Babylon is Fallen - Revelation 18:1-8
INTRODUCTION:
Last week Pastor Larry Goin was here, and you departed from Revelation for a week and looked at another event from the life of David. This morning we return to Revelation. Three weeks ago, we began looking at chapter 17 and the judgment of the great harlot. This morning we move onto chapter 18 which continues the prophetic revelation concerning Babylon with the meaning and context of this chapter being entirely different then that of chapter 17. Revelation 17 was most likely fulfilled at the midpoint of the Tribulation, just before the beginning of the Great Tribulation. Chapter 18, by contrast probably will be fulfilled as a judgment at the second coming of Christ and as a result of the seventh bowl judgment. Chapter 17 described for us the one world false religion that will unite the world under one religion after the rapture of the true church before the Tribulation begins.
Revelation 18 deals specifically with a city that is essentially a political and economic entity. I believe that the ancient city of Babylon will be rebuilt as the capital of the final world empire and will be destroyed physically as well as politically and economically at the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. I come to this conclusion based on some Old Testament prophecies that speak of a sudden and catastrophic destruction of Babylon that was never fulfilled in history. When the Medes and the Persians took over Babylon in 539 B.C., they did not destroy the city and it continued to be a population center through and past the time of Christ. There was no sudden destruction, Babylon just gradually diminished as a city until today when it is largely ruins. The prophecy of a sudden, catastrophic destruction has not been fulfilled and on this basis, I believe Babylon will be rebuilt as part of the world empire system of the Antichrist prior to the second coming of Christ, so the Scriptures will be fulfilled and this chapter in Revelation fits very well because it describes a sudden catastrophic destruction of the city and with it the destruction of its political and economic power. God’s judgment will fall on Babylon and within this chapter there are seven aspects of that judgment on the political and economic empire of the Antichrist’s one world government. We will look at three of those aspects of judgment this morning. Let’s pray and then get into chapter 18.
--PRAY--
Turn in your Bibles this morning to Revelation 18. This chapter is a little longer, so we will break it up. This morning I will be reading Revelation 18:1-8. Please stand if you are able in honor of the reading of God’s Word.
Revelation 18:1-8,
“After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory. And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality.’ I heard another voice from heaven, saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her. To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, “I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.” For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong.’” (Revelation 18:1–8, NASB95)[1]
JUDGMENT PROCLAIMED (Revelation 18:1-3)
The first aspect of judgment is the proclamation of judgment. John opens this chapter with a phrase that informs us that this is a new vision that he is about to record. The phrase, “After these things…” moves us from the vision of chapter 17 and into the vision of chapter 18.
John writes that he saw another angel coming down from heaven, this is not the angel that explained the harlot and the beast in chapter 17, but another angel and one with great authority. This angel is coming from the presence of God with a proclamation of judgment. He has great authority because that authority has been given to him by the One who has all authority, the Sovereign Lord of the universe. How do we know that this angel is coming from the presence of God? Because he is shining with the glory of God. John says, “…the earth was illumined with his glory.” (Revelation 18:1b, NASB95)[2] Imagine the dramatic appearance that he will make. Remember that this is very near the end of the Great Tribulation, the fifth bowl judgment plunged the kingdom of the Antichrist into darkness. The flashing brilliance of this glorious angel against this blackness will be an awe-inspiring sight. All will see him as the brightness of his glory cuts through and dispels the darkness. This will be a shocking and terrifying sight for those who dwell on the earth and worship the Antichrist.
His message will add to the terror caused by his appearance. His message is a word of woe for the Antichrist and his followers. The angel cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!” Remember back in chapter 14 this judgment was predicted, now it will be carried out. Isaiah had predicted in Isaiah 21:9 that Babylon would fall and be taken by the Medes and the Persians, and it was but it was not destroyed. This judgment proclaimed here will be greater and will be a complete destruction of the city and its political and economic power. Scripture is not clear whether this destruction of Babylon is immediately before the second coming of Christ or immediately after. According to Revelation 16:19 the great earthquake that is a result of the seventh bowl being poured out destroyed the cities of the Gentiles, it could be that Babylon is destroyed at the same time.
The angel goes on in his proclamation giving cause for Babylon’s destruction. The first cause is that it has become a dwelling place for demons and a prison for every unclean spirit. It was near Babylon by the Euphrates that 200 million formerly bound demons were released at the sounding of the sixth trumpet. They, along with the demon hordes released from the abyss at the sounding of the fifth trumpet and those previously in the heavens and on the earth will be confined to Babylon. The angel goes on to say that Babylon will also be a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. John MacArthur writes, “This phrase symbolizes the city’s total destruction. Like grotesque carrion birds, the demons will hover over the doomed city, waiting for its fall. The depiction of demons as unclean and hateful reflects heaven’s view of them.”[3]
The second cause for Babylon’s destruction is because “…all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality.” (Revelation 18:3, NASB95)[4] The evil empire of the Antichrist will deceive and influence the whole world. The nations will follow after the Antichrist as if they are in a daze from the wine of the passion of her immorality. He will get them drunk on his lies and deceptions and they will follow him like a drunk wanting more. It reaches to all levels of society, from the politicians to the influential to the masses, the whole world will desire what the Antichrist offers. Judgment has been proclaimed and the causes of it.
JUDGMENT EVADED (Revelation 18:4-5)
The second aspect concerning judgment in this chapter is that judgment can be evaded by individuals if they listen to God. John said that he heard another voice, not the voice of the angel who had proclaimed judgment, but another voice, this voice came from heaven. This voice called out and said, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues…” (Revelation 18:4b, NASB95)[5] This is a message to believers on the earth to separate themselves from the world system. Get away from the lies and deceptions of the Antichrist, do not become entangled in the desires of the world for wealth, pleasures, material things.
Then this voice gives some reasons for coming out, for separating yourself from the world and its desires. Flee Babylon so that you will not participate in her sins. The wealth, the pleasures, the material goods of Babylon and living in that society will exert an almost irresistible pull even on the strongest of believers to compromise, to give in and participate in her sins. God calls His people to get away from the temptation so that you are not tempted.
Second, this voice from heaven says get away from Babylon so that you do not receive of her plagues. This is most likely specific judgments on Babylon, perhaps with the dumping of the seventh bowl of God’s wrath.
Third, God’s people must get out of Babylon because her sins are piled up as high as heaven. The Greek word translated “piled” is a word that means to glue together or to join together firmly. The sins of Babylon are glued together so that that reach as high as heaven and God has remembered her iniquities. Babylon began with a tower that was going to reach to heaven that was a monument of man’s sinful, prideful rebellion against God, and God judged that rebellion by confusing the languages and scattering them across the earth. Just as there was judgment at the original tower of babel, there will be judgment at this tower of rebellion in Babylon. God’s people are warned and told to separate themselves from this city and its system so that they can avoid or evade the judgment that is coming.
JUDGMENT DESCRIBED (Revelation 18:6-8)
This morning we will finish up with the third aspect of judgment, that is judgment described. It is not clear from the text if the voice from heaven is continuing to speak in these last three verses or if this is the angel that is speaking. Whoever is speaking he is calling for judgment on Babylon, much like the vengeance that the prayers of the martyred saints prayed would come upon their enemies. The time for Babylon’s destruction has come.
The one speaking requests that God give back double according to her deeds. It is a request that Babylon’s punishment fit her crimes. Literally this verse means, “Double has been her iniquity, double will be her punishment.”
This one speaking goes on requesting that God fully punish Babylon. In the cup that Babylon used to deceive the nations with the wine of her immorality, in that same cup mix twice as much for her of Your wrath. She will drink twice as much of God’s wrath when compared to the wine of her immorality with which she deceived the nations.
Then a third time the one speaking calls on God to take complete vengeance on Babylon. He says, “To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.’” (Revelation 18:7, NASB95)[6] The phrase translated “To the degree” is a phrase that calls on God to match the punishment to the crime, which is a biblical principle.
Within this verse we are given three reasons for Babylon’s judgment. First, she was proud in that she glorified herself. Second, she pursued self-gratification, she lived sensuously. Third, she was guilty of self-sufficiency, or that she had no use for God, she could do it on her own. This is shown by what she says in her heart, “I sit as a Queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.” For these three sins Babylon will receive torment and mourning. The Greek word translated “torment” is a word that literally means “torture.” The word translated “mourning” can refer to the grief that the torture produces.
This judgment upon Babylon will not be gradual or progressive. The one speaking says that because of Babylon’s sins in one day her plagues will come. The wicked city will be instantly destroyed by God. In verse 8 there are specific plagues that will destroy Babylon, they are specific judgments for the city and they possibly are in connection with the seventh bowl judgment. Three plagues are mentions which will result in Babylon’s complete devastation, pestilence, mourning and famine. The word translated “pestilence” is a word that means “death.” These three are heaven’s answer to the boastful, proud rebellion of Babylon. When these have run their course, the city will be burned up with fire, never again to rise from the ashes. God’s judgment is final and just because the Lord God who judges her is strong, no one can stand at His judgment. Praise God that our sins were judged at the cross!
CONCLUSION:
The city of Babylon and the political and economic system attached to it will be completely and forever destroyed by a direct act of God. What can we take from this message to apply to our own selves? God called his people to come out of Babylon, to separate themselves from the world system that surrounded them and that was a constant temptation to compromise or to participate in their sins for the gratification of the moment. God was calling them to peace and eternal joy in seeking Him.
This call to God’s people to separate from the worldly system can be taken and applied to our lives today. What in your life is keeping you from being fully devoted to God, seeking His kingdom, laying up treasures for yourself in heaven? Are you lured away from your devotion to God and to obedience to His Word by pleasures that are here and then gone. The pleasures of this world do not last, and you cannot take them with you. Why would you pursue things that are here and then gone? What lures you away from God? Wealth, worldly possessions, worldly pleasures, human love? If it is luring you away from total devotion to God and obedience to His Word, then you are called to come away from it and separate yourself from whatever it is so that you do not participate in the world’s sin. God will discipline those who are His children if they stray from Him, to bring them back. Hebrews 12:4-11 says, “You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him; For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.’ It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” (Hebrews 12:4–11, NASB95)[7] Come away from whatever separates you from your pursuit of God and obedience to His Word.
[1]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[2]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[3]MacArthur, John, Because the time is near : John MacArthur explains the book of Revelation. Chicago, IL : Moody Publishers, 2007
[4]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[5]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[6]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[7]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995