Revelation 18:1-24: Babylon Falls
Revelation - The Lamb is Victorious • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Revelation 1 - Introduction
Revelation 1 - Introduction
Revelation 1:1-3 - Prologue & Benediction
Revelation 1:4-8 - Epistolary Introduction
Revelation 1:9-20 - A Vision of the Son of Man
Revelation 2-3 - The Seven Churches
Revelation 2-3 - The Seven Churches
Revelation 2:1-7 - The Letter to Ephesus
Revelation 2:8-11 - The Letter to Smyrna
Revelation 2:12-17 - The Letter to Pergamum
Revelation 2:18-29 - The Letter to Thyatira
Revelation 3:1-6 - The Letter to Sardis
Revelation 3:7-13 - The Letter to Philadelphia
Revelation 3:14-22 - The Letter to Laodicea
Revelation 4-5 - The Throne Room
Revelation 4-5 - The Throne Room
Revelation 4:1-11 - A Vision of the Throne Room
Revelation 5:1-14 - The Lamb is Worthy
Revelation 6-8:5 - The Seven Seals
Revelation 6-8:5 - The Seven Seals
Revelation 6:1-8 - The First Four Seals
Revelation 6:9-17 - The Fifth and Sixth Seals
Revelation 7:1-17 - Who can Stand on the Day of the Lord?
Revelation 8:1-5 - Anticipation of Further Judgment
Revelation 8:6-11:19 - The Seven Trumpets
Revelation 8:6-11:19 - The Seven Trumpets
Revelation 8:6-13 - The First Four Trumpets
Revelation 9:1-21 - The Fifth and Sixth Trumpets
Revelation 10:1-11 - The End is Near
Revelation 11:1-14 - The Two Witnesses
Revelation 11:15-19 - The Seventh Trumpet
Revelation 12:1-15:4 - The Seven Visions
Revelation 12:1-15:4 - The Seven Visions
Revelation 12:1-17 - The Woman, Child, and Heavenly Hosts Versus the Great Dragon
Revelation 13:1-10 - The Beast out of the Sea
Revelation 13:11-18 - The Beast from the Earth
Revelation 14:1-5 - The 144,000
Revelation 14:6-13 - The Proclamations of the Three Angels
Revelation 14:14-20 - The Harvest and Judgment
Revelation 15:1-4 - The Glory of God fills the Heavenly Sanctuary
Revelation 15:1-4 - The Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb
Revelation 15:5-16:21 - The Seven Bowls
Revelation 15:5-16:21 - The Seven Bowls
Revelation 15:5-8 - The Glory of God fills the Heavenly Sanctuary
Revelation 15:5-8 - The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath
Revelation 16:1-21 - Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath
Revelation 17-19 - Judgment
Revelation 17-19 - Judgment
Revelation 17:1-18 - The Great Prostitute is Judged
Revelation 18:1-24 - Babylon Falls
Revelation 18:1-8 - Babylon the Great
Revelation 18:9-20 - Babylon’s Wealth Destroyed
Revelation 18:21-24 - Babylon is no More
Purpose of Book
Purpose of Book
The purpose of Revelation is to challenge/encourage believers, who are expectantly awaiting the reign of Christ, to live faithfully for Him despite worldly circumstances, persecution, and the cosmic battle between God and Satan.
The purpose of Revelation is to challenge/encourage believers, who are expectantly awaiting the reign of Christ, to live faithfully for Him despite worldly circumstances, persecution, and the cosmic battle between God and Satan.
Main Point
Main Point
Babylon the great has fallen by the decree of the Lord. The heavens and God’s own people rejoice at her destruction.
Babylon the great has fallen by the decree of the Lord. The heavens and God’s own people rejoice at her destruction.
Revelation 18:1-8 - Babylon the Great
Revelation 18:1-8 - Babylon the Great
1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory.
1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory.
1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority
We are now seeing the fall of Babylon from a different perspective
And the earth was made bright with his glory.
The characteristics of the angel reveal he is coming to bring a heavy and weighty announcement
2 And he called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
2 And he called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
2 And he called out with a mighty voice
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
9 And behold, here come riders,
horsemen in pairs!”
And he answered,
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon;
and all the carved images of her gods
he has shattered to the ground.”
8 Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”
Babylon in the OT is the great enemy of God’s people and here in Revelation Babylon as the great city of man is the enemy of God’s covenant people
Babylon has been conquered by God through the beast and the 10 kings
Rome will fall, but so will all cities of man who oppose God and one day it will become an eschatological reality
She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
She has become a dwelling place for demons
Notice the difference between Babylon and New Jerusalem
Babylon’s end is to become a wilderness thought it was once a thriving and exciting city
New Jerusalem is to become the place where God dwells with His own
A haunt for every unclean spirit
A haunt for every unclean bird
A haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
20 It will never be inhabited
or lived in for all generations;
no Arab will pitch his tent there;
no shepherds will make their flocks lie down there.
21 But wild animals will lie down there,
and their houses will be full of howling creatures;
there ostriches will dwell,
and there wild goats will dance.
Humans will not inhabit Babylon and as a result everything unclean will
3 For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”
3 For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”
3 For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality
All nations - there is no innocent nation and all are condemned
Spiritual idolatry and adultery against God’s Kingship and Lordship
And the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her
And the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”
The wealth of Babylon
4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.
The issue is not wealth in and of itself, but wealth gained from adultery and wickedness
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; 5 for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; 5 for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying
“Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues;
The other voice is mostly likely another angel speaking on behalf of God
God’s people are commanded to come out of the economic/power system of the world
Both Thyatira and Laodicea are guilty here and have fallen into Babylon’s system
We are called out/commanded so that we do not take part in her sins and share in her plagues - those who live as the world reveal they are not of Christ and will therefore face the same final judgment as Babylon
20 Go out from Babylon, flee from Chaldea,
declare this with a shout of joy, proclaim it,
send it out to the end of the earth;
say, “The Lord has redeemed his servant Jacob!”
Israel is literally commanded to leave Babylon and return to Jerusalem and here the command is for Christ-followers to forsake the worldly system of Babylon
5 For her sins are heaped high as heaven
Her sins are high as heaven
Babel reference from Genesis 11
9 We would have healed Babylon,
but she was not healed.
Forsake her, and let us go
each to his own country,
for her judgment has reached up to heaven
and has been lifted up even to the skies.
And God has remembered her iniquities.
6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
6 Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.
6 Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.
6 Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds;
Mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.
The great prostitute has a punishment that fits the crime - she tried to destroy God’s covenant people by putting to death followers of Christ
7 As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.’
7 As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.’
7 As she glorified herself and lived in luxury
Rome and the Babylonian typology do not glorify God - THEY GLORIFY THEMSELVES
9 The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?
10 “I the Lord search the heart
and test the mind,
to give every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds.”
The heart, apart from the transformational work of Christ, is deceitful and desperately sick
Luxurious living
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
So give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.’
Here is the judgment for her glorifying in herself and her riches
7 You said, “I shall be mistress forever,”
so that you did not lay these things to heart
or remember their end.
8 Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures,
who sit securely,
who say in your heart,
“I am, and there is no one besides me;
I shall not sit as a widow
or know the loss of children”:
Babylon is clearly delusional thinking she herself has reached a god-like status
8 For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”
8 For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”
8 For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine
Here are the plagues - death, mourning, and famine
And she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”
9 And the daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by whoring, profanes her father; she shall be burned with fire.
The Lord is mighty and he is the great Judge
No one can trump God in any, way, shape, or form
Those who give themselves over to God will face His wrath, justice, and punishment
Revelation 18:9-20 - Babylon’s Wealth Destroyed
Revelation 18:9-20 - Babylon’s Wealth Destroyed
9 And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning.
9 And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning.
9 And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her
The kings of the earth loved Babylon because they also despised God by pledging their allegiance to the emperor and the empire where they became rich and wealthy
Will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning.
A life of luxury is turned into destruction
10 They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, “Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon!
10 They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, “Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon!
10 They will stand far off, in fear of her torment
The kings will not get near as Babylon is destroyed - instead they will mourn from afar because of their fear
And say, “Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon!
Babylon, the once mighty city, will come to an end
For in a single hour your judgment has come.”
For in a single hour your judgment has come.”
For in a single hour
Your judgment has come.”
The judgment of Babylon is not only assured, but it will come quickly - the most powerful city comes to an end
Rome
London, Tokyo, Paris, Singapore, Amsterdam, Berlin, Seoul, Hong Kong, Shanghai
New York City, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Charlotte
11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, 12 cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, 13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.
11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, 12 cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, 13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.
11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore
The mourning over Babylon by the merchants is not out of care or concern, it is because their wealth, riches, and bank accounts will be effected by her fall as the economic system comes crashing down
12 Cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, 13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.
This list includes the finest and best of the ancient world
There is nothing wrong with trade and production as they are gifts from God, but this list includes evil - the selling of people as slaves - their wealth was wrapped up into the ideals of Babylon not the kingdom of God
14 “The fruit for which your soul longed has gone from you, and all your delicacies and your splendors are lost to you, never to be found again!”
14 “The fruit for which your soul longed has gone from you, and all your delicacies and your splendors are lost to you, never to be found again!”
14 “The fruit for which your soul longed has gone from you
The fruit they longed for came from the Babylonian economy not from the great triune God
And all your delicacies and your splendors are lost to you, never to be found again!”
The spoils of their lives have been ripped from them and they will never get them back
15 The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud, 16 “Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls!
15 The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud, 16 “Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls!
15 The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud
Notice how their response is just like the kings - mourning from afar - keeping judgment at a distance
16 “Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls!
Babylon has been exposed - she is not a royal, beautiful woman, but a cruel mistress
17 For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste.”
17 For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste.”
17 For in a single hour
All this wealth has been laid waste.”
And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off 18 and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, “What city was like the great city?”
And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off 18 and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, “What city was like the great city?”
And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off 18 and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning
Notice how their response is just like the kings and merchants- mourning from afar - keeping judgment at a distance
Here, John combines passages in the OT referring to Babylon and Tyre - both will face eschatological judgment as city of man
“What city was like the great city?”
New Jerusalem in Revelation 21-22 is far greater!
19 And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, “Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth!
19 And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, “Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth!
19 And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out
“Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth!
The destruction of Babylon spells economic destruction for the shipmasters and sailors
For in a single hour she has been laid waste.
For in a single hour she has been laid waste.
For in a single hour
She has been laid waste.
20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!”
20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!”
20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets
The contrast between the two cities could not be greater - destruction vs. rejoicing
The Christians are not tied to the economical success of Babylon - they live freed from this world system and live into the Kingdom of Christ
For God has given judgment for you against her!”
Part of God’s kingdom coming is the destruction of the wicked and the believers rejoice seeing God’s justice
Revelation 18:21-24 - Babylon is no More
Revelation 18:21-24 - Babylon is no More
21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more; 22 and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more, 23 and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.
21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more; 22 and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more, 23 and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.
21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying
63 When you finish reading this book, tie a stone to it and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates, 64 and say, ‘Thus shall Babylon sink, to rise no more, because of the disaster that I am bringing upon her, and they shall become exhausted.’ ”
Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.
“So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more;
Babylon’s destruction comes with violence
Rome’s destruction will come with violence
22 And the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more
And a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more
And the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more
23 And the light of a lamp will shine in you no more
And the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more
For your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.
The wealth gained by the merchants made them the great ones of the earth, yet their pride swelled
Babylon holds the nations under her spell convincing the world that she was an eternal city
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.”
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.”
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.”
Babylon’s wrath and murder knew no end - she even killed unbelievers
Babylon’s loyalty is only to herself and her values, never to any person
Main Point
Main Point
Babylon the great has fallen by the decree of the Lord. The heavens and God’s own people rejoice at her destruction.
Babylon the great has fallen by the decree of the Lord. The heavens and God’s own people rejoice at her destruction.
How Should we Live in Light of Revelation 18:1-24?
How Should we Live in Light of Revelation 18:1-24?
Heed the warning from the angel and COME OUT of Babylon - stay spiritually and morally pure!
Heed the warning from the angel and COME OUT of Babylon - stay spiritually and morally pure!
Babylon’s destruction is imminent. She will be destroyed by God throughout history and certainly at the end. We must not be deceived by Babylon as she claims to be an eternal city for our end is to the real eternal city!
Babylon’s destruction is imminent. She will be destroyed by God throughout history and certainly at the end. We must not be deceived by Babylon as she claims to be an eternal city for our end is to the real eternal city!