Welcome to PowerPoint with Jack Graham. This world is a sinking ship ruled by Satan himself, a captain who's going down. And therefore, we need to come out. Don't go down with this ship. On today's PowerPoint, Dr.
Graham brings a message about the coming collapse of the world system and what you can do about it.
Now, here's Dr. Graham with his message. The collapse of the world system. Take your Bibles and turn with me to Revelation chapter 17 and 18. Chapter 17 and 18 has to do with the collapse of the world system, represented by Babylon, a code word in the scripture for the world system that is without God and without Christ.
And we are going to see in this passage How the end truly comes, and the end of the world as we know it. We know that the world is on a collision. course. The Bible gives us a template, if you will, to look at prophecy and things to come, future events. Through indicators or signs, Jesus spoke of birth paying, signs of the time.
As birth pains intensify in frequency and intensity, so will these signs of the times multiply at the end of the age. And we've never had a greater convergence. Of multiplied signs and indicators of the last days than today. We have uncovered thus far five signs on the Revelation road to Armageddon and beyond. I just mentioned them briefly to you because they connect with the passage that we have in front of us.
First sign is the regathering and the rebirth of Israel. When Israel was reconstituted as a nation, as a state government in 1948, that set the stage for end time events. We've also seen the reuniting of the Roman Empire.
Now by that, when we read of the Antichrist and the coming world government, it is a confederation, uniting of nations from around the world into one world government. Thirdly, is the reduction of America. We took time in one of our messages to point out that America is absent in the last day scenarios. And because of the rapture of the church, when millions of Christians worldwide will be taken, but millions and millions of Americans like you and me who know and love the Lord Jesus Christ will be taken, translated immediately into the presence of the Lord, and there will be tribulation then and judgment on the earth. But we can see how America rogue will be reduced in the last days.
That is concerning. Fourthly, is the rise of globalism. And that's one of the things that we'll be seeing in our message today: one world government, one world economy, Revelation 13, the rise of the beast, along with chapter 17 and 18 of Babylon. We will see globalism, whether you're speaking of technology or transportation, just the connection now where the nations have become neighborhoods, and the globalism of the financial and economic stratosphere of this country and of this world. All about globalism that's coming.
And then the reality of war in the Middle East. And when we see the struggles of the Middle East, and religious wars being fought. And the turbulence that is in the Middle East today, we know that that is a sign of the end tides because that's where the action will be in the last days.
So with that being said, Chapter 17. And 18, beginning in verse 1 of the 17th chapter through verse 8 initially. Look at it with me. Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, remember bowls are bowls of judgment. final judgments.
Come, he invites John and you and me to look into the future. I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters. And 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. And he carried me away in the spirit into wilderness, 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. And with that, it's a symbol of the Antichrist kingdom. seven heads, ten horns, ten confederated cooperating nations. The woman was arrayed in purple. This woman sitting on the beast, 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.
Uh Hashtag idolatry. Verse 5. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery. A secret.
Now revealed. Davelin the Great. Mother of prostitutes and earth's abominations. And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled greatly.
But the angel said to me, Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery. Here's the secret of the woman and the beast with the seven heads and ten horns that carries her. All right? You want to know a secret?
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. What in the world Is this about? Mysteries. and secrets.
and Babylon. The judgment of the great harlot riding on the back of the beast. Let's start with the fact that Babylon is a code word. Babylon is a code word for the word. For the world without God, the world without Christ.
Babylon represents Satan's kingdom. Just as Jerusalem, the most mentioned city in all of the Bible, represents God and his kingdom forever, and Christ will rule from Jerusalem. and the new heavens and the new earth in the millennial kingdom. But Babylon is the second most mentioned city. in the scripture.
and you can relate Babylon to current Iraq. Babylon has an enormous place in history and in biblical history from the very beginning. Babylon began Genesis chapter 11. Go back, back, back, back, back to the beginning, Genesis 11, when Nimrod, who was the original world leader, a pipe, a picture of the Antichrist, united the people to build a great tower of worship, attempting to scale the heavens, man's efforts to get to the heavens without God. That became the tower of Babel, Babylonian.
And therefore, God saw their feudal attempt to gain, because you see, all religion is man's attempt to get to God. Man's human effort. To get to God, to get to the heavens. The scriptures tell us that God has come to us. In Christ, that God has reached down to us in love and grace.
The difference in the Christian faith and all the religions of the world, including many in the quote, Christian religion, is that. Religions are works and human efforts, attempting to scale to the heights of the heaven, building our own little towers of Babel. But the Christian faith is God coming to us in Christ, dying on a cross to rise again on the third day. And He reaches down, and when we receive Him by faith, we belong to His eternal kingdom. But you go all the way back to the beginning of Babylon at Babel or Babel.
And you have this code word then. for something that is beyond the city itself. For example, Wall Street. If you talk about Wall Street. There is a street.
But beyond the street, it represents something. It represents investments. Wall Street represents money, economy, and stocks, and bonds, and all the rest.
So when you say what's going on at Wall Street, it's not just the city and not just the investment corporations, but it's the whole scheme of things. And Babylon is a code word for the world system that rejects God, the world of both religion. and politics And finances that does not know or acknowledge God. It ultimately is idolatry. worshiping something else other than God, materialism, whatever.
And so, what you have in chapter 17 and 18 of the book of Revelation is the judgment. On. a religious system in Babylon. And also a financial system in Babylon. the world system itself.
Now, God loves the world. And if we love the world, As God loves the world. Then we wouldn't love the world the way we ought not to love the world. We're told not to love the world, not the things in it. Doesn't mean we don't live here and enjoy our lives and And earn a living and enjoy our experience, but it does mean we're not to embrace the world.
We're not to be in love with the world. That's spiritual adultery. But God loves the world. Therefore, we ought to love the world of people. The world of nature.
God created nature. And of all people, Christians ought to celebrate the creation of God and the beauty and the glory of God's creation.
So when we say that Babylon represents the world, it's not the world of nature or the world of human beings, people, but rather it's this system, this world system that is separated from God, that raises itself up in the face of God. And in this case, in the final days, this Babylonian system, it will come to a head with the leadership of the Antichrist, who will capture both government and, quote, God in the name of God. Here's King of You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message: the collapse of the world system. The twenty third Psalm is one of the most beloved passages in the Bible. There is so much depth and encouragement in knowing that God is our shepherd.
This month, Dr. Graham is diving into the 23rd Psalm in a set of 23 videos, and he would love for you to join him for this powerful exposition of David's declaration of God's faithfulness. If you'd like to join, just text Challenge to 59789. Again, text CHALENGE to 59789. In a time marked by confusion, anxiety, and spiritual compromise, your support of PowerPoint helps point millions of people to the one source of unshakable hope and truth: God's Word.
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Now, let's get back to today's message: the collapse of the world system. We meet in verse 1. A scarlet woman. who is riding on the back. of a beast.
What is Who is This woman What does she represent? This scarlet woman represents a religious system on the waters, it says, which represents nations and peoples. It's the idea Of a religious system that is unified. It's very popular even in our own generation. The world Without Christ wants.
One religion, one faith, one world, one love. is called syncretism. Which means Mix it all together. All the ideas about God, all the religions, all the experiences. Mix it all together, mash it all together, and you get one world religion.
And in the last days, there will be finally One world religion. Because now government will intrude completely the Antichrist upon this religious system and use religion to his own end in the first part of the seven years of the Great Tribulation. And of course, the source of false religion is Satan himself. Who is the father of lies?
So here you have it. Beauty and the beast. A scarlet woman. who is appealing, alluring, and attractive, sitting on the beast. And she supported by the Antichrist.
She is a high-dollar. Call girl. For she is arrayed not only in scarlet, but gold and purple, which are the colors of royalty, prosperity, and wealth. She is a beautiful, alluring, attractive, appealing woman. Religion, world religion is like that.
And this is the reason in our generation we must teach the Word of God, the testimony of Jesus. We must make sure that we know God's Word and the truth of God's Word, because when those come against us with Satan's lies and traps and religions and ideas that don't measure up to Scripture, there are so many people who have kind of a free-floating religious experience. Oh, I believe in light. Oh, I believe in love. I believe in God.
I believe in Jesus. I believe in my religion. I believe in this, but they don't have a personal faith in Christ. This is spiritual seduction, and it's not comparable to Christianity in the New Testament. The faith that is once delivered to the saints.
And the pressure is on in our generation to conform, to accept all religions and all experiences and all truths as equally valued. That's the religion of the Antichrist. That's the beast and the beauty, the harlot riding on the back of this beast. There are plenty of prophets, false prophets, religious leaders. Who are representing Satan and his causes today like angels of light?
But just because something looks good on the outside, beautiful like this woman on the beast, or good on the outside, it does not mean it's true. Just because it seems so good, so nice, so sweet. Everybody get together. Let's hold hands. Let's sing kumbaya.
We are the world. It's because it looks good doesn't mean it's true. Just because it feels right doesn't mean it's right. We live our lives based on the truth of the Word of God.
So the rest of chapter 17 becomes a recap. of the nature of the Antichrist, the biography of a beast, how the Antichrist rules this world and with religion establishes a world government, his evil empire, seven kings and ten horns, this international coalition that he puts together. The ten horns represent the Confederated Nations of the world, United Nations of the world. And he controls that. Along with this unholy relationship.
with religion. World religion. But this unholy relationship will not last. It This marriage is not going to make it. In the end, the Antichrist will throw her away.
and discard her. Because she's all used Uh The Antichrist in the last period of the of the Great Tribulation. Will destroy all religious expression and set himself up as to be worshipped. in Jerusalem. is called in the Bible the abomination of desolation.
When the dictator demands that he would be worshiped, Satan wants no competition. and will not ultimately allow it. And in one way, God uses evil to eradicate. Evil. Look at verse 16 of chapter 17.
For it says, they will make her desolate, speaking of this scarlet woman. Make her desolate and naked and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire. But verse 17 says, For God, not Satan, but God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose. God's in control. God is bringing judgment and eradicating evil, and He uses evil to eradicate evil.
He uses the Antichrist as an instrument of judgment to destroy idolatry and false religion. Amazing, isn't it? but not surprising. Chapter 18 tells us then, look at verse 1. And after I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory.
And he called out with a mighty voice. Fallen, fallen two times. Perhaps illustrating the fall of ecclesiastical, religious Babylon, and the fall of political Babylon. Fallen, fallen. Both are fallen.
Battle in the Great, and she has become a dwelling place for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit. The economic system of the world collapses. And that's what chapter 18 is about. When you read verses 9 and 10, for example, look at it. The kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning, and they will stand far off in fear of her torment and say, Alas, alas, you great city, you mighty city, Babylon, for in a single hour your judgment has come.
Think about it. All the kingdoms of this world. The powerful economic systems. All the The great powers and authorities and kingdoms of this world collapse. and burn.
Just like that, because the world has now become demonized, that's the first six verses, has become depraved, verses seven and eight, and ultimately it is destroyed. Fallen, fallen. When God says it's done, it's done, it's over. And this is the end of the world as we know it. Because Mother Earth is due a new birth, and that's coming when God makes all things new.
in the future.
So until then, what should we do? In light of this information, What are we supposed to do? Look at verse 4 of chapter 18. It says, Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues. And then he goes on to say, For her sins are heaped up all the way to heaven.
It is a stench in the nostrils of a holy God, this world system.
So what are we told to do? We're told to come out of the world. Not to go down with the world. But to go up with Jesus. We are to live separated lives.
We're in the world, but we are not of this world. Again, it doesn't mean that we don't have interest in our business. It doesn't mean that we don't have things to do that are important, but it means we're not attached. We're not allured by this world system that is on its way to judgment. This world is a sinking ship ruled by Satan himself, a captain who's going down.
And therefore, we need to come out. Don't go down with this ship. Come out, the scripture says, and be separate. And we, knowing these things, should be called to a higher life, a better life, a life that honors Christ, a life that is onward and upward, not downward and sideways. and ultimately at the end.
And then we're to shout out.
Some things. Chapter 18. And verse 20. It says, Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment to you or for you against her. Then look at chapter 19.
Verses one. And two. And after this, I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven crying out, Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just. For he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality and has avenged the blood of his servants.
His smoke goes up forever and ever. We should shout out our victory. Don't you get weary of this world and its system? It's suffering, it's sin, it's wickedness. Getting worse and worse.
It's not getting better.
Sometimes when we see All the suffering, all the pain. Whether it's at a personal level, Or at community level, we see all of this craziness in our world today. And we wonder, when will justice ever be served? When's that day coming when there will be peace on earth? When will, if ever, righteousness prevail?
Right here. That's what we shout out about. We say, yes, Lord. Amen. Hallelujah.
Because you have judged the world in righteousness. And then we celebrate forever. the glory and the victory that is ours. In the end, we win. Our victory is in Jesus.
And therefore, there's one other thing very briefly, and that is to go out. Because if You read this and you believe this and I do. And how can we not tell the good news of Jesus Christ? This is all the bad news. Bad, bad, bad, bad, bad.
Really bad. But the good news Greatest news the world has ever heard. is the gospel of Jesus Christ. His death, his burial, his resurrection for all who will believe and receive him. You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message, the collapse of the world system.
It's easy to get caught in the cycle of always trying to do more, be more, and carry it all by yourself. As a result, so many people battle stress and anxiety, especially around the holidays. But that's not God's heart for you. And in his booklet, Breaking Free from Stress. doctor Jack Graham speaks directly to the anxious heart.
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Text stress to 59-789. That's stress. to 59-789. The 23rd Psalm is one of the most beloved passages in the Bible. There is so much depth and encouragement in knowing that God is our shepherd.
This month, Dr. Graham is diving into the 23rd Psalm in a set of 23 videos, and he would love for you to join him for this powerful exposition of David's declaration of God's faithfulness. If you'd like to join, just text Challenge to 59789. Again, text Challenge to 59789. Pastor, what is your PowerPoint for today?
There are four major points I pray for every believer listening to me today. One in the light of the world's eventual collapse and destruction, We're told to come out of the world. Don't go down with this world. But go up with Jesus. We are to live separated lives, that is, lives that are different from this world.
Lives that honor Christ. We're in this world, but we are not to be with this world, of this world. Secondly, Live a life that truly glorifies God, that maximizes Jesus in your life. Live a higher life, a better life, a life on a higher plane, a life that is always moving onward and upward towards the victory that we have in Christ. Our destination, which is heaven, becomes our motivation for godly living every day.
Number three, because you know the truth about the future, about what's coming, You must go out and tell your friends about Jesus. Tell your family members of the one who died to save them on the cross and rose again. Prepare your children and your grandchildren for the future that is coming. Get them ready and help them to stand strong on the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. And then finally, Give generously to your church and the work of evangelizing the nations.
World missions, global missions is very much on our hearts in these days.
Now's the time to accelerate our witness.
Now's the time to increase our commitment to tell the nations that Jesus saves. And that is today's PowerPoint. Remember, when you give a gift of $10 or more to PowerPoint, we'll send you a copy of Dr. Graham's booklet, Breaking Free from Stress as Our Thanks. Just text the word stress to 59-789.
And join us again next time as Dr. Graham brings a message about what will happen on the day Christ returns and how you can be ready. That's next time on PowerPoint with Jack Graham. PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint Ministries.
