Revelation Study Series 23 - God’s Mysterious Plan Fulfilled (Chapter 18) Series

Revelation Study Series 23 - God’s Mysterious Plan Fulfilled (Chapter 18)

05.15.22

Message…

Mukesh Ambani of India, an oil baron has the world's most expensive home coming in at over $1 billion. (400,000 sq. ft., 27 story, 168 car garage with its own gas station. It has 9 elevators, three helicopter pads, a room that produces snow, a movie theater, inside gardens, 3 Olympic size pools, etc. And, a staff of over 600 that maintains everything.)

https://www.gobankingrates.com/money/wealth/craziest-things-billionaires-spend-money-on/; and other internet sources

This might be a little extreme and a strange segway into today’s message…but, we are going to hit on the life of luxury a little.

Revelation 18

1 After all this I saw another angel come down from heaven with great authority, and the earth grew bright with his splendor.

2 He gave a mighty shout:

“Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen!

She has become a home for demons.

She is a hideout for every foul spirit,

a hideout for every foul vulture

and every foul and dreadful animal.

3 For all the nations have fallen

because of the wine of her passionate immorality.

The kings of the world have committed adultery with her.

Because of her desires for extravagant luxury,

the merchants of the world have grown rich.”

4 Then I heard another voice calling from heaven,

“Come away from her, my people.

Do not take part in her sins,

or you will be punished with her.

5 For her sins are piled as high as heaven,

and God remembers her evil deeds.

6 Do to her as she has done to others.

Double her penalty for all her evil deeds.

She brewed a cup of terror for others,

so brew twice as much for her.

7 She glorified herself and lived in luxury,

so match it now with torment and sorrow.

She boasted in her heart,

‘I am queen on my throne.

I am no helpless widow,

and I have no reason to mourn.’

8 Therefore, these plagues will overtake her in a single day—death and mourning and famine.

She will be completely consumed by fire,

for the Lord God who judges her is mighty.”

9 And the kings of the world who committed adultery with her and enjoyed her great luxury will mourn for her as they see the smoke rising from her charred remains.

10 They will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will cry out,

“How terrible, how terrible for you,

O Babylon, you great city!

In a single moment God’s judgment came on you.”

The last time we were in our Revelation Series we talked about the great prostitute that rode the beast. The Bible says that the great prostitute was a great city. We talked about her figuratively representing religious Babylon.

What we read today lays out very specific information about this city’s destruction. But, the identity of this city is debatable. (Rome, Babylon, even Jerusalem)…

Matt. 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! … 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate;

Maybe this is some future city that will rise to power in the last days?

However, just as Rev. 17 gave us a religious Babylon, Rev. 18 gives us a worldly commercial Babylon.

Revelation 18:11-24

11 The merchants of the world will weep and mourn for her, for there is no one left to buy their goods.

12 She bought great quantities of gold, silver, jewels, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet cloth; things made of fragrant thyine wood, ivory goods, and objects made of expensive wood; and bronze, iron, and marble.

13 She also bought cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, wagons, and bodies—that is, human slaves.

14 “The fancy things you loved so much

are gone,” they cry.

“All your luxuries and splendor

are gone forever,

never to be yours again.”

15 The merchants who became wealthy by selling her these things will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will weep and cry out,

16 “How terrible, how terrible for that great city!

She was clothed in finest purple and scarlet linens,

decked out with gold and precious stones and pearls!

17 In a single moment

all the wealth of the city is gone!”

And all the captains of the merchant ships and their passengers and sailors and crews will stand at a distance.

18 They will cry out as they watch the smoke ascend, and they will say, “Where is there another city as great as this?”

19 And they will weep and throw dust on their heads to show their grief. And they will cry out,

“How terrible, how terrible for that great city!