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REVELATION - Behold, I am Coming Soon
Studies in the Book of Revelation
BOOK 6 - BABYLON THE HARLOT AND THE WORSHIP OF GOD(REVELATION 17:1 - 19:10)
PART 6.1 - THE JUDGMENT OF GOD UPON THE HARLOT BABYLON (REVELATION 17:1 - 18:24)

2. The Harlot of Babylon Close Up (Revelation 17:3-6)


The Hardened Synagogue (v 3-4): John saw the great Harlot of Babylon not only in a church that had become worldly in the course of history. Even more, he suffered under the present spiritual adultery of his own people. The prophets of the Old Covenant had often to accuse their people of unfaithfulness toward the Lord of the Covenant (Isaiah 6:9-13; Jeremiah 13:25-27; 44:17; Ezekiel 16:23; Hosea 2:1-15).

Jesus called the majority of His nation an “adulterous generation”. Many of them loved mammon, which had become a God to them (Matthew 6:19-24; 12:39; 14:4; Mark 8:38).

Neither the exile into Babylonian captivity (597 and 587 B.C.), nor the destruction of the first temple (587 B.C.), had changed the character of the Jews for the better. Worse yet, in Mesopotamia they had opened themselves up to the burden of occult wisdom and practices of the Babylonians and Persians.

Following the destruction of the second temple by the Romans (70 A.D.) came the scattering of all Jews amidst the nations of the Roman Empire (132 A.D.). Nevertheless, numbers of these worked their way up to become advisors to sovereigns and governors. They exercised considerable influence on the governments and economies of these lands.

The initial calling of the Jews to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation in the midst of impure and ignorant nations (Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 42:6), was forgotten for centuries. Only the twelve apostles of Christ, who descended from the twelve tribes of Israel, fulfilled this command (Acts 1:8).

On the contrary, the synagogues and Torah schools had hardened themselves under the Law of Moses, with its requirement of circumcision, kosher foods and Jewish feasts, including the Sabbath requirements. They had not, however, subjected themselves to repentance, as preparation to receive the Messiah (Matthew 3:7-12; John 8:41-45; Revelation 2:9; 3:9). The majority of them hardened themselves increasingly to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (John 16:2-3), and clung to Yahweh, the one and only God, without recognizing, that He, as LORD, had “tabernacled” Himself among them to live and work in the person of Jesus (Matthew 13:11-17; John 1:11-14; 8:43; Romans 2:28-29; 9:6). The majority of His nation refused to have anything to do with His Spirit. They hated Jesus without cause (John 15:22-25), and had Him crucified by the Romans. But He asked His Father to forgive them all (Luke 23:34). When the majority obstinately rejected the Holy Spirit the spiritual kingdom of God was taken from them (Matthew 21:43; Acts 28:25-28).

Later, their leading teachers of the law went even as far as to have the Sanhedrin (the high council) confirm that Jews who believed in Jesus as their promised Messiah could no longer be Jews or Israelis.

Until today, members of the Old Covenant sit “on many waters”, and with their wealth and cleverness exercise considerable influence on governments, cultures and world views. It makes no difference - whether via the French Revolution or Marxist Communism, whether in journalism or on television, whether in Free Masonry or in science, Jewish intelligence, perspicacity and experience works decisively.

Nevertheless, the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is primarily rejected, suppressed or hated by the majority. Many have opened themselves up to an antichristian spirit (Matthew 23:37-39; 27:25). Perhaps John saw in the wilderness rider on the back of the scarlet horse not only the worldly church, but the degenerated synagogue as well.

PRAYER: We thank You, Heavenly Father, because Your only Son was crucified as the King of the Jews, atoning for their sins, and forgiving the sins of those who hate Him. Grant the Jews sincere repentance that Your Holy Spirit may flutter upon them and they love their Savior, believe in His divinity, and receive from Him everlasting life. Amen.

QUESTIONS:

  1. How many times was Israel destroyed? When?
  2. Why do the majority of the Jews deny God the Father, the Son and His Holy Spirit?

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