Note: I used many sources to study this book, one of my favorites is Revelation: God’s Word for the Biblically-Inept by Daymond Duck and some out of different study bibles.
Title: The final fall of Babylon
Theme: Show the fall of the political system.
Text: Revelation 18
1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
After what things? After the destruction of the Babylon as the prostitute religion of the world.
Two characteristics 1) great power 2) illuminate the earth . . . with his glory Some say this is Christ as he is represented in other passages, if not Christ at least we can understand that this angel comes from the very presence of God. Rev 8:3 The Angel-Priest Rev 10:1 The Angel-Redeemer Here The Anger-Avenger
2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
In the previous chapter we saw the fall of Babylon also, but who did we say it was in representation of? The religious system had fallen.
It will be judged as we will see in the next chapter (19:17-12; Is 13:1-11)
We have heard about the fall in two previous chapters 14:8 (prophetic announcement) and 16:19 (anticipated destruction)
Here we see the truthfulness behind Babylon. What was suppose to be a new revolution of peace and prosperity became an habitation for all of Satan
3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
There is not a one outside of God's elect who could say they have not participated with this terrible seductive system. Even beyond the 10 kings we see all kings. Not only in the spiritual/religious realm but also in the trade and commercialism.
For some this is where it begins and leads to more pleasure. They are seduced and blinded. Missing all the prophecies and call of God.
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Who is being called out? Is 52:11; Jer 51:45; 1Cor 11:32
God always gives a warning and a calling to his people before destruction.
Noah and Lot and the NT church
When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them. (Deuteronomy 4:30-31 AV)
For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:31-32 AV)
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Did God forget their iniquities? No he just brought them back up. It seems he forgets yet here we read that the sins are piled up just as the bricks of the Tower of Babel. Piled up until they reach heaven and justice has to be done.
6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
Ga 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Every thing will come to fruition. All will be answered for.
7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
Here is what it is all about. James 5:1-6
pride- (glorified herself), self-security("I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow), godlessness and glorification of wealth and luxury
mainly self-exhalation
8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
Here we see the judgement. God is the only one that can judge.
Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. (Isaiah 63:1-4 AV)
How long will it take to bring down a government. A society? Not long when it is God.
9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously (laviously, with great pleasure) with her, shall bewail (weep) her, and lament (morn) for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
They will weep at her destruction.
10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
Here we see the kings who have participated with her will be sadden by her judgement. But they stand afar off in fear. We will see this idea of one hour again.
This will bring fear in their lives. Maybe there is a God?
11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
Why? For lost souls? For their sin? For loss life? No because they lose customers.
12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, ladies wear, furniture, luxury
They will hoard these things yet they will be destroyed.
1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. (James 5:1-3 AV)
13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
food of the rich and pleasurable
even we see slavery, maybe not as we used to see it but it is as if one working from paycheck to paycheck and being taken advantaged of by the company. What about pornography, drugs, and prostitution.
Will there be slavery too? Well yes to pleasure but probably slavery will be restored. It still happens in some countries.
14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
Notice the fruits. We will be known by the fruits we bear either rotten or good.
15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
With fear they stand at a distance and watch the destruction, knowing they are next.
16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
ΒΆ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (Matthew 6:19-20 AV)
17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
Can this economic system be destroyed in one hour
18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
The city of Tyre found in Ez 27:32 was like this. Ezekiel prophesied of its destruction yet it was suppose to be unstoppable. Nebuchadnezzar started it and Alexander the Great finished it.
19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
Some say that because no one would go near the city that it was a nuclear bomb that destroyed it.
20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
Here we see the opposite reaction to the destruction of Babylon. While one group mourns over money the over rejoices over God.
21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
Here a mighty angel is mentioned a third time.
22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;
End of music (harpers, and musicians and of pipers and trumpeters, entertainment
End of crafts (craftsman), ungodly worship. What did this get them? destruction
23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
End of illumination (maybe of God's trying or even of any dealing) End of marriages (the bridegroom and of the bride)
Why? the deceivers with sorceries. What do you think about with this word sorceries? witchcraft, occult, manipulation
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
Fall of Rome
1. The undermining of dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis for human society.
2. Higher and higher taxes; the spending of public money for free bread and circuses for the populace
3. The mad craze for pleasure; sports becoming every year more exciting, more brutal, more immoral
4. The building of great armaments when the real enemy was within--the decay of individual responsibility
5. The decay of religion; faith fading into mere form, losing touch with life, losing power to guide people.
