The One Year Bible Club with Teaching
Commentary by Nick Boork
December 26
Commentary by Nick Boork
December 26
December 26
Revelation 17:1-18
The Scarlet Woman and the Scarlet Beast
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”
3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5 And on her forehead a name was written:
MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.
The Meaning of the Woman and the Beast
7 But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
9 “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. 10 There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. 11 The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.
12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”
15 Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. 16 And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
The Lord reveals to the apostle John the great harlot, mystery Babylon the great. In verse 18 the harlot is identified: “the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.” Back in the days of the apostle John the greatest city of the greatest empire that reigned over all of the other kings of the earth was no doubt the city of Rome. The Roman empire expanded it’s rule conquering many nations and establishing Roman colonies throughout the world.
Wikipedia the online dictionary has this to say about the growth of Christianity and it’s consolidation as the Roman Catholic Church: “Christianity spread throughout the early Roman Empire, despite persecutions due to conflicts with the pagan state religion. In 313, the struggles of the Early Church were lessened by the legalisation of Christianity by the Emperor Constantine I. In 380, under Emperor Theodosius I, Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire by the decree of the Emperor, which would persist until the fall of the Western Empire, and later, with the Eastern Roman Empire, until the Fall of Constantinople. During this time (the period of the Seven Ecumenical Councils) there were considered five primary sees according to Eusebius: Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem and Alexandria, known as the Pentarchy.”
So Christianity merged with the Roman Empire. The Roman Catholic Church developed an international presence influencing entire countries and rulers. Furthermore, the Roman Catholic Church developed a system of ordaining the Pope known as apostolic succession a practice Christ did not institute. Over the centuries they have moved farther and farther away from the Bible and hold that popes are infallible as the voice of God. It is a fact that multitudes of true Christians that resisted the errors and dictatorship of the Roman Catholic Church have been persecuted and martyred over the centuries. For these reasons I believe that the great harlot of Revelation 17 is in fact the Roman Catholic Church. This is not only my opinion but it is also the opinion of many, many bible scholars.
In the last days the antichrist and his beast kingdom will turn against the great whore persecuting and destroying this corrupt idolatrous religious system. Why? Because the Antichrist will set up its own religious system and an Idol for all the world worship and this will come into direct conflict with the great whore which I believe is the backslidden Roman Catholic Church with all it’s vast influence over nations and Kings. Jesus was born of the virgin Mary. Mary did have other children so she did not remain a virgin forever. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that no one can be saved unless they are a part of the their Rome based Church.
This restrictive view of salvation is not found in the Bible. According to the Scriptures personal faith in Jesus Christ is required to be saved not conforming to a religious institution. Instead of preaching the truth that only Jesus can save through individual faith, The Roman Catholic Church teaches that you must join the church and receive salvation through the priests that are ordained to administrate salvation.
Pope Pius IX (1846–1878), Allocution Singulari Quadem, December 9, 1854: "For, it must be held by faith that outside the Apostolic Roman Church, no one can be saved;…”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extra_Ecclesiam_nulla_salus
To bow down and submit to the beliefs and requirements of the Roman Catholic Church is spiritual idolatry to a man made organization and brings millions of people into bondage to a religious system that is not found in the Bible except that it will be destroyed by the antichrist before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Friends, the promise of God is very simple the book of Romans chapter 10:13 says this whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
And we do not need any other mediator to go between us and God except the Lord Jesus Christ, not a priest, not a pope, not a religious organization, just sincere faith in Jesus Christ to alone died on the cross and rose again who hears the prayers of sinners and causes them to be born again by the Spirit of God and added to the body of Christ the family of God and not man-made religious institution. 1 Timothy 2:3-5 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus…
Revelation 17:1-18
The Scarlet Woman and the Scarlet Beast
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”
3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5 And on her forehead a name was written:
MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.
The Meaning of the Woman and the Beast
7 But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
9 “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. 10 There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. 11 The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.
12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”
15 Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. 16 And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
The Lord reveals to the apostle John the great harlot, mystery Babylon the great. In verse 18 the harlot is identified: “the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.” Back in the days of the apostle John the greatest city of the greatest empire that reigned over all of the other kings of the earth was no doubt the city of Rome. The Roman empire expanded it’s rule conquering many nations and establishing Roman colonies throughout the world.
Wikipedia the online dictionary has this to say about the growth of Christianity and it’s consolidation as the Roman Catholic Church: “Christianity spread throughout the early Roman Empire, despite persecutions due to conflicts with the pagan state religion. In 313, the struggles of the Early Church were lessened by the legalisation of Christianity by the Emperor Constantine I. In 380, under Emperor Theodosius I, Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire by the decree of the Emperor, which would persist until the fall of the Western Empire, and later, with the Eastern Roman Empire, until the Fall of Constantinople. During this time (the period of the Seven Ecumenical Councils) there were considered five primary sees according to Eusebius: Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem and Alexandria, known as the Pentarchy.”
So Christianity merged with the Roman Empire. The Roman Catholic Church developed an international presence influencing entire countries and rulers. Furthermore, the Roman Catholic Church developed a system of ordaining the Pope known as apostolic succession a practice Christ did not institute. Over the centuries they have moved farther and farther away from the Bible and hold that popes are infallible as the voice of God. It is a fact that multitudes of true Christians that resisted the errors and dictatorship of the Roman Catholic Church have been persecuted and martyred over the centuries. For these reasons I believe that the great harlot of Revelation 17 is in fact the Roman Catholic Church. This is not only my opinion but it is also the opinion of many, many bible scholars.
In the last days the antichrist and his beast kingdom will turn against the great whore persecuting and destroying this corrupt idolatrous religious system. Why? Because the Antichrist will set up its own religious system and an Idol for all the world worship and this will come into direct conflict with the great whore which I believe is the backslidden Roman Catholic Church with all it’s vast influence over nations and Kings. Jesus was born of the virgin Mary. Mary did have other children so she did not remain a virgin forever. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that no one can be saved unless they are a part of the their Rome based Church.
This restrictive view of salvation is not found in the Bible. According to the Scriptures personal faith in Jesus Christ is required to be saved not conforming to a religious institution. Instead of preaching the truth that only Jesus can save through individual faith, The Roman Catholic Church teaches that you must join the church and receive salvation through the priests that are ordained to administrate salvation.
Pope Pius IX (1846–1878), Allocution Singulari Quadem, December 9, 1854: "For, it must be held by faith that outside the Apostolic Roman Church, no one can be saved;…”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extra_Ecclesiam_nulla_salus
To bow down and submit to the beliefs and requirements of the Roman Catholic Church is spiritual idolatry to a man made organization and brings millions of people into bondage to a religious system that is not found in the Bible except that it will be destroyed by the antichrist before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Friends, the promise of God is very simple the book of Romans chapter 10:13 says this whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
And we do not need any other mediator to go between us and God except the Lord Jesus Christ, not a priest, not a pope, not a religious organization, just sincere faith in Jesus Christ to alone died on the cross and rose again who hears the prayers of sinners and causes them to be born again by the Spirit of God and added to the body of Christ the family of God and not man-made religious institution. 1 Timothy 2:3-5 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus…
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
WHAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE?
PRAYER TO APPLY THE WORD OF GOD TO OUR LIVES
ORDINATION
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll