The Reformed Presbyterian Church   154 City Line Road   Oswego, New York   13126
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Bible Study Series: 1999-2001
The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The Final Judgment of the World (17:1-19:21): Part 2 (17:8-18)        14 February 2001

  I. PREPARATIONS
A. PRAISE & PRAYER (Please pray for the Lord’s Blessing on the Teaching & Preaching! see 2Th.1:11,12; 3:1; Eph.6:19,20; Col.4:2-4)

B. SCHEDULE: 
1. Prayer on 2/21; 3/21 (Wednesdays)
2. Studies on 3/1(Thursday); 3/6 (Tuesday); 3/15 (Thursday); 3/28 (Wednesday)
3. Note: recently scheduled presbytery meeting in Lisbon on 3/6; we may start a little late

C. NOTE: Ephesians 4:12; Hebrews 5:12 (summary: share what you learn)

D. READ: Revelation 17:1-18

 II. THE FINAL JUDGMENT OF THE WORLD: PART 2 (17:8-18)

YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER 17, ETC.

THE “WHORIBLE” VISION: THE BEAST (17:8-18)

1. How do chapters 17-22 relate to chapter 16? (see 17:1 and 21:9)  

2. What is the point of the striking contrast between 17:1 and 21:9 that reinforces this relationship?

3. What is John being shown? (17:1,7f)
a. What is the harlot? (17:1-7,18; see Mk.4:19; 1Jn.2;16)

b. Whose judgment is spoken of in 17:8-18?

c. Where is her judgment? (compare 17:7 with 17:8f and 18:1f)

4. What is revealed about the beast? 
a. 1,3 and 7,8a; see 9a; see 13:10,10; 14:12; 16:15

b. 9,10a; see 1:20; 14:1 (see 12:3; 13:1; Dan.7:3-8 and 7,20,24)

5. See color highlighted copy of verses 8-11.
a. What triplet do you see? (8a,8b; 10; 11)
1) How many times is it repeated?

2) What is the significance of this? 
i. see 1:4,8; 4:8; 11:17; 16:5; see 13:3; 5:6 (Is.14:4,14; 2Th.2:4)

ii. How does “out of the abyss” fit in with 2)i. above? (see 13:3; 5:6)

iii. What is significant in the comparison between the respective elements in each occurrence?

(1)

(2)

(3a)

(3b)

6. Related questions on verses 8-11.
a. What is the abyss? (Lk.8:31(2Pt.2:4); Rev.9:11; 11:7; 20:1,3)

b. How do the unrepentant (6:10) respond to the beast? (8b; see 6,7; see 13:3,4)

c. What is the further significance of “eighth”?
1) note: seven in Revelation; Exodus background (10 plagues to 7; see Amos 4:6-11; with Gen.1,2; and then Jn.10:1,19; Rev.1:10

2) see 13:3/5:6; 17:8

3) see Dan.7:8,24f(?)

7. What are the horns? (12; see 9; Dan.7:7,24)
a. How do these fit in with the heads? (12; see 10a,b; see Dan.7:8,23f; and 
see Dan.7:25; Rev.18:[2](8)10; 16,17; 19[21])

b. What is their relationship to the beast? (13)

c. Why is this true? (17; see 20:7,8)

d. What is the object of their singlemindedness? (14)

e. What is the outcome? (14; see 11:7; 13:7 and Dan.7:21,22)

f. Who is with the beast and who is with the Lamb? (7-13 and 14,8)

g. What is the point of v.15 in this context? (15; see 18; see Dan.7:14 with 3:4,7; 4:1; 5:19; 6:25; see 2:44)

8. Does the happy couple endure? (17:1-3,7; 16; see Ezk.16:37,39; 23:25-34,47; Ps.75:8)
a. 16a; see Hos.2:3; Rev.3;17,18; 16:15

b. 16b; 2Kngs.9:30,36; Rev.2:20-22

c. 16c; see Lev.21:9 with Rev.17:4

d. “Harlot’ used only of Jerusalem-Israel? (1,15,18; see Is.23:15-18; Nah.3:4,5)

9. Summarize Rev.17:8-18 (see 2 Thes.2)

III. DISCUSSION including suggestions for sermon focus, theme or topic

IV. CLOSING PRAYER

FOR NEXT WEEK: PRAY! (consider fasting; see Matthew 6:1-18)