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Point of Grace International
PGI - November 6, 2022 Sunday Service
In our church we aim to make it feel like a home, where strangers feel they are part of the family, where smiles are overflowing and hugs are natural, because we believe that life is a journey, and that we are simply channel of blessings. In our church we value three things, gratitude because it's the proper response to God, excellence because God expects nothing less, and grace because we all need it.
Locations & Times
Point of Grace Church
15601 Sheridan St, Davie, FL 33331, USA
Sunday 9:30 AM
https://www.facebook.com/PGIFortLauderdale
LYRICS FOR TODAY'S SONGS
CCLI License # 1613304
CCLI License # 1613304
Sermon Notes
Revelation 17 ISG
Literary Analysis
17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath.
1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” 3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 5 And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations.” 6 And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.
When I saw her, I marveled greatly. 7 But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. 9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 10 they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. 11 As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
15 And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16 And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, 17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”
Summary
“Rev. 17:1–19:10 is a large interpretative snapshot of the sixth and seventh bowls, which have foretold the judgment of Babylon (which was first explicitly prophesied in 14:8). This is followed in 19:11-21 by an expanded description of the last battle, in which Christ triumphs over the forces of evil. Although only one verse in ch. 17 describes Babylon’s judgment (v. 16), the larger literary unit commencing at 17:1 is dominated by it. Much space is taken up with the beast in ch. 17 because the woman’s significance and power cannot be fully understood except in her relationship to the beast. Ch. 17 (in development of 16:12-13) emphasizes what leads up to the demise of Babylon, which becomes the full-blown focus in ch. 18.”
Excerpt From: G. K. Beale,David Campbell. “Revelation.” Apple Books.
Babylon
Babylon is the prevailing economic-religious system in alliance with the state and its related authorities, as it exists in various forms throughout the ages. Of course, the generally known fact that harlots in the ancient world (as today) offered their bodies and sexual services for payment only enhances the economic nature of the Babylonian prostitute.”
The Harlot
The description of the woman confirms that she represents worldly economic forces which are in collusion with the state in persecuting Christians (for the economic focus see also on 14:8; 17:2): And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. The description of her clothing is repeated in 18:16, where she is described as the “great city” or Babylon. The parts of her attire are listed as products of trade in 18:12. Therefore the woman, draped with these products, is identified with a prosperous trading system.
Excerpt From: G. K. Beale,David Campbell. “Revelation.” Apple Books.
Revelation 17 ISG
Literary Analysis
17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath.
1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” 3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 5 And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations.” 6 And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.
When I saw her, I marveled greatly. 7 But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. 9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 10 they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. 11 As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
15 And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16 And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, 17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”
Summary
“Rev. 17:1–19:10 is a large interpretative snapshot of the sixth and seventh bowls, which have foretold the judgment of Babylon (which was first explicitly prophesied in 14:8). This is followed in 19:11-21 by an expanded description of the last battle, in which Christ triumphs over the forces of evil. Although only one verse in ch. 17 describes Babylon’s judgment (v. 16), the larger literary unit commencing at 17:1 is dominated by it. Much space is taken up with the beast in ch. 17 because the woman’s significance and power cannot be fully understood except in her relationship to the beast. Ch. 17 (in development of 16:12-13) emphasizes what leads up to the demise of Babylon, which becomes the full-blown focus in ch. 18.”
Excerpt From: G. K. Beale,David Campbell. “Revelation.” Apple Books.
Babylon
Babylon is the prevailing economic-religious system in alliance with the state and its related authorities, as it exists in various forms throughout the ages. Of course, the generally known fact that harlots in the ancient world (as today) offered their bodies and sexual services for payment only enhances the economic nature of the Babylonian prostitute.”
The Harlot
The description of the woman confirms that she represents worldly economic forces which are in collusion with the state in persecuting Christians (for the economic focus see also on 14:8; 17:2): And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. The description of her clothing is repeated in 18:16, where she is described as the “great city” or Babylon. The parts of her attire are listed as products of trade in 18:12. Therefore the woman, draped with these products, is identified with a prosperous trading system.
Excerpt From: G. K. Beale,David Campbell. “Revelation.” Apple Books.
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Study & Reflection Guide
1. On the relevance of the Babylonian whore for all ages. If the woman represents cultural, economic, and idolatrous religious power united in institutional form throughout the ages, how would that institution be identified or express itself in that particular part of the contemporary world where we live today (government, church, business, school, etc.)?
2. On temptations to compromise. In what ways can modern-day institutions of the world that are evil appear good and admirable in the eyes of Christians? In what ways are believers tempted to compromise with these institutions?
3. On the anesthetic effect of Babylon’s influence. Reflect on those aspects of the ungodly world’s influence on us that blinds us to the ultimate insecurity of the world and to the reality that true security can be found only in Christ and God. What aspects of the ungodly world’s influence on us have the potential of numbing us from reflecting on the reality of God’s coming judgment?
4. On discerning what is evil. How can Christians increase their awareness of what institutions around them are evil and so protect themselves from being deceived and consequently compromising in some way? If v. 7 provides the answer for John, how could it provide an answer for Christians today?
5. “On the presence of the harlot within the church. How are we to identify such idolatrous, Jezebelic activity and false teaching in the church today? How important is it to realize that even in the church we may be confronting supernatural spiritual dynamics of an evil nature?
6. Remember that Jezebel’s teaching in Revelation 2 is called “the deep things of Satan” (2:24). Satan still masquerades an as angel of light. What strategies can we employ to discern false teaching and to defeat the attacks of the enemy in the form of false teaching in the church? How can we discern when the world (that is, the Babylonian world system) exercises influence within our own churches?”
Study & Reflection Guide
1. On the relevance of the Babylonian whore for all ages. If the woman represents cultural, economic, and idolatrous religious power united in institutional form throughout the ages, how would that institution be identified or express itself in that particular part of the contemporary world where we live today (government, church, business, school, etc.)?
2. On temptations to compromise. In what ways can modern-day institutions of the world that are evil appear good and admirable in the eyes of Christians? In what ways are believers tempted to compromise with these institutions?
3. On the anesthetic effect of Babylon’s influence. Reflect on those aspects of the ungodly world’s influence on us that blinds us to the ultimate insecurity of the world and to the reality that true security can be found only in Christ and God. What aspects of the ungodly world’s influence on us have the potential of numbing us from reflecting on the reality of God’s coming judgment?
4. On discerning what is evil. How can Christians increase their awareness of what institutions around them are evil and so protect themselves from being deceived and consequently compromising in some way? If v. 7 provides the answer for John, how could it provide an answer for Christians today?
5. “On the presence of the harlot within the church. How are we to identify such idolatrous, Jezebelic activity and false teaching in the church today? How important is it to realize that even in the church we may be confronting supernatural spiritual dynamics of an evil nature?
6. Remember that Jezebel’s teaching in Revelation 2 is called “the deep things of Satan” (2:24). Satan still masquerades an as angel of light. What strategies can we employ to discern false teaching and to defeat the attacks of the enemy in the form of false teaching in the church? How can we discern when the world (that is, the Babylonian world system) exercises influence within our own churches?”