Reason number 7: (From the Dake's Annotated Bible)
There was a cult started Nimrod that spread all along the nations. Who's was Nimrod?:he is a Mesopotamian monarch mentioned in the Book of Genesis, who also figures in many legends and folktales. He is depicted in the Bible as a mighty ruler and nation builder who founded many cities including the great Babel or Babylon. (from www.greatdreams.com)
In this cult, the focus of worship was the Supreme Father, the Incarnate Female or Queen of Heaven, and her Son. This cult claimed to know the highest wisdom and the most divine secrets. This cult had confessions made to priest and many different rites to preform. Many Emperors held the position of head of the cult until emperor Gratian. Gratian refused to due to Christian reasons and saw that Babylonianism was idolatrous. In 378 A.D. Demasus held the position of bishop of the Christian church in Rome and was elected as the head of the cult, Babylonianism. Since then, the two became as one and the rites of Babylonianism were introduced into the Christian church. It was at this time that many Heathen temples were restored, and participation was encouraged. "Worship and veneration of images, saints, relics,private confessions, penances, scourging, pilgrimages, sign of the cross, Christmas, Lady Day, Easter, Lent and other pagan rites and festivals, little by little became a part of Christian worship." (from Dake's Annotated Bible pg 536 Book of Revelation notes)
8. The name "Mother of Harlots" is an identifying name as many branches have came off this religion. These religions that sprang up after the rapture end up being linked together to the dominate church at that time. The one mentioned here as the Whore.
9. The Mother of Abominations of the Earth. She will be this Mother in God's site, she will be exceeding in her wickedness.
10. Drunkenness with the blood of the martyrs are the martyrs of our Lord Jesus. It was pointed out that only religions have killed martyrs of Christ, the Governments have carried out the request of the religious leaders doing the killings but the request has come from the leaders.
11. Destruction of the whore by 10 kings inside the Roman Empire further lead her to be a religious system.
12.We will see in 17:18 there is a description of of here having a kingdom over the kings of the earth. She has a kingdom within the kingdom. Or rather she is a system (religious) operating withing a organization. This is like today, a Christian religion within the United States, religion within a political realm. However, hers is a huge influence and dictation over the political arena.
Rev 17:7 Then the angel said to me: "Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.
This is actually the last question asked in Revelation. I am right there with John, I do not believe I could have taken my eyes of the spectacle before me.
Notice it says the beast she rides has 7 heads and 10 horns. The beast is not any one of the heads or horns, the beast symbolizes something and the head and horns symbolizes something else.
Rev 17:8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come.
This verse (concerning the inhabitants of the earth and the book of life) was seen before in Revelation 13:8
The horns, the heads and the beast are all three together and yet they must be looked at separately to fully understand. The beast is a symbol of three things:
1. a supernatural angel coming out of the Abyss (see above).
2. A mortal man
3. A Kingdom.
The next blog we will look at those three points in further detail.
Blessing on all!
Calabash
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