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DECEMBER 27
the earth were 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 sitting on a 17:5 forehead. It was customary for Roman
scarlet beast which was full of names of blas- prostitutes to wear a headband with their
phemy, having seven heads and ten horns. name on it (Jer. 3:3), parading their wretched-
4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, ness for all to see. The harlot’s forehead is
and adorned with gold and precious stones and emblazoned with a 3-fold title descriptive of
pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of the world’s final false religious system. MYS-
abominations and the filthiness of her fornica- TERY. A New Testament mystery is truth once
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tion. And on her forehead a name was written: hidden, but in the New Testament revealed.
Spiritual Babylon’s true identity is yet to be
revealed.Thus,the precise details of how it will
MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE be manifested in the world are not yet known.
MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE BABYLON THE GREAT.This Babylon is distinct
ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. from the historical, geographical city of
Babylon (which still existed in John’s day).The
6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the details of John’s vision cannot be applied to
saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Je- any historical city (14:8). MOTHER OF HAR-
sus. And when I saw her, I marveled with LOTS. All false religion stems ultimately from
great amazement. Babel or Babylon (Gen. 11).
But the angel said to me, “Why did you mar-
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vel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and kings with the beast. These are of one mind,
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of the beast that carries her, which has the and they will give their power and authority to
seven heads and the ten horns. The beast that 14
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you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the beast. These will make war with the
the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for
who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and
names are not written in the Book of Life from those who are with Him are called, chosen,
the foundation of the world, when they see the and faithful.”
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beast that was, and is not, and yet is. Then he said to me, “The waters which
“Here is the mind which has wisdom: The
9 you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples,
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seven heads are seven mountains on which multitudes, nations, and tongues. And the
the woman sits. There are also seven kings. ten horns which you saw on the beast, these
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Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not will hate the harlot, make her desolate and
yet come. And when he comes, he must con- naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
tinue a short time. The beast that was, and is 17 For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill
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not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give
seven, and is going to perdition. their kingdom to the beast, until the words of
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12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten God are fulfilled. And the woman whom you
kings who have received no kingdom as yet, saw is that great city which reigns over the
but they receive authority for one hour as kings of the earth.”
DAY 27:What is God’s word to inspire Zerubbabel to act on His promise?
Zechariah 4:6 states:“This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel.” The purpose of the vision
was to encourage Zerubbabel to complete the temple rebuilding, to assure him of divine enable-
ment for that venture and the endless supply for the future glory of the Messiah’s kingdom and
temple.The lampstand pictured Israel fully supplied by God to be His light then and in the future.
It must be noted that the church has temporarily taken this role presently (Eph. 5:8,9; Rev.
1:12,13,20), until Israel’s salvation and restoration to covenant blessing and usefulness.
“‘Not by might…power, but by My Spirit.’” Neither human might, wealth, or physical stamina
would be sufficient to complete the work.Only an abundant supply of the power of the Holy Spirit,
pictured by the “bowl” (v. 2), would enable him to carry out the task and enable Israel in the
Messiah’s kingdom to be a light again to the world by the operation of the Spirit (Ezek. 36:24).
“‘Who are you,O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain’”(v.7).Because
the outcome is guaranteed (vv.6,9),any mountainlike opposition will be leveled by God to become
like a flat surface. No obstacle will be able to stop the completion of the temple in Zerubbabel’s
time or in the final kingdom of the Messiah (Ezek. 40–48).“‘He shall bring forth the capstone.’”The

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