Prayer and Prophetic Conference (2009) – Mike Bickle
Harlot Babylon: A Coming One-World Religion (Rev. 17) Page 3
Harlot Babylon: A Coming One-World Religion (Rev. 17)
I. The falling away from the faith at the end of the age
A. In my opinion, we are in the early days of the generation in which Jesus will return. In other words, I believe that there are people alive today who will see the return of Jesus. It may be the 20-year-olds or the 2-year-olds who see it. I do not know with certainty. No one knows this with absolute certainty. My opinions on this are based on observation of the biblical signs of the times, not on personal revelation such as prophetic visions. We must insist that our faith be based on what the Bible says, not on personal revelations about the timing of His return.
B. I do not ask anyone to accept my views; rather I urge you to boldly challenge all the ideas that you hear. Refuse any that you cannot see in Scripture for yourself. I urge you to be like the Bereans who searched the Scriptures to see if the things that Paul said were so (Acts 17:10-11).
C. Rev. 17-18 is one of the most significant end-time prophecies because it gives us insight into Satan’s end-time strategy to deceive the Church so that many fall away from the faith. Therefore, this prophecy deserves much careful attention because the deceived will go to the lake of fire.
D. Paul prophesied of a falling away from the faith at the end of the age. This prophetic theme is one of the greatest challenges in the Church at this hour (Mt. 24:9-13; 2 Thes. 2:3; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Tim. 3:1-7; 4:3-5; 2 Pet. 2:1-3). A doctrine of a demon is a teaching that is inspired by demons.
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry… (1 Tim. 4:1-3)
E. The falling away and the revealing of the Antichrist are two of Paul’s most significant signs of the nearness of Jesus’ second coming.
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day (Jesus’ second coming) will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin (Antichrist) is revealed. (2 Thes. 2:3)
F. Sound doctrine teaches obedience and allegiance to Jesus. It requires endurance. To “turn the ear away” means that the people will no longer hear what God intended in various Bible passages.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables… (2 Tim. 4:3-4)
G. Love of the truth is more than adherence to it. This love takes a firm stand for truth regardless of the cost. Loving truth requires that we be open to accept any new ideas as long as they are substantiated in Scripture, regardless of how different they are from our religious background.
9 The coming of the lawless one (Antichrist) is…with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and unrighteous deception…because they did not receive the love of the truth.(2 Thes. 2:9-10)
II. the Antichrist’s end-time worship movement
A. A significant part of Satan’s end-time plan is to be worshiped by all nations. He will raise up a worldwide “Antichrist worship movement.” This satanic worship movement will find expression in every nation and will be a counterfeit to Jesus’ true end-time worship moment and revival.
4 They worshiped the Dragon (Satan)…and the Beast (Antichrist), saying, "Who is like the Beast?"…8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him (Antichrist)... (Rev. 13:4-8)
B. There are two stages in Satan’s plan to be worshiped by all nations. He knows that it is too big a step for those with a religious heritage (Christian, Muslim, Hindu, etc.) to suddenly become devoted Satan worshipers. Therefore, he will deceive them into joining a worldwide religion of tolerance without absolutes, which teaches that all religions lead to the same God and salvation.
C. By joining this harlot religion, their conscience will be greatly defiled. This will make it easy for them to break their affiliation with their religious heritage (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, etc). This will prepare the way for them to be Satan worshipers in the Antichrist worship movement.
D. The voluntary harlot Babylon religion will be replaced by a mandatory Antichrist religion. Firstly, people will voluntarily join the harlot Babylon one-world religion of tolerance (Rev. 17). Secondly, all will be forced to be Satan worshipers in the Antichrist religion (Rev. 13:4, 8, 15).
E. This end-time harlot religion will be a counterfeit of the end-time Bride of Christ.
F. The harlot religion will prepare the nations to receive the Antichrist. It will be a religion of affirmation and tolerance without absolutes. It will be a counterfeit justice movement that will feed the poor, be involved in humanitarian projects, and will appear to be filled with compassion.
G. The nations will rejoice in the unity and world peace that this religion will seemingly bring. Since many military and economic conflicts are linked to religious differences, many are looking for a “religious solution” that will set the stage to accomplish world peace and prosperity.
3 When they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them. (1 Thes. 5:3)
H. Today, many want to bring the three monotheistic religions together (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam). They seek to unify liberal “Christianity” (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox) with moderate Islam and Judaism, together with Hinduism, Buddhism, New Age, etc., Each group will be committed to moral and religious tolerance and will make many compromises to reach “unity.”
I. Babylon will include a religious (Rev. 17) and economic (Rev. 18) network. The harlot will deceive the nations by sorcery, which is a combination of drugs and demonic power (witchcraft). Her dark supernatural power will fascinate people and appear to be good. Her worship music will be powerful in that it will have a supernatural, demonic element to it.
23 For by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. (Rev. 18:23)
III. The Great Harlot: her seductions and persecution
1 Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication"…3 I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet Beast (Antichrist)…4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5 On her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth. 6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints…15 He said to me, "The waters…where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. (Rev. 17:1-6, 15)
A. Rev. 17:1-6 gives us details about the emergence of the harlot Babylon as a one-world religion, describing her evil seductions and cruel persecutions.
B. Before the angel showed John the wealth and counterfeit beauty of the harlot religion, he showed him her inevitable judgment and sure defeat (v. 1). This system will fail and be utterly destroyed.
C. The harlot will sit on many nations (v. 1, 15) or will have authority over the nations. She will successfully seduce and deceive the most powerful leaders on the earth, including the kings of the earth and the great merchants of the earth (Rev. 17:2; 18:23).
D. The nations will become drunk or intoxicated with her seductive promise to bring great benefit to the nations, including compassionate humanitarian aid, a unified religion (that minimizes wars), and a prosperous world economy. Additionally, they will embrace her deceptive theology of tolerance.
2 The inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication. (Rev. 17:2)
E. The harlot religion will have great prominence. She will be arrayed in purple (royal status) and will be respected by the elite financial leaders of the earth who will give their allegiance to her.
4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet (royalty), and adorned with gold…having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. (Rev. 17:4)
F. The harlot Babylon will inspire the nations to new heights of sin and demonic activity. Sin will be allowed to reach its fullness in the end times.
23 In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king (Antichrist) shall arise…who understands sinister schemes. (Dan. 8:23)
G. The fullness of ...
musisza