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December 27
Revelation 18:1-24
The Fall of Babylon the Great
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.
The World Mourns Babylon’s Fall
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. 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. 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!”
Finality of Babylon’s Fall
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.”
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
There is great controversy and differences of opinions concerning the identity of Babylon the Great described in Revelation 18. I believe it is the literal city of Rome for several reasons.
As we study the Scriptures we have to keep them in context. Originally, the Bible was not divided into books written with chapters and verses. These were added later. In the previous chapter of Revelation 17 it describes the Great Harlot which is a corrupt religious system that rules over the kings of the earth. We know that Rome made Christianity it’s official state religion and so was merged together. The Bible describes this city in this portion of Scripture here in Revelation 18 as a cage containing every foul spirit and demon. Rome was the center from which popes declared their heretical teachings to be enforced in churches around the globe. This is what the Holy Spirit warned the apostle Paul would happen in the last days.
1 Timothy 4:1-3 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
In the same way that Rome was the center of the proliferation of a twisted version of Christianity with it unbiblical teachings like requiring people to join the Roman Catholic Church to be saved and coming up with a teaching that souls could be redeemed from purgatory (which is not found in the Bible) by giving money to the church so also Rome was the center of world wide trade and every kind of merchandise through which many were made rich living in self glorifying luxury. So, when John the apostle describes Babylon the Great in Revelation 18 I understand it is a continuation of the same great city of Rome.
However, now God is revealing the corrupt sinful economic side of the city. For this reason the Lord warns his people to come out of this evil economic system that exalts money over God and lives for luxury. The problem is not does a Christian have riches or not. The question is do riches have you and where is your heart and priorities? Jesus taught us much about wealth and money and it can be consolidated into this verse: Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Another strong reason that I believe that Babylon the Great is the city of Rome is that God tells his people to depart from its evil practices and not partake of her judgments. Additionally, the Bible teaches us that in this city was found the blood of the Saints and the holy apostles and prophets were instructed to rejoice because God was avenging them. Church history teaches us that both Peter and Paul were martyred at Rome. The Emperor Nero and several others instigated massive persecution against Christians in Rome and thousands were martyred and fed to lions in the city coliseum while crowds of ungodly Roman citizens cheered the spectacle as entertainment.
PRAYER:
Let’s pray together! Father, open our understanding and give us discernment about the spiritual condition of our own hearts and lives and keep us from becoming distracted with the pursuit of materialism and consumerism. Help us to seek first your kingdom, purposes and righteousness in our lives today. We believe your promise that as we put you first you will provide all of our needs because you know what they are already. Thank you for salvation through Jesus Christ by faith in him alone. We praise you for the victory we have in Jesus because through Him we are more than conquerors. Be glorified in our lives today we pray, in the name of Jesus, Amen!
Revelation 18:1-24
The Fall of Babylon the Great
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.
The World Mourns Babylon’s Fall
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. 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. 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!”
Finality of Babylon’s Fall
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.”
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
There is great controversy and differences of opinions concerning the identity of Babylon the Great described in Revelation 18. I believe it is the literal city of Rome for several reasons.
As we study the Scriptures we have to keep them in context. Originally, the Bible was not divided into books written with chapters and verses. These were added later. In the previous chapter of Revelation 17 it describes the Great Harlot which is a corrupt religious system that rules over the kings of the earth. We know that Rome made Christianity it’s official state religion and so was merged together. The Bible describes this city in this portion of Scripture here in Revelation 18 as a cage containing every foul spirit and demon. Rome was the center from which popes declared their heretical teachings to be enforced in churches around the globe. This is what the Holy Spirit warned the apostle Paul would happen in the last days.
1 Timothy 4:1-3 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
In the same way that Rome was the center of the proliferation of a twisted version of Christianity with it unbiblical teachings like requiring people to join the Roman Catholic Church to be saved and coming up with a teaching that souls could be redeemed from purgatory (which is not found in the Bible) by giving money to the church so also Rome was the center of world wide trade and every kind of merchandise through which many were made rich living in self glorifying luxury. So, when John the apostle describes Babylon the Great in Revelation 18 I understand it is a continuation of the same great city of Rome.
However, now God is revealing the corrupt sinful economic side of the city. For this reason the Lord warns his people to come out of this evil economic system that exalts money over God and lives for luxury. The problem is not does a Christian have riches or not. The question is do riches have you and where is your heart and priorities? Jesus taught us much about wealth and money and it can be consolidated into this verse: Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Another strong reason that I believe that Babylon the Great is the city of Rome is that God tells his people to depart from its evil practices and not partake of her judgments. Additionally, the Bible teaches us that in this city was found the blood of the Saints and the holy apostles and prophets were instructed to rejoice because God was avenging them. Church history teaches us that both Peter and Paul were martyred at Rome. The Emperor Nero and several others instigated massive persecution against Christians in Rome and thousands were martyred and fed to lions in the city coliseum while crowds of ungodly Roman citizens cheered the spectacle as entertainment.
PRAYER:
Let’s pray together! Father, open our understanding and give us discernment about the spiritual condition of our own hearts and lives and keep us from becoming distracted with the pursuit of materialism and consumerism. Help us to seek first your kingdom, purposes and righteousness in our lives today. We believe your promise that as we put you first you will provide all of our needs because you know what they are already. Thank you for salvation through Jesus Christ by faith in him alone. We praise you for the victory we have in Jesus because through Him we are more than conquerors. Be glorified in our lives today we pray, in the name of Jesus, Amen!
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