Is there a master puppeteer behind all that’s going on around the world? Beyond conspiracy theories, there is a clear answer, and Revelation identifies it through a strange woman, “The Harlot.” This episode will be a study on the book of Revelation and the rise of Babylon. The Bible tells people to “come out of Babylon.” How can you know if you're in it? In this master class, Babylon will be identified from historical books and the Bible. This is the 11th episode in the AWR Master Class series called Unlocking Bible Prophecies. You can follow the series and interact LIVE at: https://bible.awr.org/the-harlot/ ABOUT CAMI OETMAN
Ten years ago, Cami Oetman had a real encounter with God that would change her life forever. She was a successful entrepreneur at the time, and the transition wasn't easy. However, the truth Cami will share in this series was so compelling that she knew every human being in the world should experience the love of Jesus as she had. Within three years, she had preached 350 Bible presentations. Today, as a vice president for Adventist World Radio, Cami travels the world documenting the miracles that take place when people give their hearts to Jesus. It may seem difficult to imagine yourself understanding Bible prophecy. Cami couldn’t either. She had spent two decades in the modeling world—in front of and behind the camera. She had also used her master’s degree in social work to care for hospice patients. She then started a successful retail business. But no one can predict how they will react when they have a real experience with God! THE HARLOT
The book of Revelation uses two different women to illustrate two different systems of religion—one that follows Jesus and one that has separated itself from Jesus. In Revelation 12, there is a striking symbol of a woman dressed in white. In prophecy, a pure woman symbolizes the bride of Jesus, or the true church (see Jeremiah 6:2 and Ephesians 5). God compares His church to a beautiful, pure woman who is faithful to her true lover, Jesus. She is undefiled with the corruption of false doctrine. In Revelation 17, another woman arises. This woman rides upon a scarlet-colored beast and the Bible calls her a harlot. She has left her true lover, Jesus. The harlot is the apostate system of religion. In this chapter, we find that Babylon is a fallen church system that has committed fornication with the kings of the earth, thus symbolizing that instead of gaining its power from God, it obtains its power from the state as it is united with earthly authorities (see Revelation 17:1). Verse 3 of Revelation 17 identifies the harlot as blasphemous. She claims to have the power to forgive sins and stand in the place of God (see John 10:33, Matthew 9:2, 3). Revelation 17:4 clearly identifies the dress of the harlot as being “arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls . . .” Furthermore, this harlot, Babylon, has “in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication” (Revelation 17:4). She is a fallen system of religion with false doctrine that has confused all the world. Verse 5 of Revelation 17 says Babylon is a mother, which means she must have children. Furthermore, she is identified as great, clearly showing the parallel between literal Babylon and spiritual Babylon. Like physical Babylon, spiritual Babylon represents a man-made religion established by men, based on human teachings, established on human ideas. There is a form of man-made religion, built by human religious leaders, that stands in opposition to the power of the gospel and the true church that Jesus built. IDENTIFYING MARKS OF SPIRITUAL BABYLON BASED ON LITERAL BABYLON
• Babylon has an earthly head who speaks for God and in place of God (see 2 Thessalonians 2:4 and Isaiah 37:16).
• Babylon was the center of image worship throughout all of the Old Testament. • It was the center of false teachings about death, teaching the immortality of the soul.
• Babylon was also the center of sun worship. All sun worship came through varying pagan channels (see Ezekiel 8:16). God abhors these false systems of worship as they are doctrines of devils. However, God dearly loves His people, even though they may be currently deceived. He warns them to leave Babylon and all its counterfeit teachings! #UBP20 #Ep11 Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z5ckBGI3fA