From Babel to Babylon: False Religion's Deadly Seduction

Devotional

Day 1: Babylon’s Lure and the Call to Discern

The picture in Revelation is sobering: a gorgeous, glittering system that intoxicates nations and seduces leaders while quietly warring against God’s people. You are reminded that evil rarely shows up looking dull; it sparkles, promises power, and offers a cup that feels sweet before it poisons. Discernment means asking not only, “Does this look good?” but, “Where does this lead?” The enemy is not your friend; he uses religion, power, and beauty to pull hearts from the living God. Yet even here, God is not shaken; He will judge deception and keep His own. Walk alert and hopeful—eyes open, heart steady in Jesus. [33:30]

Revelation 17:1–6: An angel invites John to see how God will judge a notorious harlot who sits over many waters—peoples and nations. Earth’s rulers shared her immorality, and the world became drunk on it. In the wilderness John sees a woman riding a scarlet beast covered with blasphemous names, with seven heads and ten horns. She wears royal colors, shines with gold and gems, and holds a golden cup brimming with filth and abominations. Her forehead reads, “Babylon the Great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” She is drunk with the blood of the saints and those who bear witness to Jesus, and John is stunned.

Reflection: Where do you see culturally celebrated “sparkle” drawing your attention away from Jesus this week, and what single boundary will you set to keep your heart clear and sober before God?

Day 2: Worship God Daily, Not Just Weekly

You were made to worship, not only at a service but in the kitchen, at your desk, in your car. The antichrist exploits humanity’s hunger to worship; do not let your hunger be captured by lesser gods. Offer ordinary moments to Jesus: a whispered prayer before a meeting, a song while you fold laundry, thanksgiving on your commute. If He truly is your Lord, let Monday through Saturday reveal it as much as Sunday morning. Worship is a life given, not a slot filled. Begin small, begin today. [39:55]

Genesis 1:26–27: God said, “Let us make humans in our image so they reflect our likeness and exercise wise care over the earth.” So God created humanity in His image; male and female He created them to mirror Him in the world.

Reflection: What is one ordinary space in your week (desk, sink, driver’s seat) that you will intentionally turn into a place of worship, and what simple practice will you use there?

Day 3: Guarding the Heart From Lust and Pride

The false system in Revelation is dressed to entice—purple and scarlet, gold and pearls, a shining cup filled with rot. Temptation often arrives through the eyes and settles into the heart: the craving to possess, the appetite for pleasure, the pride that wants a name above others. Name the seduction that most tugs at you right now; secrecy gives it strength, honesty breaks its spell. You cannot win in your own power; the Holy Spirit empowers new desires and steady obedience. Choose the narrow path that looks small but leads to life. Ask for help, and walk with a trusted believer. [43:02]

1 John 2:16–17: What the world offers—the cravings of the body, the grasping eyes, and the swagger of possessiveness—doesn’t come from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires are fading, but the one who does God’s will lives into God’s forever.

Reflection: Which “sparkle” most pulls at you—image, status, possessions, or a hidden habit—and how will you invite the Holy Spirit into the very moment that desire usually surfaces today?

Day 4: Hope Amid Persecution: God Keeps a Remnant

Across centuries, faithful believers have bled under the pressure of false worship and hostile powers, yet God has never lost track of a single one. He keeps a remnant, clothes His witnesses in white, and tells them to rest until His timing is complete. The Lion of Judah will return; justice delayed is not justice denied. Pray for the persecuted, and strengthen your own resolve: Jesus is worth your whole life. Suffering is real, but it is not final; God’s victory is sure. Hold fast and encourage someone who is weary. [01:00:40]

Revelation 6:9–11: John sees under the heavenly altar the souls of those killed for God’s word and their testimony. They cry, “How long, O Lord, until You judge and vindicate?” Each receives a white robe and is told to rest a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants who will be killed is complete.

Reflection: Who is one believer facing pressure or suffering that you can support this week, and what specific prayer, note, or act of help will you offer?

Day 5: Repent Today: God’s Patient Invitation to Life

God is not slow; He is patient, giving room for hearts to turn. Do not mistake patience for indifference—He longs to rescue, not to condemn. Today is a good day to lay down your pride, name your sin, and trust the crucified and risen Jesus to save you. Begin this year with a clear conscience and a new direction; grace is for now, not someday. Ask, believe, and follow—He delights to receive those who come to Him. Let your next step be honest, concrete, and today. [01:06:25]

2 Peter 3:9: The Lord is not dragging His feet about His promise. Instead, He holds back in mercy, not wanting anyone to be lost but desiring that all would turn around and come home to Him.

Reflection: If you sense God’s patience drawing you, what is one specific step of repentance you will take before the day ends, and who will you tell to help you walk it out?

Sermon Summary

Revelation 17:1-6 unveils a global, seductive religious system portrayed as a notorious prostitute seated on many waters—commanding the allegiance of nations and leaders. She rides a scarlet, blasphemous beast, signaling an alliance with the Antichrist. Though she appears dominant, she is ultimately a tool in his hands; behind him stands Satan, and above all stands the sovereign God who will bring all things to their appointed end. This system dazzles with luxury—purple and scarlet, gold and pearls—and offers a golden cup brimming with spiritual impurities. The point is clear: sin does not merely argue; it advertises. It lures the senses, trades in desire, and blinds consciences.

Her forehead reads, “Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes,” linking her to the defiant spirit of Babel. From Genesis 10–11, Nimrod’s kingdom in Shinar and the Tower of Babel exemplify humanity’s resolve to “make a name” for itself, resisting God’s command to fill the earth. Through history, counterfeit worship proliferated—seen even inside Israel’s temple with weeping for Tammuz and offerings to the “queen of heaven.” This is not an ancient curiosity but the seedbed of every false religion, a river of deception that has flowed through empires and cities—even into churches—and still seeks to rebrand self-worship as spirituality.

The text exposes how the Antichrist, well aware of religion’s sway over human hearts, will harness this system to consolidate power. Yet Scripture insists that God remains in control, and that Christ will return to judge and to set all things right. The woman is drunk with the blood of saints; persecution is real—past, present, and future. Still, God preserves a remnant, and the church’s hope is secure in the promised rescue of Christ. All of this presses an urgent question: whom will we worship? Not just for an hour on Sunday, but with the whole of life—home, work, desires, and decisions. The call is to repent, believe the gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and refuse the seduction of a religion that enthrones the self. God is patient, not wanting any to perish, and now is the day to turn to Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Babylon births every false religion. The spirit of Babel—self-exaltation and defiance—seeded a global system that counterfeits true worship and multiplies idols. From Nimrod’s Shinar to “Babylon the Great,” Scripture traces one stream of rebellion dressed in many costumes. The aim is always the same: turn hearts from the living God to a lie. The wise discern the roots so they will not be fooled by the fruit. [49:24]
2. Sin seduces through beauty and power. The harlot’s purple, gold, and jeweled cup teach that sin markets itself through spectacle and desire. It promises sophistication and freedom while concealing impurities that corrode the soul. This is why Scripture warns against the lust of eyes and pride of life—what dazzles often deadens. Spiritual sobriety begins by unmasking the allure. [40:32]
3. Antichrist exploits worship; God overrules. Religion shapes nations, and the Antichrist will leverage that force to unify power under his agenda. Yet Satan’s schemes unfold within boundaries set by the sovereign God who writes the end from the beginning. What looks like control from below is already under command from above. Hope rests not in regimes but in Christ’s certain return. [36:53]
4. Worship daily, not just Sunday. Humans are made to worship; if not God, then something else—often the self. Limiting worship to a weekly hour leaves the heart open to rival altars throughout the week. Whole-life devotion recalibrates loves and habits so seduction finds less room to stick. The question is not whether we worship, but whom. [39:26]
5. Martyrdom is real; hope remains. The woman is drunk with the saints’ blood—persecution is neither new nor imaginary. Across centuries and continents, faithful witnesses have suffered and still do. Yet God keeps a remnant, and He has promised to rescue His church and judge evil. Christian hope does not deny suffering; it outlasts it. [59:02]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[27:05] - Revelation 17:1-6 read
[30:43] - Who is Babylon?
[32:49] - Many waters: nations deceived
[36:33] - Scarlet beast identified
[36:53] - Antichrist uses religion; God rules
[40:32] - Seduction: luxury, lust, and lure
[43:22] - Golden cup of abominations
[47:01] - Modern idolatry: self as religion
[49:24] - Nimrod, Shinar, and Babel
[53:37] - Counterfeits: Semiramis and Tammuz
[59:02] - Drunk with the saints’ blood
[61:04] - Sovereign hope: rapture and return
[64:31] - The gospel and urgent appeal

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading

- Revelation 17:1-6

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me,
“Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters.
With her the kings of the earth committed adultery,
and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”
Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness.
There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.
The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls.
She had a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.
The name written on her forehead was a mystery:
Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth.
I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.
When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.

Observation questions

In the vision, what does the phrase “seated on many waters” point to about her reach and influence among peoples and nations? [33:17]
List the details used to describe the woman’s appearance and her cup. What do purple, scarlet, gold, jewels, pearls, and a golden cup suggest about how she presents herself? (Rev 17:4)
What name is written on her forehead, and what does that title claim about her role in the spread of idolatry? (Rev 17:5)
What is the woman “drunk” with, and how does John respond when he sees this? (Rev 17:6) [59:02]

Interpretation questions

The woman rides a scarlet beast, yet the beast (Antichrist) uses the religious system to gain power while God still rules over all. How does this picture help make sense of evil appearing powerful but still being under God’s leash? [36:53]
The luxury and spectacle—purple, scarlet, gold, pearls—and the golden cup full of impurities show how sin sells itself. How does this unmask the way “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” work on the heart? [42:49]
“Babylon the Great” is called “the mother of prostitutes,” and the story line traces back to Nimrod and Babel in Shinar. How does seeing the roots (Genesis 10–11) help believers discern modern counterfeits that look spiritual but center on self? [49:24]
The woman is drunk with the blood of the saints. What should believers expect about persecution—past, present, and future—and how does hope in Christ’s return shape that outlook? [59:02]

Application questions

“If you’re not worshiping him at your home…you’re missing out.” What does whole-life worship look like for you this week at home, at work, with your habits and decisions? What is one daily practice you will start or restart to keep your heart set on Jesus? [39:26]
“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father.” Where are you feeling the pull of spectacle, status, or desire right now? What guardrails (people, prayers, limits) will you put in place to stay sober-minded? [42:49]
“Come, let us…make a name for ourselves.” Where are you tempted to build your own name—platform, image, or control? What would repentance look like in that exact spot this week, and what new obedience could replace self-promotion? [50:21]
“Pray for your lost friends…family…neighbors.” Who are three names you can share with the group to pray for by name? What is one simple step you can take—an invite, a text, a meal, a question—to move toward one of them this week? [48:51]
“We need to be aware of the times and the signs…God is not asleep at the wheel.” When you watch the news, do you slide toward fear, cynicism, or apathy? What helps you stay alert without losing peace, and how can the group help you hold that line? [01:01:44]
“He is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” If you have not trusted Christ, what is holding you back today? If you have, who will hear the gospel from you this week, and when will you share it? [01:03:36]

Sermon Clips

First John two sixteen, lust is not from God. Lust is what we have that we must battle every single day. I don't care if you're a man or a woman. You have to battle it through the power of the Holy Spirit. You can't win any other way, not in your own power. [00:42:51] (24 seconds) #FightLustWithSpirit

What are some of those things that Satan is using against you today to take you away? What sin is he putting in front of you? And we all know that there's at least one in each of our lives. Will you be bold enough to admit it? Will you be bold enough to say, god, this is my issue? Please help me. We must all realize that the battle is real. [00:46:06] (33 seconds) #AdmitAndRepent

You say, well, I don't do any religion. Okay. You are the religion. That's who you are. Because in Genesis 11, we'll get to that in a few moments, that's exactly what they did. They propped themselves up as greater than god, and that's probably you. I don't need a crutch called religion. Okay. You are the religion because you think you're better than everybody else. You think you're even better than god because you don't need him. [00:47:05] (34 seconds) #PrideIsReligion

You know who Satan is? He seeks to kill, to steal, and destroy. He is not your friend. He is not your family's friend. He is not your coworker's friend. He is not your classmate's friend. He is not a friend. He wants you far away from god, And this evil religious system is the tool in Revelation 17 that god has or that Satan has used, is using, and will use to draw countless numbers of people to hell for all of eternity. Understand that. [00:47:56] (43 seconds) #SatanUsesReligion

Satan is doing all of these things to lead the people of god away from him since the very beginning, since Genesis three. Remember who Satan is. He is the father of lies, John eight forty four. Remember, he is not your friend. He is seeking to steal, kill, and destroy you. He is the lion that is prowling around looking for whoever he might devour. [00:57:35] (27 seconds) #SatanIsNotYourFriend

He doesn't want us to experience Revelation 17. He doesn't want to ex us to experience death without him. That's the reason Jesus came. Will you repent of your sins today? Preacher, I'm not a sinner. Bible says all of us are sinners. Romans three twenty three. And if we continue to remain in that sin, we will go straight to hell. [01:03:56] (29 seconds) #ChooseLifeInChrist

But God demonstrated his love for us that he came and lived on this planet in the form of his son Jesus, lived the perfect life, went to the cross, yelled out it is finished when all of the sins of humanity was placed on his shoulders. He died on the cross, the Bible says. He was then placed in the tomb. In the third day, God raised him from the dead. He did all of that so that we could be rescued from our greatest problem, which is sin. [01:04:26] (32 seconds) #JesusPaidItAll

Bible says you're a sinner. You're dying in your sin unless you trust in Jesus, unless you repent of your sins, unless you place your full faith and obedience in him, and you say, Jesus, I need to be saved. I do not want to participate in any of this Revelation 17 and moving forward. And you don't have to. [01:05:54] (23 seconds) #RepentAndBelieve

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From Babel to Babylon: False Religion's Deadly Seduction

Devotional

Day 1: Babylon’s Lure and the Call to Discern

Day 2: Worship God Daily, Not Just Weekly

Day 3: Guarding the Heart From Lust and Pride

Day 4: Hope Amid Persecution: God Keeps a Remnant

Day 5: Repent Today: God’s Patient Invitation to Life

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

From Babel to Babylon: False Religion's Deadly Seduction

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