Revelation 17-18 Study Questions

General questions:

1. What did you learn tonight you did not previously know? What was new or exciting to you?

2. In spiritual terms, what does a harlot represent?

(The harlot represents those who worship something other than the true God, or have once worshiped God, but later turned away from Him.)

3. The Bible urges us to “come out of her.” (Revelation 18:4)  

–How are Christians “in the world” ?  

–How are Christians overly committed to the world?

–What does it mean to come out of the world?

4. Revelation uses the imagery of “water” for nations, or many peoples and great multitudes. Why do you think water is the symbol for nations?

5. Does the destruction of the wicked empires of the earth make you uncomfortable? Do you think God delights in the destruction of the wicked? How does Ezekiel 33:11 compare to the joy Christians might feel at the destruction of our enemy?

6. Revelation 17:3 says the kings of the earth committed fornication with the harlot. How do world leaders commit spiritual adultery?

7. Revelation 17:5, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” What is the meaning of this name?

(My thought:) BABYLON was a great enemy of God’s people during the Old Testament times. It is used symbolically here to describe this great harlot as a great spiritual enemy of God’s people. The religious powers who are committing spiritual fornication are spiritual enemies of God’s people.

8. What kind of symbols does Revelation 17-18 use to show the sins of Beast and the wicked? (Sexual immorality, greed, trade…)

9. Do you think in this hour of Christianity the Beast is getting stronger or weaker?

Discipleship (1-1) discussion Questions:

1. What has God been teaching you in this time of life?

2. In one word, how are you doing right now?

3.What has God asked yo to do recently that makes you very uncomfortable?

For Deeper Study:

1. Read Revelation 17 and Revelation 21.

Make a list of direct contrasts between the two cities.

2. What are some ways Babylon and Rome are similar?

–Both took the nation of Israel captive.

–Both were mighty nations with a long history.

–Both were worshipers of pagan gods.

3. What are some ways we see the beast rise up in the past? Before Christ.

–What are some ways the Beast was at work in John’s world?

–In the time after Revelation’s writing, how has the Beast risen up against the church?

–Do we see the Beast at work in our world?

4. How do the Beasts in Revelation line up to the Beasts in Daniel?

–What are some differences?

–What are some similarities?

–Why are they not a “one for one” match?