Sermons and Outlines

Rev. 17:1-18 THE FALL OF RELIGIOUS BABYLON

Intro: Ill. This chapter and the one to follow explain all the things talked about in

chapter 16. This is where we see the fulfillment of those prophecies. In this chapter,

we will witness the fall of the great worldwide church that will flourish after the

rapture of the church. Thsi system is already at work even today. All around the

world, there is a great move underway to bring all religious groups under one central

umbrella. We are witnessing the great falling away which the Bible says will come

about in the last days. (2Thes. 2:3; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 3:1-3; 2 Tim. 4:3-4). It has

already reached the place where Bible believing Christians, people who take the Bible

literally and who try to live a holy life for the Lord, are under increasing attack. The

only way to succeed, in the eyes of the world, is to conform and be tolerant of other's

beliefs and opinions. I believe that all Christians can worship together. But, when

people go off on a tangent and begin to worship and dabble in areas that are

forbidden, then that is where we must draw the line! Let's look at this awesome

chapter and see if we can identify what is happening here.

I. v.1-6 THE BABYLONIAN MOTHER

A. v.1, 15 Her Popularity - World-wide influence. This religious system will

have the ear of the world! (Ill. Power and wealth.) When you reject the truth, you

will be sucked into by a lie. (Ill. Seeker churches.)

B. v. 2 Her Perversion - (Ill. Whore - No woman wants to be called that term.)

(Ill. She will use her charms to deceive the world into thinking she is the right way.)

C. v.3, 9 Her Prediction - This church is upheld by the power of the beast. It will

be headquartered in Rome, v.9. She will be defended by the ten nation

confederacy of the revived Roman Empire. (Ill. The church will once again wed

the state - Ill. Constantine 325 AD. (Ill. Christianity began to change -

Christmas, Lent, Baptism, Relic Worship, Saint Worship, Popery, etc.) (Ill. Is it the

Catholic Church? NO!! Catholicism will surely be involved, but so will

Methodism, Lutheranism, Presbyterianism, the Islamic faith, Buddhism and even

the Baptists.) (That said, the connection between the history and practice of Roman

Catholicism and the description of this religious system cannot be lightly passed

by!)

D. v.4 Her Prosperity - (Ill. Garments, Wealth and Ritual! The trappings of

religion!) (Ill. The wealth of religion - Catholic - 100 Billion, Mormons,

Baptists!)

E. v.5 Her Personality - (Ill. Roman practice of identifying prostitutes) (Ill.

Mother - Origin) (Ill. The origin of the Babylonian Mother - Gen. 10:8-11; 11:1-

4) (Ill.Cush, Semiramis, Nimrod, Zoroaster. (Ill. Sunbeam, Ishtar Eggs, Unicorns,

Circle of Life, Yin Yang, etc.) This system is as old as time, and as new as it has

to be. (Ill. v. 18 - She is a city, and a system!)

F. v.6 Her Persecutions - Ill. his system is responsible for the deaths of the saints

of the Lord. From Cain and Abel to the Tribulation saints, this religious system

has been responsible for the martyrdom of 10's of millions on Christians. (Ill. It is

not tonight, nor has it ever been the denomination that determines a person's, it is

the Blood of Jesus that makes the difference!

II. v.7-13 THE BABYLONIAN MONSTER

A. v.8. 10-11 The Identity Of The Beast - (Ill. It is the Anti-Christ) Ill. His rise

to power, his death and his resurrection, Rev. 13:3. His entire ministry is a mockery

of that of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ill. The Emporeors of verse 10, and the

Antichrist is both the seventh and the eighth.

B. v.12-13 The Identification Of The Horns - The 10 nation confederancy of the

revived Roman Empire. (Ill. The EEC!)

III. v.14-18 THE BABYLONIAN MASSACRE

A. v.14 They Battle The Lamb - Ill. These nations will come against the Lamb

Himself. (Ill. Refers to chapter 19). When they attack Jesus, they are sure to

lose! (Ill. King of Kings!) (Ill. Those with Him - Called, chosen and faithful - That

my friends is you and me!)

B. v.16 They Burn The Whore - Ill. Organized religion will be utterly destroyed!

When their religion has served it's purpose and offers them nothing else, then

they will turn on the church will utterly destroy her! (Ill. Sounds like a lot of people

in our day - God is a great big sparetire!)They will strip her of her wealth,

destroy and disfigure her places of worship and organized religion shall

cease to exist on the earth! (Ill. Organized religion is a disgrace anyway!)

C. v.17 They Bend Before God - As they carry out their deeds, they are unaware

that God Himself is using them for His glory and to carry out His plans and

purposes! In the midst of chaos, it is good to know that God is still in control!

Conc: Have you got Jesus tonight? Are you a member of the church or a part of the

body? That is one question you had better get right. If you miss that one, you have

missed everything! If you need the Lord this evening, please come to Him and allow

Him to do a work in your heart and life.