Harlot Babylon: A Coming One-World Religion
I. THE FALLING AWAY FROM THE FAITH AT THE END OF THE AGE
A. In my opinion, we are in the early days of the generation in which Jesus will return. In other words, I believe that
there are people alive today who will see the return of Jesus. It may be the 20-year-olds or the 2-year-olds who see it. I
do not know with certainty. No one knows this with absolute certainty. My opinions on this are based on observation of the
biblical signs of the times, not on personal revelation such as prophetic visions. We must insist that our faith be based on
what the Bible says, not on personal revelations about the timing of His return.
B. I do not ask anyone to accept my views; rather I urge you to boldly challenge all the ideas that you hear. Refuse
any that you cannot see in Scripture for yourself. I urge you to be like the Bereans who searched the Scriptures to see if
the things that Paul said were so (Acts 17:10-11).
C. Rev. 17-18 is one of the most significant end-time prophecies because it gives us insight into Satan’s end-time
strategy to deceive the Church so that many fall away from the faith. Therefore, this prophecy deserves much careful
attention because the deceived will go to the lake of fire.
D. Paul prophesied of a falling away from the faith at the end of the age. This prophetic theme is one of the greatest
challenges in the Church at this hour (Mt. 24:9-13; 2 Thes. 2:3; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Tim. 3:1-7; 4:3-5; 2 Pet. 2:1-3). A doctrine
of a demon is a teaching that is inspired by demons.
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and
doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding
to marry… (1 Tim. 4:1-3)
E. The falling away and the revealing of the Antichrist are two of Paul’s most significant signs of the nearness of
Jesus’ second coming.
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day (Jesus’ second coming) will not come unless the falling away comes
first, and the man of sin (Antichrist) is revealed. (2 Thes. 2:3)
F. Sound doctrine teaches obedience and allegiance to Jesus. It requires endurance. To “turn the ear away” means
that the people will no longer hear what God intended in various Bible passages.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have
itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned
aside to fables… (2 Tim. 4:3-4)
G. Love of the truth is more than adherence to it. This love takes a firm stand for truth regardless of the cost. Loving
truth requires that we be open to accept any new ideas as long as they are substantiated in Scripture, regardless of how
different they are from our religious background.
9 The coming of the lawless one (Antichrist) is…with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and unrighteous deception…
because they did not receive the love of the truth.(2 Thes. 2:9-10)
II. THE ANTICHRIST’S END-TIME WORSHIP MOVEMENT
A. A significant part of Satan’s end-time plan is to be worshiped by all nations. He will raise up a worldwide “Antichrist
worship movement.” This satanic worship movement will find expression in every nation and will be a counterfeit to Jesus’
true end-time worship moment and revival.
4 They worshiped the Dragon (Satan)…and the Beast (Antichrist), saying, "Who is like the Beast?"…8 All who dwell on
the earth will worship him (Antichrist)... (Rev. 13:4-8)
B. There are two stages in Satan’s plan to be worshiped by all nations. He knows that it is too big a step for those
with a religious heritage (Christian, Muslim, Hindu, etc.) to suddenly become devoted Satan worshipers. Therefore, he will
deceive them into joining a worldwide religion of tolerance without absolutes, which teaches that all religions lead to the
same God and salvation.
C. By joining this harlot religion, their conscience will be greatly defiled. This will make it easy for them to break their
affiliation with their religious heritage (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, etc). This will prepare the way for them to be Satan
worshipers in the Antichrist worship movement.
D. The voluntary harlot Babylon religion will be replaced by a mandatory Antichrist religion.
Firstly, people will voluntarily join the harlot Babylon one-world religion of tolerance (Rev. 17). Secondly, all will be forced
to be Satan worshipers in the Antichrist religion (Rev. 13:4, 8, 15).
E. This end-time harlot religion will be a counterfeit of the end-time Bride of Christ.
F. The harlot religion will prepare the nations to receive the Antichrist. It will be a religion of affirmation and tolerance
without absolutes. It will be a counterfeit justice movement that will feed the poor, be involved in humanitarian projects,
and will appear to be filled with compassion.
G. The nations will rejoice in the unity and world peace that this religion will seemingly bring. Since many military and
economic conflicts are linked to religious differences, many are looking for a “religious solution” that will set the stage to
accomplish world peace and prosperity.
3 When they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them. (1 Thes. 5:3)
H. Today, many want to bring the three monotheistic religions together (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam). They seek
to unify liberal “Christianity” (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox) with moderate Islam and Judaism, together with Hinduism,
Buddhism, New Age, etc., Each group will be committed to moral and religious tolerance and will make many compromises
to reach “unity.”
I. Babylon will include a religious (Rev. 17) and economic (Rev. 18) network. The harlot will deceive the nations by
sorcery, which is a combination of drugs and demonic power (witchcraft). Her dark supernatural power will fascinate
people and appear to be good. Her worship music will be powerful in that it will have a supernatural, demonic element to it.
23 For by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. (Rev. 18:23)
III. THE GREAT HARLOT: HER SEDUCTIONS AND PERSECUTION
1 Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth
committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication"…3 I saw a
woman sitting on a scarlet Beast (Antichrist)…4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold
and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.
5 On her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, the mother of harlots and of the abominations
of the earth. 6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints…15 He said to me, "The waters…where the harlot sits,
are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. (Rev. 17:1-6, 15)
A. Rev. 17:1-6 gives us details about the emergence of the harlot Babylon as a one-world religion, describing her evil
seductions and cruel persecutions.
B. Before the angel showed John the wealth and counterfeit beauty of the harlot religion, he showed him her
inevitable judgment and sure defeat (v. 1). This system will fail and be utterly destroyed.
C. The harlot will sit on many nations (v. 1, 15) or will have authority over the nations. She will successfully seduce
and deceive the most powerful leaders on the earth, including the kings of the earth and the great merchants of the earth
(Rev. 17:2; 18:23).
D. The nations will become drunk or intoxicated with her seductive promise to bring great benefit to the nations,
including compassionate humanitarian aid, a unified religion (that minimizes wars), and a prosperous world economy.
Additionally, they will embrace her deceptive theology of tolerance.
2 The inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication. (Rev. 17:2)
E. The harlot religion will have great prominence. She will be arrayed in purple (royal status) and will be respected
by the elite financial leaders of the earth who will give their allegiance to her.
4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet (royalty), and adorned with gold…having in her hand a golden cup full of
abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. (Rev. 17:4)
1. The harlot will be adorned with gold. She will be the wealthiest, religious network in all history.
2. She will have a golden cup in which she “serves” the nations. Her humanitarian service will appear golden,
or as being of great value as she helps the poor. She will bring religious unity that will contribute to world peace
and the cessation of war (1 Thes. 5:3).
3. However, in reality her cup, or service, will be full of abomination and filth. Abomination refers to being filled
with demonic activity. In the OT, abominations refer to idolatrous (demonic) activity.
4. Filthiness points to being filled with moral perversions.
F. The harlot Babylon will inspire the nations to new heights of sin and demonic activity. Sin will be allowed to reach
its fullness in the end times.
23 In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king (Antichrist) shall arise…
who understands sinister schemes. (Dan. 8:23)
G. The fullness of man’s sin will be seen in these four spiritual strongholds of sin in society.
21 They did not repent of their murders...sorceries...sexual immorality or thefts. (Rev. 9:21)
H. This harlot is the mother of harlots or the source of false religion. Her offspring are the false religions through
history as well as the primary source of false religion in the end times.
5 BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (Rev. 17:5)
I. The original mother, or false religion, occurred at the tower of Babel (Gen. 11) where man’s first organized religion,
or rebellion, against God began. This is where the city of Babylon was built.
J. The harlot will have a murderous heart despite her humanitarian appearance. She will cause multitudes to be
drunk or intoxicated with the blood of the saints who expose her (v. 6). The more she kills, the bolder she will become
in killing the saints.
6 I saw the woman (harlot Babylon), drunk with the blood of the saints… (Rev. 17:6)
K. The primary enemy of the harlot religion will be the saints of Jesus in the prophetic, praying Church, who will
expose her for who she really is. We must declare the seductive nature of her perversion and her inevitable judgment.
The saints will be hated by all nations for doing this.
9 They will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 10 Then
many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and
deceive many. (Mt. 24:9-11)
L. The harlot will depend on the Antichrist who will carry her (provide resources and protection).
3 I saw a woman sitting on a Beast (Antichrist) which was full of names of blasphemy…7 I will tell you the mystery of the
woman and of the Beast that carries her… (Rev. 17:3, 7)
M. The harlot religion will be hated and destroyed by the jealousy of the ten primary kings who serve the Antichrist
(Rev. 17:12, 16). They will burn or destroy her at the beginning of the Great Tribulation. Satan’s kingdom is filled with
hatred, not unity. The saints will prophesy to the nations that she will be burned by the ten most powerful leaders of
the Antichrist’s empire.
12 The ten horns which you saw are ten kings… 16 The ten horns…on the Beast will hate the harlot, make her desolate
and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. (Rev. 17:12, 16)
N. In the middle of the final seven years of this age, the Antichrist will replace the harlot religion of tolerance with
Antichrist worship. This religion will be strict and without any tolerance. All who refuse to worship the Antichrist will be
killed (Rev. 13:4-18). Satan’s purpose for the harlot religion is as a “forerunner” to prepare the nations for worship of
the Antichrist.
IV. WHY WE KNOW THAT BABYLON IS A RELIGION IN REVELATION 17
9 Because I was crushed by their adulterous heart which has departed from Me, and by their eyes which play the harlot
after their idols… (Ezek. 6:9)
A. Israel’s national and spiritual harlotry consisted of worshiping idols (Ex. 34:12-17). When Israel turned to idols,
God called it “playing the harlot with other gods.” There are 90 passages in the OT that refer to Israel’s national harlotry.
In each passage, harlotry is a religion based on idolatry. John used the same definition of spiritual harlotry that is
consistently used in the OT.
16 The LORD said to Moses: "You will rest with your fathers; and this people will…play the harlot with the gods of the
foreigners of the land…and they will forsake Me...” (Deut. 31:16)
B. Spiritual harlotry is synonymous with idolatry and false religion that involved demon worship (1 Cor. 10:20-21;
1 Chr. 5:25; Ezek. 23:37; Hos. 4:12-13). Idolatry is usually combined with immorality (orgies), drugs, demonic rituals,
and the sacrifice of animals or humans.
C. To be guilty of harlotry requires that her followers once claimed to have had a relationship with the true God
(this applies to both the Church and Israel).
V. THE END-TIME CONFLICT OVER THE TRUTH OF WHO JESUS IS
A. Allegiance to Jesus is our main issue, along with being lovers of His truth (2 Thes. 2:10). Tolerance is the main
issue in the counterfeit movements that will lead to the harlot religion. We greatly value the people in different religions.
They possess great dignity before God. However, we are not willing to go to hell by refusing to tell them the truth about
Jesus. This is true love.
10 Among those who perish because they did not receive the love of the truth…. (2 Thes. 2:10)
B. Truths about Jesus that offend humanists include His deity and, thus, His right to establish absolute standards of
living. Jesus does not accept humanistic views of righteousness and love, which reject Jesus as the only way of salvation,
and His right to judge sin now and in eternity.
C. Refusal to stand by such truths is proof that they operate under the spirit of delusion. This is true of famous
people who work in the White House, who host talk shows, who fill stadiums with concerts for the poor, or who lead
mega-churches.
D. There are many “counterfeit forerunners” who are currently preparing the nations to embrace this harlot religion.
Most are not aware of this. These “forerunners” tell lies about Jesus.
E. The end-time Church will lead the greatest hope and justice movement in history. In Jesus, we have a hope that is
far superior to all humanistic movements. The true forerunners are the greatest hope-bringers in history. They will be
filled with love, purity, and humility as they engage in works of justice and compassion, while giving a clear witness of
the truth.
VI. HUMANISM: HONORING PEOPLE ON MAN’S TERMS INSTEAD OF GOD’S TERMS
A. A humanistic belief system is growing in the Church today that esteems temporal comfort far more than God’s
holiness and eternity. Humanism exalts the good and dignity of man on man’s terms and without being in relationship with
God. Humanism is man’s quest to be whole and happy without relating to God. They will present Jesus’ leadership as
being anti-humanitarian. In total opposition to Babylon, we will boldly sing, "Great and marvelous and just and true is
Jesus’ leadership” (Rev. 15:3). We love Jesus’ ways, and hate the lies of the harlot.
B. Their foundational message will be that God approves of all religions regardless of their doctrines, morality, or
conduct. Some will take it to the next step, claiming that we are all gods, and that we only need to realize this in order
to walk in new enlightenment.
C. The conflict in the end times will center upon defining who Jesus is and how we love Him. We must love God on His
terms. Love for God is loyalty to His truth as seen in Jesus. Our love must be expressed in alliance with the Jesus of the
Bible, not the Jesus of humanistic sentiment.
VII. THE TRUE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY
A. John prophesied about Babylon from Rev. 17:1-19:10. He ended the section by defining the true spirit of worship
and prophecy as that which testifies or magnifies the truth about Jesus. The testimony of Jesus includes His life, death,
resurrection, and the primary issues on His heart.
10 Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Rev. 19:10)
B. Many are embarrassed by Jesus as the judge, as if His judgments are lacking love and are too extreme. One
aspect of false prophecy is to promise peace and prosperity in a time of judgment.
16 Do not listen to the words of the prophets…they speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the LORD.
17 They continually say to those who despise Me, 'The LORD has said, "You shall have peace’" and…they say, 'No evil
shall come upon you.'" 18 Who has stood in the counsel of the Lord?...20 The anger of the LORD will not turn back until
He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart. In the latter days you will understand it perfectly. 21 I have not
sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. 22 But if they had stood in My
counsel, and had caused My people to hear My words, then they would have turned them from their evil way…
(Jer. 23:16-22)
C. The truth is politically incorrect. It exposes our core humanism and fear of man.
12 They have lied about the LORD, and said, "It is not He. Neither will evil come upon us, nor shall we see sword or
famine.” (Jer. 5:12)
10 They have seduced My people, saying, 'Peace!' when there is no peace… (Ezek. 13:10)
D. The need of the hour is for messengers who will speak the truth faithfully, boldly, and tenderly. The only way they
will be able to withstand the assault from the critics in the Church is if they are deeply rooted and grounded in Scripture
and in what it says about the things they expose.