LEARNING DAILY

 

Revelation 17:1, Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked to me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters.

 

Chapters 17 and 18 examine the fall of Babylon the Great.  Babylon is the symbol for the entire world system created under the control of the antichrist.  This world system is dominated by Satan as demonstrated by worldwide wickedness in politics, religion, and economics.  Babylon will be totally destroyed in the last three and one-half years of the tribulation.  The great harlot represents the spiritually wicked religious system – the counterfeit of Christianity.  This association of this religious system with the political powers is seen in verse 3; this false religious system caused the people of the earth to commit spiritual fornication by the worship of the beast.

 

This false religious system will reject all of the basic doctrines of the Christian faith and all those who are loyal to Jesus Christ; notice the golden cup of abominations in the hand of great harlot.  Religious leaders will persecute all those who believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God.  This religious system will be comprised of all other religious creeds, faiths, and will require acceptance of each as equally true (Life in the Spirit Study Bible).  The harlot sitting on many waters indicates that this is a worldwide religion to be used by the antichrist to consolidate his control over the entire world. 

 

Revelation 17:16 tells us that some time during the rule of the antichrist, he and his followers will turn on the harlot.  They will hate her and totally destroy her and her institutions.  This is God’s judgment against the world religious system that rejected God’s truth.  God moves in the kings of the earth to fulfill His purpose showing that He is in total control and that He is still on His throne throughout this terrible time.

 

A one-world religion is on the rise.  How can I say this?  Have you noticed the increase in persecution of Christians and everything God?  Research what is going on in Canada.  Anyone who is prochoice there or speaks out against same sex marriage is detested.   If you are a Christian, the world hates you.  Speak out against homosexuality and look out!   There is an ever-growing movement of pluralism which states all paths lead to heaven.  Much of this movement is a call to unity, a call to put religious differences aside and come together to raise awareness of climate change.  The pluralist movement is seen in government, education, and all around the world.  Even the Pope is leading a movement to bring all religions under Rome’s leadership.  The movement for one-world religion is already in motion.

 

But it will not last once it has served the purpose of the antichrist.  Like he does with everything else Satan will destroy it once the world is untied under his antichrist.   Once again God is in control and uses this system for His own purpose.