Introduction: Most people prefer not to make hard choices.
We like to drift along with our world as it is and hope for
the best. Relying on inertia at some point will not be possible.
We will face the choice between forces that are against God and
those who promote the worship of God. Our study of the Bible
this week suggests that we should make this choice as soon
as possible, because drifting into the anti-God camp means
that our logical thinking is impaired. That makes the right
choice even more difficult. Let’s jump into our study of the
Bible and learn more!
I. Two Women
A. Read Revelation 17:1-2 and Revelation 14:8. The
great prostitute symbolizes something that is
obviously not good. What do you think she
represents? (Comparing Revelation 14:8 makes her
sound like Babylon the Great. Babylon is a power
historically aligned against God’s people.)
B. Read Revelation 12:1 and Revelation 12:5. What
does this woman symbolize? Is she good or bad?
(When we previously discussed the woman of
Revelation 12:1 we decided that she represented
those who follow Jesus because this woman “gave
birth” to Jesus. Thus, this is a religious group
that is aligned with the true God.)
1. Since the woman of Revelation 12:1 represents
those who follow Jesus, what does that say
about the nature of the great prostitute of
Revelation 17:1? (She also represents a
religious group, but not a good one. It is
not aligned with the true God.)
2. We are told that political leaders have
committed “sexual immorality” with the great
prostitute and that ordinary people have
become “drunk” with her view. What do you
think that means? (It means that people in all
walks of life share her world view.)
C. Read Romans 1:21. What does this tell us about
those who reject God? (Their thinking becomes
“futile” and their hearts “darkened.” This sounds
like someone who is drunk. This is further
evidence that the great prostitute’s wine that
individuals are drinking in Revelation 17:2 is a
rejection of the true God.)
D. Look again at Revelation 17:1. What does it mean
that this prostitute is “seated on many waters?”
(Read Revelation 17:15. This prostitute has a very
broad influence over the world. This must be a
world power that is the enemy of God.)
1. How would you describe the overall theological
view of the prostitute group? (Both the
political leaders and the general population
are in agreement with her anti-God point of
view.)
E. As you contemplate these two women, what does that
suggest faces those who live on the earth? (These
two women represent opposing powers. We must
choose between them.)
II. Babylon the Great
A. Read Genesis 11:2-4 which describes the movement
of people after the Flood. What is the goal of
these people? (They want to become famous and they
want to be flood-proof.)
B. Read Genesis 9:11. God made this promise to humans
after the flood. What does this promise tell us
about the nature of the tower builders? (They did
not believe God. They did not rely on God. Rather
they relied on their own plans and ability.)
C. Read Genesis 11:6. What does God think about this
unity of evil purpose? (God says unity means
nothing is impossible for them.)
D. Read Genesis 11:7-9. What is the cure for the
power of unity? (Diversity! God gives them
different languages and they are dispersed over
the earth.)
1. What does God call this place of tower
building? (Babel.)
E. This is the first use of the word Babel in the
Bible. As you consider this story, what does Babel
represent? Is it a religious movement? (Babel
represents a rejection of God and a substitution
of human power. It is “religious” in the sense
that it is specifically anti-God and in favor of
displacing God in favor of humans. This is the
foundational theory behind idol worship.)
F. Read Jeremiah 50:33-34. What do we discover about
Babylon here? (A conflict between God’s people and
Babylon. Babylon has oppressed and taken captive
God’s people.)
G. In Jeremiah 50:35-38 God promises that He will use
weapons and nature to defeat Babylon because it is
a “land of images … mad over idols.” Read
Jeremiah 50:39-40. What is the future of Babylon?
(It is overthrown and deserted.)
1. If that is the case, why are we seeing Babylon
the Great referred to in Revelation? Why is
the message of the second of the three angels
(Revelation 14:8) a comment about the defeat of
Babylon? Is the second of the three angels
giving us very old news? (Revelation is a book
of symbols. The great prostitute who acts like
Babylon is a symbol of a world view. A view
that rejects reliance on God and worship of
God, and replaces it with reliance on human
thinking. A thinking that is muddled because
of its comparison to wine.)
H. Let’s get back to Revelation 17 and follow the
path of the great prostitute. Read
Revelation 17:5. What should we conclude about “Babylon the
great” being written on the forehead of the great
prostitute? (She fully embraces the anti-God, pro-
human views that first emerged in the Tower of
Babel.)
1. Is there any relevance to her being called a
“prostitute” who is the “mother of
prostitutes?” (This is another reason why
God’s people and the anti-God faction are
described as women. Are they faithful to our
father God or not? Those who are unfaithful
are prostitutes.)
I. Read Revelation 17:6. What is Babylon’s attitude
towards God’s faithful followers? (It wants to
kill them.)
J. Read Revelation 17:7-9. What do you think it means
that the great prostitute is “carried” by a seven
headed beast that will “rise from the bottomless
pit?” What is the bottomless pit? (Read
Revelation 20:1-3. It is the place where Satan is bound. This
means that the great prostitute is “carried” by
Satan.)
1. Notice that Revelation 17:9 says that the
great prostitute is “seated” on “seven
mountains.” What do you think that means? (In
a number of places in the New Testament the
Greek word translated “mountain” is used to
describe “mount Sinai.” See, e.g., Acts 7:38.
When I write these lessons I generally use
older commentaries. Very old protestant
commentaries state that these mountains should
be viewed as hills, and that Rome famously
sits on seven hills.)
2. The concept of Babylon as an evil power begins
in Genesis and ends in Revelation. What
broader historical view could be represented
by these seven mountains? (Some believe that
the “mountains” are areas of influence.
Specifically, family, religion, education,
media, entertainment, business and
government.)
a. If Babylon is an anti-God, pro-human
philosophy (and it is) do we see Babylon
in these areas of influence?
III. Victory
A. Read Revelation 17:14 and Revelation 14:8. How
does the battle between the two women end? (We are
allied with Jesus, the Lamb. He defeats the
beast.)
1. How are the followers of Jesus described in
Revelation 17:14? (“Called, chosen, and
faithful.”)
B. Friend, you are called to follow Jesus. He has
chosen you. Will you choose Him? Will you be
faithful to Jesus by rejecting reliance on human
power and relying instead on the power of God?
Why not make that choice right now?
IV. Next week: Satan’s Final Deception.
Copr. 2023, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are
from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard
Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing
ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All
rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within
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but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this
link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the
Holy Spirit as you study.