In this episode, we delve into the complex world of Babylon the Great as depicted in Revelation 17. Our discussion unfolds the intriguing narrative of the woman clothed in scarlet, symbolic of the final face of false worship and her influence over world leaders and economic systems. With the guidance of David Hawking, we examine the significance of these symbols and their warnings for believers today, drawing connections to ancient scriptures and mythological literature that emphasize the accuracy and truthfulness of the Bible.
00:00:00 Mythological Literature and Biblical Accuracy
00:00:54 Revelation 17 and the Final Face of False Worship
You know what I find is in mythological literature, though corrupted, we have evidence of the truthfulness and accuracy of the Bible. Very interesting to me that the whole story of the Tower of Babel is indicated in Sumerian literature that we find from that period of time. To me, it’s fascinating. It’s kind of like the story of the flood. You say, do you really believe the flood happened? Well, the flood is in 40 pagan cultures and documents, a flood story with a man and his family being safe in a boat. ¶¶
SPEAKER 02 :
A woman clothed in purple and scarlet riding a scarlet beast. Her name? Mystery. Babylon the Great. But what does all of this mean? Is it a religion? A kingdom? A city? Why does God show John this vision, and why should it matter to you and me today? In Revelation 17, God exposes the final face of false worship and the system that will deceive the world before its fall. Today, David Hawking uncovers the meaning behind the symbols and the warning God gives to every believer living in the last days. Stay right there.
SPEAKER 01 :
Before that, Matt is here with a letter from the letter bag. And what do you have for us? This is from Ralph. And he says, thank you for everything I have received from your ministry. Dr. Hawking’s teaching and preaching has truly blessed me. I am praying for you all. Amen. Amen. Yes. Through the powerful spirit filled sermons by the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit. I love that. That is such an encouragement to us.
SPEAKER 02 :
And folks, hearing that you’re praying for us. Yes. Wow. Thank you to this listener for praying for us and for all of you who remember, hope for today in your prayers before the Lord. Now, if you want to send a note to us, we’ll have the addresses in just a moment. Right now, here’s David with day two of The Great Harlot, found in Revelation 17, verses 1 to 6.
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There came one of the seven angels who had the seven vials or bowls of wrath. Those were the seven last plagues. And talked with me, saying unto me, Come here, I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore or harlot that sitteth upon many waters, 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. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness, And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth. And I saw the woman drunk 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. Whatever Babylon was, all the things that God said about it long ago are being quoted in Revelation 17 and 18 about this woman in the end time who has been sitting on all the nations of the world. So it’s a very, very critical argument concerning who is this woman. Verse 2 of 2 Kings 21. It says, He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. Watch this. After the abominations… of the heathen or the nations whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel. Throughout the Bible, you see the connection of abominations that have come into Israel and Judah as coming from nations that the Lord has cast out. And so the influence is coming outside and in, and they are adopting and adapting to it. Verse 9, They hearken not, and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the children of Israel. Her abominations are called seducing, with her fornication, her sexual solicitation and seduction that leads you into all kinds of idolatry and sin. Isn’t this fun, just getting used to your Bible? Ezekiel chapter 20, look at verse 30. And 31, wherefore say unto the house, remember Ezekiel prophesied during the Babylonian captivity. And it says, wherefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God, are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers and commit ye whoredom or harlotry after their, what? Abominations. For when you offer your gifts, when you make your sons to pass through the fire, you pollute yourselves with all your idols even unto this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you. Abominations. Now go to Revelation 18 and look at verse 5 and 6. Revelation 18, 5 and 6. For her sins, the Bible says, have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works in the cup which she hath filled with fill to her double. What that basically is saying, as we will look at when we get to chapter 18, is we’re going to see a judgment double in intensity and extent, double of everything that she has done. God’s really going to bring his revenge on this woman. But again, that cup full of abominations. So whoever the woman is, we’ve learned so far that she has covered all nations of the world, especially affects all the kings of the earth and the economic systems of the world. She is very wealthy. She has great position and authority and influence. And the truth is that the cup that she holds out to all the nations of the world is full of abominations. If you get involved with her, it leads to idolatry and immorality. Isn’t that interesting? So we’ve got to keep thinking, who is this woman? Now let’s come to Revelation 17, verse 5. By the way… There’s something very interesting to me. I was walking through the Vatican, and there was a young man, a priest, a very knowledgeable man, who was taking us through this tour. And we came upon this gigantic tapestry, which was of the woman of Revelation 17 with the golden cup in her right hand and a cross in her left hand, sitting on the beast with seven heads and ten horns on head number seven. which correctly pictures what’s in Revelation. And the bottom caption under this was, the mother church. And I asked the guide, I said, you know, doesn’t it bother you that that tapestry up there is picturing the woman in Revelation 17, and you’re calling it the mother church? He said, no, not at all. He said, a few Protestants have wrongly interpreted that. I said, well, I mean, whether you’re Protestant or Catholic or Jewish or whatever, if you just read it, it doesn’t sound too favorable to me. I mean… But he reminded me of something. We’re not saying this in order to draw some hard and fast conclusions, but just to show you how confused people can get. He reminded me that in 1825 A.D., Pope Leo XII struck a medal with his image on one side, and on the other side of the medal was the woman with the golden cup in her right hand representing the Roman Church. And that has continued to be the symbol of the Roman church, the woman with the golden cup in her hand. Makes you wonder about how they’re reading the Bible. I don’t understand it. Go to verse 5 of Revelation 17. We’ve looked at the announcement of judgment, the authority of the woman, the appearance of the woman, but now the association of the woman with Babylon. Upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery. Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots, and abominations of the earth. There are really two things that are said there. One, that she is a mystery. The word mystery appears 22 times and, interestingly, four times in the book of Revelation, twice in this chapter of Revelation 17. She’s a mystery. It’s not mysterious like God’s trying to hide it from you, but a mystery was concealed at a certain period of time and then unfolded at another period of time. And apparently the mystery about all this is being unveiled for us here in Revelation 17 and 18. But she’s called a mystery. A mystery that is associated with ancient Babylon or Babylon the Great. She’s not only a mystery, she’s also a mother. So be careful what you conclude. Whatever this woman is, she’s a mother, according to verse 5, of harlots and abominations. She’s the one who’s been initiating it and perpetuating it, but there are many other forms, obviously, that flow off of it. But she’s the mother of it all. Now we’re told that she’s… She has on her forehead this name, Mystery Babylon the Great. And everybody wants to, you know, back up and take a look at Babylon, and rightly so. The word Babylon is mentioned about 286 times in the King James Version of the Bible. You have also the story of the beginnings of Babylon when it’s called Babel in the book of Genesis. And I’d like you to turn there now, Genesis chapter 10. As we look at the beginnings of Babel or Babylon, Genesis chapter 10, in verse 8 it says, Cush, who is the son of Ham, grandson of Noah, Cush begot Nimrod. He began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord. Now that can look positive, but you can also translate the Hebrew against. It’s a matter of interpretation, but I think what is said is not complimenting the man, but it’s stating his rebellion, as you’ll see in a moment. He’s a mighty hunter before the Lord, wherefore it’s said, even as Nimrod, the mighty hunter before the Lord, and the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Eric, and Akkad, and Kalna, in the land of Shinar, and out of that land went forth Asher and builded Nineveh. So the Assyrian empire came out of this first empire. Now God had told the people to split up. Back in chapter 9 of Genesis, verse 1, be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. He wanted them to divide up according to chapter 10 into all kinds of nations, tribes, tongues, and people. But the story of Babel and Nimrod is the founder. is how they are directly disobeying the plan of God to distribute all over the face of the world. Instead, they want to bring everybody together. And so the beginnings of what we today call New World Order, the beginnings of world government and world economy and world religion, it was all here back in Genesis chapter 10, the foundation of Babylon itself. Now some writers will tell you that Babel means gate of God. Bab, gate, El, God, gate of God. I decided to just take a little trip into the Hebrew again to make sure I understand it, and even consulted the Encyclopedia Judaica and looked at several Jewish sources, and without question, they all indicate the meaning of the name is confusion, which is exactly what God did. He confused God. their speech, as you know. But look at chapter 11. Let’s get into the story, and maybe we can learn something. Now, Babylon is on the eastern bank of the Euphrates. The old Babylon’s about 20 miles south of Baghdad. Chapter 11, the whole earth was of one language and of one speech. Now, I don’t know, do interesting details interest you? This one is interesting to me. I was in the Oriental Museum in Chicago several years ago and in the Sumerian room. Now, some of you with gray hairs might have gone to school and learned that the first world empire was Egypt. and all of that, and then there was Assyria and Babylon and so forth. But we have a culture before Egypt. If you go to Egypt today and listen to their guides, they will tell you they’re the oldest civilization and culture in the world. But there is an old… older civilization and culture, certainly not a world empire, but an older civilization and culture, and that’s what we call the Sumerian culture, S-U-M-E-R-I-A-N. And it’s located between the Tigris and Euphrates River in what is today Iraq, and it is the Mesopotamian Valley. And you remember in the Persian Gulf War, you heard Saddam Hussein mention that they are the oldest civilization in the world. Well, he’s actually correct. That’s where the Garden of Eden would have been located. Last I heard, there’s no sign and church built over the spot. But it’s somewhere there. But as I was in a Sumerian room, and they have a lot of artifacts from this period of time, a lot of interesting things, because Abraham, you remember, came out of the Sumerian culture at Ur of Chaldees. So there’s a lot of interesting things. But they had some mythological literature from this period of time. From the third dynasty of Ur, there’s a document that I found very interesting. It says that all the people at one time spoke one language. Well, that’s a very interesting detail. It’s mythological because it says, until Enki, E-N-K-I, who was a Sumerian god of wisdom, confounded their speech. You know what I find is in mythological literature, though corrupted, we have evidence of the truthfulness and accuracy of the Bible. Very interesting to me. that the whole story of the Tower of Babel is indicated in Sumerian literature that we find from that period of time. To me, it’s fascinating. It’s kind of like the story of the flood. You say, do you really believe the flood happened? Well, the flood is in 40 pagan cultures and documents, a flood story with a man and his family being safe in a boat. So I would say in 40 different ancient cultures recording the flood story, there’s a possibility it might have happened. You understand? These are what I call fascinating details. They’re not overwhelming evidence. But I thought that was very interesting. Now we’re reading it here. The whole earth was of one language and one speech. So don’t fight it. It’s true. Verse 2, it came to pass as they journeyed from the east that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there, and they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. Again, I don’t want to bore you with details. But this is the only thing that could be in the Mesopotamian Valley and is totally different from the building materials that are used in the land of Israel in ancient times. God’s word is accurate. They said, go to, let us build us a city and a tower whose top may reach into heaven and let us make us a name lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the children of men built. Now that is of interest to me also. Little things again. But in Babylonian Chronicles, a document from archaeological discovery, the Babylonian Chronicles, I read a passage that I thought was interesting. The Babylonians believed that the Tower of Babel was built by the gods. And I just thought it was interesting that God made it clear here in verse 5, the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the children of men built it. No, it wasn’t the gods. It was the children of men built it. Just an interesting little detail. Verse 6, the Lord said, Behold, the people are one. They have all one language. And this they began to do, and now nothing will be restrained from them which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down. The plural here is fascinating, is it not? As it relates to the Lord. Yahweh, let us go down. Let’s confound their language that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from there upon the face of all the earth. And they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel, because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth. And from there did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. And so the beginnings of what we today call New World Order, it was all here back in Genesis chapter 10, the foundation of Babylon itself.
SPEAKER 02 :
That’s Bible teacher and author David Hawking. And David will be back in just a moment or so to bring our study time to a close for today. Some additional teaching is just ahead. So do stay right there. Just before that, Matt’s here, and together we want to share a resource. And you’re going to love this because it’s filled with biblical answers to many of life’s most basic, foundational, heartfelt questions.
SPEAKER 01 :
Matt? What tough question is dominating your thoughts right now? Who am I? Where did I come from? What is the meaning of my life? Where am I going? Matt, and if not you, someone you know is deeply troubled by a question like one of these. Yeah, and they’re not small matters. They’re issues that affect our peace of mind, self-worth, ability to function. They can determine how we live today and where we’re all going to spend eternity.
SPEAKER 02 :
Matt, this is where your dad’s book, Life’s Greatest Questions, is so very helpful and uplifting.
SPEAKER 01 :
Yeah. Inside this book, Life’s Greatest Questions, we go back to the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible. Amen. For the answers to the perplexities of the human heart from the beginning of creation and the fall of mankind to the end time eschatology of revelation. God’s word has the answer to our deepest needs.
SPEAKER 02 :
And Life’s Greatest Questions opens the scriptures and applies them to the questions we’re all asking, Matt. And I’m thinking, too, that this book will not only help our listening friends, it will also help prepare them to help and encourage friends and family in their times of questioning and need.
SPEAKER 01 :
Yeah. Friend, you don’t need to remain in darkness concerning life’s greatest questions. God has given us his truth, and in it we find hope, assurance, and peace through his Son, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. And you shall know the truth. And the truth shall make you free.
SPEAKER 02 :
John 8, 32. Amen. Life’s Greatest Questions by David Hawking. Our featured resource this month is just $10, and your purchase or donation will help the Ministry of Hope for today. And please pray for hope for today in these challenging times. To get your copy of Life’s Greatest Questions, call 1-800-75-BIBLE, that’s in the U.S., or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. And again, Bible by the numbers 24253. You can also purchase online at davidhawking.org. And friend, just so you know, we’d be honored to pray for you. We hear from our listening family members throughout the week, and there’s some really tough seasons that many of you are facing, and we’d like to pray for you. So if you do have a prayer request, give us a call or write us a note, and we would love to hear from you and stand with you in faithful prayer. And as you write, please remember to pray for us as well. We need your prayers for wisdom, strength, and for God’s continued financial provision to keep this ministry going around the world. And if the Lord lays it on your heart to be a part of answering that prayer through making a donation, we’ll know that it will be used carefully and faithfully to keep Hope for Today teaching God’s Word without compromise. You can send a gift by mail, if you like, to Hope for Today, Box 3927, Tustin, California, 92781. In Canada, write to Hope for Today, Box 15011, RPO7OAKS, Abbotsford, B.C., V2S 8P1. You can also donate online at davidhawking.org or call us at 1-800-75-BIBLE in the U.S. or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. Well, let’s return to David.
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If you have missed one of our broadcasts, and it’s easy to do that, I know. But you can go to our website, davidhocking.org, and you can pick up any of the broadcasts that you have missed. You can also go to HFT Media, and there you will find it, not only audio, but also video. And that doesn’t cost you anything if you want to just watch it. Or you can download them off of our website if you’d like to keep them in your files and possession. This is a serious chapter, the great harlot. And don’t forget, we have a book called Babylon the Great. I spent a lot of time dealing with it. The history as it started in the book of Genesis with Nimrod. who built quite a kingdom, but it was against the Lord, and it was blasphemous. But this Babylon the Great, we’ve traced throughout history, and we have some tremendous quotations in the back of the book. It’s called Babylon the Great, History and Prophecies. And you’ll want to have a copy of this in your library. Several of my Bible teaching friends have said, Boy, David, this is a great book. You spent a lot of good time on it. Yes, I did. And I hope that it will answer some questions for all of us. So plan to get your copy. And please help us to support the radio broadcast. God bless.
SPEAKER 02 :
And like David said, if you missed any part of today’s program, you can catch up on our most recent programs for a limited time at DavidHawking.org. That’s DavidHawking.org. You’ll also find the booklet he mentioned called Babylon the Great. This is a wonderful follow-up, some additional study on what David’s covered on today’s broadcast. And you’ll find that at DavidHawking.org. It’s just $5.00. And while you’re on the website, check out all the resources we have for you. This is a wonderful place to start doing some Christmas shopping for the Bible student in your life. Get a head start on your Christmas shopping. It’s a good thing to do. And there’s nothing better than giving God’s word to family and friends. Again, that’s DavidHawking.org. Well, on our next broadcast, the great harlot is exposed for what she is, a system of religious deception that turned the nations against God. The kings who once stood with her now turn against her, and God puts it in their hearts to fulfill his promise. Their judgment has begun, but the final fall is still to come. We’ll join David as he shows how God is already setting the stage for the end of Babylon and the return of his son. That’s next time on Hope for Today.
