Catholic Doctrine Bible Study

The Whore of Babylon:  Scholars  and religious leaders are divided today as to who it represents. During John’s time, is it the City of Rome? (v.18)  Is it Jerusalem? (Representing Israel, who had a history of making disastrous political alliances with nations that would ultimately persecute it, including the Roman Empire!)  Is it the Catholic Church? (See Session 1.) The message for us today and in the future about the Whore is clear.....Don’t give yourself (sell out, whore yourself out) to any political, organizational, or idealogical system that is against the Church.  The consequences are that you will  be used and ultimately betrayed (see v.16 !) It’s like making friends with a heroin dealer. We know what side will ultimately win! (See v.14 !)

14:18 -20 John again uses imagery (sickle, grapes, wine press)from the Old  Testament prophets (Joel 4:13, Isaiah 63:3) to remind his readers that God never changes. Yes, he is Love and Forgiveness, but he is also Justice! (These verses also form the basis for “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”)  His truth is marching on! Chapter 16 The parallels of the “Seven Bowls of God’s fury are lifted from some of the plagues of Exodus.  (“Sores”, water “turned to blood”, “darkness”, “hailstones.”  .....John’s message, (once again!) is that God will deliver his people from their enemies in the future as in the past, in the sense of having Eternal Life for those who persevere in their relationship with God. 16:16 “Armageddon” ...a place of a number of historic battles between God’s people and her enemies.  As in Judges 5:19, God will win again.

13:10 No “rapture” escape here!  You may have to die for your faith!! (But, you can have ETERNAL life with God!) 13:11-17 The 2nd Beast is a false and evil) prophet (see 16:10, 19:20, 20:10). He is the spokesperson for the first Beast(13:1).  So, we have the Unholy Trinity:  The Dragon (Satan), the First Beast (in John’s time, the Roman Empire, but there is a “beast” in every time), and the 2nd Beast (in John’s time, “Nero”, (“666” is his numeric equivalent), but there is a “2nd Beast” in every time.” (Don’t be so concerned about the details of the end of the world;  be more concerned about your relationship with God at the end of YOUR life!) 13:17 vs. 14:1  You have to decide:  will you take the name of the beast or the name of God?? You must choose one or the other...there’s no in-between! 14:8 There are “Babylons” of every age. (In John’s time it was the Roman Empire.) 14:13 Another verse that refutes the “rapture” theory. 14:13(b) Your WORKS (actions, behaviors) demonstrate whether you are really a follower of Christ.

11:19-12:7 To understand how the Ark of the Covenant (Old Testament) prefigures Mary (New Testament), and the significance of that, listen to Session 37 (Luke 1:36-66) and view the Key Notes of that Session.  In the OT, (Ark) and the NT (Mary), the people of God need them to do battle with the enemy.  “Don’t leave home without it/her!” 13  The “beast” in John’s time is the Roman Empire, with imagery John lifted from Daniel 7:3-6(Leopard, Lion, Bear). (All of Daniel Chapter 7 refers to previous enemies of the Jews, leading up to Antiochus.  Daniel’s point is that God watched over his people through their tribulations and the people of God eventually withstood their enemies.  John makes the same point about the Romans.  There will be future “beasts” that will oppress the people of God, but ultimately God will give the faithful the victory of eternal life.) 13:5 John draws a parallel between Antiochus (in Daniel-see last session) and the current beast (Rome under Domitian) with his reference to “42 months” (= 3 1/2 years)  His point:  “We’ve seen this before, and we will triumph for eternity by persevering in our relationship with God.”

9:20-21 Despite the continued judgments of God, the people refuse to repent! ( What sin in your life are you refusing to repent from?) 10:9 The scroll is the word of God.  It is sweet because it promises eternal life to those who will walk with God, but it can make you sick when you realize that you must change, and that others will be lost who refuse to walk with God. 11:1-2 references Daniel 9:27. (“Daniel” is another example of Apocalyptic Literature, like Revelation. Apocalyptic Literature basically says, “Bad stuff’s going to happen, as it has in the past, but persevere because God will save his people in the end.”  Daniel, in earlier chapters of that book, reminds his readers that the Israelites have survived everybody from the Babylonians to the Seleucids.  Here, in Revelation 11:2-3, the writer piggybacks on this theme with the “42 months”, (the length of time  of the Seleucid King Antiochus’ reign of terror before he was overthrown by the Jews, to show that the People of God, who were undergoing Roman persecution at the time of its writing, will similarly triumph with eternal life. 11:7 You may have to be a martyr for your faith!

The 7 Trumpets suggest the majestic proclamations of the King. (The  true followers of God, though they had suffered persecution and even death at the hands of evil men, had received the seal of eternal life in  Chapter 7.  But it gets worse for the non-followers of God from Chapter 8-on.) Chapter 8 and 9- The bad things that happen (hail, water turning to blood, water turning deadly bitter, sky becoming dark, locusts, ....all correspond to the plagues on the Egyptians in the Book of Exodus Chapters 7-12.  The point:  In the future, as in the past and in the present, though God’s People will endure hardship, God will deliver those who persevere (to eternal life), and evil will be punished.

6 The 4 horses represent man’s damage to man.  (See attachment.)  God PERMITS it, but LIMITS it.  There have been and will be many martyrs for the faith.  It will get worse before it gets better!  But our reward will be Eternal Life in Heaven.  7:3We can choose to accept God’s Seal through persevering as servants of God. (Still may suffer on earth, though.) 7:4 144,000 not literal!  Symbolic of 12 tribes of Old Testament X 12 Apostles of New Testament X 1000 (“multitude”.)  That is to say, the People of God. 7:9-17 More heavenly vision!  (Mass!)No more pain!  Rejoice! Handout: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jifHX94rWTpfXSOMu6vcv5Xlv5Gi2JAr/view?usp=sharing

When reading this (and future chapters in Revelation!), remember the 4 Senses of Scripture.  (Literal, Allegorical, Moral, Future) These Chapters show a vision of worship in heaven-the Mass! (“Holy, holy, holy”........(the Great) “Amen”) 5:1 Don’t worry....God holds the future (scroll) in his hand. 5:5-6 Jesus is both the Lion (king; powerful) and the Lamb (sacrifice)

2:10- As a Christian, “....you are going to suffer” (No “prosperity Gospel!!)...but “remain faithful until death, and I will give you the Crown of (Eternal!) Life. Repent! 2:23 “I will Give each of you what your WORKS(!!!) deserve.” 3:16 Don’t be “lukewarm” about your faith.  (Nothing else has eternal consequences!!!) 3:20 Are you listening for God’s “knock” on your door?  He’s seeking YOU!  No matter who you are or what you’ve done or what your status is in this world.

1:8 Christ was here before man (Alpha), and will survive man at the end (Omega); We can trust in Him. 1:12 “Lampstands” are to shine the light of Christ.  (What are you doing to shine Christ’s light on others?) 2:4 Have you “lost your first love” (for Christ?)  You can get back your initial zeal by prioritizing and scheduling time to spend with Christ;  In prayer, adoration, through service to Him, reading, reception of the Sacraments, etc. Map - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gR2FgujygQMu3e8eby5zDRYNxgoMl5M4/view?usp=sharing