Revelation, Chapters 16-18

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THE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF REVELATION

Chapters

16.

17.	Chapter 17
18.	Chapter 18

Chapter 16

The judgment is set

(Click on NUMERIC links to READ ENDNOTEs)

16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

The first vial of wrath (21)

16:2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

The second vial of wrath

16:3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.

The third vial of wrath

16:4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. 16:5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. 16:6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. 16:7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

The forth vial of wrath

16:8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. 16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

The fifth vial of wrath

16:10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat [throne] of the beast [Antichrist]; and his kingdom [Babylon] was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, 16:11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

The sixth vial of wrath

16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet [the unholy trinity]. 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 16:16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon ["Armageddon" is Hebrew for "Mt. Megiddo", which is in Northern Israel. The valley of Megiddo (also referred to as the valley of Jehoshaphat; Joel 3:2, 12) is where the Battle of Armageddon is to be fought (c/p. Rev. 14:20; Zech. 12:11). See also: Ezekiel 38 and 39 is not the battle of Armageddon.]

The seventh vial of wrath

16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. 16:18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. 16:19 And the great city (22) was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon (23) came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 16:20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 16:21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God [still no repentance] because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

[Note: the chronological storyline of Revelation is continued at Rev. 19:1.]

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Chapter 17

Mystery Babylon: the Revised Roman System of World Religion

    17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 17:2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

    17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

    17:7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

The mystery of the beast (24)

     17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

    17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains (25), on which the woman sitteth. 17:10 And there are seven kings (26): five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come [we are to watch for a "king" to be given power over a confederacy of 10 nations located in territories ruled by both Rome and Greece; this is the beginning of the revised Roman Empire...the present European Economic Community being but a shadow of the kingdom which is to come (see Endnote #9)]; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space [perhaps 3 ½ years or less]. 17:11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth (27), and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

The Revised Roman Empire

    17:12 And the ten horns (Dan. 7:7; Dan. 7:8; Dan. 7:20; Dan. 7:24; Rev. 13:1; Rev. 17:3; Rev. 17:7; Rev. 17:12-17) which thou sawest are ten kings (the demonic rulers of 10 kingdoms, each having a king; c/p. the Revised Roman Empire; Dan. 7:8; Dan. 7:19-20; Dan. 7: 23-24; Rev. 12:3; Rev. 13:1; Rev. 17:3; Rev. 17:12-17), which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 17:13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them [at the battle of Armageddon (Rev. 19:19)]: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

The 10 Kings Destroy the World Religious System

    17:16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 17:17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

Mystery Babylon: the Great Whore City

    17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city (28) (29), which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

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Chapter 18

Literal Babylon: the Revived Grecian Empire’s Merger of Politics, Commerce and Religion ^(//)

     18:1 And after these things [after seeing the judgment of Mystery Babylon] I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen [this is a prophetic statement of an event which has not yet happen], and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication (Rev. 14:8), and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

    18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people [God’s final call for His people to leave commercial Babylon], that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 18:5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 18:6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. 18:7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 18:8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

    18:9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 18:10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

    18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 18:12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, 18:13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. 18:14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

    18:15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 18:16 And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! 18:17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, 18:18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! 18:19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

    18:20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her [for the Mystery Babylon spirit which caused your deaths (vs. 24)]. 18:21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. 18:22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; 18:23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries [drugs] were all nations deceived.

    18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth [since Abel].

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ENDNOTES

	21. The first six vials of wrath are poured out within a very short time period, perhaps 30 days; with the seventh vial being poured out a short time thereafter.
	22. Jerusalem (Zech. 14:4-5).
	23. Literal Babylon (Rev. 18).

	24. The Prince of Grecia (Dan. 10:12, Dan. 8:21, Dan. 10:20) had ceased to rule in the Apostle John’s day, but shall yet ascend out of the bottomless pit [the abyss] and shall be the demonic force behind the Antichrist—Revived Greece.
	25. The harlot woman sits on seven mountain kingdoms—not the seven hills of Rome.
	26. The five fallen kings are: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece. The one that is [in John’s day] is Rome, and the other yet to come is Revised Rome, out of which shall come the eighth kingdom—Revived Greece, ruled by the Antichrist.
	27. We know that the Antichrist will come from territories formerly ruled by Greece because Dan. 8:21-23 clearly states that he is the "little horn" that will arise in the latter time of the kingdoms ruled by the four generals of Alexander the great after his death (see Dan. 8:8, Dan. 8:9-11; Dan. 8:21; Dan. 8:23-25; and Dan. 9:27). We also know that the Antichrist will come from territories formerly ruled by Rome because Revelation 17:11 states that the beast [the kingdom of the Antichrist] which carries the woman is the eighth kingdom, and is of the seven [preceding kingdoms]—Rome and revised Rome being numbers six and seven. Revived Greece, therefore, literally comes out of Revised Rome, and thus comes out of the territories formerly ruled by Rome [see Endnote #9].
	28. The only city-based religious system that fits the historical model of any portion of this passage is the Vatican City in Rome. This chapter reveals that the harlot woman is a great religious prostituting whore city that has oppressed God’s people in every kingdom from Egypt to Rome. The harlot city of the Roman Empire was Rome. The harlot city of Revised Rome is still Rome—or at least the Vatican City portion of Rome. Following the rapture of the Church, she will be utterly destroyed by the 10-horn kingdoms of revised Rome, who then give their kingdoms to the Antichrist to form the final world kingdom, Revived Greece. The great mystery about Mystery Babylon is that she has existed as a great prostituting whore city in every kingdom since Egypt. For revised Rome, the Vatican City will be destroyed by the 10-horn kings by *midweek* (Rev. 17:16). For Revived Greece, literal Babylon the great will be destroyed by God under the 7^th vial of wrath (Rev. 16:17-19; Rev. 18; Rev. 19:2). [See below. See also The Mystery of Mystery Babylon Revealed.]
	29. A note on the Catholic Church: There are many born again and even spirit-filled Catholics around the world. As for the Pope: Popes come and go. Some are used by God to a greater degree than others—only God knoweth. The present Pope is Spirit-filled; and there is coming a world-wide charismatic Pentecostal revival in the Catholic Church. In Revelation 18:4, God issues a final warning and call for His people to come out of literal Babylon, the capital city of the Antichrist’s kingdom. Since there is no similar warning for God’s people to come out of Mystery Babylon—the Vatican City and harlot woman of the revised Roman Empire—we can be sure that by the middle of the Antichrist Covenant Week and Daniel’s 70^th week, there are none of God’s people left in the Vatican City. Until such time, any born again Catholic is a brother or sister in the Lord, and should be treated as such. In fact, at present, the revival fires are burning in a mighty world-wide move of God in the Catholic Church which deserves our prayers and support.
	30. This chapter is a prophetic utterance, which is clearly shown in verse four. It is also demonstrated by use of the future tense throughout. Literal Babylon is destroyed under the 7^th vial of wrath (Rev. 16:17-19).The great whore of Rev. 19:2 is: Mystery Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations (Rev. 17:5). In Chapter 18, John has just been shown God’s judgment of Babylon The Great, the world’s great commercial center. Yet, verse 19:2 calls this great commercial center “*the great whore.” Both the great religious center* (Mystery Babylon The Great), and the great commercial center of the earth (Babylon The Great), therefore, will be located in the same city: Babylon. HERE IS THE GREAT MYSTERY: EACH OF THE 8 GREAT WORLD KINGDOMS THAT HAVE OR WILL OPPRESS ISRAEL (Rev. 17:10-11) HAS HAD OR WILL HAVE ITS GREAT RELIGIOUS WHORE CITY.
	For the revised Roman Empire that is yet to come, its 10 kings will destroy its great mystery religious city (Rev. 17:16). These kings then will give their power, authority, and kingdom to the Antichrist (Rev. 17:12-14, Rev. 17:16-17), who will form the eighth and final world kingdom to oppress Israel: the revived Grecian Empire. In fulfillment of Bible prophecy (Dan 9:27), the Antichrist will enter Jerusalem and desecrate the rebuilt temple. He will then consolidate church and state in the rebuilt city of "Babylon", which we believe to be Dubai (see also Dubai Projects). *THEN THE GREAT MYSTERY: the* spirit of the destroyed Mystery Babylon of the revised Roman Empire is resurrected in literal Babylon, as the great religious whore city of the revived Grecian Empire. This demonic religious spirit now demands universal worship of the Antichrist within the territories formerly ruled by Greece: whom God destroys (the city and the spirit) under the 7^th vial of wrath (Rev. 16:19**)

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