ျမန္မာခရစ္ယာန္အသင္းေတာ္မ်ား

Who is Mystery Babylon by Revelation Commentary 

Through Bible commentary, a little study of history and assisted by some colour highlighting of various key phrases, we will further demonstrate that this woman riding a beast is in fact a Church and can be no other than a Church that ruled as Church and State for 1260 years called the dark ages. A study of history and the inquisition would also reveal who this persecuting Apostate Church is. You will observe that a large percentage of Revelation deals with this woman that persecutes the saints and God’s resulting judgment. The word “Babylon” denotes confusion and originated from the Tower of Babel where God confounded their language so that they could not understand each other. God calls this woman Babylon also because of her unholy blend of truth and error which causes “the inhabitants of the earth” to be “made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”

Mystery Babylon is very much a mirror image of ancient Babylon with its man made system of religion and there are also many Protestant daughter Churches who have inherited the many empty traditions of their Catholic forebears. Some of the most popular doctrines have roots in ancient Babylon which are inundated by pagan influences. These are rampant all through this man made Papal system of religious confusion which is based heavily upon mans tradition rather than God’s Word.

If one performs an internet search on “mystery Babylon” to find what people are speculating who or what mystery Babylon is, you will find that mystery Babylon is identified as anything from Islam to New York. Since mystery Babylon is a woman and a woman in prophecy is beyond all doubt a Church, this rules out most of these speculative theories from the beginning. To accomplish the task of proving this woman is an Apostate Church, we will need to cover a little bit of the symbolism used in prophecy in order to understand the many references in Revelation and this Church’s part as mystery Babylon.

The 1260 year period of Persecution

A very important rule for understanding a vast amount of symbolic Bible prophecy is what is known as the day for a year rule. This is a well proven and established rule by the fact that all symbolic prophecy that uses this rule is proven by the evidence that when applied, the Prophecy concerned lines up with history perfectly in all cases. Below are the three scriptures that gave light to this rule in understanding symbolic prophetic time periods. Note in Luke 13:32-33, Jesus refers to His 3.5 years ministry. At this point in time, Jesus is half a year into His ministry and has three years to before His death in which He “shall be perfected.” Jesus Himself here uses the day for a year principle. If the day for a year rule was invalid, Jerusalem would have had to have been rebuilt in 49 days (impossible) instead of the 49 years it did take, and Jesus’ ministry would have been only 3.5 days instead of the actual 3.5 years. Daniel was told to seal up the 2300 day prophecy as it applied to a long time in the future which the angel called the “time of the end” (Daniel 8:17; 12:4, 9) and 2300 days into the future would not have even made 400 BC. Hardly what one could call the “time of the end” in which we are now living.

Luke 13:32-33 “And he said unto them, Go you, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. 33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and tomorrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.”
Ezekiel 4:6 “And when you have accomplished them, lie again on your right side, and you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed you each day for a year.”
Numbers 14:34 “After the number of the days in which you searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall you bear your iniquities, even forty years, and you shall know my breach of promise.”

The most significant time period in Bible Prophecy is the dark ages where God’s true Church was persecuted for 1260 years. See also how this time period relates to the two witnesses of Revelation. An estimated 50-100 million Christians were tortured and murdered as heretics falsely. Many historians agree this period is from 538 AD to 1798 AD which = 1260 years. During this period, God’s hand was over the Church, preserving it from total extinction. When prophecy is symbolic the day for a year principle is applied so 1260 days = 1260 years. This is a very significant time period as you can see from the verses below that all refer to the same period of time.

42 Months = 3.5 Years or 1260 Days (Jewish calendar = 360 days, Lunar month = 30 days)
Revelation 11:2 “But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.”
Revelation 13:5 “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.”

1260 Days = 3.5 Years or 42 Months
Revelation 11:3 “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.”
Revelation 12:6 “And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.”

Time = 1 Year, times = 2 Years and half a time = .5 Year = total 3.5 Years which = 42 Months or 1260 Days
Daniel 7:25 “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”
Daniel 12:7 “And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.”
Revelation 12:14 “And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.”

Other important Symbols

Beast = Kingdom/Government/Political power. Daniel 7:23 “Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth…” And the third beast would be the third kingdom and the second beast the second kingdom etc. Daniel 7:17 “These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.”

Dragon = Satan or his agency. Ezekiel 29:3 “Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which has said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.” See also Jeremiah 51:34

Serpent/Dragon = Satan. Revelation 12:9 “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 20:2 “And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,”

Legend for easy phrase reference between chapters and following chapter Preview:

Cyan	Woman as representing God’s true Church or an Apostate Church
Light Green	Seven heads and ten horns also blasphemes
Red	Makes war with the saints and the blood of the saints
Yellow	References to the 1260 years of persecution
Magenta	Made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication
Dark Green	Worship the beast and her image or receive her Mark in the forehead or hand
Light Gray	BABYLON is fallen, is fallen or BABYLON that GREAT CITY or Mystery BABYLON etc

The following chapters have been condensed to a point where it is easy to see the consistent theme of a “Seven headed, Ten horned beast” representing the Papacy and as “SHE” or “HER” as a woman (Church) that made all nations drink of the wine of HER fornication, shed the blood of the saints and whose mark will be forced upon all the inhabitants of the earth. Note the beast of Revelation 13 and 14 is called “BABYLON that GREAT CITY” as is mystery Babylon, which is also called “BABYLON THE GREAT” or “GREAT BABYLON.” The climax is God’s final judgment on HER and those that received her “mark.” [Italics added]

Revelation 12 “a…dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads…the woman fled into the wilderness…they…feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days…the dragon…persecuted the woman…the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness…where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the…serpent.” Revelation 13 “I…saw a beast…having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy…power was given…to continue forty and two months…[and] make war with the saints, and to overcome them Revelation 14 “there followed another angel, saying, BABYLON is fallen, is fallen, that GREAT CITY, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication…If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand…shall [receive]…the wrath of God.” Revelation 15 “I saw…them that had…victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name” Revelation 16 “…there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image…Lord…you have judged. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets…and GREAT BABYLON came in remembrance before God, to give her the…fierceness of his wrath.” Revelation 17 “I will show you the judgment of the great whore…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…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 wasa 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” Revelation 18 “…another angel…cried mightily…saying, BABYLON THE GREAT is fallen, is fallen…all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her…she shall be utterly burned with fire…the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication…shall see the smoke of her burning…alas, that GREAT CITY BABYLON,…in one hour is your judgment come…with violence shall that GREAT CITY BABYLON be thrown down…And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.” Revelation 19 “God…has judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand…the beast and…the false prophet…which…deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”

Revelation 12 Commentary: God’s true Church is described as a “great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars” in strong contrast to the “great whore” of mystery Babylon; “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.” Revelation 17:4. God likens His Church to a “wife” (woman) that “has made herself ready” for “the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Revelation 19:7-9, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready. … 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

Here Christ is the bridegroom and the Church is the bride (woman). The Babylonian woman who has “fallen” (Revelation 14:8; 18:2) therefore has to signify that “Mystery Babylon” represents a globally supported Church that has “fallen” away from her true lover, Jesus Christ, and from Bible truth and God’s law. The woman “clothed with the sun” (vs. 1) on the other hand is God’s true Church bringing light into the world and still keeps God’s Commandments (vs. 17) in loving obedience the same way the early Church did, hence the term remnant. Note how the 12 stars constitute the crown (vs. 1). The crown denotes rulership and organization. In the Old Testament you had 12 tribes of Israel and 12 judges and in the New Testament you had 12 Apostles and the final remnant Church that will be translated is symbolised by the number 144,000 which is a multiple of 12.

What we find in this chapter is Satan trying to destroy Jesus the “man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron” who has been “caught up unto God, and to his throne” (vs. 4-5). Satan of course failed and so he then pursues God’s true Church with a “flood” of persecution (vs. 15) through his agent Pagan Rome followed by Papal Rome which persecuted the Church for 1260 years (vs. 6, 14). God preserved a remnant of His true Church by opening up the way for America to give refuge to those seeking a safe haven (vs. 16). Satan hates God’s surviving remnant Church that keeps all the Commandments of God (vs. 17). Satan through the Papacy changed God’s true sanctified day of Worship to a day that God abhorred which was used for sun Worship hence the name Sunday and has very deep roots in paganism. Satan knew this would be a day detestable to God and is no doubt why he chose it in opposition to God’s true day of Worship.

Observe the woman (Church) fleeing into the wilderness during the 1260 years of persecution. For those who thought this woman is Mary rather than a Church, no woman lives 1260 years (vs. 6) and no woman has wings of a great eagle. (vs. 14) This is clearly symbolic of the woman “clothed with the sun” being symbolic of God’s true Church. This chapter is not totally written in chronological order like many books of Revelation. This can easily be seen on the matter of there being war in heaven and Satan being thrown out taking a third of the angels with him (vs. 4, 7). Chapter 12 is a brief overview of the following chapters of Revelation which progressively give more and more detail of an Apostate Church that persecutes God’s true Church and God’s final judgment and Christ’s return.

Revelation 12:1-17 “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time. 13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon [Satan] was wroth with the woman, [Church] and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the Commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

Revelation 13 Commentary: The following commentary is quite long as Revelation thirteen goes together with Daniel seven like a lock and key and proves beyond doubt when referenced with history that mystery Babylon is primarily the Papacy and all false religions that came from her. You can observe that we are still referencing the same persecuting power by the same reference to the 1260 years of persecution of the saints by the beast with seven heads and ten horns (vs. 1, 5 and 7). This and the following chapters will continue to reveal this persecuting power to be an Apostate Church (Papacy) that changed God’s law and murdered millions of saints as heretics falsely through the dark ages. The identity of this Church can also be found in immense detail on the web site who is the Antichrist today.

In Daniel 7:3, we find him in vision and he sees “four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.” These four beasts were like a lion (Babylon), a bear (Medo-Persia), a leopard (Greece) with four heads (Alexanders four generals that took over when he died suddenly) and some dreadful, terrible beast (Rome) with iron teeth and ten horns. Verse 23 says, “The fourth beast (Rome) shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.” Verse 24 tells us that “the ten horns out of this kingdom (Rome) are ten kings (divided Europe) that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.” The king that subdued three kingdoms is called the little horn in verse 8 and it destroyed the Vandals the Heruli and the Ostrogoths. A history check already reveals that this diverse kingdom was a religious political power that was responsible for their demise. Verse 25 says this little horn power would “speak great words against the most High” (God) and oppress God’s people and very importantly it states that he will “think to change times and laws.” Note how the image below from Daniel 2, represents the same time line as the four beasts. The head of gold the lion, chest of silver the bear, belly and thighs of brass the leopard, legs of iron the bizarre beast with iron teeth and the ten toes the ten horns which represent divided Europe. The book of Daniel continues to enlarge with more detail each chapter.

In Revelation chapter 13, John sees exactly the same thing that Daniel saw in his vision as a composite beast. Note the perfect parallel to Daniel chapter seven. It says that a beast (kingdom government or political power) with seven heads and ten horns rises out of the sea with a crown upon each horn (ten kings) and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. Verse 2 goes on to say the beast was like unto a leopard and feet of a bear and mouth of a lion (same four beasts) and that the dragon (Satan) gave this beast his power, his throne, and his vast authority. The meaning of these beasts come out of the sea is found in Revelation 17:15 which reads, “And he saith unto me, The waters which you sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.”

Verses 3 to 6 then states that one of the seven heads (Papacy head) received a fatal wound (causing death) but his deadly wound was healed and all the world would wonder after the beast and they worshipped the dragon which gave power to the beast and they worshipped the beast also. Note that when this wound fully heals, the Papacy will be back as they were before the deadly wound (vs. 12-18). The beast was allowed to make proud claims which were insulting to God, and it was permitted to have authority for 42 months. Daniel 7:25 says, “a time (1 year) and times (2 years) and the dividing of time (half a year = total 3.5 years * 12 Months = 42 months)” which of course is the same period of time. (Bible time works in lunar months which = 30 days * 42 months = 1260 days and using the day for a year rule = 1260 years). It opened its mouth and uttered blasphemies against God and blasphemed his name and his residence, that is, those who are living in heaven. Verse 7 states that it was also allowed to fight against God’s people and defeat them, and it was given authority over every tribe, nation, language, and race.

In 321 A.D. after the severest persecution, Constantine who was a pagan became Caesar in Rome and he begun to see the balance of power shift from paganism to the Church. So, in 321 A.D. he passed the first law enforcing Sunday worship. Until then, there had never been a law enforcing Sunday observance. Two years later Constantine joined the Roman Church and so now we had a mingling of paganism and the Church. In order to control the eastern and western halves of his empire, he moved his empire from Rome to Byzantium by building a new city there, which he named Constantinople after himself and hence transferred his headquarters over to Constantinople leaving Rome vacant. As a result the Papacy moved in and sat on the throne of Caesar and so the Church took over Rome. This explains what the Bible said, “and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.” The dragon as previously stated is the devil. In the Vatican there’s a tapestry on the wall about 75 feet long, and underneath the tapestry it say’s “The donation of Constantine to the Pope” What did he donate? He donated the city of Rome and the Church became a kingdom.

This is the first beast. Revelation 13:5-6 states that he would blaspheme God. Luke 5:21 reads, “And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” Today in the Roman Church they allege that every Priest can forgive sins. No man on Earth can forgive sins. As for power, Elizabeth I defied the Pope and he sent word to all Catholics in England not to obey the Queen. Henry of Germany offended the Pope and he had to stand barefoot in the snow for three days to pay penance to the Pope before he would forgive him. Verse 7 says the beast would fight against God’s people and defeat them. The Roman Church murdered an estimated 50-100 million people as heretics with one reason being for keeping God’s Sabbath rather than Satan’s counterfeit day made law by the Papacy. All this is a matter of history and can be read in your local library. There has only been one power that has persecuted Christians for 1260 years and only one power had the privilege of taking out three of the ten kingdoms from the collapse of the Roman Empire. It can be no other than the Papacy on these two points alone, and as we have seen there are far more identifying points. Watch a short video of a true story of a Death in Red Square for Sabbath keeping.

Every criteria mentioned in the Bible is met by this first beast power. The Bible says that this beast would receive a deadly wound to one of its heads (the Papacy head). The Pope took over Rome and rose to power in 538 A.D. The Bible says he would have power for 1260 years which takes us to 1798. What happened in 1798? Precisely on time as prophesied in the Bible, in 1798 Napoleon’s General Berthier was sent down to Rome to kidnap the Pope and exiled and imprisoned him in France. Hover here for an article excerpt from page 3 of the London Times dated 12-3-1798. In 1799 the Pope got sick and died. The head of the Catholic Church was dead! This is the deadly head wound. For a while there was no head of the Roman Church but the Bible says the deadly head wound would be healed, and in 1800 they elected a new Pope and the healing of the deadly wound began.

However, this new Pope had no real power until 1929. At that time a man in Italy called Benito Mussolini signed a concordat in Rome giving back to the Pope, not the whole city but about 108 acres called the Vatican and so the deadly wound begins to be healed. As a result, the Bible says, “the whole world wondered after the beast” (vs. 2). In this picture, Benito Mussolini reads his credentials prior to signing the Lateran Treaty on behalf of King Victor Emmanuel III. Cardinal Gasparri (seated), signed on behalf of Pope Pius XI. American Presidents have bowed before the Pope but they have never bowed before the head of any other Church.

In 1562 the Archbishop of Reggio openly declared that tradition now stood above scripture. This is what he wrote. “The authority of the Church is illustrated most clearly by the scriptures, for on one hand she recommends them, declares them to be divine, and offers them to us to be read, and on the other hand, the legal precepts in the scriptures taught by the Lord have ceased by virtue of the same authority. The Sabbath, the most glorious day in the law, has been changed into the Lord’s day. These and other similar matters have not ceased by virtue of Christ’s teaching (for He says that He has come to fulfill the law, not to destroy it), but they have been changed by the authority of the Church.” — Gaspare de Posso, Archbishop of Reggio, Council of Trent.

• “The pope has power to change times, abrogate laws, and dispense with all things, even the precepts of Christ.” — Decretal De Translat. Espiscop. Cap.
• “The authority of the Church could therefore not be bound to the authority of the Scriptures, because the Church had changed…the Sabbath to Sunday, not by command of Christ, but by its own authority.” — Cannon and Tradition, p.263.

When people hear the word antichrist today, they instantly think of someone sinister and against Christ but the word antichrist also means in place of Christ. When John spoke of antichrists, he was NOT referring to people who were against Christ and illustrates this well by pointing out that they were originally part of the early Church but went out on their own as did the Church of Rome. See 1 John 2:18-19. The Pope claims to be God on Earth and therefore puts himself in place Christ which matches the Bible definition of antichrist. These quotes made by the Catholic Church show they meet this criteria perfectly.

• “The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ, Himself, hidden under the veil of human flesh.” — Catholic National, July 1895.
• “The Pope and God are the same, so he has all power in Heaven and earth.” — Pope Pius V, quoted in Barclay, Chapter XXVII, p. 218, “Cities Petrus Bertanous.”
• “We hold upon this earth the place of God almighty.” — Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter, June 20, 1894.

Please remember that what is written here is not intended to offend anyone and applies to the Papal system and not the many wonderful Christians in this Church. Below is a statement of what the Roman Catholic Church feel they have a right to do to anyone they consider a heretic. They demonstrated this for 1260 years by burning millions of innocent Christians.

• “The church may by divine right confiscate the property of heretics, imprison their person, and condemn them to flames. In our age, the right to inflict the severest penalties, even death, belongs to the church. There is no graver offense than heresy, therefore it must be rooted out.” — Public Eccliastical, Vol. 2, p.142.

The Protestant Reformation

Towards the time of the end when the Bible hit the printing press, almost all the early Church fathers began to understand Bible Prophecy and in particular the one involving the antichrist beast power as part of mystery Babylon in Revelation 17:5. Satan obviously does not want anyone understanding Bible Prophecy and especially who mystery Babylon is as this would give Christians the upper hand in understanding the issue of 666 and the Mark of the Beast, the Battle of Armageddon and many other important issues. So be warned as Satan always has many counter lies coming against this truth.

True Protestantism teaches salvation by grace through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8) and the supremacy of the Bible above the visible Church, (2 Timothy 3:16) above traditions, pastors, priests, popes and kings. It also teaches the priesthood of all believers (2 Peter 2:9, 10) and that all people everywhere can be saved by coming directly to our loving heavenly Father through His only Son, Jesus Christ (John 14:6). 1 Timothy 2:5 states, “There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.”

The Protestant Reformation in the 1500’s literally changed the course of history. It helped move Europe out of the Dark Ages and led to the rise of true religious freedom. Its original principles eventually found expression in the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America which teaches that when it comes to religion, the governments of earth have no right to control the conscience. What did the major Protestant Reformers teach about the Antichrist? Here are many comments presented by some of the most influential Christian leaders who have ever lived and what they believed about “the little horn” (Daniel 7:8), “the beast” (Revelation 13:1), and “the man of sin” (2 Thessalonians 2:3) and about Antichrist.

• John Wesley (1703-1791) (Methodist): Speaking of the Papacy, John Wesley wrote, “He is in an emphatical sense, the Man of Sin, as he increases all manner of sin above measure. And he is, too, properly styled the Son of Perdition, as he has caused the death of numberless multitudes, both of his opposers and followers… He it is…that exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped…claiming the highest power, and highest honour…claiming the prerogatives which belong to God alone.” — Antichrist and His Ten Kingdoms, by John Wesley, pg. 110.
• Martin Luther (1483-1546) (Lutheran): “Luther … proved, by the revelations of Daniel and St. John, by the epistles of St. Paul, St. Peter, and St. Jude, that the reign of Antichrist, predicted and described in the Bible, was the Papacy … And all the people did say, Amen! A holy terror siezed their souls. It was Antichrist whom they beheld seated on the pontifical throne. This new idea, which derived greater strength from the prophetic descriptions launched forth by Luther into the midst of his contemporaries, inflicted the most terrible blow on Rome.” Taken from J. H. Merle D’aubigne’s History of the Reformation of the Sixteen Century, book vi, chapter xii, p. 215. Based on prophetic studies, Martin Luther finally declared, “We here are of the conviction that the papacy is the seat of the true and real Antichrist.” (Aug. 18, 1520). — The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, by LeRoy Froom. Vol. 2., pg. 121.
• John Wycliffe: “When the western church was divided for about 40 years between two rival popes, one in Rome and the other in Avigon, France, each pope called the other pope antichrist - and John Wycliffe is reputed to have regarded them as both being right: “two halves of Antichrist, making up the perfect Man of Sin between them.” — Ibid
• Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) (Anglican): “Whereof it followeth Rome to be the seat of antichrist, and the pope to be very antichrist himself. I could prove the same by many other scriptures, old writers, and strong reasons.” (Referring to prophecies in Revelation and Daniel.) — Works by Cranmer, Vol. 1, pp. 6-7.
• John Calvin (1509-1564) (Presbyterian): “Some persons think us too severe and censorious when we call the Roman pontiff Antichrist. But those who are of this opinion do not consider that they bring the same charge of presumption against Paul himself, after whom we speak and whose language we adopt… I shall briefly show that (Paul’s words in II Thess. 2) are not capable of any other interpretation than that which applies them to the Papacy.” — Institutes of the Christian Religion, by John Calvin.
• John Knox (1505-1572) (Scotch Presbyterian): John Knox sought to counteract “that tyranny which the pope himself has for so many ages exercised over the church.” As with Luther, he finally concluded that the Papacy was “the very antichrist, and son of perdition, of whom Paul speaks.” — The Zurich Letters, by John Knox, pg. 199.
• Roger Williams (1603-1683) (First Baptist Pastor in America): Pastor Williams spoke of the Pope as “the pretended Vicar of Christ on earth, who sits as God over the Temple of God, exalting himself not only above all that is called God, but over the souls and consciences of all his vassals, yea over the Spirit of Christ, over the Holy Spirit, yea, and God himself…speaking against the God of heaven, thinking to change times and laws; but he is the son of perdition (II Thess. 2).” — The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, by Froom, Vol. 3, pg. 52.
• The Westminster Confession of Faith (1647): “There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ. Nor can the pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof; but is that Antichrist, that man of sin and son of perdition that exalteth himself in the church against Christ and all that is called God.” — Philip Schaff’s, The Creeds of Christendom,With a History and Critical Notes, III, p. 658, 659, ch. 25, sec. 6.
• Cotton Mather (1663-1728) (Congregational Theologian): “The oracles of God foretold the rising of an Antichrist in the Christian Church: and in the Pope of Rome, all the characteristics of that Antichrist are so marvelously answered that if any who read the Scriptures do not see it, there is a marvelous blindness upon them.” — The Fall of Babylon by Cotton Mather in Froom’s book, The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, Vol. 3, pg. 113.
• A Great Cloud of Witnesses: “Wycliffe, Tyndale, Luther, Calvin, Cranmer; in the seventeenth century, Bunyan, the translators of the King James Bible and the men who published the Westminster and Baptist confessions of Faith; Sir Isaac Newton, Wesley, Whitfield, Jonathan Edwards; and more recently Spurgeon, Bishop J.C. Ryle and Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones; these men among countless others, all saw the office of the Papacy as the antichrist.” — All Roads Lead to Rome, by Michael de Semlyen. Dorchestor House Publications, p. 205. 1991.

Why did Satan give power to this Apostate Church?

Daniel 7:25 informs us that the Papacy would think to change God’s times and laws which as we have seen they did and freely admit and history proves this also. They have their own version of the Ten Commandments where the 2nd Commandment is deleted and God’s Sabbath has been changed to Sunday in honour of sun worship unknown to so many Christians today. You find the evidence of sun worship all through Papal history and still in some of their Churches today as shown by this picture.

Revelation 13:2 says, “And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.”

In the following verse we find Satan’s original desire. He wanted to be like God and to be worshipped like God.

Isaiah 14:12-14 “How are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how are you cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations! 13 For you have said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”

Satan wanted to be worshipped as God but how could he achieve that goal when no Christian in their right mind would do this. When Satan (the Dragon) gave him (the Pope) “his power, and his seat, and great authority”, Satan achieved his goal and got the worship he yearned for and on his day of preference in favour of sun worship, which God detests and Satan knows it. The big issue is who we worship and what day we worship on. Do we give Satan our allegiance and worship on his day implemented by his agent the Papacy, or do we place our allegiance where it belongs and worship on the day that God blessed and sanctified?

There is more to the fourth Commandment than most Christians are aware of. If you open your mind to what is being said here in Revelation you will find a lot of Bible Prophecy revolves around God’s Commandments since breaking them is sin and this sin is what God hates and is detestable to Him. 1 John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” God loves the sinner but He hates the sin. It is the battle between what is from God which is good, love and obedience versus what is from Satan which is evil, sin and disobedience. This is what this great controversy is all about. I hope that through the history and facts presented here that the victory Satan has achieved through the Papacy can be seen and you will reconsider what it is that so many are rejecting and who is getting the glory.

Revelation 13:1-18 “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9 If any man have an ear, let him hear. 10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. 11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. [666]” Italics added.

Revelation 14 Commentary: Here we find the three angels messages with a severe warning to Worship God only (vs. 7) and not to worship this apostate Church (vs. 9) that changed God’s Commandments and persecuted the saints (13:7). Those that do not get their Mark endure a time of persecution but through the faith of Jesus keep all God’s Commandments (vs. 12) despite the attempt of this apostate Church to once again persecute those for not keeping their day of Worship as they did during the 1260 years called the dark ages (13:12). Note the phrase “Babylon is fallen is fallen” (vs. 8) as we will see this again which will provide further clarity that this is still the same persecuting power and an Apostate Church. You will note also that this time of persecution is just before the second coming of Christ (vs. 14-15). This is the harvest of the righteous saints.

It is strongly believed by many that the Mark of the beast will be a computer chip or some other form of technology. Where in this passage does it give any such indication? Do the people who believe and teach this even know who this antichrist beast power is? No. So how can they possibly know what their Mark is? This is all speculation with no foundation whatsoever. There is only one spirit behind these deceptive theories. In the end times everyone receives a mark. You either receive God’s mark in your forehead or you receive the mystery Babylon’s mark in your hand or forehead. Revelation 9:4 says, “And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth … but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.” Clearly this is symbolic and will not be a computer chip or similar technology and so logically the mark of this Apostate Church will not be either. So what does the passage really say? It says to worship God with a reference to the Sabbath Commandment (vs. 7). Is this coincidence? Is anything written in God’s inspired Word coincidence?

This passage also says not to worship the beast or take their Mark. What is their Mark? Is it a good idea to study the beast power and to see what they say their Mark is? Wouldn’t this be a more intelligent approach to finding truth? It is certainly better than speculation. Speaking of the Sabbath, this is what they say their Mark is. “Of course the Catholic church claims that the change was her act, and the act as a MARK of her ecclesiastical authority in religious things.” — H.F. Thomas, Chancellor to Cardinal Gibbons. Does this passage give any indication whatsoever that the Mark has anything to do with God’s Commandments? Absolutely plain as day and no speculation required at all (vs. 12). Those that keep God’s Commandments do not get their Mark. This Apostate Church deleted the second Commandment and they want our worship which breaks this Commandment. They changed the Sabbath and they murdered millions for keeping God’s Sabbath rather than theirs. The Bible says their wound will be healed and are coming back (13:3, 11-12). Do you think they will do it again given that chance?

The Roman Catholic Church says you are not saved and a heretic if you are not in their Church or you do not follow their rules. What do they say they will do to heretics? “The church may by divine right confiscate the property of heretics, imprison their person, and condemn them to flames. In our age, the right to inflict the severest penalties, even death, belongs to the church. There is no graver offense than heresy, therefore it must be rooted out.” — Public Eccliastical, Vol. 2, p.142.

It is by no coincidence that the Bible says the law of God is to be a sign upon our hands and foreheads. These words were spoken right after the second reading of the Ten Commandments. Deuteronomy 6:6-8 “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. … 8 Tie them as symbols on your Hands and bind them on your Foreheads.” Why is it that more people do not see the obvious here? Select the following link for detailed information on 666 and the Mark of the Beast or what is the mark of the beast for the origins of the number 666 and more conclusive information on why God calls the Papal Church Babylon.

Revelation 14:7-15 “Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 8 And there followed another angel, saying, BABYLON is fallen, is fallen, that GREAT CITY, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yes, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. 14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in your sickle, and reap: for the time is come for you to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”

Revelation 15 Commentary: Here are those that had victory through the final time of persecution under this Apostate Church. This group kept the Commandments of God (Revelation 14:12) and did not receive their mark (vs. 2).

Revelation 15:1-2 “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. 2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.”

Revelation 16 Commentary: Here we see God’s judgement upon those that worshipped the image made to the persecuting Apostate Church and received their mark as well as the beginning of judgment upon this persecuting Apostate Church of which more detail is seen in the next chapter, Revelation 17. It should be clear we are still referring to the same persecuting power as in Revelation chapters 13, 14 and 15 now covered. This can be seen by the Mark of the beast issue (vs. 2) and the “great city Babylon” (vs. 19) and her part as mystery Babylon in Revelation 17:5. Remember Revelation Chapter 14:7 which says, “…Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come:…” It must be remembered that Revelation is not a chronological book and that much of what is covered in these chapters is paralleling each other. On understanding this fact, through careful observation, you should easily be able to observe this.

The first kingdom in Daniel 2 is Babylon which Nebuchadnezzar built and was king. From this came Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. In the world today you can see the evidence of paganism and traditions from all these first four kingdoms which is why the beast in Revelation 13, is a composite beast made up of all the beasts that represented these first four kingdoms shown by the same individual corresponding beasts found in Daniel 7. This first beast in Revelation 13 which is the Apostate Church is the result of all the paganism and traditions that dates right back to Babylon. In the Old Testament Babylon was a pagan nation who took God’s people into captivity and defiled the Temple of God. They worshipped idols and their king, and trod the Word of God underfoot. This great city was finally destroyed, just as the prophets predicted. This is going to happen again spiritually. You will note from the scriptures below that literal Babylon was totally destroyed and will never be rebuilt again as prophesied by Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 51:26 “And they shall not take of you a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but you shall be desolate for ever, saith the LORD.”

Jeremiah 50:39 “Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.”

Since literal Babylon is never going to be rebuilt, we therefore know that all the references to Babylon in these chapters of Revelation cannot be referring to a literal Babylon but a symbolic spiritual mystery Babylon. If you look at all the references to Babylon colour coded in grey, you will observe that it always refers to this same power that persecuted the saints.

As this Apostate Church has taken on all the paganism and traits of what came from literal Babylon, God refers to this Apostate Church as Babylon or more precisely spiritual Babylon which is the key component of mystery Babylon (Revelation 17:5). In order to understand this thoroughly, we must first study some Bible history about ancient Israel and literal Babylon. In 605 B.C., “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon” came “to Jerusalem, and besieged it” Daniel 1:1. Jerusalem was conquered and Judah was taken captive for 70 years Daniel 9:2. After 70 years, an amazing set of circumstances occurred. The Euphrates was dried up, Babylon was conquered from the east and God’s people were delivered. Ancient Babylon sat on the Euphrates which ran through Babylon, entering and exiting through two spiked gates whose bars reached down into the riverbed. When these twin gates were shut and all other entrances were closed, Babylon was virtually impregnable. In 538 B.C. when ancient Babylon fell, her king and subjects were drunk with wine, see Daniel 5. So were the guards and they forgot to fully close the double doors. Over 100 years earlier, God had predicted concerning Babylon and the Euphrates, “I will dry up your rivers” Isaiah 44:27. The Lord also spoke about “Cyrus,” the man who conquered Babylon, saying, “I will…open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut” Isaiah 45:1. Moreover God called Cyrus “my shepherd” and “his anointed” Isaiah 44:28; 45:1. Thus Cyrus was a type of Jesus Christ and he came “from the east” Isaiah 46:11.

So we have a literal Babylon that “sitteth upon many waters” (Jeremiah 51:13 “…you that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come…”) or more specifically the river Euphrates and a spiritual Babylon that “sitteth upon many waters” (Revelation 17:1 “…Come hither; I will show unto you the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters.”) or a symbolic, spiritual river Euphrates (vs. 12). We know this Apostate Church is in Rome and does not literally sit upon any waters, so what is the symbolic spiritual meaning of water here? We find the answer while still on this same topic in the next chapter. Revelation 17:15 “And he saith unto me, The waters which you sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” Literal Babylon was defeated by Cyrus drying up her literal water (the Euphrates) and spiritual mystery Babylon will be defeated by God drying up her symbolic water (the support of many people).

When Heaven’s judgments fall on the swirling waters of Babylon supporting people, reality will be inescapable. They will realize they’ve been misled. Then they will “…hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.” Revelation 17:16. Thus their misplaced support for a false system will vanish. This is how Babylon’s water will dry up, preparing the way for “the kings of the east” (vs. 12). Since the “waters” represent “people” (17:5) and the sixth angels vial of wrath falls on the water, (vs. 12) then this means God's wrath will finally be poured upon people who steadfastly continued supporting Mystery Babylon who thought to change God’s law and persecuted the saints. For more information on this dreadfully misunderstood topic, see page two of what is the battle of Armageddon.

The false prophet (vs. 13) is apostate Protestantism, which is deluded by Satan (dragon, vs. 13) and cooperates with him. A prophet is one who speaks on behalf of another. This “prophet” speaks on behalf of the first beast (vs. 13) being the Apostate Church, in connection with the healing of its “deadly wound”, to persuade the world to unite in allegiance to it. As these chapters are paralleling each other with different and extra detail, we again see this happens before the second coming of Christ (vs. 15). Thus we see the great Battle of Armageddon is God’s final justice on this persecuting Apostate Church and the second beast of revelation 13 (the false prophet) that set up an image to the Apostate Church and supported her. In Old Testament days, Cyrus came from “the east” to conquer Babylon (Isaiah 44:26-28; 46:11). The word, “east,” means “sun rising,” and the name, “Cyrus,” means, “sun.” Cyrus came not to attack the Jews, but as their Deliverer, and again, Cyrus was a type of Jesus Christ, the “Sun of righteousness” Malachi 4:2. In Revelation, God’s angels come from the east (Revelation 7:2), and Jesus Himself said, “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:27. Therefore just as Cyrus came from the east to deliver literal Israel from the clutches of literal Babylon, even so will King Jesus descend from the eastern skies with “the armies which were in heaven” (Revelation 19:14) to conquer spiritual Babylon and to deliver the Israel of God at the Battle of Armageddon!

Revelation 16:1-21 “And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. 2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image. 3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. 4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, You are righteous, O Lord, which are, and were, and shall be, because you have judged thus. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. 7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments. 8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which has power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. 10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, 11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. 12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. 17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. 18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. 19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and GREAT BABYLON came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stoneabout the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.”

Revelation 17 Commentary: This chapter shows God’s judgment on spiritual Babylon, named here as mystery Babylon, the Mother of Harlots, the Great Whore that sits on the spiritual river Euphrates (vs. 1) representing “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” (vs. 15) Why does God call this Church the Great Whore? Remember that a woman represents a Church and that this Church has committed fornication with all the kings of the earth. A “Harlot” is a prostitute who sells sexual favours for money. This Apostate Church has “sold herself” for money and influence in the religious world. “Harlot” also very significantly carries with it the idea of being unfaithful to one man. In spiritual terms the Apostate Church is not faithful to the one true God. Just as harlots have many physical partners, spiritual harlots worship many gods. They are unfaithful to the true God. They are committing spiritual fornication with the kings of the earth in that they have joined themselves together to persecute and even kill the saints. This “Great Harlot” in the book of Revelation is representative of those who claim to be spiritual but refuse to worship the true God in the way that He has commanded. Spiritual Babylon is the Mother of all Churches, the universal Roman Catholic Church which all Apostate Christian religions came from hence the phrase “The Mother of Harlots” (vs. 5).This Church is drunk on the blood of the millions of Christian Saints she tortured and murdered though the dark ages. (vs. 6) We again see the same reference to seven heads and ten horns as in Revelation chapters 12 and 13. There should be no doubt that Mystery Babylon comprises this Church and it is the ONLY Church that has changed God’s law and persecuted the Saints for 1260 years as shown in history.

The judgement is for spiritual fornication and because she thought to change God’s law (God’s true day of worship and idolatry) and has the blood of millions of Christians the Papacy called heretics on her hands. You will note many of the same identifying marks as the beast described in Revelation 13:1 being Papal Rome. Having seen the criteria now for the antichrist power, this passage should now make perfect sense. Since a woman in Bible Prophecy represents a Church and a beast a kingdom, what we symbolically have below is a woman riding and in control of a beast. This literally would be a Church in control of a kingdom or more specifically, a Church in control of state as was the Roman Catholic Church for 1260 dark years. This is why America had in their constitution that Church should remain separate from state so that such a dreadful thing as those 1260 years of Papal persecution could not happen again, but unfortunately the Bible tells us it will happen again with the Mark of the Beast issue (Revelation 13:12-18; 14:7-12).

We see in Numbers 15:38-40 that the colour blue represents God’s law, “Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: 39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that you may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that you seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you use to go a whoring: 40 That you may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.”

Note the phrase in verse 39 that says “after which you use to go a whoring” which alludes to their idolatry and false worship which are often in scripture expressed by fornication and whoredom. Don’t miss this next highly significant scripture and the colours that the Priests robes were made from in Old Testament times. Remember the blue represents God’s law.

Exodus 28:4-6 “And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. 5 And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen. 6 And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.”

Note that the Harlot woman riding the beast and the robes warn by Catholic Priests shown in the picture here have the same colours and are very significantly missing the colour BLUE as the Old Testament Priests robes had and not by coincidence as they are one in the same!

Here is a Church in control of state that has forgotten the Commandments of God and any wonder when the dragon (Satan) gave her the power and great authority. As already shown, this revolves around whom we worship and more specifically God’s law which defines what sin is. This is what is important to God; our love, worship and obedience. Remember that the Papacy is especially famous for changing God’s Sabbath and they say that it is a MARK of their authority that they could do this and have the whole protestant world follow her.

Revelation 17:1-18 “And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto you the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 2 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. 3 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. 4And 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: 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 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. 7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which has the seven heads and ten horns. … 15 And he saith unto me, The waters which you sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 16 And the ten horns which you sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. 18 And the womanwhich you sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.”

Revelation 18 Commentary: Here it is announced that this Apostate Church spiritual Mystery Babylon has fallen (vs. 2). In the Old Testament we see the parallel of literal Babylon falling. Note also the parallel of being drunk with her wine as found in chapters 14, 17 and 18. Jeremiah 51:6-8 says, “Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD'S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence. 7 Babylon has been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad. 8 Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.”

I would like to emphasise again that the Roman Catholic Church and all Churches that came from her have millions of wonderful Christians who have no knowledge or part in her crimes. This is proven by the fact we find a call that goes out for all God’s true people to come out of her so that they do not partake of her plagues (vs. 4). What the scripture refers to in these chapters of Revelation are not all the wonderful Christians that have been in this Church, but the Papal system itself, so no offence is intended in any way towards people that belong to this Church or have ever been part of this Apostate Church.

Revelation 18:1-24 “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, BABYLON THE GREAT is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she has filled fill to her double. 7 How much she has glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 8Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. 9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that GREAT CITY BABYLON, that mighty city! for in one hour is your judgment come. … 21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that GREAT CITY BABYLON be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. … 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.”

Revelation 19 Commentary: God’s judgment is now finished against this persecuting Apostate Church called the “great whore” (vs. 2) as identified in Revelation 17:1 and has avenged all the blood of the saints they shed through the 1260 dark years and future. See commentary notes on Revelation 16 for information on the beast and the false prophet.

Revelation 19:1-20 “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: 2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he has judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. … 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. … 19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”

Mystery Babylon Conclusion - Page 4