Revelation 17 19

1
Revelation 17 19
All passages are NKJV unless otherwise noted

• JUDGMENT ON THE MYSTERIOUS MOTHER OF HARLOTS

2
IDENTIFYING THE HARLOT

• QUESTION 1, Who is the harlot and why?
• QUESTION 2, How was the woman dressed?

3
IDENTIFYING THE HARLOT

• WHY THE HARLOT IS ROME
• A GREAT CITY (1718 1816)
• SITS UPON MANY WATERS (171)
• IDENTIFIED AS PEOPLES, NATIONS, ETC. (v. 15)
• SITS UPON THE BEAST (173, 7)
• BEAST IS ROMAN EMPIRE (cf. 131ff Dan. 71-8)

4
IDENTIFYING THE HARLOT AS ROME

• ARRAYED IN PURPLE, ETC. (174)
• REIGNS OVER THE KINGS OF THE EARTH (1718)
• A MARITIME CITY (1817-19)
• JERUSALEM WAS LOCATED IN THE DESERT 40 MILES
  FROM JOPPA
• DISCIPLES RESPONSE (1820)
• COMPARE AGAINST JERUSALEM (Lk. 1941-44)

5
QUOTES
ROBERT HARKRIDER
Another mistake made in viewing Jerusalem as the
harlot is to see her downfall in A.D. 70 at the
hands of the Romans to be the same event as the
battle of Armageddon. That interpretation
radically changes the thrust of the Revelation
visions. Those who accept that interpretation
agree that up to this point the beast and false
prophet represent the Roman Empire and its
paganism of Caesar-Worship. They agree that Satan
controls this kingdom of men and is using it to
wage war against the spiritual kingdom of God.
Why then, would there be a diversion from this
basic theme to describe how God used this wicked
kingdom to destroy a wicked city of Jerusalem?
Not only that, but this interpretation demands
two battles the destruction of Jerusalem and
later the fall of the beast and false prophet.
The reader of Revelation has been prepared. . .
6
QUOTES
ROBERT HARKRIDER
. . .for only one battle on that great day of
God Almighty. The beast (Roman Empire) and the
false prophet (paganism) are the entities being
defeated by God at the battle of Armageddon, not
Jerusalem and the Judeo economy.
Those expositors who believe Revelation 17 is
speaking of Jerusalem usually base their
reasoning on Scriptures other than Revelation
where God clearly promised that the Romans would
destroy Jerusalem (Matt. 24 Luke chapters 17,
21). Then they conclude that Armageddon is the
fulfillment of that prophecy. A proper exegesis,
however, recognizes that a word or a phrase used
in one context does not necessarily have the same
definitions or meaning in a different context. .
. .
7
QUOTES
ROBERT HARKRIDER
. . .As an illustration, note how the word
faith is used in two different contexts (a)
Whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Rom. 1423)
and (b) Faith comes by hearing the word of God
(Rom. 1017) therefore any doctrine that is not
based on the word of God is sin (Gal. 16-8 2
John 9). However, it is improper exegesis to
combine the proposition of (a) with (b) even
though both are truths. A study of the context of
Romans 14 reveals that the word faith is not
referring to the word of God, but rather to the
conscience of man. Therefore one confounds the
two contexts if one is imposed into the other. In
like manner, some have confounded the context of
Revelation 17 by imposing the truth of Matthew 24
into it.
8
QUOTES
ROBERT HARKRIDER
In fact, the context of Revelation 148-10
illustrates that what Babylon does, the beast
does. Their actions are not separate. She
exercises the power of the beast and seduces the
nations to worship the beast. Jerusalem never did
this, but Rome certainly functioned in that way.
Rome made all nations drink of the wine of the
wrath of her fornication. How did she do this?
This passage explains that the wrath is Gods
because of her spiritual fornication. Her
fornication was the act of worshiping the beast!
All nations that were influenced by her in this
paganistic worship suffered the wrath of God.
9
QUOTES
ROBERT HARKRIDER
The description of the harlot fits only late
first century Rome. What is about to be revealed
in the next three chapters is an enlargement upon
the final judgments of God as summarized in the
seven golden bowls of wrath. The battle of that
great day of God Almighty was introduced in
1612-16, but it is not described until 1919-21.
So much importance was attached to the great city
of Rome from which emanated the paganistic
god-Caesar worship that two chapters portray her
doom. Romes demise had already been foreshadowed
in 148 and 1619, but now this vision magnifies
the events as the reader must behold the
murderous harlot that rides upon the blasphemous
beast.
10
171, 2

• AN ANGEL
• (ONE OF THE ORIGINAL SEVEN IS NOW TALKING WITH
  JOHN)
• GOING TO SHOW THE JUDGMENT OF THE HARLOT
• WE OUGHT TO THEREFORE UNDERSTAND THE NEXT THREE
  CHAPTERS AS AN ENLARGEMENT OF THE SEVEN BOWLS OF
  WRATH AND OF THAT GREAT DAY OF GOD ALMIGHTY
  (1614)

11
172 (THE FORNICATION OF NATIONS)

• HOW COULD THE KINGS OF THE EARTH PARTAKE OF THIS
  FORNICATION?
• ROME WAS THE CAPITAL AND WIELDED HER INFLUENCE
  UPON ALL NATIONS
• USED WEALTH AND POWER TO SEDUCE THE NATIONS TO
  WORSHIP THE EMPEROR (1315-17)

12
173, 4

• SEES WOMAN ON A BEAST
• CONTRASTS TO WOMAN OF CHAP. 12
• THIS WOMAN IS IN COMPLETE ACCORDANCE WITH THE
  DRAGON AND GLADLY SITS UPON HIS BEAST
• ANYONE WHO DEEMS MATERIAL THINGS AS PRIMARY
  IMPORTANCE WILL BE SWAYED BY HER

13
A HARLOT CITY OF OLD
NAHUM 34-7
4 Because of the multitude of harlotries of the
seductive harlot, The mistress of sorceries, Who
sells nations through her harlotries, And
families through her sorceries. 5 "Behold, I am
against you," says the LORD of hosts "I will
lift your skirts over your face, I will show the
nations your nakedness, And the kingdoms your
shame. 6 I will cast abominable filth upon you,
Make you vile, And make you a spectacle. 7 It
shall come to pass that all who look upon you
Will flee from you, and say, Nineveh is laid
waste! Who will bemoan her? Where shall I seek
comforters for you?"
14
COMPARISONS OF THE BEAST

• REVELATION 13
• OUT OF THE SEA
• 7 HEADS, 10 HORNS
• WARS WITH SAINTS

• REVELATION 17
• OUT OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT
• 7 HEADS, 10 HORNS
• MAKES WAR WITH THE LAMB

15
MARVELED WITH GREAT AMAZEMENT (175-7)

• QUESTION 3, Why do you suppose John marveled
  with great amazement?
• SHELL-SHOCKED AT SEEING ONE
• DRESSED SO FINE YET SO UNGODLY
• DRESSED IN LUXURY BUT DRUNK WITH THE BLOOD OF
  SAINTS
• SITTING ON TOP OF A SEVEN HEADED MONSTER

16
Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots
and of the Abominations of the Earth

• Babylon code word for Rome
• center of wealth and religion
• The Great has to do with her pomp prestige. .
  .a self-centered society
• cf. Daniel 428-33

17
A society that is bent on self gratification and
is set free from divine restraint becomes its own
foe (cf. 1716)
18
The Meaning of the Woman and Beast

• Revelation 178-13
• QUESTION 4, How might we identify who the beast
  is in this chapter?

19
178
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

• difficult phrase to understand
• possibilities
• understand beast to be represented in successive
  world empires
• Satan works in kingdoms of men with ungodly
  leaders (cf. Matt. 48-10)
• the beast ascended in the Roman empire
• understands beast to be represented/active in
  Nero, then went away, then again in Domitian

20
179
Here is the mind which has wisdom The seven
heads are seven mountains on which the woman
sits.

• QUESTION 5, What three things does the woman sit
  upon in this chapter?
• many waters (v. 1)
• scarlet beast (v. 3)
• seven mountains (v. 9)
• Rome literally has seven hills
• but we must understand this statement consistent
  with symbolism

21
179
Here is the mind which has wisdom The seven
heads are seven mountains on which the woman
sits.

• emphasis is on power
• seven (complete)
• mountains (power, prosperity, grandeur,
  government)
• Psalm 307 Jeremiah 5125 Ezekiel 1722 Daniel
  235 Isaiah 21-4
• meaning woman (Rome) sits as a queen upon the
  empires harnessed power (cf. 187)

22
1710-11

• meaning of seven kings
• literally seven Caesars?
• literally seven kingdoms?

23
7 Kings (1710, 11)

• if Caesars. . .
• must retain seven as a symbol and not a literal
  number
• PROBLEM passage indicates that the majority of
  the Caesars and doesnt fit

24
7 Kings (1710, 11)

• if kingdoms (cf. Dan. 717, 23), then seven
  must be retained symbolically too
• the majority of mans kingdoms who oppose God
  have come and gone
• 5 have come, one is, one is yet to come
• (possible 1Egypt, 2Assyria, 3Babylon,
  4Mede/Persian, 5Greek)
• if 6Rome is, what is yet to come?

25
Robert Harkrider
. . .if the number seven is understood to be a
symbolic representation of the whole, or complete
number, then the Roman Empire was but the
embodiment and continuation of several kingdoms
of men which Satan influenced to oppose God.
26
The Seventh King

• the seventh (future) king (kingdom) will continue
  for a short time
• short time connected with Satanic release after
  1000 years (203, 7, 8)
• the beast was, and is not, yet is the eighth
  (kingdom) which is of the seven
• mind-boggling statement
• how could the 8th be of the seven?

27
Making Sense of 1711

• the beast has been embodied in all kings
  (kingdoms)
• he is the eight
• symbol of the sum total of all empires
• taking the numbers literally is an impossibility
• the thought is that Rome is just another venue
  that Satan used to opposed God and it will be
  destroyed like everything else that he has used

28
Ten Horns (1712-13)

• QUESTION 6, What are the ten horns and what do
  they do?
• 10 horns identified as kings (q. 6)
• probably puppet kings under Romes rule
• not literally 10, but figuratively 10, the
  complete number of subservient kingdoms.
• had authority for a short time (1 hour)
• were of one mind (unified) in opposing Christ
• obeyed Romes dictates
• relationship will ultimately turn into a
  love/hate relationship

29
The Lamb Overcomes (1714)

• final outcome made known
• thematic for entire book
• the Lamb will overcome
• Lord of lords and King of kings
• Jesus is the true supreme ruler
• if God can confuse the population of the world
  when they had one language, he can easily bring
  down the mighty Roman empire

30
1714
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.

• Those with the Lamb are called
• chosen
• God has chosen a class of people who believe in
  His son and are baptized
• being chosen doesnt mean you cannot fall (2
  Pet. 110)
• faithful
• must be faithful (Rev. 210)
• faithfulness is how we keep our chosen place in
  Christ

31
Additional Explanation

• Revelation 1715-18

32
WATERS (1715)

• identified as peoples, nations, etc.
• the woman sits upon the beast upon the mountains
  (power, prestige) and upon the waters (nations)
• conclusive evidence that the harlot is not
  Jerusalem, but Rome

33
TEN HORNS (1716)

• more information
• vassal nations served with ulterior motive of
  greed and power
• pretended to honor Rome but really despised her
• compared to in the flesh (2 Sam. 1315)

34
1717, 18

• fulfill His purpose
• Jesus is the ruler of the kings of the earth
  (15)
• This decision is by the decree of the watchers,
  And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In
  order that the living may know That the Most High
  rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever
  He will, And sets over it the lowest of men
  (Dan. 417).

35
WOMAN/CITY

• A GREAT CITY
• REIGNS OVER THE KINGS OF THE EARTH
• TRUE OF ROME DURING JOHNS DAY
• ONLY TRUE TO SOME EXTENT OF JERUSALEM DURING THE
  DAVIDIC AND SOLOMONIC AGE

36
The Fall Of Babylon

• Revelation 181-24
• chapter discloses the complete collapse of the
  Roman system

37
The Cry of An Angel(181-7)

• After these things I saw another angel coming
  down from heaven, having great authority, and the
  earth was illuminated with his glory.
• And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying,
  "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has
  become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for
  every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean
  and hated bird!
• "For all the nations have drunk of the wine of
  the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the
  earth have committed fornication with her, and
  the merchants of the earth have become rich
  through the abundance of her luxury.
• And I heard another voice from heaven saying,
  "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in
  her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.
• "For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has
  remembered her iniquities.
• "Render to her just as she rendered to you, and
  repay her double according to her works in the
  cup which she has mixed, mix double for her.
• "In the measure that she glorified herself and
  lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her
  torment and sorrow for she says in her heart, I
  sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see
  sorrow.

38

• QUESTION 1, What did the angel have and what was
  the effect upon the earth (181, 2)?
• QUESTION 2, What was the angels message?

39
The Cry of An Angel(181-7)

• another angel (v. 1)
• coming down from heaven
• great authority
• message Babylon is fallen (v. 2)
• THEREFORE Romes fall was from heaven

40
The Cry of An Angel(181-7)

• the effect of the earth illumination (v. 1)
• possible reference to gospel
• effect upon Babylon is contrasted (v. 2)
• Romes fall is for the earths good

41
Romes Description (v. 2)

• DWELLING PLACE OF DEMONS
• perhaps a synagogue of Satan (cf. 29)
• PRISON OF FOUL SPIRITS
• false doctrine entrapped in Rome
• false doctrine idolatry oft. associated with
  demons (Deut. 3217 2 Chron. 1115 1 Tim. 41)
• EVERY UNCLEAN HATED BIRD
• abomination (Lev. 113)
• feasts on dead things

42
Explanation for Why (v. 3)

• her ungodly influence upon the nations
• when nations ally themselves in immoral practices
  for gain, God will judge
• may temporarily prosper, but ultimately lose

43
Admonition to Christians (v. 4, 5)

• second voice that John hears
• probably of the Father or Son
• My people
• QUESTION 3, Can Gods people fall back into sin
  and judgment?
• Come out of her, my people, lest you share in
  her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues
  (184)

44
Admonition to Christians (v. 4, 5)

• some Christians were already emboldened to teach
  compromise (214, 15, 20)
• must separate ourselves from the evil in the
  world or we will be condemned with the world (2
  Cor. 614 - 71)
• her sins have reached to heaven (cf. Gen.
  1913)

45
Punishment to Come nutshell version (186, 7)

• question 4, Can you expound on Gods sow/reap
  principle (vv. 6, 7).
• reap after you sow
• reap what you sow
• reap more than you sow
• allusion to Babylons self-trusting spirit (Is.
  477-11)
• Babylon and Rome thought they were invincible
  God cut both down

46
Hosea 87
"They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind. The
stalk has no bud It shall never produce meal. If
it should produce, aliens would swallow it up
47
PLAGUES WILL COME IN ONE DAY (188-21)

• VERSE 8
• SOLEMN WORDS
• DEATH
• MOURNING
• FAMINE
• UTTERLY BURNED WITH FIRE (fig. of her power being
  burned up)

48
burned with fire
Verily, Rome was never completely destroyed as a
city. It has had a continuous history of more
than twenty-five hundred years, and present day
Rome is a modern city built upon and around the
ancient city. Some buildings and monuments which
were contemporary at the time Revelation was
written still stand in Rome today. . . .
49
burned with fire
. . .However, the magnificence and power of the
Rome of Johns day was brought to nothing. Rome
fell from its position as the worlds leading
city of commerce and wealth and as the capital of
a world empire whose religious life centered upon
pagan god-Caesar worship. In the fourth century
the capital of the empire was moved to
Constantinople. . .
50
burned with fire
. . .invasions came from barbaric tribes of the
north and finally, the empire was no more after
A.D. 476. The power and authority of Rome were
utterly destroyed in fact, its population of
more than a million people in Johns day declined
to only about 20,00 in the Middle Ages.
Robert Harkrider
51
WE OUGHT TO BE FAMILIAR WITH THE FRAGILITY OF
NATIONS

• GERMANY
• FORMER SOVIET UNION
• IRAQ
• EVEN OUR OWN NATION WAS DEEPLY AFFECTED BY 911

52
QUESTION 5
What are the three groupings of people who
mourned over the fall of Babylon and why were
they sorrowful? 189-19
53
1) KINGS MOURN (189, 10)

• MOURN BECAUSE THEY FALL WITH HER
• THEY HAD AUTHORITY FOR ONE HOUR (1712)
• YET, ROME WAS JUDGED IN ONE HOUR (cf. 1817, 19)

54
2) MERCHANTS MOURN (1811-16)

• WHY DO THEY MOURN?
• economy plummeted
• no one buys their merchandise
• AFFECTION FOR ROME WAS BASED ON PROFIT NOT
  PATRIOTISM

55
LIVING LESSON

• WHEN PEOPLE PLACE THE ECONOMY AS BEING MORE
  IMPORTANT THAN CHARACTER, THEY ARE SIMPLY
  FALLING INTO THE SAME TRAP AS ALL FALLEN NATIONS
  OF ANTIQUITY

56
3) MARITIME TRADE MEMBERS MOURN (1817-19)

• MOURNED OVER ROMES FALL BECAUSE OF LACK OF
  REVENUE
• WHEN NO ONE BUYS CARGO, THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY
  FAILS
• WEALTH IS THE MOST DESIRED GOOD TO PEOPLE
  WORSHIPING THE GOD OF THIS AGE

57
GODS PEOPLE REJOICE (1820)

• A CONTRAST FROM THE THREE FORMER GROUPS
• SOURED ECONOMY AFFECTS WICKED AND RIGHTEOUS ALIKE

58
GODS PEOPLE REJOICE (1820)

• THE END OF CAESAR WORSHIP WOULD BE DEFINITE
  GROUNDS FOR REJOICING
• THIS HAPPINESS IS NOT OVER FALLEN PEOPLE, BUT
  OVER THE END OF AN ANTI-CHRISTIAN SYSTEM (v. 24)

59
LIKE A MILLSTONE (1821-24)

• QUESTION 7, How is the millstone in verse 21 to
  be applied and understood regarding Babylon?

60
LIKE A MILLSTONE (1821-24)

• THE PURPOSE OF THE ANALOGY
• Rome will never rise again to become a world
  empire any more than a large stone, after having
  been cast, could rise up out of the sea

61
Rome Reversal

• a city filled with laughter . . .turned to
  mourning
• a city where progress sounded in the streets . .
  .replaced by an eerie silence
• a city of marriages . . .now absent

62

• QUESTION 8, What are the two fundamental reasons
  given in this chapter for Babylons (Romes)
  overthrow?

63
Restating the Reasons

• she deceived the nations through sorcery (1823)
• she persecuted the one true religion (1824 cf.
  176 117)
• the character of Christianity is what exalts a
  nation (Prov. 1434)
• Rome punished right and exalted wrong

64
It has been estimated that more than 160 million
people died in all the Roman wars. Of these
millions, there were many Christians.
65
Revelation 191-10

• Saints Rejoice

66
Verse 1
After these things I heard a loud voice of a
great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia!
Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to
the Lord our God!

• unfortunate chapter division
• flows with the end of chapter 18 in contrast with
  the men of the world
• heard the loud voice of a great multitude in
  heaven
• Alleluia hala (praise) Yahh PRAISE
  JEHOVAH
• hears it four times

67
Verse 2
For true and righteous are His judgments,
because He has judged the great harlot who
corrupted the earth with her fornication and He
has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed
by her.

• REASON FOR PRAISE
• QUESTION 1, What two words describe Gods
  judgments?
• LORDS JUDGMENTS ARE TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS. . .Deut
  324, He is the Rock, His work is perfect For
  all His ways are justice, A God of truth and
  without injustice Righteous and upright is He
  (see Rev. 153 165-7).

68
Verse 2
For true and righteous are His judgments,
because He has judged the great harlot who
corrupted the earth with her fornication and He
has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed
by her.

• the specifics that demonstrate his true and
  righteous ways
• judging the great harlot who corrupted the earth
• avenging the blood of those who died at her hands
• all that was bad Rome became all that was good
  she destroyed!

69
193-4
Again they said, Alleluia! Her smoke rises up
forever and ever! And the twentyfour elders and
the four living creatures fell down and worshiped
God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen!
Alleluia!

• smoke ascends forever and ever
• would never again become a nation with world
  influence (cf. 1821)
• compare EdomIsaiah 3410, It shall not be
  quenched night or day Its smoke shall ascend
  forever. From generation to generation it shall
  lie waste No one shall pass through it forever
  and ever.

70
193-4
Again they said, Alleluia! Her smoke rises up
forever and ever! And the twentyfour elders and
the four living creatures fell down and worshiped
God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen!
Alleluia!

• also sees the twenty-four elders and 4 living
  creatures
• introduced in 44ff
• presented as being the closest to the throne
• complete agreement with God
• amen let it be
• alleluia praise Jehovah

71
Verses 5, 6

• not told who is speaking but told content
• those who fear God great and small should praise
  God
• ought to be a joyous responsibility for all (Ps.
  1221)

72
Verses 5, 6

• hearing the voice of a multitude
• like many waters (i.e., waterfalls)
• like mighty thunderings
• omnipotent Almighty (RSV), all powerful
• displayed in ruling over the nations (1115)

73
Omnipotent Lord

• Ps 472, For the LORD Most High is awesome He
  is a great King over all the earth.
• Ps 477, For God is the King of all the earth
  Sing praises with understanding.
• Ps 931, The LORD reigns, He is clothed with
  majesty The LORD is clothed, He has girded
  Himself with strength. Surely the world is
  established, so that it cannot be moved.

74
Omnipotent Lord

• Ps 971, The LORD reigns Let the earth rejoice
  Let the multitude of isles be glad!
• Ps 9712, Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous,
  And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy
  name.
• Ps 991, The LORD reigns Let the peoples
  tremble! He dwells between the cherubim Let the
  earth be moved!

75
POINT

• when we see the Lord as the Psalmist did and as
  Revelation portrays, we will easily and gladly
  open our mouths and sing out loud Alleluia!
  For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns

76
Marriage of the Lamb197-10

• we must understand certain features of an ancient
  near eastern wedding
• will help us better appreciate and understand all
  passages that speak on marriage, wedding supper,
  etc.

77
1The Betrothal

• a public announcement
• more binding than our engagements
• a formal proceeding including the friend of the
  bridegroom and the parents of the bride
• confirmed by oaths and complemented with
  gifts/dowry (cf. Gen. 3411, 12 Ruth 410)
• may have been a feast associated with it

78
2The Marriage Supper

• after betrothal, groom would prepare for a
  wedding supper
• when the time came for the marriage to be
  completed
• groom would go to brides house
• bride and her companions would be expecting him

79
2The Marriage Supper

• the focus
• to take a wife from her father
• escort her and the whole party back to his or his
  fathers house

80
2The Marriage Supper
. . . the essence of the ceremony consisted in
the removal of the bride from her fathers house
to that of the bridegroom or his father. There
seems, indeed, to be a literal truth in the Heb.
expression to take a wife (Gen. 2121 243,
38 see marg. 2634) Ungers Bible Dictionary,
p. 818
81
2The Marriage Supper

• before groom went to take a wife, he would put
  on festive attire, wear a garland, etc.
• groomsmen, singers, and lamp carriers (virgins)
  would accompany him to the brides house (cf.
  Matt. 256, 7)

82
2The Marriage Supper

• once they reached the grooms house the marriage
  supper was enjoined (Matt. 221-10)
• feast may have extended into seven days (cf. Jud.
  1412)

83
3The Attire

• on the day of the marriage, the bride was
  concealed under a veil
• the veil would be prepared during the betrothal
  period

84
Supplementary Thoughts

• scripture identifies those in the betrothal
  period as already being husband and wife
• Deuteronomy 2223-27
• Matthew 118-20

85
Understanding the Lords Betrothal to the Church

• the church is betrothed to Christ
• For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy.
  For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I
  may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ (2
  Cor. 112)
• yet the church is as a wife waiting to be
  presented to her husband. . .

86
Ephesians 522-27
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the
Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as
also Christ is head of the church and He is the
Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the
church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be
to their own husbands in everything. 25
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also
loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26
that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the
washing of water by the word, 27 that He might
present her to Himself a glorious church, not
having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but
that she should be holy and without blemish.
87
Christ

• paid the dowry for the church (bride)
• gave himself (Eph. 525 Acts 2028 cf. Ruth
  49, 10 KJV)
• therefore the church is betrothed to Him

88
Consummation of the Marriage

• is yet to happen
• when the Lord comes to take his bride to His
  Fathers house
• where the marriage supper will take place
• alluded to in Revelation 197-9 and further
  explained in chapters 21, 22

89
Church Remain Pure

• thus the need to press for purity as the church
  must yet be presented to the GROOM
• she must wear righteous apparel (198)

90
197-9

• the church is to be pure
• clothed in righteous acts (198)
• without spot or wrinkle (Eph. 527)
• how are you clothed?
• example of one who is improperly clothed at the
  feast (Matt. 2211-14)
• baptism clothes one with Christ (Gal. 327)
• the blessed man watches and keeps his garments
  (Rev. 1615)

91
true sayings of God (v. 9)

• truth ought to fortify the soul
• these persecuted Christians needed to be
  emboldened by the betrothal to Christ
• what a day it will be when we see the King in His
  beauty and we shall always be with Him (1 Thess.
  417)

92
Worship an Angel (v. 10)?

• John was so overwhelmed by what he saw that he
  fell down to worship the angel who spoke with him
• was rebuked
• the bible, without hesitating, will show the
  frailties and failures even of its heroes!
• cf. Abraham David Samson etc.

93
Worship an Angel (v. 10)?

• we are to follow approved apostolic example
• this was disapproved
• angels are not deserving of worship because they
  are created beings (includes Satan)

94
Matthew 410
Then Jesus said to him, Away with you, Satan!
For it is written, You shall worship the LORD
your God, and Him only you shall serve
(Matt. 410) GOD ALONE IS WORTHY OF WORSHIP (cf.
Jesus Jn. 935-38)
95
CHRIST, THE VICTORIOUS WARRIOR

• REVELATION 1911-16

96
1911
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white
horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful
and True, and in righteousness He judges and
makes war.

• CHRIST PICTURED AS HEAVENS GENERAL
• FAITHFUL AND TRUE (14 314)
• WORD OF GOD (1913 JN. 11, 2)
• KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (1916 1714)

97
1911
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white
horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful
and True, and in righteousness He judges and
makes war.

• JESUS JUDGE AND WARRIOR
• DOES ALL IN RIGHTEOUSNESS
• JOHN 522, 23, 27, 30
• IN THE CONCEPT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WE JUDGE AND
  MAKE WAR (Jn. 724 2 Cor. 103-6)

98
1912
His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His
head were many crowns. He had a name written that
no one knew except Himself.

• PENETRATING ALL THINGS (cf. 114)
• HEBREWS 412 For the word of God is living and
  powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword,
  piercing even to the division of soul and spirit,
  and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of
  the thoughts and intents of the heart.13 And
  there is no creature hidden from His sight, but
  all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him
  to whom we must give account.

99
1912
His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His
head were many crowns. He had a name written that
no one knew except Himself.

• SATAN AND BEAST WORE CROWNS (123 131)
• SATAN SEIZED POWER THROUGH REBELLION
• NOT LEGITIMATELY HIS

100
1912
His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His
head were many crowns. He had a name written that
no one knew except Himself.

• JESUS HAS ALL AUTHORITY IN OBEDIENCE (Heb. 58,
  9)
• EPHESIANS 220-22
• MATTHEW 2818
• FROM A CROWN OF THORNS TO MANY CROWNS

101
1912
His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His
head were many crowns. He had a name written that
no one knew except Himself.

• SUGGESTS THAT THERE ARE THINGS ABOUT JESUS THAT
  ARE INCOMPREHENSIBLE

102
CLOTHED IN A ROBE DIPPED IN BLOOD (1913)

• PROBABLY INDICATES THE BLOOD SHED FROM TRAMPLING
  THE WINEPRESS (1915 cf. Is. 633)
• COULD ALSO BE OF HIS REDEMPTIVE WORK

103
THE WORD OF GOD (1913)

• JESUS IS THE COMPLETE AND PERFECT REVELATION AND
  MESSAGE OF GOD
• JOHN 146-11

104
ARMIES IN HEAVEN FOLLOWED HIM (1914)

• DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN WHAT THESE ARMIES
  CONSTITUTE
• COULD BE ANGELS
• COULD BE REPRESENTATIVE OF SAINTS
• CITIZENSHIP IN HEAVEN (PHIL. 320)
• SOLDIERS OF CHRIST ( 2 TIM. 23 PHLMN. v. 2)

105
SHARP SWORD OUT OF HIS MOUTH (1915)

• REFERENCE TO THE WORD
• MESSAGE OF DEATH TO THOSE WHO ARE REBELLIOUS
• MESSAGE OF SALVATION FOR FAITHFUL SAINTS

106
HE HIMSELF TREADS THE WINEPRESS (1915)

• ALONE AS ISAIAH SPEAKS (Is. 633)
• HE IS THE EXECUTIONER . . .WILL EXERT VENGEANCE
  UPON THE WICKED
• HE CAME THE FIRST TIME TO SAVE ALL AND WAS JUDGED
  BY MAN NOW HE IS THE JUDGE OF ALL MEN

107
NOTABLE QUOTE
The stage is set. Two great powers have been
described. In fact, one would think at this point
there would be a long, extended battle, but quite
the opposite is revealed. Instead of a great
struggle, when the battle actually occurs it is
described in one brief statement. When the King
of kings, and Lord of lords actually enters the
fight, the war will soon end. There is none
greater, higher, or mightier.
ROBERT HARKRIDER
108
Defeat of the Beast His Armies

• Revelation 1917-21

109
Supper For the Birds (1917-18)

• SUPPER CONTRASTED WITH THE MARRIAGE SUPPER (199)
• FEAST FOR VULTURES UNGODLY
• MARRIAGE SUPPER SAINTS
• PICTURE IS SIMILAR TO THE OVERTHROW OF JERUSALEM
• MATTHEW 2428
• JEREMIAH 163-9
• ALL WALKS OF LIFE (v. 18 1315-17)

110
BEAST FALSE PROPHETCAPTURED (1919-21)

• WAR PRESENTED AS NO MATCH. . .THE BEAST WAS
  CAPTURED. . .
• BEAST ROMAN EMPIRE
• FALSE PROPHET PAGANISM (CAESAR WORSHIP)
• SEA BEAST OF CHAPTER 1311-15

111
APPLICATION

• SATAN DOESNT WANT US TO LOSE RELIGION
• WANTS US TO MISPLACE THE RELIGION OF CHRIST WITH
  ANOTHER TYPE OF RELIGION
• THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION OF ABSOLUTES IS RAPIDLY
  BEING MISPLACED AND THE RELIGION OF HUMANISM IS
  ADVANCING
• MAN INDEPENDENT OF GOD DETERMINES TRUTH

112
BEASTS DESTINATION

• LAKE OF FIRE
• ETERNAL PUNISHMENT
• NEVER SINCE THE DEMISE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE HAS
  SATAN HAD A WORLD WIDE POWER FORCING HIS EVIL
  UPON MEN
• WHILE THE BEAST IS GONE, SATAN REMAINS TO OPPOSE
  GOD