The Great Whore - Part 2

 Temple Baptist Church - 9-5-2021

Revelation 17:1-5

As we begin tonight, I want to make it clear that what I am preaching is what God says about “the great whore,” not my own personal opinion of feelings.  The Word of God is clear in its wording as to help us to understand the wickedness of the end-time religion and its true colors.

 

A.  Verse 1.  As we continue to look at “The Great Whore,” the beast that rose from the earth in chapter 13, I want to show a contrast between this end-time religious system and the true Church.  Whereas the end-time religious system is called a great whore, the true church is referred to as a “chaste virgin.”

 

2 Corinthians 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

 

Ephesians 5:25-27  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  (26)  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  (27)  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 

B.  The Source of Her Power.  Both the political and religious systems of the end-time are controlled by Satan.  The true Church is controlled by God.

 

1.  The Political System - Revelation 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

 

Ephesians 6:12-13  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  (13)  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 

2.  The Religious System - Revelation 13:11  And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

 

Revelation 2:13  I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

 

Revelation 2:24  But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

 

C.  Verse 2.  The Realm of Her Influence.  The kings of the earth are “in bed” (Revelation 2:22) with the great whore.  The United States has an ambassador in the Vatican City in Rome.  Around the world, Europe, Asia Minor, South America, Central America, North America along with other places, the great whore has tremendous influence over governments. 

                                        

Callista Gingrich, wife of Newt Gingrich, picked as U.S. ambassador to the Vatican by Donald Trump in 2016.

 

D.  The Inhabitants of the world. In 2018, there was an estimated 1,253,926.000 Roman Catholics.  That figure is 20% of the world’s population at that time.  In the United States, 25% of the people claim to be Catholic. With each passing day, the influence of the Roman Catholic Church grows.

 

E.  Verses 2-4.  The Wickedness of Her Deeds.  Notice the words that are associated with this end-time religious system.

 

1.  Fornication.  Used either literally (sex) or figuratively (spiritual idolatry).  In the case of the religious system, it must be figuratively.  This end-time system will be known by its use of idols.

 

2.  Wine of its fornication.  Wine in the Bible can be either literal or figurative.  (Fornication does not produce wine) Banqueting or intoxication.  To be under the influence of something.  When someone is under the influence of either alcohol or drugs, their mind is befuddled, and their thought process is impaired and decision-making ability is decreased.

 

3.  Names of Blasphemy.  Names are to make us aware of or to understand.  When I am referred to as pastor, it identifies not only who I am but what I am.  Blasphemy means to speak evil of or vilification.  The name of this end-time system identifies it: Roman Catholic.  Rome has always been identified as an enemy of God’s people from its inception as Rome has and continues to be an idolatrous place, full of statues and idols.  Catholic means universal.  God’s Church has never been universal!  It is both inclusive (accepting all who are born again) and exclusive (not accepting those who are not born again).

 

4.  Cup … abominations and filthiness.  Abomination-detestable, vile, abhorrent, despicable, to stink.  Filthiness – lewdness, a state of impurity, demonic.  Their “cup” is the “chalice” from which the Catholic priest drinks during their liturgical services.  This is copied from the online Catholic Store for priests: “The chalice is a central part of the Eucharistic celebration, and many priests have special, more ornamented chalices for important feast days and liturgical celebrations.”  The Catholic Mass is a continual re-crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Hebrews 6:6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

 

Jeremiah 51:6-7  Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD'S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.  (7)  Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

 

F.  Verse 3.  The Place of Her Sitting.  “I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast”  The great whore is riding on the back of the end-time political system.  They are inseparably tied together with Satan and the antichrist.

 

Revelation 13:14  And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

 

Revelation 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

 

G.  Verse 4.  The Array of Her Garments and The Riches of Her Coffers.  “And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls”  A perfect description of Roman Catholicism!  The dress of their priesthood, the gold that covers their churches, and the riches that they own.  The Riches of Her Coffers.  The richest religious system on earth is the Roman Catholic Church!  I have been in these churches in Mexico and the gold is spectacular to see.  The people are in poverty while worshipping under domes of gold!