Lesson 6- Revelation 17,18, & 19: Babylon and it's fall, The Rider on the White Horse, and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Babylon’s Mess on Earth 17:1- 6

English Standard Version (Chapter 17)

17 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters,

2 with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.”

3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns.

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.

5 And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” 6 And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.When I saw her, I marveled greatly.

Revelation 17

John, the Angel, and the Mystery

This chapter deals with the actual prediction of the fall of Babylon and the culture of Babylon on Earth. It is mentioned in Revelation 14:8 and here in 16:19. The details are more complete in chapter 16, but yet there is a mystery as to what is going on and about the identity of Babylon. If Baghdad in Iraq, is the city they are talking about, then it has a long way to go to match what is being spoken about in Chapter 17.

I. The Unveiling of the Judgment on the Harlot. 17:1- 3

Vs.1 – One of the 7 angels from chapter 16 talks with John and invites him to come and he will show him the judgment. We get a description of the woman in verse 4-6 and her identity in verse 18. The waters are explained in verse 15.

II. The Description of the Harlot. 17:4- 6

This is not the woman of chapter twelve. In fact this woman is an opposite copy of that woman. That woman represented Israel. Who is this woman? This gaudy description is typical of harlotry (Proverbs 30:20 – physically and spiritually.) She is the unscriptural equivalent of religion during the tribulation. In other words, this is not only Babylon, but also the church of the anti-Christ- the one world church. In verse 6, we see this religious harlot thrives on killing Christians.

The ancient people of Babylon worshipped Ishtar, the goddess of sex and love. Since many of the cultures in the world worshipped a satanic goddess, they would have known what kind of perversion this woman of chapter 17 represents.

III. The Mystery of the Harlot and the Beast. 17: 7-12

7 But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. 9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 10 they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. 11 As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Re 17:6–12.

The beast is the anti-Christ and He controls the woman- v.7. In verses 9-10, we find 7=7=7. In the last 7, five of them have already taken place and have fallen, one is in place right now and the 7th is yet to come. The seventh will not be around very long. The beast is the 8th and comes from the first 7 kings. They are all headed to an eternity in hell. Verse 12 tells us that the 10 horns are 10 kings who do not yet have a kingdom but will get theirs for a short while, from the beast. These ten are the same 10 of chapter 13. Many people believe it to be the revived Roman empire. Nonetheless, whatever their identity, they put their full allegiance behind the physical and spiritual harlotry of the anti-Christ.

IV. The Agenda of the Harlot and the Beast. 17: 13-17.

English Standard Version (Chapter 17)

13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”15 And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16 And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, 17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.

A. They are out to do battle with the Lamb as one mind, power and strength. 13, 14

B. They are doomed to failure.14.

C. They shall lead many astray. Most of the world is under their control. We see this because of the people, multitudes, nations and tongues over whom she sits in power: She, being the harlot, the one world church, government, and military.

D. However, the ten kings/horns shall turn on her and destroy her. 16

E. They shall perform God’s will of justice and God’s will of fulfillment. The beast wants the power for the anti-Christ alone. 17

V. The Identity of the harlot. V.18

English Standard Version (Chapter 17)

18 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”

The harlot is that great city of 16:19. I believe her identity is 2-fold. It is not only the world’s most wicked city, but it also stand for the harlot’s religious system of the tribulation.

II. The Measure and Arrival of Judgment upon Babylon 18:7- 19

III. Rejoicing over Babylon’s Destruction. 18:20-24

The fate of Babylon is sealed. Babylon will fall and Babylon will truly fail.

I. The Voice of Judgment Towards Babylon 18:1- 6

English Standard Version (Chapter 18)

18 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory.

2 And he called out with a mighty voice,“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!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.

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.”

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.

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.

A. the Judgment Angel comes down in such splendor it lights the whole earth. Vs.1

B. Vs. 2- The voice proclaims the fate of Babylon:

1. Babylon is fallen

2. Babylon is become the habitation of devils (daimon, or daemon = demon.) It is a word that carries with it the notion of gloominess and sadness, an unclean situation, wickedness and evil spirits.

3. Babylon is the Hold (prison) of every foul spirit.

4. Babylon is a cage for every unclean and hateful bird. This refers to predators.

Cage and hold are the same word but translated differently because of the context of the wording.

C. Babylon’s responsibility: vs.3

1. for the nations drinking from the wine of the wrath of her fornication. This tells us of the nature of the culture surrounding Babylon.

2. Because the Kings of the Earth had become Sex Slaves to her.

3. Because merchants became wealthy from her delicacies- a word that is descriptive of voluptuousness in great luxury. Babylon made a great deal of its wealth from sexual sin.

D. Heavens Voice issues a call to God’s people to come out of Babylon, so as to not partake of her sin that is about to be judged. They are being extended a courtesy to escape the plagues coming towards Babylon. V. 4

E. Her sins have reached heaven and God has not forgotten her iniquity. Iniquity is willful sin. v.5

F. The command is given to reward her in judgment in the same fashion with which her works are manifest. This really breaks down into a double curse upon them. V.6

II. The Measure and Arrival of Judgment upon Babylon 18:7- 19

English Standard Version (Chapter 18)

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.’

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.”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. 10 They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say,“Alas! Alas! You great city,you mighty city, Babylon!For in a single hour your judgment has come.”

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.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!”

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!

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?”

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!For in a single hour she has been laid waste.

A. The Measure of Judgment is on record. Vs.7. As Babylon was glorified and lived deliciously (while everyone else suffered,) so in that same measure will she find torment and suffering.

1. She finds nothing wrong in her sin. See Proverbs 7:14

a. “I am a queen.” Proverbs 7:16

b. “I am no widow.” Compare with Proverbs 7:19 – The husband is not at home.

c. “I shall see no sorrow” See Proverbs 30:20.

B. The arrival of Judgment happens in a day. Vs.8

Plagues, death, mourning, famine and fire: The Lord God is a strong judge against her and her attitude.

1. There is going to be a great fire.vs.9. It is characterized by those who watch her burn. The sex slave kings shall bewail and lament for her, but can do nothing, and perhaps do not even try, to do anything to help. Cut your losses and watch her burn would be the theme here.

2. It is best watched from a far off. Vs.10. The great city fell in one hour.

3. Vs.11, 15- merchants from all over the world will weep and mourn because Babylon was their diversion in a ghastly and dangerous time to live. People walk away because there is no more sinful product to buy. V.15 says that they can only stand back and fear.

4. Babylon’s merchandise, V.12, 13: Gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet, sweet wood, ivory vessels, precious wood, brass, iron, marble/ 13- cinnamon, perfume, ointment, frankincense, wine, oil, flour, wheat, beasts, sheep, horses, chariots, slaves, and the souls of men! Consider the spiritual aspect of what is going on, the selling of souls.

5. Triple Whammy! V.14.

a. The lustful fruit has departed

b. The dainty and goodly is gone

c. All of this verse and the last two, if there was any doubt, are now no more at all.

6. Merchant Talk vs.16-19

They talked about her jewelry and clothes and how it all has come to nothing in one hour. These are merchants who were made rich in a one world economy. They cried about the desolation. No doubt some of them lost more than money.

IV. Rejoicing over Babylon’s Destruction. 18:20-24

English Standard Version (Chapter 18)

20  Rejoice over her, O heaven,and you saints and apostles and prophets,for God has given judgment for you against her!”

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.

24  And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints,and of all who have been slain on earth.”

A. It is now time for the righteous to rejoice in the loss of Babylon we are talking about Heaven, apostles, and prophets. God has His day and vengeance is done. V.20.

B. Vs.21 – The Mighty angel and the stone. We are not given dimensions of the millstone, but it took a mighty angel to cast the stone into water. It is a picture of how Babylon will be thrown down.

C. Vs.22, 23 – Here are things that will no more be in Babylon: No one to play the harp, no musicians, pipers, trumpeters, no lamps (candles), and no weddings. It is revealed that the merchants were the ones who deceived the nations on behalf of the evil one.

D. Things that will be found in Babylon: Vs.24

The Blood of Prophets, saints and all that were slain for Christ.

With the language and imagery of Babylon, do you see the spirit of Babylon at work already in the world?

Revelation 19

I. A whole lot of Alleluias going on- a united voice in heaven. A Fourfold Hallelujah. 19:1-5

English Standard Version (Chapter 19)

19 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,“Hallelujah!Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,2  for his judgments are true and just;for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality,and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

3 Once more they cried out,“Hallelujah!The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” 5 And from the throne came a voice saying,“Praise our God,all you his servants,you who fear him,small and great.”

A. The Lord gets first praise. vs.1” Much people.”

B. God’s judgments against Babylon are complete. V.2, 3. This is the effect of the judgment of sin and the avenging of his servants. Smokey praise in verse 3. It seems that Isaiah 34:10 gives us insight into this scene: “It shall not be quenched by night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up forever: from generation to generation it shall lay waste; none shall pass through it forever and ever.” See also Rev. 18:8-10.

C. The worship and praise of the Lord God continues. 19:4, 5

The first five verses of chapter 19 can be considered a continuation of what was happening in chapter 18. The fall of Babylon was one loud thud. If one would think that God is too harsh, we can remember Bible principles. One of those would be the principle of reaping what one sows. Can you think of any other principles to explain the harshness of God’s judgment? Because of the terrible things Babylon was responsible for, her reaping was doubled.

II. The marriage supper of the Lamb. 19:6- 10

English Standard Version (Chapter 19)

6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.

7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory,for the marriage of the Lamb has come,and his Bride has made herself ready;8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

A. It is introduced by an awesome chorus. V.6. We know this verse as a part of Handel’s Messiah, The Hallelujah Chorus…”For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.”

B. Its time has come. 7-10

Who is the groom?

Who is the bride?

What makes this bride different?

What time in history does this take place?

C. It is a time of Blessing God. V.9 There is a statement of affirmation of Truth in what is going on. Who are the ones who are called to the supper and are there invited guests?

D. The whole scene drives John to worship; only it is the wrong person to worship. V.10. the servant to John and the other believers makes an interesting statement: “The sayings/testimony of Jesus are/is the spirit of prophecy.”

The Amplified Bible says that “ the substance of truth revealed by Jesus is the spirit of all prophecy( which is the vital breath, the inspiration of all inspired preaching and interpretation of the divine will and purpose, including both mine and yours.)

III. The Rider on the White Horse. 19:11- 21

English Standard Version (Chapter 19)

11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.

13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.

15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.”

19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

This is the return of Jesus Christ to reign on Earth. He has been in heaven all through the events of this book. Now it is time for His return. Notice the contrasts between this coming and His very first one:

A. The Rider is Distinctive in name. 19:11-13, 16.

He is Faithful and True, a name written that no man knows, the Word of God, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

There is an interesting principle in verse 11: In righteousness does he judge and make war.

Picture this view of Jesus in 19:12 – “His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns.” The question is, where did the crowns come from?

In verse 13, His sacrifice on the Cross is not forgotten- He has a vesture dipped in blood and His name is Called the Word of God. The title He has on this vesture is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The versions usually put this phrase in all capital letters for emphasis (v.16)

B. He is distinctive in Action. 19:14,15

The armies of heaven followed in in an impressive array of White horses and riders clothed in white lined. They were ready for battle, but the battle was done and they had not gotten dirty. They were all clean.

Vs.15- Out of his mouth goes the Word of God as a sharp sword. With that Word He will rule the nations and tread out the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Him as Almighty God.

C. He is Distinctive in Judgment vs.17-21

The feast of verses 17, 18, and 21 are from the remains of the battle of Armageddon.

Verse 19 The beast and false prophet make war against The Lord Jesus.

In verse 20 they are taken prisoner and tossed into the Lake of Fire. The rest of the rebels were slain with the Word that went forth from His mouth.