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SERIES: THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, WEEK 67

TITLE: GOD'S PURPOSE FULFILLED

TEXT: REVELATION 17:15-18

INTRODUCTION: (1) I WANT TO BEGIN THIS MORNING WITH A CLASSIC STATEMENT FROM ONE OF THE PURITANS THAT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED.

* THIS QUOTE IS POWERFUL AND FILLED WITH TRUTH THAT IS WOVEN THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BIBLE.

** THE STATEMENT IS: “WHAT GOD SOVEREIGNLY DECREES IN ETERNITY, MAN WILL ALWAYS DEMAND IN TIME.”

*** NOW WHAT DOES THAT STATEMENT MEAN?

**** WELL, WHAT GOD AS THE KING AND CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE ORDAINED IN ETERNITY PAST, MANKIND WILL FREELY CHOOSE TO DO IN TIME.

(2) SAID ANOTHER WAY, MANKIND’S WILL WILL ALWAYS FREELY CHOOSE THE VERY THING THAT GOD HAS DECREED OR ORDAINED AND GOD’S PURPOSE WILL BE FULFILLED.

* AND GUESS WHAT? MANKIND WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HE FREELY CHOOSES TO DO IN THE PROCESS, PARTICULARLY, HIS SIN.

** FOR GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF HIS SIN, BUT HAS ORDAINED THE END RESULT THAT MANKIND WILL FULFILL FROM HIS OWN SINFUL DESIRE.

*** NOW IF THAT TRUTH GIVES YOU A HEADACHE OR SOUNDS CONTRADICTORY, LET ME GIVE ANOTHER CLASSIC STATEMENT BY PURITAN THOMAS WATSON AND I QUOTE:

**** “GOD ALWAYS HAS A HAND IN THE ACTION WHERE THE SIN IS, BUT HE NEVER HAS A HAND IN THE SIN OF THE ACTION.”

(3) LET ME REPEAT THAT QUOTE: “GOD ALWAYS HAS A HAND IN THE ACTION WHERE THE SIN IS, BUT HE NEVER HAS A HAND IN THE SIN OF THE ACTION.” (END QUOTE)

* JOHN REISINGER IN HIS LITTLE BOOKLET “THE SOVEREIGN OF GOD IN PROVIDENCE” WRITES IN RESPONSE TO THIS GREAT QUOTE THESE THINGS AND I QUOTE:

** “IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT HAPPENED, WHERE IT HAPPENED, WHEN IT HAPPENED OR TO WHOM IT HAPPENED; IF IT HAPPENED GOD HAD A HAND IN IT; HE CONTROLLED IT. HOWEVER, HE IS NOT GUILTY OF THE SIN OR HATRED IN THE HEARTS OF MEN THAT CAUSED THE SIN IN THE SITUATION.” (END QUOTE)

*** NOW THAT’S A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW AT TIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN OUR HEARTS ARE BROKEN BY SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS THAT CRUSHES US AND WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT.

**** GOD WILL ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSES IN A WORLD OF SIN AND HE USES THAT WHICH HE HATES (SIN) TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE HAS ORDAINED.

(4) PSALM 76:10 SAYS: “FOR THE WRATH OF MAN SHALL PRAISE YOU; WITH A REMNANT OF WRATH YOU WILL GIRD YOURSELF.”

* NOW LET ME ILLUSTRATE BIBLICALLY THAT GOD USES PEOPLE’S WRATH AND WRONG DESIRES TO BRING PRAISE TO HIMSELF AND FULFILL HIS PURPOSE.

** AND THAT ILLUSTRATION IS THE CROSS AND THE DEATH OF GOD’S SON.

*** AND AGAIN I QUOTE JOHN REISINGER IN HIS BOOK “THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IN PROVIDENCE” WITH SOME QUESTIONS HE ASKS AND I QUOTE:

**** “EXACTLY WHAT DID GOD ALMIGHTY ETERNALLY DECREE WOULD HAPPEN TO HIS SON? HE WOULD BE CRUCIFIED! EXACTLY WHAT DID THAT CROWD VEHEMENTLY DEMAND TO TAKE PLACE? THE ANSWER, THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST! WHAT GOD SOVEREIGNLY DECREES IN ETERNITY, MAN WILL FREELY CHOOSE IN TIME.”

(5) “WHAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT WILL SATISFY THE CHARACTER OF A HOLY GOD? THE ANSWER, THE SHED BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST! WHAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD SATISFY THE HATE AND PASSION OF THAT CROWD? THE ANSWER, THE SHED BLOOD OF CHRIST! WHAT GOD SOVEREIGNLY ORDAINS IN ETERNITY, MAN WILL CHOOSE BY HIS OWN FREE WILL IN TIME.” (END QUOTE)

* AND BELOVED, THE WICKED PREVAILED IN THE DEATH OF CHRIST, THEY DID WHAT THEY FREELY WANTED TO DO. BUT THE WICKED PREVAILED IN THEIR SIN ONLY BECAUSE GOD HAS PURPOSED TO USE IT FOR HIS OWN GLORY AND THE BELIEVER’S HOLY GOOD! (READ ROMANS 8:28)

** NOW MY POINT THAT I WANT TO REEMPHASIZE THAT LEADS US TO OUR TEXT TODAY IS GOD’S PURPOSES ARE ALWAYS FULFILLED, GOD’S PURPOSE IS ALWAYS ACCOMPLISHED.

** AND WE WILL SEE THAT CLEARLY, VIVIDLY AND CONCISELY IN OUR STUDY TODAY.

*** FOR THE BEAST ANTICHRIST AND HIS 10 KING CONFEDERACY WILL TURN ON THE WOMAN-THE HARLOT-RELIGIOUS BABYLON AND DESTROY HER.

(6) SHE WILL NO LONGER BE NEEDED IN THEIR PURPOSES, SO THEY WILL TURN ON HER AND DESTROY HER.

* BUT UNKNOWINGLY, THEY ARE WORKING OUT THE WILL OF GOD!

** THE ANTICHRIST AND HIS 10 KINGS WILL BE THE INSTRUMENT OF GOD’S DIVINE PURPOSE TO DESTROY THIS FALSE RELIGIOUS WORLDWIDE SYSTEM.

*** GOD WILL USE THE FORCES OF EVIL TO ACCOMPLISH HIS ULTIMATE PURPOSE. WHAT GOD SOVEREIGNLY DECREED IN ETERNITY ANTICHRIST AND HIS 10 KINGS WILL FREELY DO IN TIME!

**** FOR REVELATION 17:17 SAYS: “FOR GOD HAS PUT IT IN THEIR HEARTS TO EXECUTE HIS PURPOSE BY HAVING A COMMON PURPOSE, AND BY GIVING THEIR KINGDOM TO THE BEAST, UNTIL THE WORDS OF GOD WILL BE FULFILLED.”

(7) AND BELOVED, THE WORD OF GOD AND THE WILL OF GOD WILL BE FULFILLED.

* IN LIGHT OF THAT, I’VE TITLED MY MESSAGE TODAY, “GOD’S PURPOSE FULFILLED” SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT THE JUDGMENT OF THE GREAT HARLOT, GOING BACK TO REVELATION 17:1.

** AND UNDER THAT TITLE WE’LL LOOK AT 4 POINTS AS WE LOOK AT THE 4 VERSES OF OUR TEXT TODAY.

*** NO. 1 THE DESCRIPTION OF THE WATERS THAT THE GREAT HARLOT-RELIGIOUS BABYLON SITS ON, V. 15; NO. 2 THE DESTRUCTION OF THIS SPIRITUAL PROSTITUTE, V. 16; NO. 3 THE DIRECTION OF THE SOVEREIGN GOD IN THIS DESTRUCTION, V. 17; AND NO. 4 THE DESIGNATION OF THE GREAT CITY THAT REIGNS OVER THE KINGS OF THE EARTH, V. 18.

**** AND WITH THAT OUTLINE AS OUR MAP TO FOLLOW, LOOK AT V. 15 WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR FIRST POINT TODAY, THE DESCRIPTION. LOOK AT REVELATION 17:15 PLEASE.

I. THE DESCRIPTION, (READ V. 15)

A. NOW IN V. 15, THE ANGEL THAT IS TALKING WITH JOHN EXPLAINS TO HIM THE MEANING OF THE WATERS GOING BACK TO V. 1.

* FOR REVELATION 17:1 SAYS: THEN ONE OF THE SEVEN ANGELS WHO HAD THE SEVEN BOWLS CAME AND SPOKE WITH ME, SAYING, “COME HERE, I WILL SHOW YOU THE JUDGMENT OF THE GREAT HARLOT WHO SITS ON MANY WATERS.”

** NOW IN REVELATION 17:1 THE GREAT HARLOT, SYMBOLIC OF RELIGIOUS OR ECCLESIASTICAL BABYLON, THE ONE WORLDWIDE RELIGION AT THIS TIME, IS PICTURED SITTING ON MANY WATERS.

*** NOW HERE IN V. 15, THE ANGEL SAYS, “THE WATERS WHICH YOU SAW WHERE THE HARLOT SITS: (GOING BACK TO V. 1) ARE WHAT?

**** THEY ARE “PEOPLES AND MULTITUDES AND NATIONS AND TONGUES.”

1. THERE IS WORLDWIDE SUPPORT FOR THIS SPIRITUAL HARLOT AND HER FALSE RELIGION.

* AND BELOVED, THIS RELIGIOUS HARLOT WILL NOT MERELY INFLUENCE THE WORLD AT THIS POINT OF THE TRIBULATION ON EARTH, BUT WILL DOMINATE IT.

** FALSE RELIGION WILL BE USED BY ANTICHRIST AND HIS FALSE PROPHET TO INITIALLY CONTROL AND LEAD THE WORLD, TO PUT ANTICHRIST THE BEAST IN A POSITION OF POWER AS A MAN OF PEACE.

*** AND FALSE RELIGION, THIS GREAT HARLOT IS THE VEHICLE, THE MEANS THE BEAST USES TO GET POWER.

**** AND HERE FALSE RELIGION IS SITTING ON THESE PEOPLE, SHE DOMINATES THE UNSAVED MASSES, BUT HER DOOM AND JUDGMENT TALKED ABOUT IN V. 1 WILL COME TO PASS IN V. 16, OUR NEXT VERSE, WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR 2’D POINT TODAY, THE DESTRUCTION. LOOK AT V. 16 PLEASE.

II. THE DESTRUCTION, (READ V. 16)

A. NOW INITIALLY THE BEAST AND HIS 10 KING CONFEDERACY USED RELIGION TO ADVANCE THEIR POLITICAL PURPOSE FOR POWER IN THE WORLD.

* BUT THAT WILL CHANGE, FOR WHEN THE BEAST IS DONE USING HER AND DOES NOT NEED HER, HE WILL DISCARD HER, HE WILL TURN ON HER.

** AND ALTHOUGH THE REASON IS NOT DIRECTLY GIVEN WHY SUCH A CHANGE HAPPENS, SOME SUGGEST AT THE MID-POINT OF THE TRIBULATION, BUT PROBABLY THE DRIVING PURPOSES ARE JEALOUSY, A DESIRE TO TAKE HER WEALTH AND PROPERTIES, AND MOST LIKELY ANTICHRIST DOESN’T WANT TO SHARE THE SPOTLIGHT ANY MORE. HE WANTS TO BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT ALONE AND HE WANTS TO BE WORSHIPPED ALONE.

*** FOR YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, THE BEAST IS A MEGALOMANIAC, DELUSIONAL IN HIS DESIRE TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON, OBSESSED WITH HIMSELF, FILLED WITH PRIDE AND A LUST FOR ABSOLUTE POWER AND WORSHIP WHICH IS DRIVEN BY SATAN, THE FALSE GOD OF THIS WORLD.

*** AND THE BEAST AND HIS PUPPET 10 KING CONFEDERACY WILL TURN ON THE HARLOT, AND THAT TURNING IS COMMUNICATED BY A SERIES OF VERBS IN V. 16 THAT GRAPHICALLY DESCRIBE HER DESTRUCTION.

1. AND THE FIRST VERB IS HATE. THEY WILL HATE THE HARLOT, THEY WILL DETEST THE HARLOT AND IN THAT UNHOLY LOATHING OF HATE THEY WILL BE MOTIVATED TO DESTROY HER.

* AND THIS BURNING HATRED DRIVES THEM TO MAKE HER “DESOLATE” AND “NAKED.”

** AND THE VERB DESOLATE MEANS TO RUIN HER, TO BRING HER TO DESOLATION, TO STRIP HER OF HER TREASURES.

*** AND THE IDEA COMMUNICATED HERE IS THERE WILL BE A PLUNDERING OF HER WEALTH.

**** HER CHURCHES, SYNAGOGUES, TEMPLES, MOSQUES AND SHRINES WILL BE PLUNDERED.

2. AND CAN YOU IMAGINE THE WEALTH OF FALSE RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS AND THE EQUITY IN THEIR PROPERTIES, BUILDINGS AND FURNISHINGS, BEYOND THE MONIES THAT ARE SOCKED AWAY IN INVESTMENTS, BANKS AND OTHER THINGS.

* THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY IN FALSE RELIGION, WHICH DRIVES MANY FALSE RELIGIOUS TEACHERS.

** I MEAN AS PAUL SAID IN I TIMOTHY 6:5, FOR THEIR GAIN IS GODLINESS. SUCCESS IS MEASURED IN WEALTH AND PROSPERITY.

*** PAUL TALKS ABOUT FALSE TEACHERS IN TITUS 1:11 AS PEOPLE WHO ARE “TEACHING THINGS THEY SHOULD NOT TEACH FOR THE SAKE OF SORDID GAIN.”

**** AND THEN PETER TALKING ABOUT FALSE PROPHETS IN II PETER 2:3 SAYS IN DESCRIBING THEM, “IN THEIR GREED, THEY WILL EXPLOIT YOU WITH FALSE WORDS.”

3. SO ONE OF THE DRIVING FORCES BEHIND FALSE RELIGION IS GAIN, GREED, THE LOVE OF MONEY AND WEALTH.

* I MEAN IN OUR NATION, PREACHERS CAN BE FILTHY RICH BY THE FRUITS OF THEIR PROFESSION.

** SO FALSE RELIGION NO DOUBT IN THE TRIBULATION WILL POSSESS GREAT WEALTH AND RESOURCES, AND ANTICHRIST’S EYES WILL GET BIG LOOKING AT THAT AND SAY, I DON’T NEED HER BUT I WANT WHAT SHE HAS.

*** SO ANTICHRIST AND HIS CONFEDERACY WILL PLUNDER THE HARLOT, SHE WILL BE MADE DESOLATE AND NAKED.

**** BUT WHAT THE BEAST DOES BECOMES EVEN MORE GRAPHIC IN THE VERBS THAT ARE USED IN V. 16 AS THE NEXT VERB IS “EAT”, THEY WILL “EAT HER FLESH.”

4. AND THIS METAPHORICAL PHRASE COMMUNICATES EXTERNAL VENGEANCE AND HOSTILITY.

* BELOVED, THIS SYMBOLIC CANNIBALISM SHOWS THE BITTERNESS OF FORMER FRIENDS WHO NOW SET ABOUT TEARING HER APART, THERE IS A FEEDING FRENZY.

** AND IT MAY BE THE BEAST WILL LEAK INFORMATION TO THE NEWS MEDIA ABOUT HER CORRUPTION AND THEY MAKE A MEAL OF HER GOING ON A FEEDING FRENZY.

*** AND THEN THERE’S ONE LAST VERB IN V. 16, BURN, THEY WILL “BURN HER UP WITH FIRE.”

**** AND IT MAY BE THAT SOME OF HER PLACES OF WORSHIP ARE VANDALIZED AND BURNED, BUT MOST LIKELY IT SPEAKS OF HER ULTIMATE UTTER DESTRUCTION, SHE WILL BE COMPLETELY DESTROYED, CONSUMED, BY THE BEAST AND HIS 10 KING ALLIANCE.

5. SO THIS UNHOLY UNION BETWEEN THE BEAST AND FALSE RELIGION, POLITICS, POWER AND RELIGION WILL COME TO AN END AND THE HARLOT IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

* AND WE WILL SEE THIS ULTIMATELY UNDER GOD’S DIRECTION, UNDER GOD’S SOVEREIGN DESIGN. AND WE WILL SEE THIS CLEARLY IN V.1 7 WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR THIRD POINT TODAY, THE DIRECTION. LOOK AT V. 17 PLEASE.

III. THE DIRECTION, (READ V. 17)

A. NOW WHAT GOD ORDAINED IN ETERNITY, ANTICHRIST AND HIS ALLIANCE FREELY AND PURPOSELY AND PASSIONATELY FULFILLED IN TIME.

* AND BELOVED THE SOVEREIGN PURPOSE OF GOD IS BEHIND THIS INTERNAL WAR WITHIN THE KINGDOM OF EVIL.

** WHAT IS BEHIND THIS DESTRUCTION AND JUDGMENT OF THE HARLOT?

*** THE UNSEEN HAND OF GOD, THE INVISIBLE HAND OF PROVIDENCE.

**** FOR THE SOVEREIGN GOD’S PURPOSE, HIS ULTIMATE WILL, HIS MIND, HIS INTENTION IS PUT IN THE HEARTS OF ANTICHRIST AND THE 10 KINGS.

1. AND GOD’S PURPOSE, HIS MIND, HIS WILL IS NOT ONLY CARRIED OUT IN DESTROYING THE HARLOT, BUT ALSO IT LEADS THE BEAST AND THE 10 HORNS, THE 10 KINGS, THE 10 NATIONS TO HAVE A COMMON PURPOSE.

** AND THAT COMMON PURPOSE IS, AS A RESULT OF DESTROYING THE FALSE RELIGIOUS SYSTEM CALLED BABYLON THE GREAT, THE 10 HORNS, THE 10 KINGS TURN OVER THEIR KINGDOMS, THEIR AUTHORITY, THEIR RULE TO THE BEAST. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE HARLOT LEADS TO A UNITED ACTION BY THE 10 HORNS-KINGS TO GIVE THEIR KINGDOM TO THE BEAST.

*** SO THE BEAST WILL BE IN TOTAL CONTROL, WILL BE IN ABSOLUTE CONTROL FROM HERE ON OUT, UNTIL, LOOK BACK AT V. 17 PLEASE, “UNTIL THE WORDS OF GOD WILL BE FULFILLED.”

**** MEANING, THE BEAST WILL BE IN CONTROL BY GOD’S WILL UNTIL THE PROPHECIES OF THE WORD OF GOD ARE FULFILLED BY GOD’S DETERMINATION OR WILL TO JUDGE HIM, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE IN REVELATION 19:20.

***** IN OTHER WORDS, THE BEAST WILL RULE, AND HIS PUPPET 10 KINGS WILL BE UNDER HIS CONTROL, UNTIL THE TIME GOD HAS DETERMINED TO DETHRONE HIM.

2. AND BELOVED AGAIN, THE PURPOSES OF GOD ARE FULFILLED EVEN IN THEIR COMMON PURPOSE TO HAND OVER THEIR RULE UNTO THE BEAST.

* AND HE WILL BE IN CONTROL ON THE EARTH UNTIL THE TIME GOD HAS ORDAINED, AND WHEN THAT TIME IS FULFILLED THE BEAST WILL BE JUDGED ALSO!

** AND BELOVED, THE COMFORTING PROFOUND TRUTH IS, SATAN AND THE BEAST AND THE 10 HORNS ARE WORKING OUT THE WILL OF GOD!

*** AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY MEN HAVE ACTED OUT OF THEIR OWN SINFUL WILL THINKING TO OPPOSE GOD, NOT REALIZING IN THEIR DEFIANCE THEY WERE ACTUALLY CARRYING OUT GOD’S DIVINE SOVEREIGN ULTIMATE PURPOSE.

**** AND THIS IS A REPEATED PRINCIPLE IN SCRIPTURE FROM GOD DESCRIBING THE ASSYRIANS AS “THE ROD OF MINE ANGER” IN ISAIAH 10:5, BEING USED BY GOD TO JUDGE ISRAEL FOR THEIR DISOBEDIENCE, AND FOR ASSYRIA ULTIMATELY TO BE JUDGED.

3. AND ASSYRIA WAS NOT FORCED TO GO AFTER ISRAEL, THEY WANTED TO AS A PART OF THEIR SINFUL DESIRE, BUT THEY WERE DOING FREELY WHAT GOD WANTED THEM TO DO AND WHAT HE HAD ORDAINED FOR THEM TO DO.

* AND WE SEE THIS WITH BABYLON BEING USED TO JUDGE ISRAEL IN JEREMIAH 25:9-11 AND NEBUCHADNEZZAR THE KING OF BABYLON IN THAT TEXT IS CALLED GOD’S SERVANT, FULFILLING GOD’S WILL TO JUDGE ISRAEL.

** BEYOND THAT, JOSEPH’S BROTHERS HATED THEIR BROTHER AND WICKEDLY AND SINFULLY SOLD THEIR BROTHER INTO SLAVERY. THEY FREELY DID THAT FROM THEIR OWN SINFUL JEALOUSLY, THEY WERE NOT COERCED.

** BUT IN THE PROVIDENTIAL PLAN AND WILL OF GOD, HE USED THEIR HAT AND JEALOUSY TO FULFILL HIS WILL.

4. AND JOSEPH WAS NOT BITTER IN THE END AND COULD SAY THIS IN GENESIS 50:20 – “AS FOR YOU, YOU MEANT EVIL AGAINST ME, BUT GOD MEANT IT FOR GOOD IN ORDER TO BRING ABOUT THIS PRESENT RESULT, TO PRESERVE MANY PEOPLE ALIVE.”

* AND BELOVED WHAT A WONDERFUL PRACTICAL TRUTH THAT WE CAN REST IN. GOD IS ABSOLUTELY NOT PARTIALLY SOVEREIGN, AND HIS PURPOSE WILL BE FULFILLED.

** AND AS WE GO BACK TO REVELATION 17:17, ANTICHRIST IS THE INSTRUMENT OF DIVINE PURPOSE. AND THE IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF ANTICHRIST’S HATRED OF THE HARLOT IS NOT CLEARLY REVEALED, BUT THE ULTIMATE CAUSE IS KNOWN.

*** GOD HAS PUT INTO THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF ANTICHRIST AND HIS 10 HORNS TO TURN AGAINST THE HARLOT AND DESTROY HER.

**** AND HENRY MORRIS IN HIS COMMENTARY ON REVELATION MAKES A GREAT STATEMENT AT THIS POINT, WHICH I QUOTE TO YOU:

5. “THEY (ANTICHRIST AND THE 10 KINGS) DID THIS FOR THEIR OWN UTTERLY SELFISH AND WICKED MOTIVES, OF COURSE, BUT NEVERTHELESS THEY ACCOMPLISHED THE WILL OF GOD IN THE PROCESS. ONE SHOULD NOTE IN PASSING THAT GOD’S DECISIONS ARE NOT CONTINGENT ON MAN’S WILL, NOR IS HIS WILL CONTINGENT ON MAN’S DECISIONS. RATHER, MEN MAKE THEIR DECISIONS IN ACCORD WITH GOD’S WILL, EVEN WHEN THEY INTEND OTHERWISE.” (END QUOTE)

* AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I AM HERE TO REMIND YOU AGAIN TODAY, GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE, AND WILL ALWAYS BE ON THE THRONE AND THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A TIME THAT HE WASN’T ON THE THRONE, AND I PRAISE HIM AND REST IN THAT TRUTH.

** AND GOD HERE IN V. 17 USES THE WRATH OF MAN TO BRING PRAISE TO HIMSELF IN HIS ULTIMATE DESIGN.

*** WHICH LEADS US TO A FINAL POINT TODAY IN V. 18, THE DESIGNATION OF A CITY THAT TIES IN WITH THE HARLOT, THE WOMAN, LOOK AT V. 18 PLEASE.

IV. THE DESIGNATION, (READ V. 18)

A. NOW THIS FINAL VERSE OF REVELATION CHAPTER 17 IS THE LINK TO REVELATION CHAPTER 18.

* FOR WE SEE THE CONCLUSION OF THE JUDGMENT OF THE HARLOT WHICH LEADS TO THE JUDGMENT OF THE CITY AND POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC BABYLON IN REVELATION CHAPTER 18.

** NOW SPECIFICALLY, THE WOMAN, RELIGIOUS BABYLON, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH IN REVELATION 17:5 IS, THIS WOMAN IS THE GREAT CITY.

*** NOW SOME SUGGEST THAT THIS CITY IS NOT A LITERAL CITY, WHILE OTHERS SUGGEST IT IS A LITERAL CITY, SPECIFICALLY ROME OR JERUSALEM.

**** BUT IT APPEARS TO ME THIS CITY, IS A LITERAL CITY, BUT NOT ROME OR JERUSALEM, BUT A REBUILT CITY OF BABYLON THAT WILL BECOME THE CENTER OF RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL POWER.

1. AND UNDER ANTICHRIST’S REIGN THIS GREAT CITY WILL BECOME IN ESSENCE THE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, FOR THIS GREAT CITY “REIGNS OVER THE KINGS OF THE EARTH.”

* BELOVED, THIS CITY WILL BE THE CENTER OF POWER, THE CENTER OF RELIGION, THE CENTER OF POLITICS, THE CENTER OF COMMERCE UNTIL GOD DESTROYS HER.

** SO THIS CITY WILL BE THE CENTER OF ANTICHRIST’S KINGDOM, THE EXTENT OF WHICH WILL BE THE WHOLE EARTH.

*** SO THE WOMAN, THE HARLOT WILL BE A RELIGIOUS SYSTEM CONNECTED WITH THIS CITY. AND THIS GREAT CITY IS A REFERENCE TO IT’S RELIGIOUS RATHER THAN HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.

**** AND IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE PLACE OF THE START OF FALSE RELIGION, THE TOWER OF BABYLON IN GENESIS 10&11, WILL BE THE PLACE OF THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE FINAL FALSE RELIGION WHERE ISLAM, CHRISTIANITY, JUDAISM AND OTHER WORLD RELIGIONS CAN BECOME A COMBINED HYBRID WHICH THE ANTICHRIST WILL USE FOR A WHILE TO GAIN POWER.

2. POSSIBLY A REBUILT CITY OF BABYLON.

IN WRAP UP: (1) LET ME SAY THAT IT GETS BACK TO ME, THAT SOME PEOPLE SAY, ALL I TALK ABOUT IS THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD AND ELECTION AND GOD’S PROVIDENCE.

* AND THAT DOESN’T MAKE ME MAD AT YOU, WHOEVER YOU ARE.

** FOR THE REALITY OF THE MATTER IS THE WORD OF GOD IS SATURATED WITH THE TRUTH THAT GOD IS COMPLETELY AND ABSOLUTELY SOVEREIGN FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION.

*** AND QUITE FRANKLY, IF I’M GOING TO HAVE A REPUTATION FOR SOMETHING, WHICH IN MY SIN AND UNWORTHINESS, GOD HAS DETERMINED TO PITY ME AND USE ME WHEN I’M YIELDED TO HIM, BUT I WOULD LIKE THAT REPUTATION TO BE, I PREACH THE WORD OF GOD FEARLESSLY, BOLDLY, HONESTLY AND LOVINGLY.

**** FOR YOU SEE THE BIBLE IS FILLED, IS SATURATED, IS PERMEATED, IS LOADED, IS PREGNANT WITH THE TRUTH OF GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY.

(2) TO SAY IT ANOTHER WAY, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED TEACHING, BUT A REPEATED DOMINATE ONE.

** LET ME QUICKLY ILLUSTRATE FROM REVELATION CHAPTER 17.

*** IN REVELATION 17:8 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IN SALVATION IS COMMUNICATED BY TALKING TO UNSAVED PEOPLE WHO WILL BE DECEIVED BY THE BEAST AS “WHOSE NAME HAS NOT BEEN WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.”

**** IN REVELATION 17:10 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IN PROVIDENCE IS COMMUNICATED BY TELLING US THAT THE BEAST WILL ONLY REIGN “A LITTLE WHILE.”

(3) AGAIN IN REVELATION 17:11 WE SEE THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IN PROVIDENCE AS THE 10 KINGS, “RECEIVE AUTHORITY AS KINGS WITH THE BEAST FOR ONE HOUR.”

* SO THEY RECEIVE AUTHORITY FROM THE ONE WHO HAS ULTIMATE AUTHORITY AND HE HAS ORDAINED HOW LONG THEY HAVE THEIR AUTHORITY, FOR ONE HOUR.

** IN REVELATION 17:13, THESE KINGS HAVE “ONE PURPOSE AND GIVE THEIR POWER AND AUTHORITY TO THE BEAST.”

*** NOW WHOSE PURPOSE ARE THEY FULFILLING ACCORDING TO V. 17 OF REVELATION 17? GOD’S PURPOSE.

**** THEN IN REVELATION 17:14 THOSE WHO ARE WITH THE LAMB CHRIST WHEN HE DESTROYS HIS ENEMIES IN REVELATION 19, HIS ARMY, THEY ARE CALLED, “THE CALLED”, “THE CHOSEN” AND “THE FAITHFUL.”

***** AND THE TRUTH OF GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY IN SALVATION HERE IS THOSE WHO ARE WITH THE LAMB ARE THE CALLED, SPEAKING OF THE EFFECTUAL CALL THAT ENABLES A DEAD PERSON TO BELIEVE.

(4) AND WE ARE THE CALLED BECAUSE HE CHOSE HIS CALLED ONES AND ORDAINED THEY WOULD BE SAVED.

* AND THOSE CHOSEN, CALLED ONES WILL BE FAITHFUL BECAUSE OF GOD’S SOVEREIGN GRACE THAT SAVES AND SANCTIFIES AND KEEPS US AND ENABLES US TO BE FAITHFUL.

** AND THEN LASTLY, I WILL NOT ELABORATE ANY MORE BUT V. 17 OF OUR STUDY TODAY COMMUNICATES CLEARLY, THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IN PROVIDENCE.

*** AND THAT MEANS THERE ARE AT LEAST 6 CLEAR REFERENCES TO GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY IN 18 VERSES IN REVELATION CHAPTER 17.

**** MY POINT BEING, IF I BY GOD’S GRACE AM FAITHFUL TO THE TEXT, AND MY MESSAGE IS TEXT DRIVEN, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO HEAR A LOT ABOUT? GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY.

(5) AND RIGHTFULLY SO, FOR WHAT DOCTRINE AND TRUTH BRINGS MORE GLORY TO GOD THAN PROBABLY ANY OTHER DOCTRINE?

* THE ANSWER, THAT GOD’S WILL IS BEST, IT WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED AND HE IS AT THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING IN OUR UNIVERSE, HE IS THE HUB OF IT ALL. HE IS WORTHY TO RECEIVE PRAISE AND NOT MAN AND HIS DECISIONS.

** AS ROMANS 11:36 SAYS: (READ IT).

*** AND DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS NOT ONLY DOES THIS DOCTRINE DETHRONE MAN AND EXALT GOD, IT IS VERY PRACTICAL.

**** FOR ONLY BY BELIEVING IN THE DOCTRINE CAN YOU EXPERIENCE GREAT JOY AND PERFECT PEACE REGARDLESS OF WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE WORLD AROUND US AND IN OUR WORLD.

(6) FOR WE CAN REST IN THIS GLORIOUS TRUTH, THAT THE LORD REIGNS, SO REJOICE AS GOD’S PEOPLE AND BE GLAD.

* DON’T BE WORRY WARTS, BUT SONS OF PEACE AS SONS OF GOD. MAY THIS BEAUTIFUL TRUTH UNDERGIRD OUR LIVES. THE LORD REIGNS!