You can listen to this message in full here:-
http://www.nec.org.au/index.php/listen-to-a-sermon-series/revelation/
Message
Revelation 17:1-18:24
The Overthrow Of Evil In This Broken World.
In a moment we are going to read 2 chapters from Revelation. Before we do so I want to explain the historical significance of a word.
Babylon
Historically the city of Babylon started in about 2000bc as a very small town. Within 200 years it became one of the largest cities in the world. By 600bc it was the capital of the most powerful empire at the time – and they loved to fight.
In 586bc the fight came to Israel. The Babylonians destroyed the temple and brought many of the people of Israel into exile.
They were ripped from their homes.
They were ripped from their families.
They were ripped from their jobs.
Forced to walk over 1000km. They entered a place which was not home.
They could work and live there.
They could marry and have families.
But constantly they were surrounded by idolatry, greed, paganism, temptation, injustice. Babylon was spiritually crushing.
Psalm 137:1-4 gives us a little idea of what it was like for the people at the time.
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.
There our tormentors demanded, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?
That’s Babylon – historically. In 500bc history took a new course when Babylon started to go into decline. When John sees the Revelation Babylon has been in desolation and obscurity for over 250 years.
Now keep all that in mind as we read.
Revelation 17:1-18:24
What are these two chapters all about? Destruction and judgement?
Specifically the destruction and judgement of Babylon.
Not Babylon the actual city. But Babylon who has been seeking to spiritually crush all Christians.
So here is what we know about Babylon.
Babylon is closely connected to the Beast
She sits on the beast who has 7 heads and 10 horns. We have meat this beats before in Revelation 13. We saw then that this beast represents oppressive kingdoms, political powers and social structures.
As the world goes through its history there will always be kingdoms and countries that believe they are in control. The Roman Empire was one. The English Empire was another. The USSR had a go. So did Germany. Today the mantel goes to the USA and to China. History is full of countries determined to flex their might over and against others. These are the seven heads.
When telling us about the destiny of these empires the angel says in Revelation 17:10 Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come. What we are being told here is that the power of empires will come to an end.
Where is the Babylonian Empire now?
Or the Roman Empire?
Or the English Empire?
In times to come people might even look back and say, “Where is the USA?”
No earthly empires will last. Only the kingdom of God will last. But the beast with seven heads and 10 horns puts up a fight – he wants to put up a huge fight. So he asks Babylon for help.
When you understand who Babylon is … well there is no nice way of saying this … Babylon is a prostitute.
Now understand that this description has very little to do with sexuality. The reason she is called a prostitute is because she is very good and luring people and tempting them. That why the beast wants to work so closely with her. Because she is very good at what she does.
Some of the people she tempted and lured are kings.
In chapter 18:9 we read about them.
“When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her.
Why did she focus on the kings, or the leaders of nations? Because if you can distract the leader of a nation, then you can distract the whole nation. Can’t you.
You see it today in North Korea. The whole nation worship and adores Kim Jong-il. They call him the “supreme leader”. He governs their destiny as a country that follows communism. They clap when he shakes his fist against every other country. There are not many people in North Korea who want to be part of the Christian church. He is a leader who has committed adultery with Babylon.
That is easy to see. But what about our own leaders. I’ve never met Julia Gillard. In her time as a politician she has done some good things. She has also done things I wouldn’t agree with. When she became prime minister she made it very clear that she was an atheist. She isn’t alone. In fact the percentage of people who are Christian politicians has significantly decreased over the last 30 years. And so has the number of people in Australia who call themselves Christians. You don’t have to be a dictator to commit adultery with Babylon.
But let us also see it from another angle. There is a business man who has a company with 10 workers. He is a leader … the king of that business. The employees know he cuts corners, and that he cheats, and that he avoids taxes so that he can make more money. The employees still have jobs, and a good salary. So they say nothing. In fact they copy him in his actions. The leader commits adultery with Babylon, and a whole company is affected.
Adultery with Babylon has nothing to do with sexuality.
Some of the people she tempted and lured are merchants.
This is what we read in chapter 18.
The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more … The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn.
Do you know what we call this today … materialism.
Never in the history of the world have we had so much access to so many material goods.
Last year 1.2 billion mobile phones were sold … I guess that to be about 360 billion dollars worth.
An Xbox Game called Modern Warfare made 1 billion dollars of sales … in the first 16 days it was released.
Last year people in Europe and the USA spent 12 billion dollars … on perfume.
And you don’t even have to look that far. Look at your own home. How much is spent on things we don’t really need? How much money is wasted? How much just disappears?
And it has an impact. Chapter 18 lists the things that are bought and sold. Gold … pearls … fine linen … citron wood … ivory … incense … fine flour. The list goes on. And at the end we get this telling item … bodies and souls of men. We gain everything, but lose our soul. Adultery with Babylon has nothing to do with sexuality.
Do you see who Babylon is?
She is not a city. She is a temptress, an enticer. She lures people away.
Her methods are many and varied.
She might target kings and leaders.
She might focus on merchants and buyers.
She comes to us with a thousand different schemes.
But every time her endgame is the same. She is working with the beast to try and spiritually crush us.
Remember earlier what we said about the historical Babylon. Israel was taken to Babylon and forced to live in a foreign land.
They were doing the same thing then as we are doing now.
We live in Babylon.
Every day we are tempted are enticed. Every day we are faced with decisions. Will we be distracted or won’t we? Will we keep on guard against the prostitute or won’t we? Will we be spiritually crushed or won’t we?
It isn’t easy to live like that is it. To live in this world where there is so much temptation and so much at stake.
So how do we deal with it? How do we live in Babylon without losing our soul? Well this is where the advice of the prophets who spoke to Israel is so helpful. Especially the advice of the prophet Jeremiah.
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
Jeremiah 4:4-7
How do we live in Babylon? We get on with life?
We have to buy stuff, that is the world we live in.
We have to make money and have jobs … we might even be quite successful.
We are allowed to get houses, and enjoy the fruits of our labours. It is OK to have money.
We can enjoy technology and entertainment.
We should be involved in the community and building relationships.
We can have families, and loved ones, and celebrations, and parties and all these sorts of things.
While they were in Babylon the people lived. They didn’t hide themselves away. They didn’t just keep to themselves and not catch up with their neighbours. It wasn’t like … keep away, keep away … keep away. All those heathen with all their temptations. They were a part of the community.
Just like us. We are in Babylon now. Everyday this world is seeking to crush us. But that doesn’t mean we should hide. Have your home. Make money. Make friends. Get involved. Be part of the community. Have your fun. But we have to be so careful.
I want you to stop and think about your life for a moment.
Are their times when you feel enticed? We live in a world that has so much. And the people around us have so much. And we wake up and we want more, and we wish for better, and we dream about success. Sometimes that’s us isn’t it? Longing to be given something that is not ours, and really never should be.
Are there days when you are lured? This world has so many pleasures. We can drown ourselves in luxuries. We can party hard and long. We can get lost in the effects of alcohol. We can be attracted to a world where flesh is exposed and lust is enflamed. We know it shouldn’t be like that, but it is.
Do you sometimes get to the end of the day wondering, “Am I really any different?” I see the failures. I feel the shame. I have the guilt. I know I do not deserve the name “Christian”. Who am I … really … who am I to say that I am a successful child of God?
Is that you … ever??
Do you know why this happens? Because the prostitute Babylon right now right on the beast with the seven heads and 10 horns. Empires. Kings. Leaders. Powers. Authorities.
Everyone is against us. We are the targets.
And Babylon is the grand mistress of enticement.
She is good and she knows it.
John sees her in this Revelation and he is astonished. Astonished at her ability. Astonished at her power. Astonished at the extent of her success.
Sometimes we are going to get caught … and we are astonished.
Sometimes we will commit spiritual adultery … and we think “How did that happen?”.
How do we get through? We learn from the Israelites who were in Babylon. Listen again to the words of Jeremiah the Prophet.
This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:10-13
When the Israelites were in Babylon, it was always God’s plan that he would bring the people back to Israel – back to their spiritual home. Babylon might try and drain the spiritual life out of the Israelites – but God would hold onto them.
When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come.
Babylon’s control was only temporary. For all their power and might they would collapse.
You will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you
Even though they were in a foreign land … God’s people were still God’s people … and He would protect them.
The same is true today. Babylon’s Control Is Only Temporary
Fallen Fallen Is Babylon The Great.
Woe Woe O great City.
They see the smoke of her burning.
Your doom has come.
Wealth has been brought to ruin.
God has judged her.
There is no more music … no joy or celebration.
There is no more work … no one has a purpose.
There is no more millstone … no one has food.
There is no more light … the darkness is complete.
The voice of the bride and bridegroom is no longer heard … no more relationships.
Babylon promises so much – dressed in purple and scarlet, with glittering gold and precious stones and pearls. She promises so much. She delivers nothing but destruction.
Are you enticed by her? Have you been committing spiritual adultery?
We have … haven’t we?
But that doesn’t have to be the end … and it shouldn’t be the end.
God has a plan for you.
God wants to give you a hope and a future.
Just call on Him … because any hope you put into the prostitute called Babylon will only end with destruction.
Prayer
