Bible Study

BOOK OF REVELATION UNCOVERED: Chapter 17

by: Dr. Dean Crosby

[Editor's Note: For this study, the author uses easy to understand Contemporary English Version (CEV) of Bible that has been created by the American Bible Society. His insights are given in capital letters. This include explanations and historical background information for the words you have just read in order to make the startling predictions made in this important and fascinating book comprehensible. Occasionally make changes will be made in the CEV words if a variance is detected from the meaning found in the King James Bible.]

REVELATION 17

1 One of the seven angels who had emptied the bowls came over and said to me, "Come on! I will show you how God will punish that shameless prostitute (THIS IS THOUGHT TO BE A SYMBOL FOR A FALSE RELIGION WHICH LATER VERSES WILL INDICATE IS ISLAM ) who sits on many oceans. (THIS REFERS TO INFLUENCING LARGE MASSES OF PEOPLE OR "SEAS OF HUMANITY" ) 2 Every king (POLITICAL LEADER ) on earth has committed adultery (ENGAGED IN SPIRITUALLY IMMORAL AFFECTION OR LOVING APPROVAL ) with her and her shameless ways are like wine that has made everyone on earth drunk. " (HAS HAD AN IMMORAL INFLUENCE. ISLAM IS THE MOST POPULAR RELIGION IN THE WORLD. CURRENTLY 26% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION IS MUSLIM AND IT IS GROWING RAPIDLY PRIMARILY DUE TO HIGH BIRTH RATES. IN THE PAST 50 YEARS THE NUMBER OF MUSLIMS HAS INCREASED BY AN ASTONISHING 235% WHILE THE NUMBER OF CHRISTIANS HAS INCREASED BY ONLY 47% )

3 With the help of the (HOLY ) Spirit, the angel (IN A VISION ) took me into the (SPIRITUAL ) wilderness where I saw a woman (THE SYMBOL FOR THE CITY FROM WHICH THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL RULE ) sitting on a red (INDICATES BLOODY AND HORRENDOUS PERSECUTION ) beast. The beast was covered with names of blasphemy (ANTI-CHRISTIAN TEACHINGS ), and it (THE BEAST ) had seven heads (REGIONS OF THE WORLD ) and ten horns. (POLITICAL LEADERS ) 4 The woman was dressed in purple (THIS COLOR SYMBOLIZES HER DOMINION OR CONTROL ) and scarlet (SYMBOLIZES PERSECUTION ) robes, and she wore jewelry made of gold, precious stones, and pearls. (ROME WILL BECOME EXTREMELY ECONOMICALLY PROSPEROUS ) In her hand she held a gold (TO DECEIVE PEOPLE WITH HER WEALTH ) cup filled with the filthy and nasty things (IMMORAL CONDUCT ) she had engaged in. 5 On her forehead a name was written: "I am the great mystery city of Babylon, the mother (THE BIRTH PLACE FOR THE CREATION ) of every immoral and filthy thing on earth". (BY SPREADING ANTI-CHRISTIAN BELIEFS AND POPULARIZING IMMORAL PRACTICES )

6 I could tell that the woman was drunk (LOST CONTROL OF ITSELF ) on the blood ( FROM THE MURDER ) of God's people who had given their lives (MARTYRED ) for Jesus. This surprising sight amazed me, 7 and the angel said: Why are you so amazed? I will explain the mystery about this woman and about the beast she is sitting on, with its seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast (SATAN ) you saw is one that used to be (IN HELL ) and no longer is. It will come back from the deep pit but only to be sent to the Lake of Fire. (THIS IS A PROPHECY OF WHAT WILL OCCUR AFTER JESUS RETURNS TO THE EARTH; SATAN WILL BE RELEASED FROM HELL FOR A RELATIVELY SHORT TIME TO TEST THE FAITH OF THOSE LIVING IN JESUS' KINGDOM RESULTING IN SOME OF THE SAVED LOSING THEIR SALVATION ) Everyone on earth whose names were not written in the book of life (NOT GRANTED PERMANENT SALVATION ) before the time of creation will be amazed. (BY SATAN'S POWER ) They will see (THE WORK OF ) this beast that used to be and no longer is, but will be once more. (CONFINED TO HELL ) 9 Anyone with (BIBLICAL ) wisdom can understand this.

The seven heads (REGIONS OF THE WORLD ) that the woman is sitting on (CONTROLLING ) are seven mountains. (PROMINENT OR WELL-KNOWN ) These heads were also (CONTROLLED BY ) seven kings. (POLITICAL LEADERS ) 10 Five of the kings are dead. One is ruling now and the other one has not yet come. (INTO POWER ) But when he does he will rule for only a little while. 11 You also saw the beast (SATAN ) that used to be and no longer is. That beast is one of the seven kings (SATAN MASQUERADES AS POLITICAL LEADERS ) who will return as the eighth king, but only to be confined to hell. 12 The ten horns that you saw are ten more kings, (POLITICAL LEADERS ) who have not yet come into power, and they will rule with the beast (SATAN ) for only a short time. 13 They all think alike and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 These kings will go to war against the Lamb. (REFERS TO SATAN'S INFLUENCING THEM TO INVADE JERUSALEM WHICH WILL RESULT IN DIVINE RETALIATION )

But the Lamb (JESUS ) will defeat them, (AFTER THE "SECOND COMING" ) because he is Lord over all lords and King over all kings. His followers (THIS REFERS TO THE INHABITANTS OF HEAVEN WHO JESUS WILL BRING BACK TO EARTH WITH HIM DURING HIS "SECOND COMING" ) are chosen, special and faithful. 15 The oceans that you saw the prostitute sitting on are crowds of people from many nations and languages. 16 The ten horns (POLITICAL LEADERS ) and the beast will start hating the prostitute. They will strip off her clothes (ATTACK ISLAM ) and leave her naked. (EXPOSE IT'S TRUE HATEFUL AND VIOLENT TEACHINGS ) Then they will eat her flesh (PROBABLY REFERS TO SEIZING MUSLIM PROPERTY ) and throw the rest of her body into a fire. ( THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL DESIRE TO ELIMINATE THIS MOST POPULAR RELIGION BECAUSE HE WANTS TO ESTABLISH HIS OWN RELIGION SO THAT HE CAN BE WORSHIPED AS GOD. THE FALSE PROPHET WILL ENCOURAGE HIM TO DESTROY MUSLIMS BECAUSE THEY PRACTICE A COMPETING FAITH THAT CHALLENGES HIS RELIGIOUS SUPREMACY. TOO BAD THE MUSLIMS WHO DO NOT READ THIS BOOK WILL NOT BELIEVE THIS WILL OCCUR BEFORE ITS TOO LATE TO STOP IT FROM HAPPENING ) 17 God is the one who made these kings think alike and decide to give their power to the beast (THEY ALLOWED THE ANTI-CHRIST WHO HAS THE SPIRIT OF SATAN IN HIM TO MAKE MAJOR DECISIONS FOR THEIR COUNTRIES ) to fulfill His will. (TO IMPLEMENT GOD'S PLAN ) And they will do this until what God has said comes true. (THIS REFERS TO THE END OF THE TRIBULATION ) 18 The woman you saw is the great city (WHERE THE ANTI-CHRIST HAS HIS HEADQUARTERS ) that rules over (AND INFLUENCES ) many of the world's kings. (POLITICAL LEADERS )

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