WEBVTT

00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:05.219
 Good morning, everyone. It's great to worship with you. If you don't know me, my name is Sean.

00:00:05.299 --> 00:00:10.720
 I'm one of the pastors of Trinity Cambridge Church, and it is my joy and privilege to preach God's

00:00:10.720 --> 00:00:16.359
 Word to you this morning. If you have your Bibles, please open it to Revelation. It's the last book

00:00:16.359 --> 00:00:20.260
 in the Bible. If you don't have a Bible, please raise your hand. We'd love to give you a copy

00:00:20.260 --> 00:00:27.780
 that you can have and use while you're here and take home with you. Revelation chapter 17.

00:00:27.780 --> 00:00:37.160
 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's Word. Father, we humble ourselves again

00:00:37.160 --> 00:00:47.320
 and incline our ears and our hearts to you so that you might address us, speak to us from your Word,

00:00:49.400 --> 00:00:57.740
 so that our perspectives that are so pervasively and thoroughly enculturated in this

00:00:57.740 --> 00:01:04.659
 sinful world might be renewed and transformed and aligned with your purposes and priorities.

00:01:06.960 --> 00:01:12.140
 So to that end, God, minister to us by the power of your Holy Spirit in the reading and preaching

00:01:12.140 --> 00:01:20.299
 of your Word for the glory of your name and fill your people this morning with the hope of the gospel.

00:01:20.299 --> 00:01:25.099
 in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

00:01:28.099 --> 00:01:32.679
 If you are able, please stand and join me as I read Revelation 17.

00:01:32.680 --> 00:01:41.160
 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bulls came and said to me,

00:01:41.159 --> 00:01:47.099
 Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters,

00:01:47.099 --> 00:01:50.879
 with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality,

00:01:51.140 --> 00:01:56.359
 and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.

00:01:57.679 --> 00:02:00.859
 And he carried me away in the spirit into a wilderness,

00:02:01.459 --> 00:02:07.099
 and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names,

00:02:07.099 --> 00:02:10.439
 and it had seven heads and ten horns.

00:02:11.659 --> 00:02:17.979
 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls,

00:02:18.479 --> 00:02:25.259
 holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.

00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:29.979
 And on her forehead was written a name of mystery,

00:02:30.639 --> 00:02:35.099
 Babylon the Great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations.

00:02:35.099 --> 00:02:41.400
 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.

00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:46.000
 When I saw her, I marveled greatly.

00:02:46.840 --> 00:02:50.560
 But the angel said to me, Why do you marvel?

00:02:51.819 --> 00:02:57.599
 I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.

00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:04.740
 The beast that you saw was and is not and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction.

00:03:05.099 --> 00:03:11.019
 And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world

00:03:11.019 --> 00:03:16.840
 will marvel to see the beast because it was and is not and is to come.

00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:20.319
 This calls for a mind with wisdom.

00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:24.740
 The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated.

00:03:25.439 --> 00:03:28.139
 They are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen.

00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:30.780
 One is, the other has not yet come.

00:03:30.780 --> 00:03:35.620
 It is an eighth, but it belongs to the seven and it goes to destruction.

00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:41.300
 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power,

00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:45.599
 but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour together with the beast.

00:03:46.360 --> 00:03:51.460
 These are of one mind and they hand over their power and authority to the beast.

00:03:51.460 --> 00:03:56.900
 They will make war on the lamb and the lamb will conquer them.

00:03:57.700 --> 00:04:01.700
 For he is Lord of lords and king of kings.

00:04:02.360 --> 00:04:07.260
 And those with him are called and chosen and faithful.

00:04:07.259 --> 00:04:11.120
 And the angel said to me,

00:04:11.599 --> 00:04:17.719
 the waters that you saw where the prostitute is seated are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.

00:04:18.300 --> 00:04:21.939
 And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute.

00:04:22.500 --> 00:04:27.599
 They will make her desolate and naked and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire.

00:04:28.159 --> 00:04:34.219
 For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind

00:04:34.220 --> 00:04:39.260
 and handing over their royal power to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled.

00:04:40.580 --> 00:04:46.860
 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.

00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:49.480
 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

00:04:49.560 --> 00:04:50.040
 You may be seated.

00:04:50.040 --> 00:05:01.819
 I came across a fascinating list that WalletHub, a finance company, put together entitled

00:05:01.819 --> 00:05:04.580
 The Most Sinful Cities in America.

00:05:06.180 --> 00:05:12.640
 It ranked 182 major cities in the U.S. based on how sinful it is according to their estimation.

00:05:12.840 --> 00:05:18.540
 And they used 37 different metrics with corresponding weights to determine how sinful the city is

00:05:18.540 --> 00:05:22.819
 across seven different categories of sin, broad categories of sin.

00:05:23.319 --> 00:05:25.500
 So the first category was anger and hatred.

00:05:25.640 --> 00:05:30.840
 So they used rates of violent crimes and assaults to assess the city's level of sinfulness in that category,

00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:31.900
 among other metrics.

00:05:32.660 --> 00:05:37.100
 Secondly, the rate of fraud and theft was used to assess its level of jealousy.

00:05:37.820 --> 00:05:42.840
 The instances of driving under the influence and drug use was used to assess its excesses.

00:05:42.980 --> 00:05:47.220
 The number of casinos per capita and to assess its greed.

00:05:47.220 --> 00:05:55.340
 And the number of adult entertainment establishments per capita and Google search interest index for porn to assess its lust.

00:05:55.980 --> 00:06:03.460
 And then the number of tanning salons per capita and Google search interest index for plastic surgeries to assess its vanity.

00:06:03.459 --> 00:06:10.539
 And the average time spent watching TV, among other factors, to assess its laziness.

00:06:11.699 --> 00:06:13.779
 And this is no definitive list.

00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:15.079
 It's not the Bible, obviously.

00:06:15.459 --> 00:06:16.599
 But still fascinating.

00:06:16.839 --> 00:06:25.959
 And unsurprisingly, at the top of the list is, you might guess, Las Vegas, which has been nicknamed Sin City since the early 1900s.

00:06:25.959 --> 00:06:32.259
 Houston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Atlanta round out the top five.

00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:35.739
 Boston is ranked 95th.

00:06:36.779 --> 00:06:43.899
 But we break the top 50 in the greed category, which is not surprising.

00:06:44.799 --> 00:06:48.199
 A city is where there's a high density of people.

00:06:48.199 --> 00:06:55.459
 And for that reason, there is a concentration and synergy of human creativity and wealth and intellect.

00:06:57.240 --> 00:07:03.620
 However, that also means that there is, in cities, a concentration of human sin and pride.

00:07:04.620 --> 00:07:08.659
 And that's also one of the reasons why we are here as a church in the city.

00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:11.659
 Because those who are well have no need of a physician.

00:07:12.120 --> 00:07:13.139
 But those who are sick.

00:07:13.139 --> 00:07:16.919
 And Jesus came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

00:07:18.439 --> 00:07:23.039
 Ever since the tower and the city of Babel in the land of Shinar in Genesis 11,

00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:24.779
 when people said to themselves,

00:07:25.159 --> 00:07:29.779
 Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens.

00:07:30.439 --> 00:07:33.000
 And let us make a name for ourselves.

00:07:33.639 --> 00:07:34.479
 It was the first city.

00:07:36.279 --> 00:07:39.599
 Cities have since then been a monument to human hubris.

00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:44.200
 Don't people move into cities nowadays for the exact same reason?

00:07:45.020 --> 00:07:47.120
 Let us make a name for ourselves.

00:07:48.280 --> 00:07:50.700
 Let us build a city to reach to the top of the heavens.

00:07:52.060 --> 00:07:54.040
 Living life apart from God.

00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:56.700
 Living life without reference to God.

00:07:57.840 --> 00:08:00.580
 That, at its heart, is what sin is all about.

00:08:01.840 --> 00:08:05.260
 Seeking to make a name for ourselves rather than praising the name of God.

00:08:05.259 --> 00:08:11.459
 And wanting to reach the heavens so that we can, in a sense, be gods ourselves.

00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:21.699
 That sinful human hubris is succinctly captured in the final stanza of William Ernest Henley's defiant poem, Invictus.

00:08:22.039 --> 00:08:23.120
 Which goes like this.

00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:31.160
 It matters not how straight the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll.

00:08:31.699 --> 00:08:33.500
 I am the master of my fate.

00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:36.440
 I am the captain of my soul.

00:08:38.500 --> 00:08:42.460
 He's making two biblical allusions here that you may be catching on to already.

00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:45.620
 The straight gate, S-T-R-A-I-T.

00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:50.919
 He's referring to the narrow gate that Jesus speaks of when he commends us in Matthew 7, 13.

00:08:50.919 --> 00:08:54.039
 Enter by the narrow gate, or the straight gate.

00:08:54.500 --> 00:08:59.099
 For the gate is wide, and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.

00:08:59.399 --> 00:09:03.839
 For the gate is narrow, and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

00:09:04.219 --> 00:09:05.139
 That's the first illusion.

00:09:05.899 --> 00:09:09.759
 The second one, when he talks about the scroll that is charged with punishments,

00:09:09.839 --> 00:09:14.519
 he's speaking of the scroll with the judgment seals in Revelation 5.

00:09:14.519 --> 00:09:18.399
 So then the poet is saying here,

00:09:19.179 --> 00:09:23.519
 I don't care how narrow the gate is, or how hard it is to get to heaven.

00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:29.860
 I don't care what kind of standards of obedience I have to, I'm required to follow.

00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:34.840
 I don't care what kind of fearful punishments await me in the scroll of God's judgments.

00:09:34.840 --> 00:09:41.800
 I'm going to do what I want to do, and I'm going to go where I want to, where I please to go,

00:09:41.860 --> 00:09:44.000
 because I am the master of my fate.

00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:46.040
 I am the captain of my soul.

00:09:49.259 --> 00:09:53.500
 It's such a bare-faced declaration of human rebellion that it's shocking,

00:09:54.040 --> 00:09:59.300
 but that's what's at the heart of sin, and that's what the heart of the city of man.

00:09:59.299 --> 00:10:04.120
 From the ancient city of Babel to Babylon,

00:10:04.719 --> 00:10:08.339
 from the ancient city of Rome to modern-day metropolises,

00:10:08.939 --> 00:10:11.740
 cities have been incubators and stewards of human culture,

00:10:12.419 --> 00:10:14.559
 the good, the bad, and the ugly.

00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:20.759
 And therefore, cities have been a monument to human hubris.

00:10:22.019 --> 00:10:25.359
 This is what Babylon, the great prostitute, represents,

00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:31.220
 the center of the sinful world's cultural and economic power.

00:10:33.379 --> 00:10:37.259
 Revelation portrays three main enemies of God's people

00:10:37.259 --> 00:10:41.259
 as the beast, the false prophet, and the great prostitute,

00:10:41.300 --> 00:10:44.700
 and they're all under the authority of Satan, the ancient dragon.

00:10:45.680 --> 00:10:49.300
 And they use different tools to attack and oppress God's people.

00:10:49.440 --> 00:10:54.759
 The beast's primary tool of offense against the people of God is persecution.

00:10:56.279 --> 00:10:57.460
 Oppressing the people of God.

00:10:58.340 --> 00:11:02.019
 And the false prophet, the second beast's main tool, the primary tool,

00:11:02.120 --> 00:11:02.700
 is deception.

00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:04.039
 False religion.

00:11:04.240 --> 00:11:05.899
 He gets people to worship the beast.

00:11:07.220 --> 00:11:09.279
 But the third, the great prostitute,

00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:12.600
 her primary tool is perhaps the most insidious and subtle of all.

00:11:13.300 --> 00:11:14.200
 That's seduction.

00:11:14.200 --> 00:11:22.900
 Revelation 17 to 18 both deal with the fall of Babylon, the great prostitute.

00:11:23.060 --> 00:11:26.740
 And the main point of chapter 17 is that as the bride of the lamb,

00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:30.940
 we must resist the seductive power of the prostitute and the beast.

00:11:33.020 --> 00:11:38.700
 First exhortation, verses 1 to 8, is do not marvel at their debauchery and dominion.

00:11:38.700 --> 00:11:45.020
 And the second exhortation, verses 9 to 18, is keep in mind their destruction and desolation.

00:11:46.060 --> 00:11:52.000
 And the third and final exhortation in verse 14, is be faithful to the lamb who chose you.

00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:55.820
 In order to resist the seductive power of the prostitute,

00:11:55.919 --> 00:12:01.299
 we must take care not to marvel at her debauchery and dominion in this world.

00:12:02.200 --> 00:12:06.320
 An angel invites John to come and see the judgment of the great prostitute

00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:08.860
 who is seated on many waters, in verses 1 and 2,

00:12:09.320 --> 00:12:11.940
 with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality,

00:12:12.259 --> 00:12:15.720
 and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.

00:12:15.720 --> 00:12:21.379
 We are told in verse 5 that the name of this great prostitute is Babylon the Great,

00:12:21.720 --> 00:12:24.720
 mother of prostitutes and earth's abominations.

00:12:25.940 --> 00:12:29.379
 And so the downfall of Babylon was already proclaimed early in chapter 14,

00:12:29.580 --> 00:12:32.940
 and the seventh bull that Charlie preached on last week from chapter 16

00:12:32.940 --> 00:12:35.180
 also talked about the fall of Babylon.

00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:39.720
 And in chapter 17 to 18, we see in great detail how it actually happens.

00:12:40.540 --> 00:12:45.480
 She is called Babylon the Great, and the great prostitute,

00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:50.200
 much like the great red dragon that she serves from chapter 12,

00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:56.779
 to indicate the enormous scale and power and influence that she wields.

00:12:58.080 --> 00:13:04.060
 Verse 18 calls her the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.

00:13:05.040 --> 00:13:08.060
 Ancient Babylon was the biggest city in the world in its heyday,

00:13:08.279 --> 00:13:11.320
 and because the Babylonian empire sacked Jerusalem

00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:13.639
 and carried Judah into captivity and exile,

00:13:13.639 --> 00:13:17.319
 and because King Nebuchadnezzar tried to assimilate the Jews,

00:13:17.799 --> 00:13:20.480
 their culture and their religion into Babylonian culture and religion,

00:13:20.699 --> 00:13:22.819
 and lead them to apostasy,

00:13:23.340 --> 00:13:27.460
 the name Babylon became synonymous in biblical literature

00:13:27.460 --> 00:13:31.600
 with worldly powers and influences that persecute God's people

00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:33.319
 and seduce them into compromise.

00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:35.199
 That's what Babylon represents.

00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:38.879
 In the first century AD, when Revelation was written,

00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:41.299
 the main Babylon would have been Rome,

00:13:42.100 --> 00:13:45.299
 because in the same way that Babylonian empire destroyed Jerusalem

00:13:45.299 --> 00:13:47.340
 and its temple in 586 BC,

00:13:47.559 --> 00:13:50.840
 so the Roman empire destroyed Jerusalem and its temple in 70 AD.

00:13:51.779 --> 00:13:56.039
 Later in verse 9, we're told that the seven heads of the beast

00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:58.939
 are seven mountains on which the woman is seated.

00:13:59.879 --> 00:14:03.720
 Rome was popularly called a city on seven hills,

00:14:04.440 --> 00:14:05.779
 city of seven hills.

00:14:05.779 --> 00:14:10.279
 In the ancient world, you can see actually a coin

00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:15.419
 that was produced in 71 AD under Emperor Vespasian's reign,

00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:19.120
 which depicts on the left,

00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:21.000
 I think I have a picture of this to show, Gary.

00:14:21.579 --> 00:14:23.659
 It shows the picture of goddess Roma,

00:14:23.860 --> 00:14:25.980
 who is a personification of the city of Rome,

00:14:26.539 --> 00:14:30.279
 and she is sitting on seven mountains or seven hills.

00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:35.000
 And to the right of her, you see the water, the river Tiber.

00:14:36.699 --> 00:14:38.839
 And Babylon, the great prostitute,

00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:41.879
 cannot be understood, however, as only referring to Rome.

00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:43.199
 Even though it does refer to Rome,

00:14:43.339 --> 00:14:44.779
 it's not referring only to Rome.

00:14:45.459 --> 00:14:48.019
 And John makes that clear here in Revelation 17 to 18,

00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:49.779
 because Rome already fell.

00:14:50.019 --> 00:14:52.319
 It was already sacked many hundreds of years ago.

00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:57.480
 But this Babylon will finally fall only at the end of the age.

00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:01.860
 So she is called Babylon here, not Rome,

00:15:02.060 --> 00:15:04.820
 because Babylon is the type and the pattern

00:15:04.820 --> 00:15:07.560
 that represents all cities that are at the center

00:15:07.560 --> 00:15:10.500
 of the sinful world's cultural influence and economic power.

00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:15.080
 So what modern sociologists call today global cities,

00:15:15.680 --> 00:15:18.600
 or world cities, or alpha cities,

00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:21.159
 I didn't even know these terms existed until this week,

00:15:21.779 --> 00:15:23.720
 such as New York and London,

00:15:24.440 --> 00:15:27.060
 which function as hubs of the global economy

00:15:27.060 --> 00:15:28.680
 and international politics,

00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:32.080
 as well as cultural centers featuring world-renowned theater,

00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:33.399
 museums, and landmarks,

00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:35.659
 can also be appropriately called Babylon.

00:15:37.920 --> 00:15:41.139
 Verse 1 says that this great prostitute

00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:42.920
 is seated on many waters.

00:15:43.800 --> 00:15:46.940
 This is an expression that is taken from Jeremiah 51.13,

00:15:46.940 --> 00:15:48.960
 which prophesies of the fall of Babylon,

00:15:49.080 --> 00:15:52.020
 who dwells by many waters, rich in treasures.

00:15:52.700 --> 00:15:54.960
 The idea of dwelling by many waters

00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:58.000
 is connected to the fact that she is rich in treasures

00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:01.280
 because of the bodies of water that enrich the cities

00:16:01.280 --> 00:16:03.700
 by making them centers of trade and commerce.

00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:08.200
 Ancient Babylon was famously built upon

00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:10.120
 the Tigris and Euphrates rivers,

00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:10.700
 the rivers,

00:16:11.540 --> 00:16:14.280
 thrived as the economic center of the ancient world.

00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:16.519
 That's why that whole geographic region

00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:17.679
 is called Mesopotamia,

00:16:17.779 --> 00:16:19.120
 which means between two rivers,

00:16:20.199 --> 00:16:21.159
 between the rivers.

00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:22.959
 Similarly, ancient Rome,

00:16:23.179 --> 00:16:24.919
 seated on the Tiber River,

00:16:25.339 --> 00:16:27.519
 and by the Tyrrhenian Sea,

00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:29.139
 was the commercial center of the world.

00:16:30.100 --> 00:16:32.039
 An angel later explains in verse 15,

00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:33.899
 the waters that you saw

00:16:33.899 --> 00:16:35.439
 where the prostitute is seated

00:16:35.439 --> 00:16:37.339
 are peoples and multitudes

00:16:37.339 --> 00:16:38.860
 and nations and languages.

00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:41.460
 Both Babylon and Rome

00:16:41.460 --> 00:16:43.519
 teamed with multitudes

00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:45.180
 and nations and peoples

00:16:45.180 --> 00:16:46.279
 from all cultures

00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:49.419
 going in and out of them all the time.

00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:51.759
 And this is an apt picture

00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:53.460
 of the great prostitute

00:16:53.460 --> 00:16:55.139
 seated on many waters

00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:57.519
 and her whoredom,

00:16:57.639 --> 00:16:58.600
 her sexual immorality.

00:16:59.800 --> 00:17:01.360
 Proverbs 5, 15, 16

00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:02.759
 counsels young men

00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:05.440
 to flee from the adulteress

00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:07.720
 and to be faithful to his wife

00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:08.860
 with these words.

00:17:09.100 --> 00:17:11.440
 Drink water from your own cistern,

00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:14.680
 flowing water from your own well.

00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:18.100
 Should your springs be scattered abroad,

00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:20.120
 streams of water in the streets,

00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:22.880
 let them be for yourself alone

00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:24.880
 and not for strangers with you.

00:17:26.320 --> 00:17:28.660
 But Babylon and Rome

00:17:28.660 --> 00:17:31.720
 and all major metropolitan centers

00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:33.380
 of cultural and economic power,

00:17:33.380 --> 00:17:34.720
 they drink,

00:17:35.640 --> 00:17:37.500
 not from one source of water,

00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:39.060
 but from many waters.

00:17:40.520 --> 00:17:42.520
 And they share their streams of water

00:17:42.520 --> 00:17:43.360
 with strangers,

00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:45.860
 scattering their springs abroad.

00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:48.100
 So verse 2 says,

00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:48.640
 with her,

00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:49.780
 the kings of the earth

00:17:49.780 --> 00:17:51.520
 have committed sexual immorality

00:17:51.520 --> 00:17:52.940
 and with the wine

00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:53.960
 of her sexual immorality,

00:17:54.060 --> 00:17:55.140
 the dwellers on earth

00:17:55.140 --> 00:17:56.240
 have become drunk.

00:17:56.620 --> 00:17:57.480
 And if you've been with us

00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:58.120
 through our series

00:17:58.120 --> 00:17:59.020
 in the book of Revelation,

00:17:59.560 --> 00:18:00.580
 you know that the phrase

00:18:00.579 --> 00:18:01.879
 dwellers on earth

00:18:01.879 --> 00:18:04.659
 is John's characteristic way

00:18:04.659 --> 00:18:05.519
 of referring to

00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:06.960
 the unrepentant,

00:18:07.059 --> 00:18:08.119
 people who in this world,

00:18:08.259 --> 00:18:08.759
 unbelievers,

00:18:08.859 --> 00:18:10.259
 who are unrepentant of their sins

00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:12.299
 and continue to rebel against God.

00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:16.720
 And these people are drunk

00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:18.159
 on the wine of Babylon's

00:18:18.159 --> 00:18:18.899
 sexual immorality,

00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:21.079
 which we find out in verse 6

00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:23.539
 is the blood of the saints,

00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:25.339
 the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.

00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:28.459
 Babylon's prosperity

00:18:28.459 --> 00:18:30.079
 and intoxication

00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:31.879
 come at the expense

00:18:31.879 --> 00:18:33.000
 of the lifeblood

00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:34.299
 of the people of God

00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:36.259
 because her cultural

00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:37.480
 and economic prowess

00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:38.599
 lead to the oppression

00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:39.799
 and marginalization

00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:40.519
 of God's people

00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:41.599
 who do not participate

00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:43.759
 in their idolatrous agenda.

00:18:44.919 --> 00:18:45.859
 And this prostitute

00:18:45.859 --> 00:18:46.579
 is fertile.

00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:48.379
 Verse 5 says

00:18:48.379 --> 00:18:49.299
 that she is a mother

00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:50.139
 of prostitutes

00:18:50.139 --> 00:18:51.419
 and of earth's abominations.

00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:53.079
 She produces offspring

00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:54.439
 that are also prostitutes

00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:55.660
 and our abominations

00:18:55.660 --> 00:18:56.500
 fill the earth

00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:58.400
 with even more abominations.

00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:01.220
 And this is figurative language

00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:02.320
 because obviously people

00:19:02.320 --> 00:19:04.799
 don't commit sexual immorality

00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:06.400
 with cities.

00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:09.460
 They do so all the time

00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:10.140
 in cities,

00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:10.779
 but they don't do it

00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:11.440
 with cities.

00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:12.900
 So this is a metaphor

00:19:12.900 --> 00:19:14.519
 for partaking in

00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:15.460
 and coming under

00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:16.259
 the influence

00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:18.320
 of Babylon's worldliness

00:19:18.320 --> 00:19:19.960
 and sinful idolatry.

00:19:20.820 --> 00:19:22.320
 Because sexual immorality

00:19:22.320 --> 00:19:23.539
 is such a shocking

00:19:23.539 --> 00:19:25.599
 betrayal of true love

00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:26.399
 within marriage,

00:19:26.599 --> 00:19:28.079
 the Bible often uses it

00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:28.700
 as a metaphor

00:19:28.700 --> 00:19:30.059
 for spiritual idolatry.

00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:32.940
 In what ways

00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:37.039
 have the self-sufficient arrogance,

00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:40.240
 the self-absorbed vanity,

00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:43.119
 the liberal sensuality,

00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:45.680
 and the boundless greed

00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:46.279
 and ambition

00:19:46.279 --> 00:19:47.819
 of the city of man

00:19:47.819 --> 00:19:48.720
 rubbed off on you?

00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:53.920
 Maybe you're not committing

00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:55.140
 blatant adultery

00:19:55.140 --> 00:19:56.180
 and spiritual idolatry

00:19:56.180 --> 00:19:56.799
 against God.

00:19:57.799 --> 00:19:59.960
 But imagine a married woman

00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:02.180
 who is infatuated

00:20:02.180 --> 00:20:02.720
 with a man

00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:03.600
 who is not her husband.

00:20:05.360 --> 00:20:07.220
 She hasn't had sex with him,

00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:10.200
 but they're in each other's DMs

00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:12.960
 sending flirty texts

00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:13.579
 and emojis.

00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:16.960
 She fantasizes about him

00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:17.819
 and her mind and heart

00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:19.140
 are more occupied with him

00:20:19.140 --> 00:20:20.640
 than with her own husband.

00:20:21.880 --> 00:20:23.480
 When she is talking to him

00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:24.000
 in person,

00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:24.600
 she gets,

00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:26.059
 her eyes get all,

00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:26.559
 you know,

00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:27.440
 oogly-googly

00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:29.620
 and she giggles

00:20:29.620 --> 00:20:31.519
 in a way that she never does

00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:32.440
 when she's with her husband.

00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:35.799
 Yes, she hasn't slept with him,

00:20:35.860 --> 00:20:36.819
 at least not yet,

00:20:37.640 --> 00:20:39.079
 but would you call that faithful?

00:20:39.079 --> 00:20:39.200
 Faithful?

00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:46.120
 Even if there isn't

00:20:46.120 --> 00:20:47.700
 physical adultery,

00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:48.440
 there is certainly

00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:49.340
 emotional adultery,

00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:50.360
 adultery of the heart.

00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:53.299
 And in what ways

00:20:53.299 --> 00:20:55.080
 are we trying to do

00:20:55.080 --> 00:20:56.740
 exactly that with Babylon,

00:20:57.640 --> 00:20:58.380
 the city of man?

00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:01.440
 Babylon exerts

00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:02.620
 its sinful influence

00:21:02.620 --> 00:21:03.680
 upon people of God

00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:04.299
 even today.

00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:07.019
 Are you consumed with zeal

00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:08.000
 for the glory of God?

00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:09.420
 Or are you consumed

00:21:09.420 --> 00:21:10.019
 with lust

00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:11.119
 for the glory of man?

00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:14.119
 Do you live

00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:14.920
 with an eternal,

00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:16.319
 heavenly perspective?

00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:17.200
 Or do you live

00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:17.900
 with a temporal,

00:21:18.099 --> 00:21:19.359
 earthly perspective?

00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:21.680
 Are the purposes

00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:22.720
 and priorities

00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:23.480
 of your life

00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:24.220
 governed by

00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:24.799
 and grounded

00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:25.920
 in God's word

00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:26.480
 in the scriptures?

00:21:27.619 --> 00:21:29.279
 Or have you adopted

00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:30.400
 the world's agenda

00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:31.200
 of health

00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:31.839
 and wealth

00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:32.500
 and sex

00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:33.180
 and success

00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:34.019
 at all costs?

00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:37.639
 Are your relational

00:21:37.639 --> 00:21:38.359
 impulses

00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:39.119
 driven by

00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:39.759
 the principles

00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.379
 of scripture?

00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:43.319
 How you treat people?

00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:46.859
 Or is it determined

00:21:46.859 --> 00:21:48.240
 more by Taylor Swift lyrics

00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:49.119
 than TikTok videos?

00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:54.119
 Is your perception

00:21:54.119 --> 00:21:54.959
 of beauty

00:21:54.959 --> 00:21:57.000
 shaped by the virtues

00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:58.139
 described in scripture?

00:21:59.079 --> 00:22:00.859
 Or is your view

00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:01.399
 of beauty

00:22:01.399 --> 00:22:02.459
 motivated

00:22:02.459 --> 00:22:03.099
 or shaped

00:22:03.099 --> 00:22:04.519
 by the style trends

00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:04.959
 on Instagram?

00:22:08.099 --> 00:22:09.279
 Are you motivated

00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:09.839
 and constrained

00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:10.879
 by the love of God?

00:22:12.399 --> 00:22:13.379
 Or do you live

00:22:13.379 --> 00:22:14.379
 primarily for the love

00:22:14.379 --> 00:22:14.779
 and approval

00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:15.219
 of man?

00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:20.440
 When John actually

00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:21.240
 sees

00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:22.559
 Babylon the great

00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:23.100
 prostitute

00:22:23.100 --> 00:22:23.779
 in his vision

00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:24.940
 in verse 3

00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:26.120
 he sees that she

00:22:26.120 --> 00:22:26.620
 is sitting

00:22:26.620 --> 00:22:27.900
 on a scarlet beast

00:22:27.900 --> 00:22:28.779
 that was full

00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:29.700
 of blasphemous names

00:22:29.700 --> 00:22:30.740
 and it has 7 heads

00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:31.400
 and 10 horns.

00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:32.759
 This description

00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:33.700
 is a tip off

00:22:33.700 --> 00:22:34.500
 that we've seen

00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:35.339
 this beast before.

00:22:36.180 --> 00:22:37.600
 In Revelation 13.1

00:22:37.600 --> 00:22:38.680
 we saw a beast

00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:40.039
 with 10 horns

00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:41.000
 and 7 heads

00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:42.240
 with 10 diatems

00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:42.799
 on its horns

00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:44.299
 and blasphemous names

00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:45.019
 on its heads.

00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:46.220
 And when I preached

00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:47.019
 on chapter 13

00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:47.900
 I explained to you

00:22:47.900 --> 00:22:48.620
 that this beast

00:22:48.620 --> 00:22:49.880
 is a hybrid beast.

00:22:50.519 --> 00:22:51.160
 It's a combination

00:22:51.160 --> 00:22:52.460
 of the four beasts

00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:53.400
 that are prophesied of

00:22:53.400 --> 00:22:54.400
 in Daniel 7

00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:55.299
 that represent

00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:57.519
 the Babylonian Empire

00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:58.579
 the Medo-Persian Empire

00:22:58.579 --> 00:22:59.660
 the Macedonian Empire

00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:00.160
 and finally

00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:01.160
 the Roman Empire.

00:23:01.660 --> 00:23:02.480
 So then this beast

00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:03.720
 is not primarily

00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:04.740
 a representation

00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:06.279
 of a single antichrist

00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:07.180
 as much as

00:23:07.180 --> 00:23:08.920
 it is a composite symbol

00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:10.539
 and a corporate representative

00:23:10.539 --> 00:23:12.720
 of all antichrists

00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:13.920
 of the worldly kings

00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:14.400
 and kingdoms

00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:15.259
 that oppose God

00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:16.320
 and persecute his people.

00:23:17.360 --> 00:23:18.500
 The beast in short

00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:20.540
 represents political power

00:23:20.540 --> 00:23:22.220
 and Babylon in short

00:23:22.220 --> 00:23:23.460
 represents cultural

00:23:23.460 --> 00:23:24.700
 and economic power.

00:23:25.300 --> 00:23:27.280
 And there is an unholy alliance

00:23:27.280 --> 00:23:27.920
 between the two.

00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:29.700
 We are told in verse 7

00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:30.460
 that this beast

00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:32.380
 carries Babylon around

00:23:32.380 --> 00:23:34.259
 meaning this beast's

00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:35.320
 political authority

00:23:35.320 --> 00:23:37.080
 serves as a pedestal

00:23:37.080 --> 00:23:38.580
 for Babylon's cultural

00:23:38.580 --> 00:23:39.720
 and economic prominence.

00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:42.120
 the political powers

00:23:42.120 --> 00:23:42.660
 of this world

00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:44.360
 ensure the ascendancy

00:23:44.360 --> 00:23:45.120
 and dominance

00:23:45.120 --> 00:23:46.759
 of sin and worldliness

00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:47.559
 in our culture.

00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:50.660
 Remember the beast's policy

00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:53.200
 in chapter 13 verse 17

00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:55.059
 no one can buy or sell

00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:56.000
 unless he has the mark

00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:56.559
 of the beast

00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:58.019
 that is the name of the beast

00:23:58.019 --> 00:23:59.079
 or the number of its name.

00:23:59.819 --> 00:24:01.180
 Unless you pledge allegiance

00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:02.839
 to the beast

00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:04.259
 and commit idolatry

00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:05.319
 you cannot buy

00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:06.380
 and sell and prosper.

00:24:06.380 --> 00:24:07.840
 So then people

00:24:07.840 --> 00:24:09.760
 who would grow rich

00:24:09.760 --> 00:24:11.240
 people who would grow rich

00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:12.820
 must prostitute themselves

00:24:12.820 --> 00:24:13.520
 with Babylon

00:24:13.520 --> 00:24:14.940
 and they also must

00:24:14.940 --> 00:24:15.960
 prostrate themselves

00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:17.300
 at the feet of the beast

00:24:17.300 --> 00:24:18.700
 and worship him.

00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:21.020
 And there's something

00:24:21.020 --> 00:24:22.260
 about this dominion

00:24:22.260 --> 00:24:23.300
 that the beast

00:24:23.300 --> 00:24:23.920
 and the prophet

00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:25.040
 have over the world

00:24:25.040 --> 00:24:25.760
 that's alluring.

00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.720
 I will elaborate on this

00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:28.660
 a little further later

00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:29.440
 but the beast

00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:30.560
 and the prostitute

00:24:30.560 --> 00:24:32.080
 both imitate Christ

00:24:32.080 --> 00:24:33.300
 and his church respectively.

00:24:33.299 --> 00:24:35.859
 Three times we are told

00:24:35.859 --> 00:24:37.639
 here that this beast

00:24:37.639 --> 00:24:39.859
 was and is not

00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:40.919
 and is to come.

00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:43.599
 This is a crude imitation

00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:44.819
 of God and Christ.

00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:46.579
 God is repeatedly described

00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:47.519
 in the book of Revelation

00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:48.720
 as the eternal one

00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:49.759
 chapter 1 verse 4

00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.720
 chapter 1 verse 8

00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:51.839
 chapter 4 verse 8

00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:53.440
 as the one who was

00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:55.399
 and is and is to come.

00:24:56.579 --> 00:24:57.879
 Moreover we are assured

00:24:57.879 --> 00:24:58.480
 repeatedly

00:24:58.480 --> 00:24:59.940
 all throughout Revelation

00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:01.399
 that Jesus is the one

00:25:01.400 --> 00:25:02.780
 who is coming soon.

00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:04.580
 So then this beast

00:25:04.580 --> 00:25:05.800
 is imitating that.

00:25:06.280 --> 00:25:07.120
 It says in verse 8

00:25:07.120 --> 00:25:07.680
 that the world

00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:08.640
 will marvel

00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:09.700
 to see the beast

00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:10.900
 because it was

00:25:10.900 --> 00:25:12.000
 and is not

00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:13.060
 and is to come.

00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:14.140
 This is alluding back

00:25:14.140 --> 00:25:15.600
 to chapter 13 verse 3

00:25:15.600 --> 00:25:17.000
 which talked about

00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:18.160
 how the beast

00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:19.280
 was one of its heads

00:25:19.280 --> 00:25:19.700
 seemed to have

00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:20.660
 a mortal wound.

00:25:21.300 --> 00:25:22.640
 It died basically

00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:23.800
 but it was raised

00:25:23.800 --> 00:25:24.560
 to life again.

00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:25.180
 It was healed

00:25:25.180 --> 00:25:26.340
 and the whole world

00:25:26.340 --> 00:25:27.060
 marveled at it

00:25:27.060 --> 00:25:27.740
 and followed it.

00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:29.920
 Notice the word marvel

00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:30.540
 is used there

00:25:30.540 --> 00:25:31.340
 as well as here.

00:25:31.400 --> 00:25:31.960
 in parallel.

00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:33.880
 So one of its heads

00:25:33.880 --> 00:25:34.420
 the beast's heads

00:25:34.420 --> 00:25:35.100
 one of the kings

00:25:35.100 --> 00:25:36.080
 that seemingly dies

00:25:36.080 --> 00:25:37.620
 and is raised to life again

00:25:37.620 --> 00:25:38.960
 is making a mockery

00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:39.500
 of Jesus

00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:41.019
 a parody of Jesus

00:25:41.019 --> 00:25:41.820
 who was described

00:25:41.820 --> 00:25:42.560
 in chapter 5

00:25:42.560 --> 00:25:43.860
 as having been inflicted

00:25:43.860 --> 00:25:44.920
 with a mortal wound

00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:46.420
 and yet standing

00:25:46.420 --> 00:25:46.900
 risen.

00:25:48.840 --> 00:25:49.700
 Irish poet

00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:50.780
 Oscar Wilde

00:25:50.780 --> 00:25:51.940
 popularized the proverb

00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:53.019
 imitation is the

00:25:53.019 --> 00:25:53.960
 sincerest form

00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:55.240
 of flattery

00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:56.580
 that mediocrity

00:25:56.580 --> 00:25:57.720
 can pay to greatness.

00:25:59.240 --> 00:26:00.480
 Another proverb says

00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:01.340
 hypocrisy is

00:26:01.339 --> 00:26:01.819
 an homage

00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:02.399
 that vice

00:26:02.399 --> 00:26:03.259
 pays to virtue.

00:26:04.379 --> 00:26:05.319
 This is what's

00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:06.019
 going on here.

00:26:06.839 --> 00:26:07.359
 The dragon

00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:08.019
 and the beast

00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:09.159
 cannot fix

00:26:09.159 --> 00:26:10.480
 their mediocrity

00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:12.439
 so they imitate

00:26:12.439 --> 00:26:13.259
 God and Christ

00:26:13.259 --> 00:26:13.939
 in their greatness.

00:26:14.879 --> 00:26:15.539
 The beast

00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:16.519
 can only produce

00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:17.639
 cheap knockoffs

00:26:17.639 --> 00:26:18.699
 of the real thing.

00:26:18.700 --> 00:26:21.240
 so everything about him

00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:21.680
 his kingdom

00:26:21.680 --> 00:26:22.460
 and his glory

00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:23.039
 his name

00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:23.980
 it's all bootleg

00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:25.980
 bogus

00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:28.039
 and this beast

00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:28.580
 derives

00:26:28.580 --> 00:26:29.740
 its plausibility

00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.580
 its credibility

00:26:30.580 --> 00:26:31.640
 by imitating

00:26:31.640 --> 00:26:32.660
 the true king

00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:33.259
 Jesus.

00:26:34.860 --> 00:26:36.180
 But this imitation

00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:37.819
 is alluring.

00:26:40.080 --> 00:26:40.600
 Verse 8 says

00:26:40.600 --> 00:26:41.220
 that the world

00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:42.059
 will marvel

00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:43.140
 to see the beast.

00:26:44.299 --> 00:26:45.240
 Similarly verse 6

00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:45.600
 says that

00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:46.539
 when John saw

00:26:46.539 --> 00:26:47.519
 the great prostitute

00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:49.259
 he marveled

00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:49.879
 greatly.

00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:53.099
 John is obviously

00:26:53.099 --> 00:26:54.219
 not worshipping

00:26:54.219 --> 00:26:55.299
 Babylon

00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:56.179
 in the same way

00:26:56.179 --> 00:26:57.179
 that the earth dwellers

00:26:57.179 --> 00:26:58.119
 are following

00:26:58.119 --> 00:26:58.699
 after her

00:26:58.699 --> 00:26:59.539
 and marveling

00:26:59.539 --> 00:27:00.039
 at the beast

00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:01.039
 because he knows

00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:02.459
 exactly what she is.

00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:03.379
 The angel tells him

00:27:03.379 --> 00:27:04.079
 exactly what this

00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:05.139
 woman is.

00:27:06.419 --> 00:27:07.000
 John can see

00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:07.480
 the name

00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:09.579
 the profanities

00:27:09.579 --> 00:27:10.879
 the blasphemous name

00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:11.380
 on her head

00:27:11.380 --> 00:27:13.540
 but when he still

00:27:13.540 --> 00:27:14.860
 sees this woman

00:27:14.860 --> 00:27:16.040
 this Babylon

00:27:16.040 --> 00:27:16.880
 all rayed

00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:17.700
 in purple

00:27:17.700 --> 00:27:18.600
 and scarlet

00:27:18.600 --> 00:27:20.760
 a beautiful

00:27:20.760 --> 00:27:22.180
 seductive

00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:22.900
 nightgown

00:27:22.900 --> 00:27:24.640
 adorned

00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:25.440
 with gold

00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:26.340
 and jewels

00:27:26.340 --> 00:27:27.100
 and pearls

00:27:27.100 --> 00:27:27.860
 holding in her hand

00:27:27.860 --> 00:27:29.020
 a golden cup

00:27:29.020 --> 00:27:31.640
 and he sees her

00:27:31.640 --> 00:27:32.600
 sitting on this

00:27:32.600 --> 00:27:33.620
 powerful beast

00:27:33.620 --> 00:27:34.240
 writing

00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:37.020
 John marvels

00:27:37.020 --> 00:27:37.700
 greatly

00:27:37.700 --> 00:27:39.860
 prompting the angel's

00:27:39.859 --> 00:27:40.759
 implicit rebuke

00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:41.439
 in verse 7

00:27:41.439 --> 00:27:43.119
 why do you marvel?

00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:45.659
 Don't be amazed

00:27:45.659 --> 00:27:46.179
 by her

00:27:46.179 --> 00:27:48.740
 don't be dismayed

00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.379
 by her

00:27:49.379 --> 00:27:51.599
 I will explain

00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:52.000
 to you

00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:52.859
 her full identity

00:27:52.859 --> 00:27:53.379
 and faith.

00:27:54.439 --> 00:27:55.359
 There's something

00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:56.179
 about the rule

00:27:56.179 --> 00:27:56.759
 and authority

00:27:56.759 --> 00:27:58.019
 of the beast

00:27:58.019 --> 00:27:59.279
 and the Babylon

00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:00.500
 the prostitute

00:28:00.500 --> 00:28:02.699
 something about

00:28:02.699 --> 00:28:03.500
 the beast's rule

00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:03.939
 and authority

00:28:03.939 --> 00:28:04.279
 and power

00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:05.439
 resembles God's

00:28:05.439 --> 00:28:06.219
 rule and authority

00:28:06.219 --> 00:28:06.679
 and power

00:28:06.679 --> 00:28:07.939
 something about

00:28:07.939 --> 00:28:08.599
 the beauty

00:28:08.599 --> 00:28:09.839
 and the diversity

00:28:09.839 --> 00:28:10.980
 of Babylon

00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:12.139
 resembles the beauty

00:28:12.139 --> 00:28:12.740
 and diversity

00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:13.419
 of the people

00:28:13.419 --> 00:28:13.819
 of God

00:28:13.819 --> 00:28:14.240
 the church

00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:14.720
 of Christ

00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:16.279
 there's something

00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:17.159
 about the productivity

00:28:17.159 --> 00:28:18.179
 and prosperity

00:28:18.179 --> 00:28:18.759
 of Babylon

00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:19.359
 that resembles

00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:19.980
 our heavenly

00:28:19.980 --> 00:28:20.659
 inheritance

00:28:20.659 --> 00:28:21.699
 and labor

00:28:21.699 --> 00:28:22.259
 for the Lord

00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:22.699
 in the kingdom

00:28:22.699 --> 00:28:23.179
 of God

00:28:23.179 --> 00:28:26.220
 but don't marvel

00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:26.939
 at the great

00:28:26.939 --> 00:28:27.759
 prostitute

00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:30.799
 what makes you

00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:31.619
 marvel at the city

00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:31.959
 of man

00:28:31.959 --> 00:28:35.000
 is it its

00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:36.220
 cosmopolitanism

00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:37.720
 with its

00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:38.759
 various languages

00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:39.720
 and cuisines

00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:40.799
 the world

00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:41.360
 is your oyster

00:28:41.360 --> 00:28:44.759
 does it make

00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:45.980
 you feel cultured

00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:47.339
 not boxed in

00:28:47.339 --> 00:28:47.900
 by the narrow

00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:48.440
 bigotry

00:28:48.440 --> 00:28:49.019
 and prejudice

00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:51.279
 that you attribute

00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:51.920
 to your parents

00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:52.680
 or the small town

00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:53.400
 that you grew up in

00:28:53.400 --> 00:28:56.779
 or is it the city's

00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:57.480
 prosperity

00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:59.240
 cities generate

00:28:59.240 --> 00:29:00.039
 so much wealth

00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:00.860
 people living

00:29:00.860 --> 00:29:01.440
 in urban areas

00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:02.799
 earn significantly more

00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:03.779
 and have higher

00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:04.440
 living standards

00:29:04.440 --> 00:29:05.640
 than people in rural areas

00:29:05.640 --> 00:29:09.340
 or is it the city's

00:29:09.340 --> 00:29:10.259
 intellectualism

00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:11.980
 are you drawn

00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:12.460
 to the air

00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:13.539
 of sophistication

00:29:13.539 --> 00:29:14.700
 and academic rigor

00:29:14.700 --> 00:29:16.000
 that permeate our city

00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:17.920
 or is it the many

00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:19.000
 sensual pleasures

00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:19.880
 and delights

00:29:19.880 --> 00:29:20.720
 that the city

00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:21.840
 of man promises

00:29:21.840 --> 00:29:24.700
 Babylon

00:29:24.700 --> 00:29:25.680
 the city of man

00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:27.360
 is only a crude

00:29:27.360 --> 00:29:28.180
 imitation of the

00:29:28.180 --> 00:29:28.799
 new Jerusalem

00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:29.660
 the city of God

00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:32.600
 so do not marvel

00:29:32.599 --> 00:29:34.819
 at the debauchery

00:29:34.819 --> 00:29:35.599
 and dominion

00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:37.139
 of the prostitute

00:29:37.139 --> 00:29:43.119
 also keep in mind

00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:44.959
 the eventual destruction

00:29:44.959 --> 00:29:46.379
 and desolation

00:29:46.379 --> 00:29:47.299
 of the beast

00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:47.699
 in Babylon

00:29:47.699 --> 00:29:50.500
 I've said to you before

00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:51.219
 that the description

00:29:51.219 --> 00:29:51.899
 of the beast

00:29:51.899 --> 00:29:53.119
 as the one who was

00:29:53.119 --> 00:29:53.939
 and is not

00:29:53.939 --> 00:29:55.000
 and is about to rise

00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:56.599
 is John's creative use

00:29:56.599 --> 00:29:57.839
 of the Nero legends

00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:58.879
 that were popular

00:29:58.879 --> 00:29:59.559
 during his day

00:29:59.559 --> 00:30:00.939
 Nero Caesar

00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:02.180
 was the emperor of Rome

00:30:02.180 --> 00:30:03.920
 from 54 to 68 AD

00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:04.900
 but when he was

00:30:04.900 --> 00:30:05.980
 eventually deposed

00:30:05.980 --> 00:30:06.900
 by the Roman senate

00:30:06.900 --> 00:30:08.059
 he killed himself

00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:09.140
 but because his death

00:30:09.140 --> 00:30:10.160
 was shrouded in mystery

00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:10.759
 and there weren't

00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:11.440
 many witnesses

00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:13.039
 there were really

00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:13.640
 no witnesses

00:30:13.640 --> 00:30:15.519
 many people refused

00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:16.559
 to accept the rumor

00:30:16.559 --> 00:30:17.840
 of his death

00:30:17.840 --> 00:30:19.279
 and believed that

00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:20.440
 Nero had taken refuge

00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:21.620
 among the Parthians

00:30:21.620 --> 00:30:23.039
 who lived in the north

00:30:23.039 --> 00:30:24.740
 and that he would return

00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:25.759
 that Nero would return

00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.779
 to exact vengeance

00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:27.779
 on those who had deposed

00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:28.860
 him in order to

00:30:28.860 --> 00:30:29.600
 retake the kingdom

00:30:29.599 --> 00:30:30.399
 so this was a myth

00:30:30.399 --> 00:30:31.259
 that was very popular

00:30:31.259 --> 00:30:32.480
 called Nero returned

00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:34.099
 or Nero living again

00:30:34.099 --> 00:30:35.259
 two related myths

00:30:35.259 --> 00:30:36.879
 and this myth

00:30:36.879 --> 00:30:38.000
 was so widely believed

00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:39.119
 that historically

00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:40.319
 there were three

00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:41.519
 Nero imposters

00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:43.419
 emerged in the coming years

00:30:43.419 --> 00:30:45.059
 after Nero's death

00:30:45.059 --> 00:30:46.219
 all trying to lead

00:30:46.219 --> 00:30:46.659
 a rebellion

00:30:46.659 --> 00:30:47.259
 trying to claim

00:30:47.259 --> 00:30:48.980
 to be this return of Nero

00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:50.619
 and John is making

00:30:50.619 --> 00:30:51.419
 creative use

00:30:51.419 --> 00:30:52.259
 of this Nero legend

00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:54.159
 because he's using Nero

00:30:54.159 --> 00:30:55.139
 as the type

00:30:55.139 --> 00:30:56.199
 or the pattern

00:30:56.199 --> 00:30:57.559
 of the antichrist

00:30:57.559 --> 00:31:00.119
 because of Nero's

00:31:00.119 --> 00:31:01.740
 notorious persecution

00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:02.279
 of Christians

00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:04.679
 second century

00:31:04.679 --> 00:31:05.240
 Christian author

00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:06.319
 Tertullian

00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:07.299
 calls Nero

00:31:07.299 --> 00:31:08.159
 the first

00:31:08.159 --> 00:31:09.019
 that persecuted

00:31:09.019 --> 00:31:09.879
 the Christian doctrine

00:31:09.879 --> 00:31:12.319
 third century

00:31:12.319 --> 00:31:14.839
 Lactantius

00:31:14.839 --> 00:31:15.579
 also wrote

00:31:15.579 --> 00:31:16.539
 that Nero

00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.319
 was the first

00:31:17.319 --> 00:31:18.000
 that persecuted

00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:18.899
 the servants of God

00:31:18.899 --> 00:31:20.579
 so he's the first

00:31:20.579 --> 00:31:21.639
 great persecutor

00:31:21.639 --> 00:31:22.039
 of the church

00:31:22.039 --> 00:31:23.119
 and in that sense

00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:24.299
 becomes the prototype

00:31:24.299 --> 00:31:25.679
 and the archetype

00:31:25.679 --> 00:31:26.399
 of all those

00:31:26.400 --> 00:31:26.940
 who would come

00:31:26.940 --> 00:31:27.880
 as antichrist

00:31:27.880 --> 00:31:28.440
 to persecute

00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:29.000
 God's people

00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:30.640
 and that's why

00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:31.380
 Tertullian later

00:31:31.380 --> 00:31:32.740
 calls Emperor Domitian

00:31:32.740 --> 00:31:34.120
 who also persecuted

00:31:34.120 --> 00:31:34.640
 Christians

00:31:34.640 --> 00:31:36.220
 the second Nero

00:31:36.220 --> 00:31:38.440
 in this way

00:31:38.440 --> 00:31:39.440
 this beast

00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:40.380
 who has been healed

00:31:40.380 --> 00:31:41.340
 of his mortal wound

00:31:41.340 --> 00:31:42.540
 appears in the

00:31:42.540 --> 00:31:43.540
 repeated rise

00:31:43.540 --> 00:31:44.320
 and fall

00:31:44.320 --> 00:31:45.300
 of states

00:31:45.300 --> 00:31:45.820
 and kingdoms

00:31:45.820 --> 00:31:46.800
 that oppose God

00:31:46.800 --> 00:31:47.720
 and oppress his people

00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:49.420
 in scripture

00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:50.500
 first it was Egypt

00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:51.720
 and then Babylon

00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:52.720
 then Persia

00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:54.000
 then Macedonia

00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:55.160
 and then Rome

00:31:55.160 --> 00:31:56.859
 and so on

00:31:56.859 --> 00:31:57.640
 right down

00:31:57.640 --> 00:31:58.380
 to our modern age

00:31:58.380 --> 00:32:01.000
 but I think

00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:01.640
 at the end

00:32:01.640 --> 00:32:02.400
 of the end times

00:32:02.400 --> 00:32:03.900
 there will also be

00:32:03.900 --> 00:32:05.000
 a singular

00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:06.140
 antichrist

00:32:06.140 --> 00:32:06.920
 who will conquer

00:32:06.920 --> 00:32:07.579
 the people of God

00:32:07.579 --> 00:32:08.359
 like never before

00:32:08.359 --> 00:32:10.220
 that's why

00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:10.960
 verse 8 says

00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:11.700
 that the beast

00:32:11.700 --> 00:32:12.799
 that was

00:32:12.799 --> 00:32:13.559
 and is not

00:32:13.559 --> 00:32:14.059
 and is about

00:32:14.059 --> 00:32:14.619
 to rise

00:32:14.619 --> 00:32:15.640
 from the bottomless pit

00:32:15.640 --> 00:32:16.660
 and go to destruction

00:32:16.660 --> 00:32:17.279
 it talks about

00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:18.539
 how he is not

00:32:18.539 --> 00:32:20.119
 during John's time

00:32:20.119 --> 00:32:20.579
 this beast

00:32:20.579 --> 00:32:21.160
 is not

00:32:21.160 --> 00:32:22.820
 but he's about

00:32:22.820 --> 00:32:23.320
 to rise

00:32:23.320 --> 00:32:24.259
 from the bottomless pit

00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:26.100
 this final beast

00:32:26.100 --> 00:32:27.060
 is a part

00:32:27.060 --> 00:32:27.880
 of this beast

00:32:27.880 --> 00:32:29.500
 in chapter 13

00:32:29.500 --> 00:32:30.440
 but according

00:32:30.440 --> 00:32:31.200
 to verse 11

00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:33.400
 it is an eighth head

00:32:33.400 --> 00:32:34.720
 that comes

00:32:34.720 --> 00:32:35.220
 at the end

00:32:35.220 --> 00:32:35.720
 of the end

00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:37.120
 though it belongs

00:32:37.120 --> 00:32:37.720
 to the seven

00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:38.920
 it is an eighth head

00:32:38.920 --> 00:32:39.519
 and it goes

00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:40.380
 to destruction

00:32:40.380 --> 00:32:42.019
 people have tried

00:32:42.019 --> 00:32:42.620
 to decipher

00:32:42.620 --> 00:32:43.340
 verse 10

00:32:43.340 --> 00:32:44.000
 the meaning of it

00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:45.180
 in so many different ways

00:32:45.180 --> 00:32:45.980
 seven kings

00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:47.080
 five of whom have fallen

00:32:47.080 --> 00:32:47.660
 one is

00:32:47.660 --> 00:32:48.860
 the other is not yet to come

00:32:48.860 --> 00:32:49.960
 and when he does come

00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:50.420
 he must remain

00:32:50.420 --> 00:32:51.040
 only a little while

00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:51.819
 people have tried

00:32:51.819 --> 00:32:52.240
 to pin

00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:53.359
 these exact

00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:54.599
 exact words

00:32:54.599 --> 00:32:55.799
 on individuals

00:32:55.799 --> 00:32:56.779
 historical figures

00:32:56.779 --> 00:32:57.839
 but there

00:32:57.839 --> 00:32:59.299
 has been no consensus

00:32:59.299 --> 00:33:00.359
 because I don't think

00:33:00.359 --> 00:33:01.019
 John intended

00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:01.839
 for us to pin

00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:02.779
 these people

00:33:02.779 --> 00:33:04.339
 on exact historical figures

00:33:04.339 --> 00:33:06.099
 there are seven kings

00:33:06.099 --> 00:33:07.259
 because as John does

00:33:07.259 --> 00:33:08.200
 all throughout the book

00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:09.059
 seven is the number

00:33:09.059 --> 00:33:09.940
 for completeness

00:33:09.940 --> 00:33:11.180
 and the seven kings

00:33:11.180 --> 00:33:12.319
 represent all

00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:13.359
 of the worldly rulers

00:33:13.359 --> 00:33:14.359
 that persecute

00:33:14.359 --> 00:33:14.879
 God's people

00:33:14.879 --> 00:33:15.839
 during the church age

00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:17.920
 and this eighth one

00:33:17.920 --> 00:33:18.960
 is the final one

00:33:18.960 --> 00:33:21.220
 the end of the end

00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:24.259
 the ultimate antichrist

00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:24.799
 who will reign

00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:25.960
 with the ten horns

00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:27.240
 in verse 12

00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:27.700
 who are called

00:33:27.700 --> 00:33:28.500
 the ten kings

00:33:28.500 --> 00:33:29.100
 who have not yet

00:33:29.100 --> 00:33:30.160
 received royal power

00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:32.079
 and they are to receive

00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:32.779
 authority as kings

00:33:32.779 --> 00:33:33.299
 for one hour

00:33:33.299 --> 00:33:34.400
 together with the beast

00:33:34.400 --> 00:33:35.880
 but these ten kings

00:33:35.880 --> 00:33:36.360
 will eventually

00:33:36.360 --> 00:33:37.640
 hand over their power

00:33:37.640 --> 00:33:38.039
 and authority

00:33:38.039 --> 00:33:38.860
 to the beast

00:33:38.860 --> 00:33:39.880
 and together

00:33:39.880 --> 00:33:41.059
 they will make war

00:33:41.059 --> 00:33:41.700
 on the lamb

00:33:41.700 --> 00:33:42.740
 it says in verse 14

00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:51.480
 notice just how many times

00:33:51.480 --> 00:33:53.059
 this passage reminds us

00:33:53.059 --> 00:33:54.160
 of the final destruction

00:33:54.160 --> 00:33:54.920
 of the beast

00:33:54.920 --> 00:33:55.700
 and the prostitute

00:33:55.700 --> 00:33:57.440
 it's ironic

00:33:57.440 --> 00:33:58.599
 that the beast was

00:33:58.599 --> 00:33:59.799
 and is not

00:33:59.799 --> 00:34:01.000
 and is about to rise

00:34:01.000 --> 00:34:01.980
 from the bottomless pit

00:34:01.980 --> 00:34:03.259
 but for what

00:34:03.259 --> 00:34:03.920
 what does

00:34:03.920 --> 00:34:04.640
 what purpose

00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:05.380
 and to what end

00:34:05.380 --> 00:34:06.099
 does he rise

00:34:06.099 --> 00:34:07.220
 from the bottomless pit

00:34:07.220 --> 00:34:09.380
 verse 8 tells us

00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:10.159
 the beast was

00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:10.659
 and is not

00:34:10.659 --> 00:34:11.400
 and is about to rise

00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:12.280
 from the bottomless pit

00:34:12.280 --> 00:34:13.880
 and go to destruction

00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:15.900
 that's the destiny

00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:16.760
 of the beast

00:34:16.760 --> 00:34:18.820
 when this eighth king

00:34:18.820 --> 00:34:19.639
 finally comes

00:34:19.639 --> 00:34:20.180
 what will happen

00:34:20.180 --> 00:34:20.639
 to him

00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:22.440
 verse 11 tells us

00:34:22.440 --> 00:34:24.099
 it goes to destruction

00:34:24.099 --> 00:34:24.680
 again

00:34:24.680 --> 00:34:26.880
 these ten kings

00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:27.480
 will reign

00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:29.160
 with the final antichrist

00:34:29.160 --> 00:34:30.260
 and hand over

00:34:30.260 --> 00:34:30.920
 their authority

00:34:30.920 --> 00:34:31.579
 to the beast

00:34:31.579 --> 00:34:32.460
 how long will

00:34:32.460 --> 00:34:33.820
 their reign last

00:34:33.820 --> 00:34:35.139
 verse 12 tells us

00:34:35.139 --> 00:34:36.380
 only for one hour

00:34:36.380 --> 00:34:38.180
 indicating a short

00:34:38.180 --> 00:34:38.980
 defined

00:34:38.980 --> 00:34:40.280
 limited period of time

00:34:40.280 --> 00:34:42.100
 this is in stark contrast

00:34:42.100 --> 00:34:43.160
 to our lord jesus

00:34:43.160 --> 00:34:43.980
 the lamb of god

00:34:43.980 --> 00:34:45.400
 who is the lord of the lords

00:34:45.400 --> 00:34:46.400
 and king of kings

00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:47.980
 unlike the beast

00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:48.940
 and these kings

00:34:48.940 --> 00:34:50.040
 who come

00:34:50.040 --> 00:34:51.200
 rise only in order

00:34:51.200 --> 00:34:52.720
 to go to destruction

00:34:52.720 --> 00:34:54.320
 the resurrected jesus

00:34:54.320 --> 00:34:55.440
 says in verse

00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:56.120
 chapter 1

00:34:56.120 --> 00:34:57.300
 verses 17 and 18

00:34:57.300 --> 00:34:58.360
 fear not

00:34:58.360 --> 00:34:59.900
 i am the first

00:34:59.900 --> 00:35:00.840
 and the last

00:35:00.840 --> 00:35:01.920
 and the living one

00:35:01.920 --> 00:35:03.180
 i died

00:35:03.180 --> 00:35:04.180
 and behold

00:35:04.180 --> 00:35:05.140
 i am alive

00:35:05.140 --> 00:35:06.040
 forevermore

00:35:06.040 --> 00:35:07.480
 and i have the keys

00:35:07.480 --> 00:35:08.019
 of death

00:35:08.019 --> 00:35:08.619
 and hades

00:35:08.619 --> 00:35:10.500
 jesus died

00:35:10.500 --> 00:35:11.960
 for our sins

00:35:11.960 --> 00:35:12.679
 on the cross

00:35:12.679 --> 00:35:13.659
 and he was raised

00:35:13.659 --> 00:35:14.199
 from the dead

00:35:14.199 --> 00:35:14.800
 so that death

00:35:14.800 --> 00:35:15.719
 no longer has

00:35:15.719 --> 00:35:16.579
 dominion over him

00:35:16.579 --> 00:35:18.239
 unlike this beast

00:35:18.239 --> 00:35:19.340
 who will come

00:35:19.340 --> 00:35:20.079
 and only go

00:35:20.079 --> 00:35:20.679
 to destruction

00:35:20.679 --> 00:35:23.199
 likewise with babylon

00:35:23.199 --> 00:35:24.199
 it says in verse 16

00:35:24.199 --> 00:35:25.099
 the ten horns

00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:25.840
 and the beast

00:35:25.840 --> 00:35:26.539
 will hate

00:35:26.539 --> 00:35:27.400
 the prostitute

00:35:27.400 --> 00:35:28.880
 they will make her

00:35:28.880 --> 00:35:29.880
 desolate and naked

00:35:29.880 --> 00:35:31.440
 and devour her flesh

00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:32.119
 and burn her up

00:35:32.119 --> 00:35:32.599
 with fire

00:35:32.599 --> 00:35:34.759
 that's the sad fate

00:35:34.759 --> 00:35:35.800
 of all prostitutes

00:35:35.800 --> 00:35:37.740
 eventually they're

00:35:37.740 --> 00:35:38.160
 discarded

00:35:38.160 --> 00:35:38.940
 when they're no longer

00:35:38.940 --> 00:35:40.060
 useful for the pleasures

00:35:40.060 --> 00:35:40.660
 of the man

00:35:40.660 --> 00:35:41.320
 that they serve

00:35:41.320 --> 00:35:43.860
 at the end of the end

00:35:43.860 --> 00:35:45.320
 the great prostitutes

00:35:45.320 --> 00:35:46.400
 unholy alliance

00:35:46.400 --> 00:35:46.980
 with the beast

00:35:46.980 --> 00:35:47.800
 will fall apart

00:35:47.800 --> 00:35:49.640
 and the great prostitute

00:35:49.640 --> 00:35:50.400
 will be abandoned

00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:51.600
 left desolate

00:35:51.600 --> 00:35:52.580
 and naked

00:35:52.580 --> 00:35:54.220
 by the very kings

00:35:54.220 --> 00:35:55.000
 that ravaged her

00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:56.080
 for their pleasure

00:35:56.080 --> 00:35:58.840
 the three descriptions

00:35:58.840 --> 00:35:59.600
 of babylon's

00:35:59.600 --> 00:36:00.260
 ultimate fate

00:36:00.260 --> 00:36:01.760
 fit the metaphors

00:36:01.760 --> 00:36:02.680
 that are in this chapter

00:36:02.680 --> 00:36:04.360
 like a discarded prostitute

00:36:04.360 --> 00:36:05.220
 she will be desolate

00:36:05.220 --> 00:36:05.640
 and naked

00:36:05.639 --> 00:36:06.960
 like an animal

00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:07.980
 that is preyed upon

00:36:07.980 --> 00:36:09.039
 she will be devoured

00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:10.779
 her flesh will be devoured

00:36:10.779 --> 00:36:11.420
 by the beast

00:36:11.420 --> 00:36:12.599
 and like a city

00:36:12.599 --> 00:36:13.539
 that is conquered

00:36:13.539 --> 00:36:15.019
 she will be burned up

00:36:15.019 --> 00:36:15.659
 with fire

00:36:15.659 --> 00:36:18.400
 the political side

00:36:18.400 --> 00:36:19.299
 of the world's

00:36:19.299 --> 00:36:20.480
 anti-god system

00:36:20.480 --> 00:36:21.619
 will turn against

00:36:21.619 --> 00:36:22.139
 the center

00:36:22.139 --> 00:36:23.039
 of the world's

00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:23.980
 cultural and economic

00:36:23.980 --> 00:36:24.559
 influence

00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:25.839
 and they will together

00:36:25.839 --> 00:36:27.059
 become undone

00:36:27.059 --> 00:36:29.000
 because as Jesus said

00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:30.339
 in Mark 3 26

00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:32.099
 if Satan has risen up

00:36:32.099 --> 00:36:33.099
 against himself

00:36:33.099 --> 00:36:33.920
 and is divided

00:36:33.920 --> 00:36:36.039
 he cannot stand

00:36:36.039 --> 00:36:36.059
 he cannot stand

00:36:36.059 --> 00:36:37.659
 but is coming

00:36:37.659 --> 00:36:38.760
 to an end

00:36:38.760 --> 00:36:39.579
 that's how

00:36:39.579 --> 00:36:40.320
 the beast

00:36:40.320 --> 00:36:41.740
 and the prostitute

00:36:41.740 --> 00:36:42.740
 and Satan

00:36:42.740 --> 00:36:43.440
 the great dragon

00:36:43.440 --> 00:36:44.220
 will all come

00:36:44.220 --> 00:36:44.760
 to an end

00:36:44.760 --> 00:36:47.380
 the sovereignty

00:36:47.380 --> 00:36:48.300
 and providence

00:36:48.300 --> 00:36:48.659
 of God

00:36:48.659 --> 00:36:49.240
 in all of this

00:36:49.240 --> 00:36:49.700
 should give us

00:36:49.700 --> 00:36:50.500
 much comfort

00:36:50.500 --> 00:36:52.119
 notice in verse 17

00:36:52.119 --> 00:36:53.240
 the reason why

00:36:53.240 --> 00:36:54.039
 the beast

00:36:54.039 --> 00:36:54.900
 and the ten kings

00:36:54.900 --> 00:36:55.820
 turn against Babylon

00:36:55.820 --> 00:36:57.039
 it says

00:36:57.039 --> 00:36:59.219
 for God

00:36:59.219 --> 00:37:00.719
 has put it

00:37:00.719 --> 00:37:01.559
 into their hearts

00:37:01.559 --> 00:37:02.880
 to carry out

00:37:02.880 --> 00:37:03.699
 his purpose

00:37:03.699 --> 00:37:05.380
 by being of one mind

00:37:05.380 --> 00:37:06.079
 and handing over

00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:06.880
 their royal power

00:37:06.880 --> 00:37:07.460
 to the beast

00:37:07.460 --> 00:37:08.599
 until the words

00:37:08.599 --> 00:37:09.039
 of God

00:37:09.039 --> 00:37:09.800
 are fulfilled

00:37:09.800 --> 00:37:11.739
 that's an amazing

00:37:11.739 --> 00:37:12.199
 verse

00:37:12.199 --> 00:37:14.340
 the Bible

00:37:14.340 --> 00:37:15.519
 never paints

00:37:15.519 --> 00:37:16.800
 a dualistic

00:37:16.800 --> 00:37:17.300
 picture

00:37:17.300 --> 00:37:18.759
 of God

00:37:18.759 --> 00:37:20.279
 pitted against

00:37:20.279 --> 00:37:20.880
 Satan

00:37:20.880 --> 00:37:22.500
 as if they're

00:37:22.500 --> 00:37:23.079
 equals

00:37:23.079 --> 00:37:23.440
 kind of

00:37:23.440 --> 00:37:24.239
 in a do or die

00:37:24.239 --> 00:37:24.840
 match

00:37:24.840 --> 00:37:27.680
 Satan

00:37:27.680 --> 00:37:28.460
 is never

00:37:28.460 --> 00:37:29.240
 God's

00:37:29.240 --> 00:37:29.680
 equal

00:37:29.680 --> 00:37:31.660
 to suggest

00:37:31.660 --> 00:37:32.760
 it is blasphemous

00:37:32.760 --> 00:37:33.400
 and insulting

00:37:33.400 --> 00:37:33.940
 to the glory

00:37:33.940 --> 00:37:34.400
 of God

00:37:34.400 --> 00:37:35.620
 Satan

00:37:35.620 --> 00:37:36.440
 will always

00:37:36.440 --> 00:37:37.000
 and forever

00:37:37.000 --> 00:37:38.059
 do God's bidding

00:37:38.059 --> 00:37:39.140
 no matter how hard

00:37:39.140 --> 00:37:39.680
 he tries

00:37:39.680 --> 00:37:40.200
 to rebel

00:37:40.200 --> 00:37:41.960
 it's God

00:37:41.960 --> 00:37:43.400
 who puts it

00:37:43.400 --> 00:37:44.100
 into the heart

00:37:44.100 --> 00:37:45.079
 of the antichrist

00:37:45.079 --> 00:37:45.860
 and his puppets

00:37:45.860 --> 00:37:46.720
 to unite

00:37:46.720 --> 00:37:47.700
 in their desolation

00:37:47.700 --> 00:37:48.160
 of Babylon

00:37:48.160 --> 00:37:49.400
 it's God

00:37:49.400 --> 00:37:50.019
 who puts it

00:37:50.019 --> 00:37:50.519
 in their heart

00:37:50.519 --> 00:37:51.000
 so that they

00:37:51.000 --> 00:37:51.760
 together wage

00:37:51.760 --> 00:37:53.019
 war against the lamb

00:37:53.019 --> 00:37:54.260
 and his saints

00:37:54.260 --> 00:37:55.860
 so that he can

00:37:55.860 --> 00:37:57.020
 fulfill the word

00:37:57.020 --> 00:37:57.520
 of God

00:37:57.520 --> 00:38:00.040
 that's so much

00:38:00.040 --> 00:38:00.480
 power

00:38:00.480 --> 00:38:02.400
 so much majesty

00:38:02.400 --> 00:38:03.840
 authority

00:38:03.840 --> 00:38:04.780
 glory

00:38:04.780 --> 00:38:07.720
 and that

00:38:07.720 --> 00:38:08.840
 ought to give us

00:38:08.840 --> 00:38:10.060
 hope and endurance

00:38:10.060 --> 00:38:11.600
 when we know

00:38:11.600 --> 00:38:12.520
 that our victory

00:38:12.520 --> 00:38:13.060
 is assured

00:38:13.060 --> 00:38:13.600
 in the end

00:38:13.599 --> 00:38:19.860
 in 2017

00:38:19.860 --> 00:38:21.940
 Super Bowl 51

00:38:21.940 --> 00:38:24.039
 the New England

00:38:24.039 --> 00:38:24.679
 Patriots

00:38:24.679 --> 00:38:25.559
 accomplished the

00:38:25.559 --> 00:38:26.259
 largest comeback

00:38:26.259 --> 00:38:27.199
 in Super Bowl history

00:38:27.199 --> 00:38:27.839
 how many of you guys

00:38:27.839 --> 00:38:28.319
 there for that

00:38:28.319 --> 00:38:28.639
 yeah

00:38:28.639 --> 00:38:30.779
 not many

00:38:30.779 --> 00:38:32.239
 I wasn't there

00:38:32.239 --> 00:38:32.420
 either

00:38:32.420 --> 00:38:33.019
 I mean I was there

00:38:33.019 --> 00:38:33.940
 in front of TV

00:38:33.940 --> 00:38:34.420
 is what I mean

00:38:34.420 --> 00:38:36.360
 they came back

00:38:36.360 --> 00:38:37.779
 from a 28-3

00:38:37.779 --> 00:38:38.339
 deficit

00:38:38.339 --> 00:38:39.299
 in the third quarter

00:38:39.299 --> 00:38:41.739
 to win the game

00:38:41.739 --> 00:38:43.439
 it was an incredible game

00:38:43.439 --> 00:38:44.759
 it's the only football game

00:38:44.759 --> 00:38:45.439
 that I've watched

00:38:45.439 --> 00:38:46.219
 more than once

00:38:46.219 --> 00:38:48.719
 and when I talked

00:38:48.719 --> 00:38:49.619
 to a friend of mine

00:38:49.619 --> 00:38:50.439
 Toby

00:38:50.439 --> 00:38:51.419
 after the game

00:38:51.419 --> 00:38:52.919
 he told me how

00:38:52.919 --> 00:38:54.219
 he told his kids

00:38:54.219 --> 00:38:55.259
 to go to bed

00:38:55.259 --> 00:38:56.759
 during the third quarter

00:38:56.759 --> 00:38:58.379
 because it's over

00:38:58.379 --> 00:38:59.179
 you know

00:38:59.179 --> 00:39:00.319
 they're not coming back

00:39:00.319 --> 00:39:00.659
 from this

00:39:00.659 --> 00:39:01.239
 so go to bed

00:39:01.239 --> 00:39:02.039
 and they went to bed

00:39:02.039 --> 00:39:02.819
 and they missed

00:39:02.819 --> 00:39:04.259
 the greatest comeback

00:39:04.259 --> 00:39:05.699
 of the greatest game

00:39:05.699 --> 00:39:06.439
 in NFL history

00:39:06.439 --> 00:39:08.099
 I'm not biased at all

00:39:08.099 --> 00:39:10.959
 and they lost hope

00:39:10.960 --> 00:39:12.460
 and they despaired

00:39:12.460 --> 00:39:16.340
 but imagine later on

00:39:16.340 --> 00:39:18.159
 if they're re-watching this

00:39:18.159 --> 00:39:20.099
 the recorded game

00:39:20.099 --> 00:39:22.159
 do you think that they will

00:39:22.159 --> 00:39:23.579
 stop watching

00:39:23.579 --> 00:39:24.360
 in the third quarter?

00:39:25.400 --> 00:39:26.659
 of course not

00:39:26.659 --> 00:39:28.900
 that's when the fun starts

00:39:28.900 --> 00:39:29.539
 right

00:39:29.539 --> 00:39:31.740
 because you know

00:39:31.740 --> 00:39:32.940
 what the outcome is

00:39:32.940 --> 00:39:35.240
 you know they come back

00:39:35.240 --> 00:39:36.240
 and win in the end

00:39:36.239 --> 00:39:41.099
 they can endure

00:39:41.099 --> 00:39:42.379
 the three quarters

00:39:42.379 --> 00:39:43.059
 of thumping

00:39:43.059 --> 00:39:44.439
 by the Atlanta Falcons

00:39:44.439 --> 00:39:45.619
 because they know

00:39:45.619 --> 00:39:46.459
 what's coming

00:39:46.459 --> 00:39:47.579
 in the end

00:39:47.579 --> 00:39:49.939
 I hesitated to use

00:39:49.939 --> 00:39:50.559
 this illustration

00:39:50.559 --> 00:39:51.079
 because

00:39:51.079 --> 00:39:52.439
 even though there are

00:39:52.439 --> 00:39:52.799
 good

00:39:52.799 --> 00:39:54.259
 good things

00:39:54.259 --> 00:39:54.879
 about sports

00:39:54.879 --> 00:39:55.399
 and in sports

00:39:55.399 --> 00:39:56.219
 that we can enjoy

00:39:56.219 --> 00:39:56.939
 responsibly

00:39:56.939 --> 00:39:58.339
 it also appeals

00:39:58.339 --> 00:39:58.979
 to the vanity

00:39:58.979 --> 00:39:59.879
 and pride of man

00:39:59.879 --> 00:40:01.500
 like all things

00:40:01.500 --> 00:40:02.379
 that are of Babylon

00:40:02.379 --> 00:40:03.419
 and they tend

00:40:03.419 --> 00:40:04.319
 toward idolatry

00:40:04.319 --> 00:40:04.939
 unless checked

00:40:04.940 --> 00:40:05.880
 by the redeeming grace

00:40:05.880 --> 00:40:06.240
 of God

00:40:06.240 --> 00:40:08.059
 but it illustrates

00:40:08.059 --> 00:40:08.700
 the importance

00:40:08.700 --> 00:40:09.240
 of faith

00:40:09.240 --> 00:40:09.720
 and hope

00:40:09.720 --> 00:40:12.300
 when you feel

00:40:12.300 --> 00:40:12.960
 downtrodden

00:40:12.960 --> 00:40:13.940
 by the sinful world

00:40:13.940 --> 00:40:14.639
 and the flesh

00:40:14.639 --> 00:40:15.260
 and the devil

00:40:15.260 --> 00:40:16.240
 when you're weary

00:40:16.240 --> 00:40:18.340
 from your spiritual battle

00:40:18.340 --> 00:40:19.700
 when you're on the verge

00:40:19.700 --> 00:40:20.880
 of despair

00:40:20.880 --> 00:40:22.380
 when you begin to wonder

00:40:22.380 --> 00:40:22.940
 if it's

00:40:22.940 --> 00:40:23.780
 is it worth

00:40:23.780 --> 00:40:25.539
 following Christ?

00:40:25.539 --> 00:40:27.579
 is it worth

00:40:27.579 --> 00:40:29.500
 bearing all this cost?

00:40:32.779 --> 00:40:33.659
 keep in mind

00:40:33.659 --> 00:40:34.300
 the destruction

00:40:34.300 --> 00:40:35.119
 of the beast

00:40:35.119 --> 00:40:35.880
 and the desolation

00:40:35.880 --> 00:40:36.300
 of Babylon

00:40:36.300 --> 00:40:39.179
 they will make war

00:40:39.179 --> 00:40:39.639
 on the lamb

00:40:39.639 --> 00:40:40.059
 and the lamb

00:40:40.059 --> 00:40:40.860
 will conquer them

00:40:40.860 --> 00:40:42.000
 for he is lord of lords

00:40:42.000 --> 00:40:42.940
 and king of kings

00:40:42.940 --> 00:40:44.579
 and those with him

00:40:44.579 --> 00:40:45.159
 are called

00:40:45.159 --> 00:40:45.880
 and chosen

00:40:45.880 --> 00:40:46.900
 and faithful

00:40:46.900 --> 00:40:48.639
 it's this hope

00:40:48.639 --> 00:40:50.079
 for the end

00:40:50.079 --> 00:40:50.840
 the triumph

00:40:50.840 --> 00:40:51.400
 of the lamb

00:40:51.400 --> 00:40:52.739
 that will enable us

00:40:52.739 --> 00:40:54.000
 to be overcomers

00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:56.000
 instead of suck-comers

00:40:56.000 --> 00:40:59.519
 and that brings me

00:40:59.519 --> 00:41:00.319
 to my final point

00:41:00.319 --> 00:41:01.159
 verse 14

00:41:01.159 --> 00:41:01.739
 reminds us

00:41:01.739 --> 00:41:02.079
 that we

00:41:02.079 --> 00:41:03.059
 who belong to the lamb

00:41:03.059 --> 00:41:03.759
 are called

00:41:03.759 --> 00:41:04.779
 and chosen

00:41:04.779 --> 00:41:05.719
 and faithful

00:41:05.719 --> 00:41:07.219
 the words called

00:41:07.219 --> 00:41:07.839
 and chosen

00:41:07.839 --> 00:41:08.919
 both refer to

00:41:08.919 --> 00:41:09.899
 God's unilateral

00:41:09.899 --> 00:41:12.119
 act of choosing us

00:41:12.119 --> 00:41:12.719
 his election

00:41:12.719 --> 00:41:14.119
 and his effectual call

00:41:14.119 --> 00:41:14.719
 of his people

00:41:14.719 --> 00:41:16.759
 out of all the nations

00:41:16.759 --> 00:41:18.119
 and out of all the peoples

00:41:18.119 --> 00:41:18.599
 of the world

00:41:18.599 --> 00:41:19.819
 God chose us

00:41:19.819 --> 00:41:20.619
 to be his people

00:41:20.619 --> 00:41:22.579
 and God called us

00:41:22.579 --> 00:41:23.819
 to be his witnesses

00:41:23.819 --> 00:41:24.859
 and to belong to him

00:41:24.859 --> 00:41:26.219
 and as such

00:41:26.219 --> 00:41:27.279
 we should be set apart

00:41:27.279 --> 00:41:27.799
 for God

00:41:27.799 --> 00:41:28.920
 as the bride of the lamb

00:41:28.920 --> 00:41:31.079
 as his bride

00:41:31.079 --> 00:41:32.099
 we should be faithful

00:41:32.099 --> 00:41:32.599
 to him

00:41:32.599 --> 00:41:33.819
 and resist the seductive

00:41:33.819 --> 00:41:34.819
 power of the prostitute

00:41:34.819 --> 00:41:36.659
 there's an implicit

00:41:36.659 --> 00:41:37.519
 command there

00:41:37.519 --> 00:41:38.539
 in describing

00:41:38.539 --> 00:41:39.059
 God's people

00:41:39.059 --> 00:41:39.759
 as faithful

00:41:39.759 --> 00:41:41.359
 the word faithful

00:41:41.359 --> 00:41:42.119
 is reminiscent

00:41:42.119 --> 00:41:43.159
 of Jesus' command

00:41:43.159 --> 00:41:45.239
 in Revelation 2.10

00:41:45.239 --> 00:41:46.539
 be faithful

00:41:46.539 --> 00:41:47.539
 unto death

00:41:47.539 --> 00:41:48.719
 and I will give you

00:41:48.719 --> 00:41:49.639
 the crown of life

00:41:49.639 --> 00:41:51.239
 be faithful

00:41:51.239 --> 00:41:52.879
 trustworthy witnesses

00:41:52.879 --> 00:41:54.019
 just like Jesus

00:41:54.019 --> 00:41:56.879
 but God is not

00:41:56.879 --> 00:41:57.679
 commanding us here

00:41:57.679 --> 00:41:59.179
 to earn his favor

00:41:59.179 --> 00:42:00.339
 by our faithfulness

00:42:00.339 --> 00:42:01.500
 rather

00:42:01.500 --> 00:42:02.559
 the people of God

00:42:02.559 --> 00:42:03.079
 are faithful

00:42:03.079 --> 00:42:04.819
 because they are called

00:42:04.819 --> 00:42:05.920
 and chosen

00:42:05.920 --> 00:42:07.779
 as you saw earlier

00:42:07.779 --> 00:42:09.579
 in when describing

00:42:09.579 --> 00:42:10.739
 the people of the world

00:42:10.739 --> 00:42:11.779
 the dwellers on earth

00:42:11.779 --> 00:42:12.400
 who marvel

00:42:12.400 --> 00:42:13.920
 and follow after the beast

00:42:13.920 --> 00:42:15.579
 it said that they were

00:42:15.579 --> 00:42:16.500
 specifically those

00:42:16.500 --> 00:42:17.639
 whose names were not

00:42:17.639 --> 00:42:18.980
 written in the book of life

00:42:18.980 --> 00:42:22.639
 it's because

00:42:22.639 --> 00:42:23.440
 we are called

00:42:23.440 --> 00:42:23.920
 and chosen

00:42:23.920 --> 00:42:24.900
 that we do not marvel

00:42:24.900 --> 00:42:25.500
 at the beast

00:42:25.500 --> 00:42:26.119
 and follow him

00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:27.400
 but instead remain faithful

00:42:27.400 --> 00:42:28.019
 to the bride

00:42:28.019 --> 00:42:28.619
 of the lamb

00:42:28.619 --> 00:42:30.960
 Babylon the great prostitute

00:42:30.960 --> 00:42:32.480
 serves as literary foil

00:42:32.480 --> 00:42:33.619
 to the church

00:42:33.619 --> 00:42:34.539
 the bride of the lamb

00:42:34.539 --> 00:42:36.559
 in several important ways

00:42:36.559 --> 00:42:37.980
 notice how John

00:42:37.980 --> 00:42:38.800
 is carried away

00:42:38.800 --> 00:42:39.219
 in the spirit

00:42:39.219 --> 00:42:40.039
 into the wilderness

00:42:40.039 --> 00:42:40.980
 in verse 3

00:42:40.980 --> 00:42:42.659
 where he sees a woman

00:42:42.659 --> 00:42:43.780
 do you remember

00:42:43.780 --> 00:42:44.900
 when another time

00:42:44.900 --> 00:42:45.699
 when John was carried

00:42:45.699 --> 00:42:46.119
 in the spirit

00:42:46.119 --> 00:42:46.960
 into a wilderness

00:42:46.960 --> 00:42:47.940
 to see a woman

00:42:47.940 --> 00:42:49.839
 in chapter 13

00:42:49.839 --> 00:42:50.599
 or chapter 12

00:42:50.599 --> 00:42:51.179
 verse 6

00:42:51.179 --> 00:42:52.619
 and in there

00:42:52.619 --> 00:42:53.539
 he saw a woman

00:42:53.539 --> 00:42:54.239
 in the desert

00:42:54.239 --> 00:42:55.019
 and it was

00:42:55.019 --> 00:42:56.019
 the woman

00:42:56.019 --> 00:42:56.699
 that represented

00:42:56.699 --> 00:42:57.319
 the church

00:42:57.319 --> 00:42:58.179
 the people of God

00:42:58.179 --> 00:42:59.699
 and she was nourished

00:42:59.699 --> 00:43:00.420
 by God

00:43:00.420 --> 00:43:00.940
 in the wilderness

00:43:00.940 --> 00:43:03.179
 but that's contrasted here

00:43:03.179 --> 00:43:04.119
 with this woman

00:43:04.119 --> 00:43:05.219
 who is a prostitute

00:43:05.219 --> 00:43:06.039
 in the wilderness

00:43:06.039 --> 00:43:07.440
 and she instead

00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:08.139
 of being nourished

00:43:08.139 --> 00:43:08.779
 by God

00:43:08.779 --> 00:43:09.759
 is nourished

00:43:09.759 --> 00:43:11.699
 by her sexual immorality

00:43:11.699 --> 00:43:12.339
 intercourse

00:43:12.339 --> 00:43:13.400
 with the people

00:43:13.400 --> 00:43:14.019
 the nations

00:43:14.019 --> 00:43:14.739
 in the languages

00:43:14.739 --> 00:43:17.239
 the contrast

00:43:17.239 --> 00:43:17.820
 is reinforced

00:43:17.820 --> 00:43:18.420
 by the way

00:43:18.420 --> 00:43:19.480
 Babylon is introduced

00:43:19.480 --> 00:43:20.320
 in verse 1

00:43:20.320 --> 00:43:20.659
 it says

00:43:20.659 --> 00:43:21.340
 then one of the

00:43:21.340 --> 00:43:22.179
 seven angels

00:43:22.179 --> 00:43:23.159
 who had the seven bowls

00:43:23.159 --> 00:43:24.079
 came and said to me

00:43:24.079 --> 00:43:25.400
 come I will show you

00:43:25.400 --> 00:43:25.860
 the judgment

00:43:25.860 --> 00:43:26.900
 of the great prostitute

00:43:26.900 --> 00:43:28.719
 now compare that

00:43:28.719 --> 00:43:30.139
 to Revelation 21 9

00:43:30.139 --> 00:43:31.259
 where it says

00:43:31.259 --> 00:43:32.019
 then came

00:43:32.019 --> 00:43:33.320
 one of the seven angels

00:43:33.320 --> 00:43:35.000
 who had the seven bowls

00:43:35.000 --> 00:43:36.840
 full of the last plagues

00:43:36.840 --> 00:43:37.940
 and spoke to me

00:43:37.940 --> 00:43:38.280
 saying

00:43:38.280 --> 00:43:39.820
 come I will show you

00:43:39.820 --> 00:43:40.300
 the bride

00:43:40.300 --> 00:43:41.159
 the wife of the lamb

00:43:41.159 --> 00:43:42.199
 it may be

00:43:42.199 --> 00:43:43.300
 the exact same angel

00:43:43.300 --> 00:43:44.039
 that's introducing

00:43:44.039 --> 00:43:44.940
 both of these women

00:43:44.940 --> 00:43:46.060
 they're both

00:43:46.060 --> 00:43:46.740
 the angel

00:43:46.740 --> 00:43:47.560
 that had the bowl

00:43:47.560 --> 00:43:48.500
 of the wrath of God

00:43:48.500 --> 00:43:49.539
 and they both

00:43:49.539 --> 00:43:50.700
 use the same formula

00:43:50.700 --> 00:43:51.320
 to introduce them

00:43:51.320 --> 00:43:53.060
 come I will show you

00:43:53.060 --> 00:43:55.220
 the prostitute

00:43:55.220 --> 00:43:56.019
 or the bride

00:43:56.019 --> 00:43:57.740
 the great prostitute

00:43:57.740 --> 00:43:58.780
 is the city of man

00:43:58.780 --> 00:44:00.380
 but the bride of the lamb

00:44:00.380 --> 00:44:01.560
 is the city of God

00:44:01.560 --> 00:44:03.420
 the holy city of Jerusalem

00:44:03.420 --> 00:44:03.800
 it says

00:44:03.800 --> 00:44:05.000
 in chapter 21 verse 10

00:44:05.000 --> 00:44:06.280
 the prostitute

00:44:06.280 --> 00:44:07.060
 was drunk

00:44:07.060 --> 00:44:07.780
 with the blood

00:44:07.780 --> 00:44:08.380
 of the saints

00:44:08.380 --> 00:44:09.240
 the blood of the martyrs

00:44:09.240 --> 00:44:09.640
 of Jesus

00:44:09.640 --> 00:44:11.340
 but the bride of the lamb

00:44:11.340 --> 00:44:12.600
 is washed clean

00:44:12.599 --> 00:44:13.179
 in the blood

00:44:13.179 --> 00:44:13.860
 of the lamb

00:44:13.860 --> 00:44:15.219
 Revelation 7 14

00:44:15.219 --> 00:44:16.259
 Babylon

00:44:16.259 --> 00:44:17.279
 has written

00:44:17.279 --> 00:44:18.079
 on her forehead

00:44:18.079 --> 00:44:18.519
 the name

00:44:18.519 --> 00:44:19.500
 Babylon the great

00:44:19.500 --> 00:44:21.079
 mother of prostitutes

00:44:21.079 --> 00:44:22.239
 and of earth's abominations

00:44:22.239 --> 00:44:23.980
 but for new Jerusalem

00:44:23.980 --> 00:44:25.440
 the name of God

00:44:25.440 --> 00:44:26.279
 and of the lamb

00:44:26.279 --> 00:44:27.759
 will be on their foreheads

00:44:27.759 --> 00:44:29.259
 it says in Revelation 21 4

00:44:29.259 --> 00:44:31.299
 at the end

00:44:31.299 --> 00:44:31.880
 of the end

00:44:31.880 --> 00:44:32.880
 the great prostitute

00:44:32.880 --> 00:44:33.960
 will be desolate

00:44:33.960 --> 00:44:34.480
 and naked

00:44:34.480 --> 00:44:36.339
 but the bride of the lamb

00:44:36.339 --> 00:44:37.480
 will be clothed

00:44:37.480 --> 00:44:38.500
 in white garments

00:44:38.500 --> 00:44:38.900
 it says

00:44:38.900 --> 00:44:39.659
 throughout Revelation

00:44:39.659 --> 00:44:42.319
 no we will not

00:44:42.319 --> 00:44:43.000
 be desolate

00:44:43.000 --> 00:44:43.739
 and abandoned

00:44:43.739 --> 00:44:45.579
 God will dwell

00:44:45.579 --> 00:44:46.480
 with us forever

00:44:46.480 --> 00:44:47.899
 and wipe every tear

00:44:47.899 --> 00:44:48.599
 from our eyes

00:44:48.599 --> 00:44:51.539
 are you desperate

00:44:51.539 --> 00:44:53.039
 and discouraged

00:44:53.039 --> 00:44:53.579
 this morning

00:44:53.579 --> 00:44:54.980
 because of your own

00:44:54.980 --> 00:44:55.420
 sinfulness

00:44:55.420 --> 00:44:59.199
 do you feel defiled

00:44:59.199 --> 00:45:00.659
 by your spiritual adultery

00:45:00.659 --> 00:45:03.480
 do you feel

00:45:03.480 --> 00:45:04.000
 that you're more

00:45:04.000 --> 00:45:04.779
 like the whore

00:45:04.779 --> 00:45:05.819
 Babylon

00:45:05.820 --> 00:45:07.620
 and less like

00:45:07.620 --> 00:45:08.160
 the pure

00:45:08.160 --> 00:45:09.260
 virgin bride

00:45:09.260 --> 00:45:09.760
 of Christ

00:45:09.760 --> 00:45:12.780
 there's hope

00:45:12.780 --> 00:45:13.960
 for you

00:45:13.960 --> 00:45:14.680
 and for all of us

00:45:14.680 --> 00:45:15.200
 because

00:45:15.200 --> 00:45:16.940
 Jesus Christ

00:45:16.940 --> 00:45:18.580
 our bridegroom

00:45:18.580 --> 00:45:19.840
 is also our redeemer

00:45:19.840 --> 00:45:22.380
 contained within

00:45:22.380 --> 00:45:23.720
 the genealogy

00:45:23.720 --> 00:45:24.980
 of Jesus our savior

00:45:24.980 --> 00:45:26.300
 in Matthew chapter 1

00:45:26.300 --> 00:45:28.980
 is not one prostitute

00:45:28.980 --> 00:45:30.500
 but two prostitutes

00:45:30.500 --> 00:45:32.080
 in the ancestry

00:45:32.080 --> 00:45:32.740
 of Jesus

00:45:32.740 --> 00:45:34.220
 Tamar

00:45:34.219 --> 00:45:36.139
 who prostituted

00:45:36.139 --> 00:45:36.599
 herself

00:45:36.599 --> 00:45:38.659
 and Rahab

00:45:38.659 --> 00:45:40.379
 the prostitute

00:45:40.379 --> 00:45:42.500
 in the book

00:45:42.500 --> 00:45:43.079
 of Hosea

00:45:43.079 --> 00:45:44.899
 in order that

00:45:44.899 --> 00:45:45.759
 God might

00:45:45.759 --> 00:45:46.639
 show

00:45:46.639 --> 00:45:47.679
 the Israelites

00:45:47.679 --> 00:45:48.839
 what his relationship

00:45:48.839 --> 00:45:49.619
 with them is like

00:45:49.619 --> 00:45:51.019
 he commands

00:45:51.019 --> 00:45:51.959
 prophet Hosea

00:45:51.959 --> 00:45:52.980
 to take

00:45:52.980 --> 00:45:53.719
 and marry

00:45:53.719 --> 00:45:54.399
 a wife

00:45:54.399 --> 00:45:55.239
 of whoredom

00:45:55.239 --> 00:45:56.519
 and have children

00:45:56.519 --> 00:45:57.439
 of whoredom

00:45:57.439 --> 00:45:58.399
 for the land

00:45:58.399 --> 00:45:59.519
 commits great whoredom

00:45:59.519 --> 00:46:00.519
 by forsaking the Lord

00:46:00.519 --> 00:46:03.379
 then in Hosea

00:46:03.379 --> 00:46:04.039
 2.23

00:46:04.039 --> 00:46:04.900
 God promises

00:46:04.900 --> 00:46:05.759
 that he will redeem

00:46:05.759 --> 00:46:06.820
 his unfaithful

00:46:06.820 --> 00:46:07.759
 whoring people

00:46:07.759 --> 00:46:08.579
 saying

00:46:08.579 --> 00:46:09.619
 I will have mercy

00:46:09.619 --> 00:46:10.960
 on no mercy

00:46:10.960 --> 00:46:12.000
 and I will say

00:46:12.000 --> 00:46:13.019
 to not my people

00:46:13.019 --> 00:46:14.380
 you are my people

00:46:14.380 --> 00:46:15.079
 no mercy

00:46:15.079 --> 00:46:16.000
 and not my people

00:46:16.000 --> 00:46:16.679
 are respectively

00:46:16.679 --> 00:46:17.719
 names of the daughter

00:46:17.719 --> 00:46:18.219
 and son

00:46:18.219 --> 00:46:19.099
 of Hosea

00:46:19.099 --> 00:46:19.699
 and Gomer

00:46:19.699 --> 00:46:20.960
 his unfaithful wife

00:46:20.960 --> 00:46:22.840
 his whoring wife

00:46:22.840 --> 00:46:24.739
 he will say

00:46:24.739 --> 00:46:25.159
 to them

00:46:25.159 --> 00:46:26.659
 to no mercy

00:46:26.659 --> 00:46:27.779
 I will have mercy

00:46:27.779 --> 00:46:29.039
 to not my people

00:46:29.039 --> 00:46:30.159
 you are my people

00:46:30.159 --> 00:46:31.320
 and he shall say

00:46:31.320 --> 00:46:32.340
 you are my God

00:46:32.340 --> 00:46:33.960
 that's what we read

00:46:33.960 --> 00:46:35.420
 in our assurance of pardon

00:46:35.420 --> 00:46:36.860
 from 1 Peter 2.9-10

00:46:36.860 --> 00:46:37.320
 today

00:46:37.320 --> 00:46:39.640
 but you are a chosen race

00:46:39.640 --> 00:46:40.760
 a royal priesthood

00:46:40.760 --> 00:46:42.160
 a holy nation

00:46:42.160 --> 00:46:43.700
 a people for his own possession

00:46:43.700 --> 00:46:45.140
 that you may proclaim

00:46:45.140 --> 00:46:46.120
 the excellencies

00:46:46.120 --> 00:46:47.200
 of him who called you

00:46:47.200 --> 00:46:47.860
 out of darkness

00:46:47.860 --> 00:46:49.300
 into his marvelous light

00:46:49.300 --> 00:46:51.460
 once you were not a people

00:46:51.460 --> 00:46:53.620
 but now you are God's people

00:46:53.620 --> 00:46:55.720
 once you had not received mercy

00:46:55.720 --> 00:46:57.880
 but now you have received mercy

00:46:57.880 --> 00:46:58.900
 this is

00:46:58.900 --> 00:47:01.000
 a staggering reality

00:47:01.000 --> 00:47:03.820
 God out of his love for us

00:47:03.820 --> 00:47:06.280
 arranged for his only son

00:47:06.280 --> 00:47:07.740
 to marry a prostitute

00:47:07.740 --> 00:47:15.640
 in God's grace and mercy

00:47:15.640 --> 00:47:16.200
 the whore

00:47:16.200 --> 00:47:19.840
 becomes the pure virgin

00:47:19.840 --> 00:47:20.880
 bride of the land

00:47:20.880 --> 00:47:29.360
 isn't that why God commands

00:47:29.360 --> 00:47:30.340
 us husbands

00:47:30.340 --> 00:47:31.440
 to love our wives

00:47:31.440 --> 00:47:32.780
 as Christ loved the church

00:47:32.780 --> 00:47:34.380
 and gave himself up for her

00:47:34.380 --> 00:47:35.360
 by washing her

00:47:35.360 --> 00:47:36.460
 with the water of the word

00:47:36.460 --> 00:47:37.640
 that she might be

00:47:37.640 --> 00:47:38.640
 set apart

00:47:38.640 --> 00:47:39.880
 so he might present

00:47:39.880 --> 00:47:40.860
 the church to himself

00:47:40.860 --> 00:47:41.559
 in splendor

00:47:41.559 --> 00:47:42.619
 without spot

00:47:42.619 --> 00:47:43.079
 or wrinkle

00:47:43.079 --> 00:47:44.079
 or any such thing

00:47:44.079 --> 00:47:45.700
 that she might be holy

00:47:45.700 --> 00:47:47.420
 and without blemish

00:47:47.420 --> 00:47:50.880
 we were all

00:47:50.880 --> 00:47:52.500
 once prostitutes

00:47:52.500 --> 00:47:53.579
 in league with Babylon

00:47:53.579 --> 00:47:54.400
 but Jesus

00:47:54.400 --> 00:47:55.380
 sanctified us

00:47:55.380 --> 00:47:55.980
 for himself

00:47:55.980 --> 00:47:57.960
 by dying on the cross

00:47:57.960 --> 00:47:58.720
 for our sins

00:47:58.720 --> 00:48:02.039
 and being raised

00:48:02.039 --> 00:48:02.639
 from the dead

00:48:02.639 --> 00:48:05.099
 Jesus called us

00:48:05.099 --> 00:48:06.659
 and he chose us

00:48:06.659 --> 00:48:08.159
 to be his holy bride

00:48:08.159 --> 00:48:12.039
 so how can we be faithful

00:48:12.039 --> 00:48:13.900
 to this bridegroom

00:48:13.900 --> 00:48:16.039
 it's by

00:48:16.039 --> 00:48:17.820
 abiding in

00:48:17.820 --> 00:48:18.440
 Jesus

00:48:18.440 --> 00:48:19.400
 the faithful one

00:48:19.400 --> 00:48:21.179
 he's described

00:48:21.179 --> 00:48:21.800
 again and again

00:48:21.800 --> 00:48:22.440
 throughout revelation

00:48:22.440 --> 00:48:23.219
 as the faithful

00:48:23.219 --> 00:48:24.360
 and true one

00:48:24.360 --> 00:48:25.840
 by believing

00:48:25.840 --> 00:48:26.699
 in this gospel

00:48:26.699 --> 00:48:27.380
 of what Jesus

00:48:27.380 --> 00:48:28.159
 has done for us

00:48:28.159 --> 00:48:29.420
 by putting

00:48:29.420 --> 00:48:30.380
 all our faith

00:48:30.380 --> 00:48:30.779
 in Jesus

00:48:30.779 --> 00:48:31.880
 and not in our own

00:48:31.880 --> 00:48:33.000
 righteousness

00:48:33.000 --> 00:48:35.059
 we cling to Jesus

00:48:35.059 --> 00:48:36.099
 and abide in him

00:48:36.099 --> 00:48:37.179
 and in abiding

00:48:37.179 --> 00:48:37.960
 in the faithful one

00:48:37.960 --> 00:48:38.579
 we ourselves

00:48:38.579 --> 00:48:39.300
 are strengthened

00:48:39.300 --> 00:48:39.820
 and enabled

00:48:39.820 --> 00:48:40.420
 to be faithful

00:48:40.420 --> 00:48:40.840
 to him

00:48:40.840 --> 00:48:44.079
 let's pray

00:48:44.079 --> 00:48:44.400
 that God

00:48:44.400 --> 00:48:44.920
 will help us

00:48:44.920 --> 00:48:45.360
 to do that

00:48:45.360 --> 00:49:00.500
 Father thank you

00:49:00.500 --> 00:49:01.400
 for your mercy

00:49:01.400 --> 00:49:07.620
 for sending your only son

00:49:07.620 --> 00:49:11.380
 to take for himself

00:49:11.380 --> 00:49:12.380
 a wife of whoredom

00:49:12.380 --> 00:49:15.640
 so that we might be

00:49:15.640 --> 00:49:16.200
 rescued

00:49:16.200 --> 00:49:17.740
 redeemed

00:49:17.740 --> 00:49:20.740
 cleansed

00:49:20.740 --> 00:49:22.140
 called

00:49:22.140 --> 00:49:23.980
 chosen

00:49:23.980 --> 00:49:26.720
 and what glorious

00:49:26.720 --> 00:49:28.340
 future

00:49:28.340 --> 00:49:29.539
 what glorious

00:49:29.539 --> 00:49:30.360
 reality

00:49:30.360 --> 00:49:30.840
 you

00:49:30.840 --> 00:49:32.340
 impart to us

00:49:32.340 --> 00:49:33.079
 that we get to be

00:49:33.079 --> 00:49:34.059
 the bride of the lamb

00:49:34.059 --> 00:49:36.619
 pure and without blemish

00:49:36.619 --> 00:49:39.739
 because of Jesus

00:49:39.739 --> 00:49:40.299
 and his

00:49:40.299 --> 00:49:41.880
 sacrifice

00:49:41.880 --> 00:49:43.159
 on the cross

00:49:43.159 --> 00:49:44.339
 Lord

00:49:44.339 --> 00:49:45.259
 fill us with

00:49:45.259 --> 00:49:45.679
 the renewed

00:49:45.679 --> 00:49:46.719
 sense of wonder

00:49:46.719 --> 00:49:50.239
 help us instead

00:49:50.239 --> 00:49:51.279
 marveling at

00:49:51.279 --> 00:49:52.059
 the beast

00:49:52.059 --> 00:49:52.920
 and the prostitute

00:49:52.920 --> 00:49:53.839
 help us to grow

00:49:53.839 --> 00:49:55.460
 in our

00:49:55.460 --> 00:49:56.639
 in marveling at

00:49:56.639 --> 00:49:57.519
 in worshiping

00:49:57.519 --> 00:49:58.719
 our Lord Jesus

00:49:58.719 --> 00:50:01.779
 and his wondrous gospel

00:50:01.779 --> 00:50:02.699
 what he has done

00:50:02.699 --> 00:50:03.039
 help us

00:50:03.039 --> 00:50:03.599
 fill us with

00:50:03.599 --> 00:50:04.139
 thanksgiving

00:50:04.139 --> 00:50:04.639
 in response

00:50:04.639 --> 00:50:05.079
 to that

00:50:05.079 --> 00:50:08.519
 in Jesus name

00:50:08.519 --> 00:50:08.920
 we pray

00:50:08.920 --> 00:50:09.500
 amen

00:50:09.500 --> 00:50:12.239
 exhale

00:50:12.239 --> 00:50:15.719
 so

00:50:15.719 --> 00:50:15.940
 receiving

00:50:15.940 --> 00:50:16.440
 induction

00:50:16.440 --> 00:50:16.800
 prayer

00:50:16.800 --> 00:50:19.460
 JEFF

00:50:19.460 --> 00:50:23.639
 you

00:50:37.320 --> 00:50:37.719
 okay