Last Days - Part Six
Mystery Babylon

Last Days - Part Six
Mystery Babylon

by Wayne Dailey
Senior Pastor, Bethel Revival Center
43 Norwood St.
Everett, MA 02149

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In Part 2, The Days of Noah, I have already introduced a woman to you by the name of Naamah. She was the first daughter born unto the seed of Cain, when the sons of God began to intermarry. This brought apostasy upon the earth, which in turn brought the great flood.

In Part 3, The Days of Lot, I also introduced another woman to you, Lot's wife. Because Lot married a woman of Sodom, he was induced to go down and live there.

Now, let me introduce another woman to you: She will usher in the great tribulation.

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

This woman is introduced here as "the great whore." Let's examine her life to see what affect she will have on the world.

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.

She becomes deeply involved with the kings of the earth, causing the whole world to get drunk with the wine of her fornication.

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.

In Revelation 3:1, we saw the description of the beast who rose up out of the sea. Here we find that same beast, though it doesn't mention the ten crowns on the ten horns. The color of the beast is described here as being scarlet (or red).

Notice that here the woman is sitting on the back of the beast. She is right there on top, like someone riding a horse, right in the place of control. It's the person in the saddle, with the reins in her hand, who controls the horse. And we can think in the same light of this woman sitting upon the beast: She is in the position of having control over the beast.

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

This doesn't look good, does it?

Who is this woman?

We have to read on in this chapter to find out who she really is.

Revelation 17:5
And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Here, John gives her name as Mystery Babylon. Whenever the Bible uses the word mystery it is referring to something which can't be figured out at a glance.

If we are going to understand this revelation, we've got to search it out from God. There is a supernatural element that has to be looked to and considered.

This woman, referred to as the whore, is now referred to as "the mother of harlots." She has daughters! and her daughters are harlots just like she is. She is also the mother of abominations of the earth. Think about that word abomination. The Lord spoke about the abomination of desolation, when Antichrist would set himself up upon the earth.

Now, who is this woman? She is the super world church that will ride on the back of the beast who rises up in the earth.

And who is this beast? The Antichrist.

This is a hard thing to have to say, but I must tell you the truth from God's Word. As we look on, we will find a great understanding of this fact.

Looking at all of this, one questions:
- What direction is the church really headed in?
- Can this really be, or is it just a figment of our imagination?

Realize that this is something that will really take place. We have seen this in the Word of God!

Drunk with Blood

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.

This woman wasn't drunk on liquor; she was drunk on blood: the blood of the saints of Jesus Christ who had been martyred.

Now, when John saw this, it stirred his heart and soul. He wondered with great admiration . . . Who is this woman?

We have seen that the work of the Antichrist is to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And here we find this woman being drunken with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.

The Mystery

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.

There are several mysteries to be understood here:
- the woman
- the beast
- the seven heads
- the ten horns

We have to look very carefully at what the Lord has to say, that we don't miss what He wants to show us.

Revelation 17:8
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.

Was . . . and is not . . . and yet is!

The mysteries begin to unfold here: John saw this beast, then it went away, and now it has come back again. Understand this.

Now, we're going to have to look backwards for some of the clues as to who this beast and this woman are.

First, we want to look back to see what history might tell us in respect to this.

Have you ever studied church history? Have you ever taken a look back into history to see where the church really sprang from, historically speaking; and then, how it came down through the annals of the centuries unto this present day?

You'll see some shocking things if you take the time to study church history. There are some things that would make a Christian red in the face. Yes, there are things in church history that would make one absolutely ashamed to have to associate these things with the history of the church of Jesus Christ.

I thank God that I wasn't a part of some of those things. I wouldn't want to be part of such shame.

What am I talking about?

Church History

The early church was terribly persecuted. It stood the test of time, standing up to the persecution of the Roman Empire. It was mocked and scoffed and ridiculed, but it stood strong. It was filled with martyrs who stood for Jesus unto death.

But in the third century things began to change. Christianity began to be accepted. Emperor Constantine was converted unto Christianity, and Christianity became the state religion.

As emperor after emperor came along, it soon became compulsory to belong to the state church. And, as you follow church history further, you see the time where the papacy was formed. You can then follow the popes' reigns down through the pages of history.

There was a thousand year reign of the Roman church over the nations of the earth. During that long period of time, the popes reigned supreme over kings.

Looking at the state of things in church history, we'd have to say that in those days there was a beast, and the church was right on its back.

This followed for some time through history, until the time came when men began to look things over and note that the church was in a mess. It had deteriorated to the point where God had to raise up men like Martin Luther, and the reformation began.

The Reformation

The terrible things that went on during the time of the Reformation! Men revolted and just wouldn't go along any more with things as they were. It had gotten to the place where the church was an instrument for making money. They were busy selling indulgences, church offices, and so on.

The Reformation started and the great Protestant movement came into being, bringing the beast to an end: the beast was, and is not . . .

But John adds: AND YET IS!

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.

John was about to receive a revelation that would enable him to understand the mysteries of the beast, the woman, the seven heads, and the ten horns.

Seven Heads

Revelation 17:9
And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

We can see from this verse that those seven heads are seven mountains. That's simple enough to understand.

Revelation 17:18
And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Those seven mountains, which are given here as seven heads, are mountains on which the woman is sitting. Thus, we can see that the woman is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

That Great City

What great city is famous for being built upon seven mountains? Isn't Rome a great city? And isn't it built upon seven mountains?

Well, Rome has been a city in the past which reigned over the kings of the earth. Way back in the days of Christ, Rome was reigning over the kings of the earth.

And in the last days, Rome is going to reign again over the kings of the earth. The old Roman Empire is going to be revived, headed by the Antichrist. Antichrist will come and establish his kingdom in the ruins of the old Roman Empire. Understand this fact.

The old Roman Empire coming back into existence will be the fulfillment of what Daniel saw when he saw that little horn rise: rising up in the old Roman Empire, smiting away three of the former kings, and coming into power to gain control of the whole earth.

Revelation 17:10, 11
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. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

This speaks of Antichrist being the eighth king. When we look back, historically, we have to acknowledge that John is stating there will be seven kings reigning in this empire.

When the seventh of these rulers comes along, he will reign for a season, and then the same ruler (who is the seventh) will also be the eighth.

The Apostle Paul called the Antichrist the man of sin, the son of perdition — see II Thessalonians 2:3.

Now, in Revelation 17, we read that the eighth ruler goes into perdition.

Revelation 13 made it clear that one of his heads was wounded to death, and then that head was revived and brought forth.

We can see now that this is making reference to the seventh and eighth heads being one and the same. This will be just another lying sign and wonder done by the false prophet who will arise.

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.

These ten kings haven't received any kingdom as yet, but they will each receive their rule for just one hour with the beast.

That one hour doesn't mean a span of sixty minutes. It simply refers to a very short period of time in which these kings will reign with the Antichrist. The ten horns on the beast rising out of the sea are these ten kings receiving their kingdom — see Revelation 13.

These have one mind and shall give their power and strength unto the beast — see Revelation 17:13.

The beast's kingdom is the revived old Roman Empire. It will rule the world with ten world kingdoms, which will be ruled by ten powerful kings who give full allegiance unto Antichrist. They will do anything and everything he wants them to do.

The Ten Kings

Revelation 17:14
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.

The Battle of Armageddon is described in Revelation 19: We see the Lord coming from heaven on a white horse. He is coming back to establish His kingdom upon this earth.

These ten kings will have their armies gathered together in the Holy Land to fight against Jesus Christ when He returns back to earth with the chosen and faithful.

Revelation 17:15
And He saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

Verse one spoke of the great whore sitting upon many waters. Here we find the waters described as peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

Revelation 17:16
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.

Here is the judgment of the world church. She is the instigator of helping Antichrist arise in the world. And when he finally crowns them, his ten kings are going to turn against the world church. They will smite it, put it down, burn it with fire, make it desolate, and destroy it.

It's as simple as that: Her judgment will come in one hour.

Revelation 17:17
For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill His will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

We have seen that the beast is the revived old Roman Empire, being revived and still located in the city of Rome. When a great world church rises and merges, it will be headed up at Rome.

The beast that was and is not will come again in the last days. This beast shall come forth worse by far than what it was before. Then there will be a judgment against it, wherein it will be destroyed and burned with fire.

The Church: True and False

I want to make some distinctions of the church of Jesus Christ (the true church) and of the woman (the false church).

When the Lord refers to something as a great whore, spiritually speaking, He is talking about one who is untrue, unclean, defiled. And such a one has no representation to anything that belongs to the Lord.

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.

This woman is a fornicator. We can easily see that her life is not a life in relationship with God but a life in relationship with the kings of the earth. And in such a relationship, she has made the inhabitants of the earth drunk with the wine of her fornication.

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.

She is against the true church, against the saints, and is drunken with their blood. She is guilty of the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. She calls herself a church yet is basically against God. Her relationship is with the world, whereas the true relationship of a child of God is with the Lord. How could this be?

The true church is spiritual, while the false church is worldly.

Revelation 19:7-9
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And He saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And He saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

The true church is referred to here as a bride, not just as a woman. And the bride of Christ is always referred to as being a virgin, not a harlot, not a whore. The bride of Christ is undefiled with the world. She is a chaste, virgin bride unto Christ.

Whenever we talk about the church, we're speaking about the true, born again believers. We're talking about those who have been born of the Spirit, set apart unto the Lord, cleansed with the blood of Christ, taken away from the defilements of the world: pure and chaste.

On the other hand, when we refer to the woman found in Revelation 17, we are talking about a whore. She may have been in a right relationship with God at one time, but now she is called a whore. She has gone whoring after the world — after the beast — and is riding on its back.

In Matthew 13:24-30 we find a parable that tells of the wheat and the tares growing up together. The wheat are the true children of God, and the tares are the children of the wicked one. Both are planted in the same field, growing up together until harvest, at which time they will be separated: one unto destruction and the other unto eternal life.

So there is a distinction between the Bride and the whore.

We find this same distinction between Cain and Abel. Cain brought forth a sacrifice unto God of fruits and vegetables. He is a type of the modernist and his religion followed on after Abel's death.

God raised up another spiritual seed through Seth. This seed was called "the sons of God." Eventually, they intermingled with the religion of Cain, marrying the daughters of men, Cain's seed. And when the sons of God and the daughters of men intermarried, they brought forth the world church of that day. Their apostasy brought a watered down religion, void of God and void of understanding.

We have seen how this apostasy brought evil and calamity upon the earth until God finally poured out the flood to destroy mankind.

We don't want to confuse the true church with the false church. When we talk about the Bride of Christ, we're speaking of a virgin. And when we talk about the woman, the great whore, we're speaking of a harlot, one who has been unfaithful to God.

This woman in Revelation is spelled out as being the mother of harlots. She brings forth a whole group who are harlots, becoming defiled and unclean.

We must try to understand how something like this is going to come into being. How can a super church rise and be labeled as a whore, the mother of harlots?

Remember what Paul said about Antichrist appearing in the world. He said there was going to be a great falling away — II Thessalonians 2:2, 3.

A Great Falling Away

Before the rapture of the church takes place, there is going to be a great falling away. And we are living in the day of that falling away. Many are falling away from the true experience of salvation unto a modernistic way. They label their walk as a Christian walk, but it is actually a walk with the world and its ways.

They are deviating away from the true born again experience that brings one into a relationship of being a true child of God, and they are following on in the things of this world.

As the church continues on, more and more there is going to be a falling away from it: not of numbers, but of experience. Eventually, those who have fallen away will far outnumber those who walk with God.

As this great super church emerges in the world during these last days, there's going to be a separation. And there is also going to be a direct conflict, a great time of persecution.

Understand now, when I refer to the woman, I am making reference to that which will defile and corrupt the world. It will usher in the Great Tribulation and bring the world into the fiery judgment of God, until God will come to clean it up.

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

In order to understand the works of this great world church which will emerge in the last days, we have to look at her judgment: that which God is going to do when He mightily brings her down.

Revelation 18:1, 2
And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

That doesn't sound good! But it is a description of what the world church organization will be made up of. It will be a cage, filled with every foul, unclean and hateful spirit: the habitation of devils. Mystery Babylon, that great city of Rome, will fall.

Prosperity

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.

Notice that it says all nations. That would include Russia, China, Kenya, England, France, India, and so on — even the United States. All nations have been made to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornications, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her.

Prosperity comes into focus here: the merchants are waxed rich. This is all part and parcel of having the mark of the beast, part and parcel of the great economy. During the days of Antichrist, the whole world is going to be made rich.

And here we can see this is all because of Rome: the headquarters of both the world church and the Antichrist.

Revelation 18:4
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Be Separate

During the last days, as this world church emerges in the world, you should have enough common sense first of all not to get in her; and if the church you attend gets in her, you'd best get out!

God makes a last appeal. He is making a last cry for people to come out of the world church, that they be not caught up in the judgment of her sins or receive the plagues she will receive.

If you're going to be part of the true church, and if you're going to be ready for the coming of Jesus, you will have to stand true. As this emerges in the world in days to come, you want to stand apart from it.

Revelation 18:5
For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

The sins of Sodom and Gomorrah reached unto heaven, and those cities were destroyed. God sent down the angels to see if that wicked place was as bad as the cry against it — and it was.

Her Reward

Revelation 18:6
Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

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.

This is the reason God will reward her double unto her double: He will double up her judgment and then double it up again because of the works she has done in martyring the saints.

Revelation 18:7
How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

This great harlot really feels she has it made. She sits a queen, filled with pride and self-confidence. She feels she will see no sorrow.

But here is what God has to say:

Revelation 18:8
Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

Here we can see the extent of God's judgment upon this harlot. And in Revelation 17 we find yet further details of His judgment upon the whore:

Revelation 17:16
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.

This judgment will come to her in one day. In one day there will be death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for the Lord is strong who judges her.

Why?

What has she done?

Revelation 18:23b, 24
. . . for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

She is a false church and her works are not the works of righteousness. They are the works of sorcery, intended to deceive. By those works, she deceived the whole world and brought it under the rule of Antichrist and to judgment.

In her was found the blood of the prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. No wonder such great judgment will come upon her!

I know these statements are strong, but I am only telling you what it says in the Word of God.

Revelation 19:2
For true and righteous are His judgments: for He hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of His servants at her hand.

There is no world church today, but, prophetically, it is in the making; prophetically, it will come forth; and prophetically, the Word of God says that these will be her works and her judgments. Terrible judgments will come at the end of the age upon this organization called the world church.

Realize that when the world church emerges, it won't be like this immediately; it won't be like this over night. It may seem like a good thing — for a season. But the Word would show us clearly what it will lead to and what it will accomplish in the world.