would include the murder of Christians (verse 6).
The mother of harlots =
(a) Of that spiritual apostasy from Yahweh which, in the language of the prophets, might be called adultery. See Rev. 14:8.
(b) The promoter of lewdness by her institutions. See Rev. 9:21. In both these senses, there never was a more expressive or appropriate title than the one here employed.
And abominations of the earth = In the Greek ‘idolatry’. Abominable things that prevail on the earth, Rev. 17:4.
This harlot must represent something that is like a harlot from Yahweh’s perspective. There are two points to make about the description of her in this passage:
1. She is attractive to those seeking worldly pleasures. Obviously, being called a harlot suggests worldly sensual pleasures. Besides that, we see her decked out with gold, precious stones, and pearls, and these things suggest worldly wealth. That she engages with kings and is adorned in purple and scarlet suggest high worldly status. In other words, her customers are people attracted by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life (ref: 1 John 2:15-17).
2. She leads people into immorality, provoking Yahweh’s wrath. Although she promises pleasures, she ultimately brings about ruin. This is indicated by the cup she holds, which is golden on the outside, but the inside is full of abominations and immorality. The earlier verses mentioned above (Rev 16:19 and Rev 14:8) make it clear that she and her unrepentant “customers” will ultimately face Yahweh’s wrath.
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
