Revelation 18
Babylon is Fallen
Last time, our conclusion of the study of Revelation ended with this passage:
(Rev 17:18 NKJV) "And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth."
“the woman whom you saw is that great city” – Rome, which is synonymous with the Roman Catholic Church, is the only city which is both political and religious.
Our study continues with Babylon
(Rev 18:1 NKJV) After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory.
(Rev 18:2) 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!
"Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen,
There will be an end to Babylon which I take to be the Roman Catholic Church.
What is remarkable about the Babylon of the Old Testament and the Catholic church of today are the similarities between the two.
That similarity included:
§ Idols (Numerous images)
§ Mother/child worship (Exalting Mary)
§ Great political power (with ambassadors)
§ Great disrespect for the people of God.
(Rev 18:3) "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."
“Wine [intoxicating: does away with judgment and reasoning ability]
of the wrath [bringing the wrath of God upon them.
of her fornication,” [her spiritual infidelity]
*********
Catholicism became a blend of Christianity, Judaism, heathenism, and political power, all with the assistance of the Roman government.
If this passage looks familiar, it should. Compare it to what we studied earlier:
(Rev 17:2 NKJV) "with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication."
Again, I believe this is more reason to believe that Babylon is also a description of the Roman Catholic Church.
(Rev 18:4-5 NKJV) 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.
"Come out of her, my people,”
I’m not going to get into conditions. God knows peoples heart, opportunities, and why they have done what they have done.
“lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.” God’s judgments work that way many times. Consider God’s judgment against the city of Jericho: Only Rahab and her family were spared from the utter destruction of the city.
"For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. God is a patient God, but the day of judgment will come, and we must get ready while we have the opportunity.
(Rev 18:6 NKJV) "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.
It’s judgment time: Repay her double!
(Rev 10:6 NKJV) “. . . that there should be delay no longer”
{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.'
She is proud and pompous.
There is no humility or repentance.
She is confident and feels that all is well, and always will be.
(Rev 18:8 NKJV) "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.
"Therefore her plagues will come in one day; -- Once started, it will happen quickly
(Rev 18:9-10 NKJV) "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.'
kings of the earth who committed fornication
They involved themselves in deals and agreements which should not have been done.
"standing at a distance for fear of her torment,
This may indicate that the violence of the destruction would cause one to stay at a distance.
For in one hour your judgment has come.'
When judgment came, it was sudden!
(Rev 18:11 NKJV) "And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore:
Their interest is money, not spiritual
Consider the list of merchandise! It is not inexpensive merchandise!
(Rev 18:12) "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.
“Bodies and souls of men.”
I could be wrong here, but consider this: They have taken men and women and put them in convents and monasteries where they live and die after taking a vow of poverty, and cannot marry.
The effects of God’s Judgment on Babylon:
(Rev 18:14) "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.
The effects of God’s Judgment on the Merchants:
(Rev 18:15) "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! {19} '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?'
Again, their interest is money, not spiritual
(Rev 18:19) "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.'
How should all of this affect God’ people?
(Rev 18:20 NKJV) "Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!"
The Violence of the Overthrow is emphasized!
(Rev 18:21 NKJV) 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.
The effect of God’s Judgment is contemplated from the total end of events it will bring about.
(Rev 18:22-23 NKJV) "The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. [No music or entertainment] No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. [All trade and commerce will come to an end] {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. [All social activities end] For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.
She is guilty of the brutal death of countless saints—Godly people.
(Rev 18:24 NKJV) "And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth."
So how do we Summarize Revelation 18?
§ Faith in God and obedience, make all the difference.
§ Those who have followed the Harlot: the one who is unfaithful to God, will weep as they see the loss of everything they held dear.
§ A patient merciful God will show a side we’ve never fully seen before as He brings justice to bear on the earth.
§ It will be a day of Great rejoicing for the people of God.
But there is more to Come:
Revelation 19: Armageddon!
The Marriage of the Lamb!
Christ coming on the white horse!
The flesh of the wicked given to the birds!
A victorious God!
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