NOTE: This Bible study on the end times comes from the perspective of a pre-tribulation Rapture.
Tonight, we are going to be looking at chapters 18 and 19, and then there will be three chapters remaining in the book of Revelation. We will first begin by looking at “The Fall of Babylon.” Now, keep in mind that Babylon is the Antichrist’s earthly kingdom. I want to encourage you to be filling out the provided handout, so you can keep track of all this information. We will begin by reading all the way through the entire chapter, so please bear with me.
(Refer to Handout: “The Symbolism of Chapters 18 and 19”)
The Fall of Babylon (The Roman Empire)
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 18:1-24:
1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”
4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6 Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. 7 In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’ 8 Therefore her plagues will come in one day – death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her.”
9 “The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’ 11 And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 12 merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all.”
15 “The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17 For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance 18 and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’ 19 They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’ 20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!”
21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. 22 The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. 23 The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.”
• We read here about the city of Babylon. During our last study we discussed the endtime identity of Babylon. What modern city becomes its prophetic counterpart?
The answer is the city of Rome; which represents a resurrected Roman Empire.
For Babylon, fill in “The City of Rome.”
I do not want to “muddy the waters,” but Tim LaHaye believes that the Babylon seen here will be the same Babylon from ancient times; one that is revived and restored. He says, “The one-world government, the one-world religion, and the one world banking system that make possible the commerce of the world, are already gathering momentum. It is just a matter of time before they decide to locate in a single spot. That spot will be Babylon.” He continues to say that the new Babylon will be “under the leadership of Rome.” I think what we can take away from this information is that we need to keep a close watch on both Europe and the Middle East.
• According to verse 2, what happens to Babylon, or this revived Roman Empire?
We read that “Babylon the great is fallen.” The city will fall and be destroyed. If you will recall, we earlier read in chapter 14, verse 8, “And another angel followed, saying, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication’.” I did not explain what this meant during our last study, because I knew that we would have an entire chapter devoted to it when we came to chapter 18.
• Look back at chapter 17, verse 16, and tell me how Babylon is destroyed?
Revelation 17:16 says, “And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.”
• Who, or what, are the ten horns, according to Revelation 17:12?
Revelation 17:12 says, “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.”
Harold Hunter tells us that these ten kings represent a league or confederacy, possibly a European confederacy, which sides with the beast. These ten kings who rule with the Antichrist will turn on him, and Rome will be burned. This could be the city of Rome, or perhaps the entire revived Roman Empire will be destroyed. We don’t know which it is, and we especially don’t know why they will do this. This is part of God’s plan, in order to show these people who exalt themselves above God that He is the one who is in control.
Babylon is where the tower of Babel was built. If you will recall, back in Genesis 11:1-9, the sin at the tower of Babel was that the people tried to make a name for themselves. We read that they built a tower that reached into the heavens. They were trying to exalt themselves to the height and position of God. Therefore, the Lord came down and confused the people’s language and scattered them abroad.
Right here, the Lord is doing the same thing to those who attempt to exalt themselves above Him. Just as God confused the language of the people at the tower of Babel, He will confuse the followers of the Antichrist. So, let’s look at some of the confusion they will experience. Harold Hunter tells us that the confusion is seen in what are called the “Five No Mores,” or “The Five Anymores,” if you have a New King James Version.
• In verse 21, we learn of the first “no more.” What shall be no more?
The answer is the city of Babylon. We have already talked about this one in great detail.
For The First No More, fill in “Babylon.”
• In the first part of verse 22, we learn of the second “no more.” What shall be no more?
The answer is the harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters – in other words, music.
For The Second No More, fill in “Music.”
“There is no time for music and no desire to hear or play the instruments when God brings His awful acts of judgement to bear upon the sins of man. Can you imagine a world with no melody? So it will be at the end of time for the followers of the beast.”
• In the second part of verse 22, we learn of the third “no more.” What shall be no more?
The answer is the craftsman, the craft, or the sound of the millstone – in other words, manufacturing. “Every kind of money-making occupation, profession, or vocation will cease. The paralysis of a world unable to make a living will quickly appear.”
For The Third No More, fill in “Manufacturing.”
• In the first part of verse 23, we learn of the fourth “no more.” What shall be no more?
The answer is the light of the lamp. This one is more difficult to understand, but this imagery represents meditation; alluding to reading by the light of the lamp. “Nighttime is a special time for sitting by a warm hearth while dining at a candle-lit table and reflecting on the good things that have transpired during the day. However, when God delivers his deadly blow, the false systems of the Antichrist will provide no comfort for [reflection] . . . Family gatherings and get-togethers will be no more.”
For The Fourth No More, fill in “Meditation.”
• Finally, in the last part of verse 23, we learn of the fifth “no more.” What shall be no more?
The answer is the voice of the bridegroom – in other words, marriage. No one will join in marriage during this confusing time.
For The Fifth No More, fill in “Marriage.”
What we have seen in chapter 18 is that the Lord causes the kingdom of the Antichrist to be overthrown, and He sends this self-dependent and self-glorified kingdom into massive confusion in order to show these people of the New World Order, that there is no lasting order apart from God. He does this to show them who is God and who is really in control.
Let us now move on ahead to the next chapter, where we will be looking at “The Wedding” and the “The Marriage Supper of the Lamb.” We will also observe “The Second Coming,” and “The Battle of Armageddon.”
The Marriage of the Lamb
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 19:1-10:
1 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! 2 For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” 3 Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!”
5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!” 6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
We read here about heaven exulting over Babylon, and we read about both the “Marriage” and the “Marriage Supper” of the Lamb. We already know why heaven is rejoicing over fallen Babylon, so let us talk about the Marriage (or wedding) and the Marriage Supper.
• In verses 7-8, who is “the Lamb” and who is “the wife who has made herself ready?”
The answer is that the Lamb is “Jesus Christ” and the Wife is “the Church.”
For The Lamb and the Wife, fill in “Jesus and the Church.”
If you will recall, in John 1:29, as Jesus was approaching John the Baptist to be baptized by him, John declared, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Therefore, Jesus is the Lamb of God; and then in John 3:29, John stated, “He who has the bride is the bridegroom,” and he identified the bridegroom as Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul said in Ephesians 5:23-25, “For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.” The husband is compared to Christ, and the wife is compared with the Church.
• In verse 9, we read, “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” The first question I have is this: “Who all will be called to the Marriage Supper?” And the second question I have is this: “Who all will be a part of the Bride of Christ, or the Church?” We can find the answer to these two questions in a passage from Matthew.
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Matthew 22:1-14:
1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, “Tell those who are invited, ‘See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding’.” 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. 7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then he said to his servants, “The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.” 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, “Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?” And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, “Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
To entertain the first question of “who all will be called to the Marriage Supper,” the answer is that all people will be called, or rather invited. Verse 14 says, “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
To entertain the second question of “who all will be a part of the Bride of Christ,” the answer is this: The ones who are chosen are the ones who stepped forward and decided to come. Meaning, they responded to the call of Jesus Christ to receive Him as Savior and Lord.
For Those Called to the Marriage, fill in “Christians.”
In verse 8, those who are part of the Bride are seen as arrayed in fine linen that is clean and bright. In Revelation 7:13-14, they are said to be clothed in white because they have been washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. Jesus shed His blood on the cross for the remission of sins, and all who accept His sacrifice are washed clean of their sins by His blood.
Because of the blood of Jesus, the Church is viewed as spotless and clean, or like a pure virgin, to be presented to her groom, Jesus. The Church, or the people of God, will become one with Jesus Christ – as one flesh and one spirit.
The Second Coming of Christ
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 19:11-16:
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
• Who is the figure in these verses riding on a white horse, and who goes out to judge and make war?
The answer is Jesus Christ. Matthew 24:29-30 says, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
For the Figure on a White Horse, fill in “Jesus.”
• In verse 14, who is with Christ during the Second Coming?
The answer is the armies of heaven. John Walvoord says, “Accompanying Christ on His second coming are those described as ‘the armies which were in heaven.’ Some, such as J. B. Smith, have limited this army to the church, the Bride of Christ, on the basis that it is described as clothed in fine linen, white and clean . . . It is more probable that here not only the saints, but also the holy angels are meant.”
• The saints are in heaven and then they come back to earth with Christ. What do you think the saints are coming to do with Christ?
We see down in verse 19 that they will help Jesus fight the kings gathered for war.
For Those with Christ in Second Coming, fill in “Christians.”
The Battle of Armageddon
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 19:17-21:
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.
Now, turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 16:12-16:
12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” 16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.
In Revelation chapter 16, we read how the “kings of the east” (v. 12) and “the kings of the earth” and “the whole world” assemble for “the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (v. 14). Jesus then said, “Behold, I am coming as a thief” (v. 15), referring to His Second Coming; and after He arrives, that is when the great battle begins, at “the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon” (v. 16). The sequence of events is this: 1.) The Second Coming of Christ, and then 2.) The Battle of Armageddon.
• In verse 19, what phrase do we see that clues us in to a great battle?
The answer is that we see the phrase “to make war.”
• Also, in verse 19, who all is involved in this Battle?
The answer is the kings of the earth, their armies, and Jesus Christ and His army. We read here about how these kings of the earth and their armies will make war against Jesus.
For Figures Involved in Armageddon, fill in “Kings of the Earth, Their Armies, and Jesus.”
• In verses 17-18, we read of birds that fly in the midst of heaven who eat the flesh of these kings. Who, or what, are these birds?
Verse 17 speaks of “the supper of the great God.” The word for “supper” in the Greek (deipnon) is the same word used for “the marriage supper of the Lamb” back in verse 9. Based on this fact, some commentaries will say that the birds allude to the followers of Jesus. This symbolism would reveal how believers will completely decimate the armies who come against Christ. But I am not fond of this interpretation. Even though it is supposedly symbolic and not literal, it still causes us to think about cannibalism. It is just an odd interpretation.
The birds here are probably literal birds that descend as scavengers to clean up the carnage. Tim LaHaye reminds us of Ezekiel 39:17-22, which he says describes this great battle. Listen, as I share a snippet from this passage: “Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Speak to every sort of bird and to every beast of the field: assemble yourselves and come; gather together from all sides to my sacrificial meal which I am sacrificing for you, a great sacrificial meal on the mountains of Israel, that you may eat flesh and drink blood. You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, [and] drink the blood of the princes of the earth” (39:17-18a).
For The Birds, fill in “Christians,” if you are okay with this interpretation.
But if you like the interpretation of literal birds better, you may instead wish to write in “Clean-up,” as the birds serve as the clean-up crew.
• This next question will be a review, but in verse 20, who are the Beast and the False Prophet who are thrown alive into the lake of fire?
The answer is that the “Antichrist” is the beast, and the False Prophet is the “false religious leader” who persuades the world to worship the Antichrist.
For The Beast and the False Prophet, fill in “The Antichrist and the False Religious Leader.”
• My final question in this session is this: Who wins this great battle? Christ or Satan?
The answer is Jesus Christ and His followers!
