One
of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will
show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. With
her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth
were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”
Then
the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman
sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had
seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was
glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her
hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. This title
was written on her forehead:
MYSTERY
BABYLON
THE GREAT
THE
MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES
AND
OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
I
saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those
who bore testimony to Jesus. Revelation 17:1-6
Here's what we know
about this “prostitute”:
·
She's had great
influence around the world (sits on many waters)
·
She's been involved
politically with many kingdoms (kings)
·
She's prostituted
herself globally (spiritually in this sense)
·
She worked closely with
the Beast (Rome)
·
She killed prophets and
saints
Who is she? She is Jerusalem. She is the “woman” riding on the back on the
beast (Rome).
Revelation 1:7 says
Revelation is a judgment against those who pierced him. Romans (the Beast) pierced Jesus so the Woman
must be Jerusalem, whose leaders pierced Jesus also. They worked together to kill Christ. The Jewish Pharisees rode on the back of
Rome.
Jerusalem killed the
saints.
In
her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints, and of all who have been
killed on the earth.” Revelation 18:24
Jesus “woed” the
Pharisees, blaming them for the death of saints.
Therefore
this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that
has been shed since the beginning of the world, from the blood of Abel to the
blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I
tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all. Luke 11:50-51
Jesus said "this
generation" will pay the price.
Jesus blamed the city for its crimes.
“O
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,
how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her
chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.” Matthew 23:37
The Prostitute is
wearing an attire that matches Priestly clothing.
These
are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven
tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your
brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests. Have them use
gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.
Make
the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted
linen—the work of a skilled craftsman. It is to have two shoulder pieces
attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened. Its skillfully woven
waistband is to be like it—of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and
with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen.
Take
two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel. Exodus 28:4-9
The Old Testament is
full of imagery to prostitution in relation to the Israelites seeking out idols
instead of worshipping God. The prophet
Hosea was told to marry a prostitute Gomer so he would understand how God feels
being with Israel.
BABYLON is a curse word
to the Jews. To be called this is an
insult. It’s meant to be that way.
The Prostitute must pay
for its actions, its worldwide influence and the way it disgraced God's
name. The Beast will turn on the
Prostitute.
Rome burned Jerusalem to
the ground with such ferocity that it leveled the city to nothing. It was uninhabitable. Then John tells us the prostitute is a city.
The
woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.” Revelation 17:18
Jerusalem had great
financial influence over other nations. John
told us previously that the great city is Jerusalem because it was where Jesus
was crucified.
Their
bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called
Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. Revelation 11:8