Revelation Friday Night Bible Study 26JUN26 (Revelation 17:1-2)

 

Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast

 

“One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries’ ” (Revelation 17:1-2).

 

            John was invited to see the punishment of the great prostitute who caused other nations to commit adulterous acts with her in his vision. The angel who gave the invitation had been one of the seven who had poured out the seven bowls of God’s wrath that we discussed earlier. This prostitute had encouraged the people of the earth to be drunk with her wine. God often referenced Israel and Judah as a prostitute (or harlot) because of their spiritual unfaithfulness, idolatry, and rebellion. Furthermore, there are numerous theories that scholars hold as to who this great prostitute is, but before we get into the identification of this prostitute, let’s visit the characteristics of a prostitute.

 

a.      Exchange sexual services for monetary gain or material possession. The Bible says, “Her sister Oholibah saw this, yet in her lust and prostitution she was more depraved than her sister. She too lusted after the Assyrians—governors and commanders, warriors in full dress, mounted horsemen, all handsome young men. I saw that she too defiled herself; both of them went the same way” (Ezekiel 23:11-13). Many countries, such as the United States, and people are prostituting themselves to sin. They will do anything for fame, popularity, money, self-satisfaction, and more.

b.      Sexual services are often their primary or secondary occupation. The Bible says, “Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:16). When one disobeys God to commit willful sin, it’s like uniting with a prostitute in God’s eyes. Those in sin allow it to become a priority and god in their lives.

c.       They operate independently or under the supervision of a pimp, brothel, etc. The Bible says, “The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8). Those who choose to prostitute themselves to sin are workers of the enemy. He is lord over them because they have rejected the true Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, who died to free mankind from sin.

d.      Their occupation allows them to work indoors or outdoors. The Bible says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). While Satan is not omnipresent like God, he goes about the earth with his demonic host seeking those he can destroy, including inside the church and out in the world.

e.       They aim to please the person who is eliciting their services. The Bible says, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death” (James 1:14-15). When one gives in to the temptation of their desires, they may have temporary pleasure, but in the end, they not only destroy themselves but also their relationship with God.

f.        Seduction is at the heart of their business. The Bible says, “To preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress. Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes; for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious life” (Proverbs 6:24-26). The enemy studies and knows people’s weaknesses, just as he did with Eve from the beginning. He uses that knowledge to allure people to sin by making it enticing to their fleshly desires.

g.      Many sex workers are involved in drugs and alcohol. The Bible says, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1). Those ravaged by sin are spiritually drunk by the devil’s enticements and are spiritually impaired, where the only One who can help them is Jesus, who came to save us all.

h.      Morality is not of concern, for they will often satisfy their lustful passions with the married, underage, or anyone who will pay their fees. The Bible says, “Judah did evil in the eyes of the Lord. By the sins they committed they stirred up his jealous anger more than those who were before them had done. They also set up for themselves high places, sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land; the people engaged in all the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites” (1 Kings 14:22-24). Immorality becomes so deep in a nation that turns against God that they will not even blush to think that the Lord sees everything they do.

i.        They display nonjudgmental attitudes toward their clients, so clients can leave their consciousness at the door. The Bible says, “Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:32). The immoral stay quiet about sin and go along with those who do evil against the Lord.

j.        They perform acts with multiple clients without limitations, day, noon, or night. The Bible says, “Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them.
They defraud people of their homes, they rob them of their inheritance” (Micah 2:1-2). The wicked have no end to the debauchery they plot against the Lord. Their iniquities are on their minds day and night with no regard for the Lord.

k.      For many in this profession, the law is of no regard, and they will even operate in states where it is illegal. The Bible says, “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). The reason that lawlessness abounds within nations is that the wicked have no regard for laws, regardless of how many lawmakers create.

l.        Prostitutes often recruit others for their occupation and solicit clients. The Bible says, “My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them. If they say, “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul; let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; cast lots with us; we will all share the loot”—my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths” (Proverbs 1:10-15). There’s a saying that misery loves company. While many people are living lives full of sin, they tend to drag others down with them, which is how Lucifer was able to take 1/3 of the heavenly host with him to his downfall and continues to take souls with him every day.

 

Scholars have debated over the years as to who this prostitute is in Revelation. While many debate as to it being Rome, the Vatican, the pope, or others, the United States of America is fitted perfectly for the representation of the harlot of Revelation. America is surrounded by many waters, as described in this text. This is one of the reasons it was great: its seclusion from most nations of the world. However, the Bible speaks of other kings of the earth who committed adultery with her. These kings represent other nations of the earth who have been greatly influenced by the United States and followed her wicked ways. The Bible says: “The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17). 

 

            The United States has pressured other nations to accept ungodly things such as homosexuality, abortion, and more. They have aligned themselves with nations based on greed, theft, murder, and human trafficking, and have turned friends to enemies and enemies to friends. Yes, the United States “appears” to be the good guys, but she is just as sinful, if not more wicked, than Sodom and Gomorrah. Because of the greatness God allowed the United States to achieve, its fall will be the hardest. The Bible says: “But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48). The United States has fallen short of what is due to God. It has cursed God by turning away from Him despite their national days of prayer, churches on every corner, social media pages, even satellite services. This nation is becoming more wicked by the day, and it would have been nothing without Him. While it has been recognized as being founded on Judeo-Christian values, not all of our founding fathers were Christians.  Some of the Founding Fathers were Freemasons. Notable examples include George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere, and John Hancock. According to historical records, about 16% of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and 33% of the signers of the U.S. Constitution were documented Masons. Let’s be clear, God does not honor secret societies and secret oaths.

Revelation Friday Night Bible Study 26JUN26 (Revelation 16:12-21)

 

The Sixth Angel

 

“The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. ‘Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.’ Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon” (Revelation 16:12-16).

 

John witnesses the sixth angel pouring out his bowl on the river Euphrates. The Euphrates River is an important milestone in Scripture. It is in the Middle East, running through Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, making it a valuable resource for the region. In John’s vision, the river dried up to make a pathway for the kings of the East. A similar passage in Revelation shows that together these kings will assemble an army of 200 million. The Bible says, “The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number” (Revelation 9:16). Many biblical scholars argue that the 5 kings of the east refer to literal armies and political leaders from nations east of the Euphrates River (such as China or a coalition of Asian nations and even Russia). They will march across the dried-up Euphrates to march for the final battle of Armageddon.

On June 11, 2014, an online news source, theTrumpet.com, wrote an article about the Euphrates River drying up. The article was titled, “Turkey Dries Up the Euphrates.” Also, according to an IFL Science article published in 2025, the Euphrates River is facing a critical environmental crisis. Scientists argue that it is caused by climate change, destructive blockading (particularly in Turkey), and severe droughts. However, the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources has warned that the river could run completely dry by 2040.

Prophecy is being fulfilled right before our eyes, and many are unaware of the many events unfolding, which shows how quickly Jesus’ return is approaching. The drying up of this river will allow for the final battle to be fought during the end days we now live. This will create a pathway for the kings of the East to fight the last battle called Armageddon. The Bible says, “I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land” (Joel 3:2). Remember, these kings are human kingdoms that will fight a vicious battle in the end, but God reigns supreme, and they will be defeated.

The vision continues: John saw three demons that looked like frogs emerging from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. They performed many signs and wonders. As a result, they were able to rally the kings for battle. Why did these demons come out of their mouths? First, let’s go over some of the characteristics of frogs. Frogs are incredible amphibians that have been roaming the Earth for centuries. Amphibians are cold-blooded vertebrates (animals with backbones) that spend their lives alternating between water and land. The name itself originates from the Greek word amphibios, meaning double life. Frogs are known to:

a.       They drink through their skin: Frogs don’t swallow water with their mouths as humans and animals do. Instead, they absorb the moisture they need directly through their highly permeable skin. Isn’t it something that the first beast comes from the sea? The Bible says, “The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name” (Revelation 13:1). The frogs that represented demons in John’s dream came out of the mouths of the dragon, antichrist, and false prophet, which symbolizes the deception that were spoken from their mouths to the people represented by the sea. Just as frogs absorb water through their skin, everything about the dragon, antichrist, and false prophet will be an outpouring of deception on the people who will gladly absorb their falsehood, whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life.

 

b.      Eyeballs assist in eating: Frogs catch their food by using their sticky tongues, and their eyes to pull their food down into the roof of their mouth and down their throat. Similarly, the devil and his imps use any type of deception to cause a person to be stuck in their sins because the enemy watches this prey to entrap them when they least expect it. Once he traps them, it becomes harder for them to listen to God’s voice. The Bible says, “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation” (Matthew 12:43-45). Even now, people are so deceived that the enemy has blinded many to their own choices, and they reject the Lord’s voice to repent, turn, and change.

 

c.       Some can survive freezing solid: Some frogs can allow up to 70% of their body water to freeze during the winter. Amazingly, their hearts and breathing stop altogether, but they thaw in the spring and resume their natural functions. The enemy and his camp do not love anyone, and yet many people follow them. In the last days, the Bible speaks of the coldness that people would experience and execute. The Bible says, “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold” (Matthew 24:10-12). We know that the enemy and his demonic host love no one, but those who follow him will also have a lack of love for others. We are seeing this even now, where people do the most abominable things to others with a lack of care. The dragon, antichrist, and false prophet will act as if they are doing things in the name of love, but this will be a huge deception because their hearts are frozen solid, without a care for anyone other than themselves and their own agendas.

d.      They have a built-in ability to camouflage: Some frogs, found in Central and South America, have translucent skin on their undersides. Therefore, should they land on a leaf, they can veil their red blood cells in their livers, making them nearly invisible to predators. Similarly, the dragon, antichrist, and false prophet will camouflage who they really are and deceive millions of people whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life. The Bible says, “For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). There is a lot of deception going on even now, with pastors, evangelists, self-professed prophets, politicians, medical personnel, pharmaceutical companies, and others leading people astray. The only way to avoid such deception is to stay close to God, listen to and follow His voice, and be a continuous student of His word.

 

e.       They are expert leapers: Most frog species can leap up to 20 times the length of their own body, or, according to some estimates, the length of most small swimming pools. Relatedly, the devil and his imps are playing for the kill, and they will leap on and into anyone who gives them access or makes the mistake of thinking they can play around with the demonic host without getting burnt. The Bible says, “Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding” (Acts 19:13-16).

 

The frogs (demons) in John’s vision let us know that lies will spill out from the unholy trinity (dragon, antichrist, and false prophet), for they will deceive many because they will appear to do great things. The devil is the master of deception, and he will make the antichrist and the false prophet believe his lies. They will speak to the citizens of the earth with boldness and convince many that their deceptions are true. Yet, those who are in Christ will not fall prey to their deceptions.

        Jesus said that He would come as a thief. He has warned us about this many times so that those who are close to Him will not be caught off guard. Therefore, we will be prepared for His coming and what’s to come upon the face of the earth. The Bible says: “For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:2-6). Jesus will one day return to take all His children home to be with Him forever. We do not know the exact day and time, but He told us to look at the signs for the hour is near. The battle of Armageddon will be the final battle, but we know that it has already been won.

The Seventh Angel

 

“The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘It is done!’ Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. Every island fled away, and the mountains could not be found. From the sky, huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on people. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible” (Revelation 16:17-21).

 

            The seventh bowl was poured out, and John heard a voice from the temple say, “It is finished!” Then nature responded with lightning, booms of thunder, and a severe earthquake so bad it split Babylon the Great into three parts, and all the cities collapsed. This is going to be a horrible judgment upon Babylon, and total destruction will be sent down on her because of her wicked ways. The earthquake will be the greatest ever seen on Earth. God’s wrath upon Babylon will be so strong that the mountains and islands will no longer be in sight. The Bible says: “Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. Because of this, all hands will go limp, every heart will melt with fear. Terror will seize them, pain and anguish will grip them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at each other, their faces aflame. See, the day of the Lord is coming —a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger— to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. I will make people scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir.⁾Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the Lord Almighty, in the day of his burning anger” (Isaiah 13:6-13). The prophet Isaiah wrote about the day of the Lord and what would happen before His return. Even during Isaiah’s time, he warned of future events to prepare God’s people. Isaiah’s prophecies align with what John saw in his vision regarding the judgment on the land and the rebellion of the wicked.

        Giant balls of hail fell upon the people, weighing about a hundred pounds. Can you imagine having hail of this magnitude fall on you? This indeed will be a horrible plague, along with the fear that will come from the effects of a horrible earthquake. No one should want to anger God and endure His wrath. The Bible says: “ ‘Because they lead my people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth. When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, “Where is the whitewash you covered it with?’ ‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my wrath, I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstones and torrents of rain will fall with destructive fury’ ” (Ezekiel 13:10-13). The devil will use the antichrist and the false prophet to speak about peace and security when it will be nothing but a delusion of lies.We will be addressing the fall of Babylon in Revelation 18.