^17:2with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality."

with whom the KINGS of the EARTH committed acts of IMMORALITY, and

A curious side of human nature is that when something rather scandalous is made known, the person tends to want to investigate it. The "harlot" is just such a curiosity. Even the leadership of the EARTH is not immune to this phenomena (Proverbs 25:1-2-5-7). Little do they realize that the allure of the "harlot" (wicked) leads to IMMORALITY (lack of righteousness).

From ages past, the KINGS of the EARTH are against God (Psalm 2:2). By this time in the tribulation period, the KINGS (as part of the whole world - Revelation 13:3-4) are totally involved with the sea beast (antiChrist). The whole world has been deceived (Revelation 18:3), and the nations have gone mad (Jeremiah 51:5-10).

Harlotry implies cohabitation. The inference here is that the socio-economic world will be merged into the religious world (or vice versa). James 4:4 points out this will not work. The "harlot" also discovers this too (Revelation 17:16).

those who dwell on the earth were made DRUNK with the wine of her IMMORALITY."

So intoxicating is this religious and socio-economic tryst, that those who dwell on the earth (unbelievers of the TRUTH) are reeling about as DRUNKARDS. This is totally opposite of believer's behavior (2 Corinthians 4:1-6).

As Tim LaHaye points out in his book, Revelation Unveiled,¹ "In viewing the Hindus, Buddhists, Confucianists, Taoists, Muslims, and primitive religionists, I have found that none of them teaches the moral standards of God. Instead, their practices are based on a loose form of behavior that permits sensual activities, producing guilt complexes that the religion in turn uses to enslave its people in forms of personal sacrifice and self abuse to atone for their own sin. The Babylonian religions of the world, whether they be Greek, Indian, African, Roman, or Chinese, are arrayed in gold, precious stones, and costly array. They use mystery and idolatry."

To make this alliance complete, the full force of "instant" marketing will be brought to bear upon those who dwell on the earth. When something is seen "to be good" enough times, it is human nature to accept that IMMORAL behavior. With the true believers taken from the earth by this time, there are precious few witnesses left to contradict the hype. The state of the earth is one acting as though it is on a collective DRUNK.
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