Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/Sermons/zz20010722.htm

REVELATION: CALL TO HOLINESS IN VIEW OF PROPHECY
Part III: The Things Hereafter'
"N. Living in Light of God's Vengeance For Us On Babylon the Great'"
(Revelation 17-18)

Introduction: (To show the need . . . )

Last Sunday we noted a worldwide evil called "Babylon the Great" permeates world groups. We found God does not want us to go on a "witch hunt" to weed it out, but to focus on Biblical living!

However, at times this evil entity seems to encroach on our personal lives. This week, I have received e-mail messages from the Church members on just how great this "Babylon's" encroachment:

(1) One message came about Malachi Martin's book, The Keys of This Blood reportedly quoting Pope John Paul II to say, "By the end of this (2000) decade, we will live under the first One World Government . . . a government with absolute authority to decide the basic issues of human survival . . ."

(2) But this "One World Government" the Pope allegedly names is not just political, but encompasses every major phase of life:

another e-mail message downloaded from the Internet cites former West German Chancellor, Willy Brandt, past Chairman of the Fifth-Socialist International is reported as having said: "The New World Order is a world that has a supernatural authority to regulate world commerce and industry . . ." (emphases ours)

(3) The stakes get very high when viewed on the personal level. Here is a list of actual cases that have affected some of us at Nepaug:

(a) A Christian woman struggles over whether she should show up at a cultural function honoring a friend: her doing so would come at the threat of her own spiritual failure as destructively influential parties upholding errant theology will be at this gathering.

(b) A Christian family debates over attending a christening of an extended family infant due to the godless theological views to be taught or practiced: they want to be a loving testimony, but don't want to compromise their walk with God in the process.



Well, though he should not go on a "witch hunt" for "Babylon the Great," when it trespasses onto his OWN godliness, WHAT is he to do about it?!



(We turn to the sermon "Need" section . . . )



Need: "I know God wants me to focus on Scripture and not go on a witch hunt' for Babylon the Great. Yet, that Babylon' often openly crosses onto MY turf, menacing my Christian walk -- what then?!"
  1. We know an evil, worldwide Babylon the Great entity that has opposed God and afflicted His people since Abraham's day will be destroyed in the Tribulation, Revelation 17:1, 5; 18:20.
  2. Though this system will be a false ecumenical religion, its influence is right NOW fully PERMEATING all sorts of realms around us:
    1. God's angel claimed the world's rulers have "committed fornication" (KJV) with this "Babylon;" in the spiritual sense, this implies an ecumenical mix of political, governmental and religious forces, 17:2.
    2. Accordingly, this Babylon the Great is right now interacting with EVEN governmental and economic entities, Revelation 17:4-18:
      1. The Babylon the Great false one-world religion force is seen riding a scarlet beast representing the coming rule of antichrist, 17:3, 8.
      2. This rule will be centered in Rome during the Tribulation, 17:9.
      3. That rule will consist of ten kings of a Revived Roman Empire who will give their power to antichrist for him to rule, 17:3, 10-13:
        1. The 5 fallen kings picture the 5 Gentile nations that had ruled Israel before John's era (Egypt, Assyrian, Babylon, Greece and Medo-Persia) while the 6th one existing pictures the nation of Rome which then ruled Israel, Revelation 17:10.
        2. The 7th king is the Revived Roman Empire, and a man who is of that 7th rule but sets up his own and hence 8th world Gentile rule over Israel is the antichrist, Revelation 17:11.
        3. The 10 horns are Revived Roman Empire rulers who will give their power to antichrist to form the 8th rule over Israel, 17:12f.
      4. Thus, the one-world ecumenical, pagan-based religion to come will center in Rome in LEAGUE (at first) with antichrist's rule in Rome over the Revived (old) Roman Empire, Revelation 17:9, 15.
  3. Thus, in FITTING judgment, God will cause this FALSE religion's OWN ECUMENISM to BACKFIRE to its demise, 17:16f; 18:1-8:
    1. Because this religion has errantly mingled with governments, God will influence antichrist's government to destroy it, Rev. 17:16-17.
    2. Because this religion will have mingled with demonic spirits (typified in unclean birds, Rev. 18:2 with Zech. 5:5-11 and Mtt. 13:4, 19), and have thus become a major influence in the idolatry of materialistic commerce worldwide (cf. Col. 3:5d), leading to the cause of all sorts of unjust wars that ventilate greed among nations, all of which will have led her to a sense of false financial and political power security (Rev. 18:7), God will cause her to fall in a single DAY, Rev. 18:8.
    3. The fall of this "Babylon the Great" will be so abrupt and ruinous, affecting even the world's economies that the whole godless world will grieve when it falls, Revelation 18:9-19, 21-23.
  4. So DUE to its PERMEATING ECUMENICAL influence to EVIL, and due to God's JUDGMENT of this Babylon the Great FOR its EVIL ECUMENISM, God calls believers to SEPARATE from it NOW when it ENCROACHES into their lives, Rev. 18:4-5, 20, 24:
    1. God now calls His people to separate from false ecumenical religion influence that threatens personal godliness, 18:4-5; 2 Cor. 6:14-18.
    2. God now calls His people to separate from idolatrous materialism that threatens personal godliness,, Rev. 18:3; 1 Jn. 2:15ff; Col. 3:5.
    3. God now calls His people to separate from the errant mingling of church and government that threatens personal godliness so as to submit to God's use of secular government, Rev. 2:13; Rom. 13:1-2.
Application: To be blessed, (1) believe on Christ and be placed into His kingdom, Col. 1:12-14. (2) Then, REALIZING the evil "Babylon the Great" leavens even governments and economies, though we do not go on a "witch hunt" for it, IF it threatens to hinder our WALK, God calls us to SEPARATE from it, Rev. 18:4-5. (a) This means we trust God for material things, being satisfied with addressing our livelihood needs, Lk. 12:13-34; 1 Tim. 6:6-8. (b) It means we respect secular governments, but heed them only so far as not to sin, Rom. 13:1-7 and Acts 5:29. It means we withdraw from any group influencing us to sin, 1 Cor. 6:12b. (c) It means we withdraw from any group that does not edify, 1 Cor. 6:12a. (d) It means we withdraw from any group that harms the conscience of a weaker believer, 1 Cor. 8:11-13. (3) Our God will then fellowship with us, 2 Cor. 6:17f!

Lesson: Since the "Babylon the Great" that God will destroy permeates global religious, governmental and economic realms, though we must not go on a "witch hunt" against it, where it DOES THREATEN our OWN personal Christian WALK, God calls us to SEPARATE FROM it! >

Conclusion: (To illustrate the sermon lesson . . . )

 Perhaps the best illustration we have for relating to "Babylon the Great" we see around is is to do what God called Abraham to do just after this "Babylon the Great" originated back in Genesis 11"1-9.

(1) God called Abraham to separate from the world system:

(a) Since Abraham lived in Ur on the Plain of Shinar near ancient Babylon (Gen. 11:27-28 with Gen. 11:2, 9), God called him to leave his homeland where he could be tempted to rest in the pagan religion near ancient Babylon (cf. Gen. 11:27-28). God called Abraham to separate from RELIGIOUS "Babylon the Great"!

(b) Abraham was to leave his kindred and father's house on the Plain of Shinar near ancient Babylon to go into a land and live as a sojourner amongst peoples he could not comfortably unite in evil governmental union (Gen. 12:1, 6-7). God thus called Abraham to a separation from GOVERNMENTAL "Babylon the Great"!

(c) In leaving his father's house, he left an inheritance of this world offers to lean entirely upon God for an inheritance by faith, Hebrews 11:8-10. God thus called Abraham to a separation from ECONOMIC "Babylon the Great"!

(2) However, this did not mean Abraham was to be isolated from other people, or not to make a livelihood! God even promised to make of him a great governing nation on the earth, to have a great name among other people groups and be a spiritual blessing to all of the earth's families, Genesis 12:2-3. God later allowed him great wealth in cattle and possessions, Genesis 13:2 etc.

(3) Thus, God wanted Abraham to live separate from the errant system of "Babylon the Great," having his material, social and spiritual needs come by faith in GOD rather than via an evil system!