Exposing the Great Prostitute

Breaking the Code
Exposing the Great Prostitute
N. Keith Shepherd

I. Introduction

Revelation 17:1-7, 9, 15-18 (NLT)

A. Hermeneutics is the science of biblical .

B. “How did the author intend for the readers to understand this passage?”

C. You have to start with the of the original readers.

D. What did the writer intend the readers to understand?

II. The Woman of Babylon

Revelation 17:18 (NLT) “And this woman you saw in your vision represents the great city that rules over the kings of the world.”

Revelation 17:2a (NLT) “The kings of the world have committed adultery with her….”

Revelation 17:4 (NLT) The woman wore purple and scarlet clothing and beautiful jewelry made of gold and precious gems and pearls. In her hand she held a gold goblet full of obscenities and the impurities of her immorality.

A. The things that tempt us always look good, but if we give in to them, they can us.

Revelation 17:5 (NLT) A mysterious name was written on her forehead: “Babylon the Great, Mother of All Prostitutes and Obscenities in the World.”

B. Babylon is the of the people of God.

Revelation 17:6 (NLT) I could see that she was drunk—drunk with the blood of God’s holy people who were witnesses for Jesus. I stared at her in complete amazement.

Revelation 17:9 (NLT) “This calls for a mind with understanding: The seven heads of the beast represent the seven hills where the woman rules. They also represent seven kings.”

C. The ancient of Rome was “The City of Seven Hills.”

D. The City of Rome was where the “” sat.

Revelation 17:16-17 (NLT) ¹⁶“The scarlet beast and his ten horns all hate the prostitute. They will strip her naked, eat her flesh, and burn her remains with fire. ¹⁷For God has put a plan into their minds, a plan that will carry out his purposes. They will agree to give their authority to the scarlet beast, and so the words of God will be fulfilled.”

E. Human systems –– which depend on injustice –– will !

F. Caesar is !

G. “Babylon” is whatever looks good but isn’t.

III. Conclusion