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"The Antichrist"

Introduction

In our study of the great prophecies relating to the things of our day, we now come to the climax, when the end of all things is at hand. We are soon to be precipitated into unprecedented perils, and extraordinary preparations have to be made to meet the extremely hazardous times. The leisurely life will change; the tempo will rise, and unique circumstances, chaos and confusion will occur. We are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. Many of the prophecies are about to be fulfilled in rapid succession, an intensity is taking hold of the human family.

QUESTION 1:
a) An angel came to John in vision. What did the angel say? Revelation 17:1.

"And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:"

b) What have the kings of the earth been doing with her? Revelation 17:2.

"With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication."

NOTE AND ANSWER: Here in verse one we have the climax of the prophecy brought to view, the judgment of the whore that sitteth on many waters. This is some of the strongest language ever used by a prophet in describing this system of false religion. As we have learned in previous studies, a woman represents a church (Jer 6:2), a pure woman in white equals a pure church. And an impure or scarlet colored woman depicts an impure or apostate church. It is equally realized that woman described as a whore represents an apostate system of religion. It is also noticed that she is sitting on, or controlling many people, waters being a symbol of people. In Revelation seventeen we see the restoration of this persecuting power, known as the beast. The restoration of this power has been brought about by the kings of the earth committing fornication with her. The world fornication is full of meaning, for this term implies an illicit or unlawful relationship had been taking place between her and the governments of the world. This relationship has been carried on to such an extent that the nations have become unstable through believing and applying her policies and principles in their legislative halls, education centers and financial institutions. Wine is a symbol of her doctrines, teachings and policies. The nations have been drinking or absorbing great amounts of what she has to offer until they have become drunk and stagger from crisis to crisis; there is little or no stability in government anymore. The essence of this illicit relationship is deception, to make wrong look right; to make error appear truth; to make rebellion and protest to seem like justice and liberty. This power has disguised its self in a cloak of falsehood and thus gained the advantage.

QUESTION 2:
a) How did the angel impress upon the prophet's mind as to who the identity of this woman was? Revelation 17:3.

"So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns."

b) After being taken into the wilderness what did John see? Revelation 17:4.

"And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:"

NOTE AND ANSWER: To impress upon his mind in order to be sure that John understood all the ramifications of what he was about to be told, the angel gave him an important lesson in history. By taking him in vision into the wilderness, we see this pseudo religious power in all its hideousness, for it was during that era known as the dark ages that this church committed the greatest atrocities that the world has ever known. There in the wilderness, we see this church sitting on the (beast) governments of Europe. The symbology is that she is controlling the nations of the then known world, just as the rider of any animal is in control. It is not always evident to the people what is being planed behind the scenes, in the echelons of power, However, in this prophecy God pules back the curtains and we see what the great men of this world cannot see. We see a church using the governments of Europe to enforce her teachings, policies and principles upon the people. By doing so she was able to maintain her empire and keep her supremacy in the world for over 1,000 yeas. This was the era of the "Holy Roman Empire". As we read these two verses, there is no mistaking her identity, for we se the wealth and splendor, the fashion and style in her worship services. In her hand is a golden cup from which the kinks, rulers and governors have been drinking: absorbing her policies and teachings. The principles through which she rules are regarded as abominations and filthiness for they have brought about the most wretched and demoralizing conditions the human family has ever seen.

QUESTION 3:
a) What name is written on the forehead of the harlot woman? Revelation 17:5.

"And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."

b) What other starling thing was brought to view regarding this power? Revelation 17:6

"And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration."

NOTE AND ANSWER: As the history lesson continues we see the name Mystery, Babylon the Great, Mother of Harlots and abominations of the earth. Why is her title thus written? Because she is the one that represents the great system of false worship. She who claims to be the mother church, the one who claims to be representing God whilst working contrary to the Bible, is to commit blasphemy, especially when making the claim to be the vicar of the Son of God and at the same time engaging in a work of prosecution and murder. To teach and seduce people implies the teaching of error as though it were truth. This is what it means to blaspheme His name. This Babylonian system of worship is always shrouded in mystery, just as Lucifer concealed his work in heaven under a specious profession of loyalty to God. This power pretends to represent God on earth whilst it really works against Him, it is to this counterfeit system of religion that we direct the term "Babylon".

We also see the Woman, the symbol of this church, is drunk with the blood of the saints and the martyrs. This church is seen to have blood on her hands. Listen to the description; she is dressed in brazen purple and scarlet, decked with jewels, and a golden cup in her hand full of the abominations of her false doctrines, she is drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs. Again the description is of Rome.

QUESTION 4:
a) After John had viewed the church in the wilderness, what was his response? Revelation 17:6b.

"And when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration."

b) Surprised to see John's reaction to what he had seen, what does the angel reveal to John? Revelation 17:7.

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

NOTE AND ANSWER: The prophet's immediate response was one of suprise and admiration. Here was a church with its magnificent cathedrals, its majestic shrines and monasteries, its great centuries of education, its towering spires and lofty structures, such wealth and splendor. Her priests are dressed in such gorgeous apparel, the mystique: mystery and excitement of her ceremonies and rituals, What a sight! Here is Christianity with all of its pomp and pride. This professed Christian Church rules the world and John stands in awe. Here we have the masterpiece of deception. Satan's most successful method of working is by means of deception. He makes wrong look right, he mixes error with truth. He has long bean planning and preparing for his final effort to deceive the world. This gigantic system of false worship is a masterpiece of satan's power, a monument of his efforts to seat himself upon the throne of the world to rule the earth according to his will.

The heavenly guest inquires as to John's admiration, and suggests that he should reveal to him the meaning surrounding this church and the beast that she rides. It should be noted that this is the original beast with seven heads and ten horns. The scene passing before us is the climax of the rebellion that has continued down through the ages. The same conflict, just a different time and a different place.

QUESTION 5:
As our divine history lesson continues, we see the mystery of the ages unfolded. What is the mystery? Revelation 17:8, 9.

" The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth."

NOTE AND ANSWER: The remainder of the chapter is the angel's interpretation of the "mystery". However we have two mysteries brought to view.

a) The mystery of the woman that rides the beast.
b) The mystery of the beast that carries her.
As we have noticed before, a beast represents a nation or an empire. Of the seven consecutive universal empires, as represented by the seven heads on the beast we are considering, the head that represents the Roman Empire is the sixth head. However, the construction of this verse indicates that this power passes through three different phases or three distinct periods of time. Those periods of time being;

1. When it was.
2. When it is not.
3. When it shall ascend out of the bottomless pit.
Thus John was carried forward in time, to our day. There he was able to look back in time to where the beast of persecution "was". In other words he looked back in time to when the beast was still active in persecuting the Christian Church. And then as he stood in that period of time as the "is not", the angel revealed that persecution had ceased. After this he looked into the future and he saw the beast "about to come up out of the abyss". So we see a period of time when Rome was a persecuting power, a time when she used the governments of Europe in an attempt to destroy the Christian Church because it did not agree with her policies and principles. However, in 1798 during the French Revolution, Rome was stripped of her civil power and entered a period of inactivity, the "is not" period of time, this corresponds with the time when she received her deadly wound.
However, that wound is to be healed, her power will be restored and when this takes place, she will have ascended out of the "bottomless pit". The term "bottomless pit" simply means the place of the grave. As this astonishing event begins to transpire around us the inhabitants of the earth stand amazed as the papacy returns to take up her former activities. Those that dwell on the earth wonder that such a thing could happen. They first "wonder" and then worship, that is, yield there willing support to the beast.(Please read study notes)

QUESTION 6:
a) Can you name the seven universal kingdoms brought to view by this prophecy? Revelation 17:10.

"And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space."

b) Who is the eighth king, and why is he designated as such? Revelation 17:11.

"And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition."

NOTE AND ANSWER: Continuing our history lesson we need to establish the names of the seven consecutive universal empires. By doing this we will see more clearly how the rebellion that was begun in Heaven was transferred and developed through the nations of the earth until it became fully established during the time of the Roman Empire. This wild beast belongs to no specific age, but is a power that has risen in every age; the seven heads represent the successive culminations of this world power. In various empires this showed itself; in Egypt, the house of bondage; in Assyria, that exalted herself against God,; in Babylon, the hammer of the whole earth; in Persia; in Greece; and in succession these kingdoms fell, only to be succeeded by another, "Rome". Five are fallen, the one revered to as being "is", was ROME, and the seventh head must be rather an aggregation of nations than a single empire. However, this confederacy of nations will gather together under one head, the seventh head, the papacy.

Few would realize that the New World Order is a child of the papacy. As we see the nations of the earth uniting under the auspices of the United Nations, we are witnessing the restoration of her power. It is not yet evident the part that the religious element is playing, but we need to understand the progress of events in the marshaling of the nations for the final conflict, for they will unite under the one head, the papacy, the seventh head. When we see this happen we can be sure that time will continue only for a short period. As the beast under consideration is only ever depicted as having seven heads, it is obvious that the reference to the eighth head is symbolic. The number eight is symbolic of the resurrection or new life, thus symbolizing the restoration of Rome to her former glory.

QUESTION 7:
a) Why is it said that the ten kinks have received no kingdom as yet? Revelation 17:12.

"And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast."

b) Who shall give their power to the beast? Revelation 17:13.

"These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast."

NOTE AND ANSWER: The ten kings brought to our attention here represent the political leaders and government of the world. The number ten in prophecy is symbolic of a world wide movement so these ten kings are not representing ten individual nations but rather indicate that the governments of the world will unite together in some capacity and there be given, not the power of a king in there own right but rather they receive power as a king. In other words they will exercise the authority that has been delegated to them by some other power. It will be noticed that these kings receive power for one hour with the beast, which is controlled by the papacy. They have formed a coalition or a confederacy with Rome for the purpose of restoring her to a position of authority.

There is only one organization on the face of the earth that is capable of achieving unity on such a grand scale, that organization being the United Nations. This organization is responsible for all the international treaties being signed between the governments of the world. Further, it is said that these kings give their power and strength unto the beast. They have one mind, one purpose, they all agree to one centralized government of which each nation will become a satellite republic. The governments of the world will surrender their God given heritage, give up certain aspects of there independence and give respect to international law. The western world, founded on the principles of Protestantism, has bean deceived into surrendering its sovereignty in favour of one centralized government under the seventh head, the papacy. The United Nations is a trap for protestant nations.

QUESTION 8:
What will be the result of this confederacy of evil? Revelation 17:14-18.

"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth."

NOTE AND ANSWER: Having gained the ascendancy over the world, Rome is thus ready to embark upon the last great conflict. Her power is restored, once again she controls the civil authorities as the prophecies indicate, "a woman sitting on a scarlet colored beast." She goes out to make war with the lamb, a symbol of Christ and the Christian Church, all Christians and individuals that refuse to pay her homage will be persecuted. The last great delusion is soon to open before us. Antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our sight. In this great struggle the sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of spiritualism, the stelthy but rapid progress of the papal power, all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. Too late will nations realize that they have been deceived, rebellion and strife will be everywhere for the waters which thou sawest where the whore sitteth, are people, multitudes and nations; these will all be astir. Here amidst the strife and persecution will the whore be judged and destruction awaits her along with those that support her. The inhabitants of the earth stand in terror and amazement at her descending judgments.

QUESTION 9:
a) Who were some of the main beneficiaries of this confederacy of church and state? Revelation 18:3.

"For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies."

b) As the judgments of God bring about the collapse of Rome and her associates grand design for control of the world. What amazing confession is brought forth? Revelation 18:9-16.

"And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!"

NOTE AND ANSWER: When God gives a message of warning to His people on earth nothing is left to chance---no speculation is entered into in order to discover exactly who is behind the scenes giving their support and making it all possible.

When God draws back the curtain we gain insights into the mysteries and intrigue the is carried out behind the scenes. Mysteries the casual observer can never see. God sees it all and leaves no doubt in the minds of His people as to who was in on the schemes and plans that were designed to destroy their God given freedom and liberty. The merchants of the earth have been made rich through the power of her delicacies. Who takes the lead in all the extravagancies of this age? Who load their tables with the riches and choicest viands? Who are the foremost in extravagances in dress and all costly attire? Are not the churches and the business leaders in the forefront of this push for the prideful things of this life.

As the system collapses, the great institutions---the huge industrial and manufacturing conglomerates of the world---all those who trade in natural resources---such as fuel, oil and minerals---the going and production of the basic commodities of life---of food and clothing, everything necessary to the normal functions of life. The worlds leading industrialists and business men began to wail for the system they helped develop for their own enrichment has collapsed and who will buy their merchandise now. These men in collaboration with the governments of the world have been drinking the wine of Babylon, that Rome and her associates have been holding out before them---for wine is a symbol of her policies and teachings. Policies such as de-regulation of the financial system along with privatization that is making it possible for these gigantic international cartels and monopolies to be formed. They all agree to become part of the system. The system that endeavored to compel the souls of mankind (or the conscience) to bow in obeisance to the policies and teachings of Rome. What a confession! Now they are to reap the whirlwind of there own scheming and deceitfulness.

STUDY NOTES

The subject of this chapter is Babylon. In order to give a full representation of it, John takes us back to recount some of the facts of her history. This apostate woman, as represented in this chapter, is a symbol of the Roman Catholic Church. Between this church and the kings of the earth there has been an elicit connection. With the wine of her fornication, her deceptive false principles and policies, the inhabitants of the earth have become unstable or as described "drunk". This prophecy is more definite than others applicable to the Roman power in that it distinguishes between church and state. We here have the woman, the church, seated upon a scarlet colored beast, the civil authorities by which she is upheld and which she controls and guides to her own ends, as a rider controls the animal upon which he is seated. The vesture and decorations of this woman as brought to view in chapter four, are in striking harmony with the application made of this symbol. Purple and scarlet are the chief colors in the robes of popes and cardinals, decked with gold and precious costly gems (silver is rarely seen). From the golden cup in her hand, a symbol of purity of teaching and profession which should have contained only that which is unadulterated and pure, there came forth only abominable policies and teachings and still more abominable practices.

This woman is explicitly called Babylon. Is Rome then Babylon, to the exclusion of all other religious bodies? No. she cannot be for the fact that she is called the mother of harlots, which shows that there are other independent religious organizations that constitute the apostate daughters and belong to the same great family. Why should John wonder with great admiration when he saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints? Was persecution any strange thing in his day? Had he not seen Rome launch its most fiery anathemas against the people of his day, himself being under the banishment under its cruel power at the time he wrote? Why the should he be astonished as he looked forward and saw Rome still persecuting the saints? The secret of his wonder and admiration was this, all the persecution he had seen was from Pagan Rome, the open enemy of Christ. It was not strange that pagans should persecute the Christian Church. But when he looked forward and saw a professed Christians Church persecuting the Christians he could but stand in awe and amazement. This wild beast is a fitting symbol for Rome for it carries with it all the characteristics of this bloodthirsty empire. As the roman Empire developed into the papacy, she took on an even more oppressive character. As an empire she had a long and uninterrupted existence. For nearly two thousand years she ruled the world not only in religious areas of life, but she dominated the civil powers as well.

During the time of papal supremacy millions of people thought Europe were savagely put to death for refusing to give homage to her policies and teachings. First it was pagan Rome that foresaw that should the gospel triumph her temples and altars would be swept away; therefore she summoned her forces to destroy the Apostolic Church. The fires of persecuted were kindled. Christians were stripped of their possessions and driven from there homes. They endured a great fight of afflictions and great numbers sealed there testimony with their blood. Noble and slave, rich and poor, learned and ignorant were alike slain without mercy. The persecution was so great that Christians were forced to flee into the mountains of Italy as well as other parts of Europe. A small period of peace was experienced during the transition from Pagan Rome to Papal Rome. However, the accession of the Roman Church to power marked the beginning of the dark ages.

As the power increased, the darkness deepened. In all it is estimated that between fifty and one hundred million people were slaughtered by the Roman Power. And so she is seen by the prophet as being drunken with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs. Then we see in 1798, Rome was stripped of her civil authority. She no longer could use the governments of Europe to enforce her teachings upon the people. Here we see the tree phases of the Roman Empire. During the years of her supremacy, she is referred to as the beast that "was". Then having lost her ability to use her civil powers, she enters a period of inactivity. This parallels the "is not" phase of the empire, from 1798 until our day. For it is now the close of the twentieth century that we look for the final phase of the prophecy to begin, a time when we shall see the Roman Catholic Church restored to power which is "the third phase", the one that is yet to come. During this phase the governments of the world will be deceived into surrendering their sovereignty. Through the United Nations Organization we see the rise of the New World Order.

As the prophecy indicates, this move will undoubtedly culminate with the United States of America leading the world to unite under the papal head. The nations will be brought to there knees through accepting and embracing the policies of Rome, for they have indeed been drinking from the golden cup she is seen to have in her hand. This has brought instability to the countries. As they drink they seem to stagger from one crisis to another. There economies are in turmoil with excessive amounts of foreign debt. The environmental movements will push for the preservation of their assets in order to pay those debts. All of these movements are being promoted via the United Nations in the efforts to secure unity. They come together with one mind and one purpose---peace and security. They "give their power and strength unto the beast"---Rome. There will be a universal bond of union one great harmony, a confederacy of evil. Thus is manifested the same arbitrary, oppressive power against religious liberty and freedom to worship God according to the dictates of conscience, as was manifested by the papacy when in the past it persecuted those who dared to refuse to conform to with the religious rites and ceremonies of Romanism. As the prophecy indicates, the woman (the church, Romanism in the old world, Protestantism in the new) is sitting on the beast (the governments of the world). Based upon the word of God, the Bible, we can know without any doubt just who is behind the New World Order. It is the churches of Christendom brought together under the one head, the papacy. This will bring about the time of trouble such as the world has never seen. At that time God calls His people together and says, "Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity:" Isaiah 26:20-21