Revelation 18:1–24 - BibleStudy.ph

These are the original teaching notes from this passage.

Review…

OUTLINE…
- THREE times – PAST – PRESENT – FUTURE – Revelation 1:19
- THREE events – RAPTURE – WRATH – RETURN of Jesus
- THREE judgements – SEAL – TRUMPET – and BOWL judgments
- The Great Harlot…
- The FINAL bowl…
  - With the SEVENTH bowl – and angel cried out – it is FINISHED…
  - And God caused a great earthquake – shaking up the Kingdom of the Antichrist…
  - The FALL of the RELIGIOUS system – Revelation 17
  - The FALL of the ECONOMIC system – Revelation 18
  - The FALL of the POLITICAL system – Revelation 19
- One World Religion…
  - The Great HARLOT is used to describe the RELIGIOUS system created by the Antichrist…
  - It will be ONLY the one RELIGION during the SEVEN years of the Tribulation…
  - The RELIGION will embrace everyone – but will execute anyone who believes in Jesus!
- The Beast…
  - The RELIGION will not last long – because it RIDES the Beast [antichrist]
  - Since he will only reign for SEVEN years – the RELIGION will also fail quickly…
  - Inspired by God – the TEN horns [leaders] of the ONE government – will turn on the HARLOT…
  - The death of this false RELIGION – is the FIRST part of the Kingdom of the Antichrist to fall!

Fall of Babylon…

1^st – Proclamation… vs. 1–3
- 1^st – Mighty Angel… vs. 1
  - Another Angel…
    - After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven – having great authority.
    - And the earth was illuminated with his glory!
    - After [Μετὰ ταῦτα] the FALL of the one world RELIGION…
    - John saw another [ἄλλος] ANGEL come out of heaven – with GREAT [μέγας] power…
    - His GLORY [δόξης] gave LIGHT to the whole world!
  - Who is the Angel…
    - Much like the Angel who gave John the little book – Revelation 10:1
    - The description of this ANGEL here has led some to believe it is Jesus!
    - There are times in the OT when Jesus is referred to as the ANGEL of the LORD – Exodus 3:2
    - BUT – TWO Greek words for ANOTHER – [ἄλλος] same kind – [ἕτερος] – different kind
    - This mighty ANGEL was the same kind [ἄλλος] of ANGEL as the others John had seen!
    - It does NOT appear to be Jesus – instead perhaps the ANGEL we saw – Revelation 14:8
- 2^nd – Babylon the Great… vs. 2
  - The Location…
    - He cried mightily with a loud voice – saying – Babylon the great is fallen – is fallen!
    - The ANGEL cried out that BABYLON has FALLEN [indicative]
    - BABYLON – in modern day Iraq – will be the CENTER of the economy of the Antichrist!
    - The world runs on OIL – and almost 50% of all the oil in the world is in the Middle East…
    - Making the region a modern CENTER of FINANCE and commerce!
  - Unclean…
    - [Babylon] has become a dwelling place of demons – a prison for every foul spirit.
    - And a cage for every unclean and hated bird!
    - All the WEALTH of BABYLON will make it a VERY spiritually DARK place…
    - It will be a place where DEMONS call home…
    - Every [πᾶς] wicked [ἀκάθαρτος] spirit of MEN – will be drawn there…
    - Every unclean BIRD [satan] – will find it a place they cannot leave…
    - Because the LOVE of money is the root of all kinds of EVIL – I Timothy 6:10
    - If our main goal in life is getting RICH – it will take us to DARK places…
    - In an effort to get the latest toy – best car – prettiest house – none of which we NEED…
    - We will get into lots of DEBT – and compromise our MORALS to get an extra PESO…
    - All because we thought having MONEY would solve all our problems!
    - Hebrews 13:5 – “Do not love money – be satisfied with what you have…”
- 3^rd – The Crime… vs. 3
  - The Nations…
    - For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication!
    - ALL [πᾶς] the NATIONS have become DRUNK on the WEALTH of Babylon!
    - In the year 1900 – the total GDP [wealth] of the world was – $3.5 TRILLION
    - When I was BORN in 1974 – the GDP of the world had grown tenfold to – $30 TRILLION
    - In the year 1995 – the GDP of the world had almost doubled again to – $50 TRILLION
    - By the year 2015 – the GDP of the world was over $108 TRILLION
    - HALF of all wealth EVER made in HISTORY – has been created in the past TWENTY years!
    - This unprecedented growth in WEALTH – has made the world DRUNK on money…
    - It has caused EVERYONE – in EVERY nation – to believe MONEY is the answer…
    - Buying into the LIE [fornication] – there is something other than GOD we should live for!
  - The Kings…
    - The kings of the earth have committed fornication with her!
    - The LEADERS [kings] of the earth – all have bought into the LIE!
    - China is a COMMUNIST country [since 1949] – formed as a SOCIALIST economy…
    - Meaning no one owned ANYTHING – there were no PRIVATE business…
    - But in the 1990s CHINA changed – and went after the MONEY…
    - They are now the SECOND largest economy in the world!
    - With only a handful of exceptions – every country on earth today is CAPITALIST…
    - ALL the governments on earth see their purpose as getting more MONEY!
  - The Merchants…
    - The merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury!
    - MERCHANTS [ἔμπορος] – used FOUR times in our passage…
    - Those who BUY and SELL – have been given the POWER [δύναμις] to become RICH!
    - People are making a LOT of money these days…
    - It used to be a rare thing for a person to be a MILLIONAIRE…
    - Over the next THREE years – the number of MILLIONAIRES in the world will grow by 40%
    - Meaning around 25 MILLION people – are about to enter the MILLIONAIRE club!
    - Where is all this MONEY coming from – MERCHANTS buying and selling…
    - As they world becomes more and more addicted to MONEY!
2^nd – Get out… vs. 4-5
- 1^st – Escape… vs. 4
  - I heard another voice from heaven saying – Come out of her – my people!
  - John heard another [ἄλλος] voice from HEAVEN – come OUT [imperative] of [Babylon]
  - We who are the PEOPLE of God – are NOT to take part in this WORLDLY system…
  - We do NOT live for MONEY – we do NOT put our trust in pieces of paper…
  - We realize that God is the one who PROVIDES for all our NEEDS – Luke 12:31
  - We are to be an EXAMPLE to the world – we do not follow their EXAMPLE!
  - II Corinthians 6:17 – “Come out from among them and be separate – says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean and I will receive you.”
- 2^nd – Do not share… vs. 4-5
  - Lest you share in her sins – and lest you receive of her plagues!
  - For her sins have reached to heaven – and God has remembered her iniquities!
  - If we do NOT reject this obsession the world has with MONEY…
  - Then we will end up SHARING [κοινωνέω] the same FATE [sin] as the WORLD…
  - We also will receive the PLAGUES [problems] that God will send on them…
  - Because the SIN of GREED builds – till it reaches up to heaven – and God remembers it!
  - The problem is people make MONEY their god – instead of Jesus…
  - We cannot dedicate our lives to MONEY – and to the Lord – Luke 6:24
  - The pursuit of money is a TRAP – and it only leads to DESTRUCTION!
  - I Timothy 6:9 – “Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare – and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.”
3^rd – Justice is served… vs. 6-8
- 1^st – Double judgement… vs. 6
  - Render to her just as she rendered to you.
  - Repay her double according to her works – in the cup which she has mixed – mix double for her!
  - RENDER [ἀποδίδωμι] – to pay off a DEBT that is owed…
  - The DEBT of BABYLON – was to be paid DOUBLE – because of what she had done…
  - In the LAW – if someone stole something – they had to restore DOUBLE – Exodus 22:4-9
  - The suggestion is the wealth of BABYLON – has been STOLEN from others!
  - The pursuit of MONEY is SELFISH – it causes us to take advantage of others…
  - We stop caring about what happens to them – so long as we are RICH!
- 2^nd – Just judgement… vs. 7
  - In the measure she glorified herself and lived luxuriously – give her torment and sorrow.
  - For she says in her heart – I sit as queen – and am no widow – and will not see sorrow!
  - As WEALTHY and PAMPERED a life as those who follow after the money live [Babylon]
  - In that same measure – they must [imperative] be TORTURED and have SORROW…
  - Because they will say in their HEART – they are QUEEN – and will NEVER be SAD!
  - The pursuit of MONEY is CALLOUS – we think money will PROTECT us…
  - But the arrogance of WEALTH – brings about even greater judgement from the Lord!
- 3^rd – Quick judgement… vs. 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!
  - All this will happen to BABYLON in ONE day – and to those who her believe her LIE…
  - There will be FAMINE [lack of food] – MORNING [lack of money] – and DEATH…
  - Which will be followed up by eternal JUDGEMENT [fire]
  - Because the Lord [κύριος] God who judges is STRONG – and her MONEY will not save her!
  - WEALTH promises GREAT things – and it seems to be able to deliver…
  - But the SAD truth about MONEY – is it CANNOT save anyone…
  - Just when it is NEEDED most – it is GONE – and it leaves us NAKED before the Lord [κύριος]
  - What good a bunch of colorful PAPER – when we have to give an account before a HOLY God!
4^th – Mourning Babylon… vs. 9-19
- 1^st – The Kings… vs. 9-10
  - 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.
  - 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!
  - When the HOUR of comes – the WORLD will mourn the loss of BABYLON…
  - We see this described in THREE groups – FIRST is the KINGS [governments]
  - They were in BED [fornication] with BABYLON – fully supporting the MONETARY system…
  - And when it BURNS to the ground – they WEEP because they LOSE their MONEY…
  - But they do not get too CLOSE – they stand at a DISTANCE – because the JUDGEMENT has come!
  - If I had a friend whose house was on fire – I would not stand by and WATCH…
  - A true friend would run over and try and save the person he LOVES!
  - People who are our FRIENDS – only because of what they get from us…
  - Will NOT be there to help us – in the day when life falls apart…
  - They might shake their heads in pity – but they do NOT want to risk getting hurt!
- 2^nd – The Merchants… vs. 11-17
  - No more business… vs. 11
    - The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her.
    - For no one buys their merchandise anymore!
    - SECOND – the MERCHANTS also will weep and mourn the loss of BABYLON…
    - Not because they care about HER – but because they no longer are making MONEY!
  - The inventory… vs. 12-13
    - 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.
    - 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 LIST of the MERCHANDISE that is given is quite inclusive…
    - What strikes me is how similar the list is to what is BOUGHT and SOLD today…
    - Nothing in this list would look unfamiliar in a CARGO manifest of an ocean liner today!
    - From precious METALS [gold and silver] – to fine CLOTHING [linen and silk]
    - To rare WOOD and ivory – to fragrant SPICES – to WINE and wheat…
    - Even LIVESTOCK [cattle and sheep] are included in the list!
    - The one thing that seems to stick out of the group – is the SOULS [ψυχή] of men…
    - We have abolished SLAVERY in the world today – it is no longer legal…
    - But that does not mean people still do not SELL their SOULS for money…
    - There is nothing wrong with having MONEY – the problem is when MONEY owns us…
    - We can become a SLAVE to this world – living for MONEY rather than for the Lord!
  - No more wealth… vs. 14
    - The fruit your soul longed for has gone from you. All the things which are rich…
    - And splendid have gone from you – and you shall find them no more at all!
    - ALL the WEALTH [fruits] that their SOUL longed for will be GONE…
    - All the RICHES – all the TOYS – are gone and they will NEVER [οὐ μὴ] see them again!
    - People think they have EARNED what they have in LIFE – that they DESERVE it…
    - But everything we have we received from God – and He can take it away!
    - I Corinthians 4:7 – “What do you have that God has not given you? If all you have is from God – why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?”
  - At a distance… vs. 15-17
    - The merchants of these things – who became rich by her – will stand at a distance.
    - For fear of her torment – weeping and wailing – and saying – Alas – alas – that great city.
    - Clothed in fine linen – purple – and scarlet – adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls.
    - For in one hour such great riches came to nothing!
    - These MERCHANTS – like the KINGS – will stand far off fearing the JUDGEMENT…
    - But they will weep because Babylon – who was dressed in such wealth…
    - NOTE: the description is VERY similar to the HARLOT – Revelation 17:4
    - Lost ALL of her riches in just ONE hour – they came to NOTHING!
    - What is the MAJOR religion of the world today…
    - It is not CHRISTIANITY – or ISLAM – the main RELIGION is MONEY [materialism]
    - Men put their HOPE – their FAITH – in what MONEY can do for them…
    - And when their MONEY fails – and it will come to NOTHING – they will WEEP!
- 3^rd – The Sailors… vs. 17-19
  - Every shipmaster – all who travel by ship – sailors – and as many as trade on the sea.
  - Stood at a distance and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning.
  - Saying – What is like this great city? They threw dust on their heads and cried out.
  - Weeping and wailing – 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!
  - THIRD all of those involved in the SEA trade will MOURN [captains – sailors]
  - This is VERY interesting – because SEA trade was NOT very big in the days of John…
  - But today there are 50 THOUSAND ships – from 150 NATIONS – manned by 1 MILLION sailors…
  - That carry 11 BILLION tons of EVERY kind of good by SEA every year…
  - That breaks down to 1.5 tons of goods – for EVERY person on the face of the earth!
  - But these shipping lanes – that are the international life blood of a GLOBAL economy…
  - Will end abruptly – as in ONE hour BABYLON will become DESOLATE!
5^th – Celebrating in Heaven… vs. 20-24
- 1^st – Rejoice… vs. 20
  - Rejoice over her – heaven – and you holy apostles and prophets – for God has avenged you on her!
  - The CONTRAST could not be greater in HEAVEN…
  - Where those on the EARTH mourn the loss of BABYLON…
  - All those in HEAVEN rejoice [imperative] – the APOSTLES – the PROPHETS…
  - Because the time of the JUDGEMENT of God on this WICKED economic system has come!
  - The INFLUENCE of a MONEY obsessed world has managed to creep into the church…
  - There is a movement in Christianity called the Word of Faith…
  - Teaching if we only have enough FAITH – and SPEAK it – God has to do what we say…
  - This flows into what is called the PROSPERITY Gospel – God wants us to WEALTHY!
  - Philippians 3:18-19 – “They are enemies of the cross of Christ. Their future is eternal destruction. Their god is their appetite… all they think about is this life here on earth.”
  - The Gospel is NOT about getting rich – a better life here and now…
  - If we are looking for MONEY as a reward for our obedience to Christ…
  - We might very well be disappointed – God promises us tribulation here – John 16:33
  - The rewards for serving Jesus are far greater – they are eternal – it is about heaven!
- 2^nd – The Stone… vs. 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!
  - John then saw the mighty ANGEL take up a MILLSTONE – and throw it into the SEA…
  - Because BABYLON – and her unhealthy focus on WEALTH – had STUMBLED the people of God!
  - Luke 17:2 – “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck – and he were thrown into the sea – than that he should offend one of these little ones.”
  - God does not play around when it comes to stumbling His children…
  - He is a VERY protective Father – and will deal with anyone who threatens His kids!
- 3^rd – No more… vs. 22-23
  - 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.
  - The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore.
  - The voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore.
  - Your merchants were great men of the earth – but by your sorcery all the nations were deceived!
  - As a RESULT of the JUDGMENT of BABYLON by God…
  - There would NEVER [οὐ μὴ] – be any MUSIC played in the city again…
  - There would NEVER [οὐ μὴ] – be the sound of CRAFTS or the MILL in the city again…
  - There would NEVER [οὐ μὴ] – be the light of the LAMP in the city again…
  - There would NEVER [οὐ μὴ] – be the voice of a WEDDING in the city again…
  - Because through SORCERY – the city had DECEIVED [πλανάω] nations!
  - SORCERY [φαρμακεία] – is a word that can mean DRUGS…
  - In the context here is seems to point to POISON – referring to MATERIALISM [wealth]
  - The city had POISONED the NATIONS – by getting them to believe the LIE they needed MONEY…
  - And for the sake of MONEY – people had DENIED their FAITH in Jesus!
- 4^th – Blood of saints… vs. 24
  - In her was found the blood of prophets and saints – and of all who were slain on the earth!
  - Do not FORGET that this is the MONETARY system of the Antichrist…
  - In order to BUY or SELL – people will need to take the MARK – Revelation 13:17
  - Because the world has become OBSESSED with WEALTH [even now]
  - There will be MANY who will DENY Jesus – take the MARK – for the sake of MONEY…
  - And any who do NOT – will STARVE – or be put to DEATH for their FAITH – Revelation 20:4
  - BABYLON will be covered in the BLOOD of the prophets and SAINTS…
  - Because of this wicked ECONOMY – countless millions will DIE…
  - Which is why – HEAVEN will rejoice when the ECONOMY of the Antichrist falls!