CHAPTER XIII
THE WOMAN OF REVELATION 17

"And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great WHORE 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 I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

"And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

"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 drunken 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. (Rev. 17:1-6)

PART 1: A MYSTERY WRAPPED IN AN ENIGMA

INTRODUCTION

Revelation 17:1-6 is one of the most enigmatic passages in all of Scripture. It's a parable, a mystery wrapped in an enigma - and it's meaning is hidden to all those who brazenly and unblushingly call themselves by Christ's Name for advantage or convenience, but whose lives betray that calling. Specifically, I speak here of the leaders of today's American Church - the Pharisees and Sadducees of our time; the same people about whom Jesus spoke when He told His disciples:

"... it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, BUT TO THEM IT IS NOT GIVEN.

"For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

"THEREFORE SPEAK I TO THEM IN PARABLES: BECAUSE THEY SEEING SEE NOT; AND HEARING THEY HEAR NOT, NEITHER DO THEY UNDERSTAND.

"And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, BY HEARING YE SHALL HEAR, AND SHALL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND SEEING YE SHALL SEE, AND SHALL NOT PERCEIVE:

"For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

"But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

"For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. (Matt. 13: 10-17)

WHICH DIVIDE DO YOU FALL IN?

The question is, which divide do you fall in? - are you capable of understanding these "mysteries," or has that ability been stripped from you? If it has, then nothing that I can say will do you any good in understanding them. You no longer have "eyes to see" and "ears to hear." Your heart is "waxed gross," and your "ears are dull of hearing, lest at any time you should see with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and understand with your heart, and ... you should be healed" (Matt. 13:15).

You are in danger of being cast away by God. And don't think that can't happen to you. Jesus plainly says that it can; that's clearly what happened to the "unprofitable servant:"

"Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matt. 25:30)

Jesus said:

"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." (John 14:21)

DO YOU LOVE GOD?

Do you love God? Do you really love Him? If you do, your love will be manifested by your obedience. Do NOT say that you love God when you refuse to obey Him. Do NOT say you have faith in Him when you refuse to be obedient to His commands. The Apostle James wrote:

"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

"If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

"And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

"Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils [demons] also believe, and tremble.

"But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:14-20)

All this to say, if you do not possess the will to obey God, then the "mysteries of God" will be forever hidden from you - and though you diligently seek to unlock these mysteries through much study and perseverance, you will be unable to do so - even if they should be explained to you by an angel of God. AND THESE ARE NOT MY WORDS, BUT CHRIST'S.

If, however, you are willing to obey God, then your eyes will be opened and your ears will be unplugged, and the meaning of these "mysteries" will be revealed to you - and I speak especially concerning their application in today's world and in this present time; and most particularly as they pertain to the American Church, the American New World Order System and the kind of avaricious and imperial Christianity it has spawned throughout the world.

PART 2: THE WHORE OF REVELATION 17

Revelation 17:1-6 portrays a Woman - a religious system - sitting on a Beast full of names of blasphemy (cursings, profanities, impieties and irreverence) towards God. So intertwined are these two - i.e., the Woman and the Beast - that they seem to be one, though in fact they are two separate entities:

A CIVIL (political and commercial) entity - the BEAST (which we have already discussed).
A RELIGIOUS entity - the WOMAN.

NOTE #1

That TWO Babylons are spoken of here is evidenced by the fact that when Religious Babylon (i.e., the Woman) is destroyed shortly after the Abomination of Desolation, she is destroyed because of the jealousy and hatred of the Ten Kings and the Beast (Revelation 17:6); but when Commercial Babylon (i.e., the Beast) is destroyed, these same kings, together with the business leaders of the world, are sorrowful and mourn her destruction [see Revelation 18].

NOTE #2

One should be clear that the "religious entity" the Scriptures have in mind here is not some strange "New Age" religion, but one which is clearly characterized as "Christian" (an apostatized form of Christianity, no doubt, but "Christian" as the world counts "Christian" - and to this, most evangelicals - from Barnhouse, to Gaebelein, from Chafer to Pentecost, from Ironside to Ryrie - agree. [Please see "Part 4" in this chapter, "Apostasy"]

NOTE #3

Many people - especially those who have grown up in this country during the last twenty or thirty years and who are thus accustomed to thinking that civil power can be separated from religious power - are puzzled as to why the Bible speaks of two Babylons in the "Latter Days" - one a religious entity and the other a civil entity. They seem genuinely bewildered by the picture the Bible uses to portray their relationship one with the other - a woman (the religious entity) riding a beast (the civil entity). Why, they ask, does the civil power (the beast) have need of the religious power (the woman)? The fact of the matter is, however, there is a fundamental mutual interdependence between religion and politics, and today's multicultural and secular elites have been making a grave mistake in believing otherwise. Why? - because civil power, in the end, must be legitimized, and an appeal to the fickle and even capricious "democratic will of the majority" - while adequate enough during periods of cultural and economic stability - often fails to ensure that same stability during periods of turmoil and dislocation.

Religion gives sanction to obedience on the part of ordinary people and it legitimizes the exercise of power on the part of rulers. For this reason, religion has historically been impressed into all of society's experiences and actions - from simple family chores to the corporate activities of the state. The fact is, in most societies religion has been a state obligation and responsibility. It has manifested the very essence of the state itself - so much so that there has rarely been any question, at least at the popular level, concerning the vital link between the practice of religion and the health of the state. To most societies it has seemed self-evident that all authority emanated from the divine because from no where else could the certitude so necessary to social order be derived. The result of religion has been to put men and women in right relation to their society. It has assured the order and certainty so necessary to the stability of most social structures. The proposition that the state could be separated from a religious undergirding - embodied in the concept of "separation of church and state" - represents relatively new political thinking. "Politically correct" academicians in this country have been making a very grave mistake in over estimating our society's freedom from a fundamental dependence on a religiously based ethical system.

Society organizes itself around culture. Culture sets the parameters of the society. It determines what is "right" and what is "wrong." It provides the underlying assumptions upon which society is based. But what a culture determines to be "right" or "wrong" must be anchored by something. For example, who is to say whether abortion is "right" or "wrong?" or whether homosexuality is acceptable behavior? or whether divorce should be condoned or not? or whether the society should be organized as a patriarchy? or maybe as a matriarchy? One may assert that he "feels" homosexuality is wrong; that abortion is murder; and that men should be the head of the family. But that's not enough. Others may "feel" the exact opposite. And an appeal to philosophy to end the argument is more often than not futile. Philosophical or ethical speculation in the absence of some kind of an anchor has normally proven useless for such purposes. Indeed, all it seems to accomplish is to further erode fixity and stability, the essential ingredients of the bonds of social existence. In the absence of an acceptable anchor, philosophical and ethical speculation exists in a state of perpetual agitation. Should the agitation continue unchecked, it may lead to the ultimate contempt of all authority.

THE OVERWHELMING PRESENCE OF THE
WOMAN AND THE BEAST IN THE "END OF DAYS"

So overwhelming is the presence of these two entities in the "Latter Days" that Dwight Pentecost can write:

"... (in the end of days) WE SEE THE WHOLE STAGE (i.e., the whole world) FILLED WITH TWO PERSONALITIES ONLY: A 'BEAST' AND A 'WOMAN' ..."

NOTE

There are many who see Revelation 17:9 ("And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads [of the Beast] are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth") as a reference to ancient Rome (i.e., the "Seven Hills of Rome"), and HENCE TO THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. But Revelation 17:10-11 makes clear what these seven mountains are: THEY ARE A REFERENCE TO SEVEN KINGS which will precede the AntiChrist in their headship over the American New World Order System - a system that has been "in the works" for many years now. They have nothing to do with the so-called "Seven Hills of Rome:" "And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short time. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven [i.e., he comes out from one of the seven], and goeth into perdition" (Rev. 17:10-11). The word, "mountain" as used in Revelation 17:9 is a translation of the Greek word, "Oros." The Hebrew word for "mountain" is "Har." Strong's Concordance says; "In the poetical literature of the Old Testament, the view of the world held by men of that era finds its reflection. One can speak of the foundations of the 'mountains' as rooted in the UNDERWORLD."

So what we have here is a reference to the actual place where the Woman derives her strength: the UNDERWORLD, a place where the DEMONS dwell, and all those who have been cast out of the presence of God. Again, what's that say about the United States and the church that is connected to this great nation? Finally, I must tell you this: While I do not defend the heresies of the Roman Catholic Church, you should understand that there is probably more hope for the "Liberation Theologians" of the Catholic Church - people like Gustavo Gutierrez, Juan Luis Segundo, Leonardo Boff, Clodovis Boff, Carlos Meister, Frei Betto, Oscar Romero, Dom Helder Camara, Paulo Evaristo Arns, Ernesto Cardenal, etc. - than there is for people like Jerry Falwell, D. James Kennedy, Charles Stanley, Rick Warren, Tim LaHaye, Pat Robertson and all the other "leading lights" of the Protestant evangelical community.

PART 3: AMERICA IS NO LONGER JUST A
NATION. IT IS NOW A RELIGION

THE WOMAN OF REVELATION 17

As to the identity of Religious Babylon (i.e., the Woman), she is without a doubt the false Super-Church of the "last days" which will lend to Commercial Babylon and the Antichrist the religious legitimacy that they require in their headlong pursuit of world domination.

And what church is that? - the American Church, of course: The church of Paul Crouch, Jack Hayford, Charles Stanley, D. James Kennedy, Tim LaHaye, the late John Wimber, Juan Carlos Ortiz, C. Peter Wagner, Beverley LaHaye, Ern Baxter, Kenneth Copeland, the late Kenneth Hagin, Oral Roberts, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Chuck Colson, Robert Stearns, Mike Bickle, Reuven Doron, Che Ahn, Frank Hammond, Cindy Jacobs, Bill Hamon, John Eckhardt, Bobbie Byerly, Dutch Sheets, Jim Goll, John Paul Jackson, James Ryle, Frank Damazio, Ed Silvoso, Carlos Annacondia, Claudio Freidzon, Roger Mitchell, Ted Haggart, Paul Cain, Chuck Pierce, Rick Joyner, Kingsley Fletcher, Jim Laffoon, Barbara Wentroble, ad infinitum.

C. PETER WAGNER: THE PRESIDING APOSTLE
OF THE INTERNATIONAL COALITION OF APOSTLES

For example, take the fawning, pathetic words of C. Peter Wagner - who presumptuously styles himself as the "PRESIDING APOSTLE" of the "INTERNATIONAL COALITION OF APOSTLES;" Commenting on Bush's "War on Terrorism" that is now threatening to "morph" into a war against all of Islam, Wagner writes:

"The United States and the world are attempting to emerge from a history-altering catastrophe [by which Wagner means the destruction of the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001 by al-Qaeda]. President Bush used well-chosen (and appropriate) language when he characterized this conflagration as a conflict between good and evil ... For the first time in 50 years our nation is now unified, in heart and in voice, READY TO SHIFT FROM AN ERA OF PEACE TO AN ERA OF WAR." [Please see our article on the Twin Towers entitled "The Events of September 11, 2001: What's Going On?" Please also see our article, "Radical Islam"]

Wagner seems to actually revel in the fact that Bush is taking the nation into a war against Islam; he says that the church too must ready itself for this war: Moreover, like Bush, Wagner sees this war as a conflict between "GOOD" and "EVIL;" between "GOD" and the "DEVIL" - a war that must be prosecuted both physically and spiritually.

Now it might fairly be asked, Exactly what kind of a Christian would arrogate unto himself the right to speak for the church in this manner? The hubris and titanic impertinence of Wagner and his ilk in styling themselves "apostles" and "prophets" with the RIGHT to speak for the church give some idea of what the Apostle Paul meant when he said:

"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

"Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2 Cor. 11:13-15)

FALSE PROPHETS & APOSTLES

Sandy Simpson writes,

"I'd like to know who made Wagner the 'PRESIDING APOSTLE' of the church ... That he and a few others want to be the papal voice of Christianity (as if we needed a larger cacophony of voices at this point) is an indictment on Christianity as a whole. (It's) because the true church has not cast these people out and called them cultists and heretics long ago that we now have to contend with them claiming absolute authority over the churches."

Jesus warns us about these so-called "apostles" and "prophets" - i.e., about the kind of people who have the temerity and effrontery to appoint themselves as such:

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." (Matt. 7:15)

And Jesus goes on to say that such people are,

"... false Christs, and false prophets, ... (who) shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." (Matt. 24:24)

What is it that the Bible is saying here? - it's warning us against allowing these men to substantiate their claims to "apostleship" by (1) the supposed "sanctity of their lives" [i.e., "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing ..." (after all, by this standard, Ghandi and "Mother Theresa" could claim "apostleship" in today's church despite the fact that they were NOT Christians by any standard evangelicals would accept)], and (2) "great signs and wonders" (by that standard, the prophets of Baal and the magicians of Egypt could be called apostles). But these are EXACTLY the means that Wagner and his ilk use to verify their "apostleships;" it's certainly not by recourse to the Bible.

The very real fact of the matter is, these men - all of them - are CHARLATANS and FRAUDS - impostors and pretenders posing as leaders of the church, and calling on it to support Bush in his endless "War on Terrorism" and his attempt to construct a "National Security State." The blindness of Wagner and his crowd here is staggering! - "blind leaders of the blind" - that's what they are. (Matt. 15:14) [Please see our articles, "The Utility of Police Brutality in Controlling the Poor;" please also see our article, "The Watchers Are Watching You."]

AMERICAN SOLDIERS AS MISSIONARIES

Concerning the relationship that has developed between the church and the state in America, George Monbiot of the British newspaper, The Guardian, writes:

"The United States is no longer just a nation. It is now a religion. Its soldiers have entered ... [the Middle East] to liberate its people not only from their dictator, their oil and their sovereignty, but also from darkness. As George Bush told his troops on the day he announced victory: 'Wherever you go, you carry a message of hope - a message that is ancient and ever new. In the words of the prophet Isaiah, "To the captives, 'come out', and to those in darkness, 'be free'."

"SO AMERICAN SOLDIERS ARE NO LONGER MERELY TERRESTRIAL COMBATANTS; THEY HAVE BECOME MISSIONARIES. THEY ARE NO LONGER SIMPLY KILLING ENEMIES; THEY ARE CASTING OUT DEMONS ... LIKE ALL THOSE WHO SEND MISSIONARIES ABROAD, THE HIGH PRIESTS OF AMERICA CANNOT CONCEIVE THAT THE INFIDELS MIGHT RESIST THROUGH THEIR OWN FREE WILL; IF THEY RESIST, IF THEY REFUSE TO CONVERT, IT IS THE WORK OF THE DEVIL ... IT IS NOT JUST THAT THE AMERICANS ARE GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE; AMERICA ITSELF IS NOW PERCEIVED AS A DIVINE PROJECT ..."

"SO THOSE WHO QUESTION GEORGE BUSH ... ARE NO LONGER MERELY CRITICS; THEY ARE BLASPHEMERS ... (AND) THOSE FOREIGN STATES WHICH SEEK TO CHANGE THIS POLICY ARE WASTING THEIR TIME; YOU CAN NEGOTIATE WITH POLITICIANS; YOU CANNOT NEGOTIATE WITH PRIESTS. THE U.S. HAS A DIVINE MISSION, AS BUSH SUGGESTED IN JANUARY: 'TO DEFEND ... THE HOPES OF MANKIND', AND WOE BETIDE THOSE WHO HOPE FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE."

IMPOSING UNITY UNDER PAIN
OF EX-COMMUNICATION

Speaking concerning the discipline that the "government of the church" must be prepared to impose on believers who "vacillate" as the church prepares itself for war in conjunction with Bush's American New World Order System, Rick Joyner writes,

"SOME PASTORS AND LEADERS WHO CONTINUE TO RESIST THIS TIDE ... MUST BE REMOVED FROM THEIR PLACE."

And again,

"... there will be many 'stumbling blocks' circulating in the church ... . Those serving in leadership must trust their discernment and REMOVE the 'stumbling blocks'."

Of course, in saying this, Joyner is unwittingly fulfilling the words of Christ when He said:

"... THEY SHALL SEPARATE YOU FROM THEIR COMPANY, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake." (Luke 6:22)

And again,

"... take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the ... (churches) ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them." (Mark 13:9)

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CHAPTER XIII
THE WOMAN OF REVELATION 17