Revelation 18:1-24 (The Fall of Babylon)

Introduction

If you’ve ever watched a good movie or read a good novel, then you probably know what it’s like to wait with eager anticipation for the villain to get it – and for the good guy to give it to him.

Who is not moved when Mel Gibson’s character (a gritty American revolutionary) finally faces down British Colonel Tavington in The Patriot?

Who doesn’t feel a sense of great satisfaction when Wyatt Earp chases down all the barbaric Cowboys in Tombstone… and especially when Doc Holiday ends Johnny Ringo so sarcastically?

And (for the nerdier folks among us) who isn’t inspired when Aragorn leads a calvary charge just before dawn (when all seems lost) to break Sauron’s horde and defend Helm’s Deep?

Some of the worst movies and stories are those where the producer or the author want to leave us with the impression that the good guys actually lose… the detective does notfind his man… the underdogs are destroyed at the big game or the big battle – think of Thanos basking in his victory at the end of Infinity War.

But in the best stories, the good guys face what appearsto be inevitable loss, the detective seems to have no more leads, and the underdogs look like they have absolutely no reason to hope for victory… but somehow, they pull it off in the end.

I think there’s a reason stories like that seem to naturally resonate with us. There is something about this kind of story that touches a fundamental (or visceral) aspect of our humanity. We deeply want good to triumph; we want justice done; we want villains defeated; and we want the wicked to get what’s coming to them.

For the last several chapters of the book of Revelation, we’ve been reading about the apparent triumphof the villain… and the expected suffering of those on the side of the hero. After the seven seals of the apocalyptic scroll (ch. 6-7), and after the seven blasts of the heavenly trumpets (ch. 8-11) – all assuring the reader that both God’s final judgment and His complete salvationis coming – after those descriptions, we arrived at ch. 12, where we were reminded of a different set of features for this unfolding story. Yes, God’s judgmentand salvation are coming… but before God brings the final end, there is going to be much suffering and even apparent defeat for the kingdom of Christ in this world.

We have seen and read about these features in Revelation before, but they are amplified in chs. 12 and 13… and these chapters seem to describe the entire span of history between Christ’s first coming and His second. It will sometimes look better and sometimes look worse, but the unfolding story of redemption and final glorification is one that travels right through the path of worldly opposition.

The dragon will rage with fury. There will be powerfuland deceptive and compelling beasts on the loose, and they will wreak havoc on the people who love and trust and follow the Lamb. Even the symbolic figures of leadership teach us something about what to expect as the story progresses – the earth dwellers (i.e., unrepentant and rebellious sinners) and the demonic armies have a violent and blood-thirsty dragon as their king, but those who are the servants of God, the people of Christ, the faithful and believing ones, they have a slain Lamb as king.

Rev. 14 reminded us yet again that victory is surefor the Lamb and His people, and Rev. 15 and 16 described God’s judgmentand salvation once again… this time with seven bowls or plagues. It’s in this last cycle of seven that we learn the name of the earthly kingdom that embodies all that the dragon stands for – it is Babylon, and she [i.e., Babylon] represents not just one wicked kingdom but all the nations of the earth. There is a sense in which everyworldly kingdom has and will continue to set itself over and against the Lord Jesus Christ; and insofar as they do, they are outposts of Babylon – that mother of all earth’s abominations.

A couple of Sundays ago, Josh Tanner preached through Rev. 17, and he highlighted the walking contradiction that is the great Babylon. She is attractive, she seems invincible, and she even rides uponthe devilish beast. But (as Josh rightly pointed out) the whole point of Rev. 17 is that the greatness of Babylon is only superficial and momentary… it’s deceptive and it won’t last. She will be utterly destroyed and so will all who throw in their lot with her.

Our passage today is something like the beginning of the end… for Babylon and for the dragon… those great villains who have taken up the banner of hostility toward Christ and His people.

A glorious and authoritative messenger from heaven proclaims the fall of Babylon, he describes the reasons for it, and he outlines the comprehensive and meticulous justice of the whole thing… it’s right and just that God would set His hard hand against Babylon in this way.

The final and ultimate victory of Christ and His people is still yet to come (from our perspective of history), but Revelation 18 is the final announcement (in the prophetic storyline of the last few chapters of Revelation) that the day has come… God has remembered her sins, and He has come to pay her back in full.

But what are we to do with this news? How are we to live today, in light of that coming day? Well, there are a whole bunch of ways we might answer such questions, but our passage emphasizes one in particular.

Let’s consider all of this together for a while this morning.

Will you please stand together with me as I read our passage aloud? Revelation 18:1-24.

Scripture Reading

Revelation 18:1–24 (ESV)

1 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.

‌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.

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.”

Main Idea:

The kingdoms of this earth will soon face the swift and complete judgment of God; therefore, we ought to separate ourselves by living faithfully for Christ in anticipation of that day.

Sermon

Key points: Two announcements from heaven, three earthly laments, one description of the totality of God’s judgment, and the heavenly call for separation.

1. First Heavenly Announcement (v1-3)

After John saw the picture of seduction, power, and brutality (the great blasphemous woman of Rev. 17; i.e., Babylon)… and after John heard that her destruction was soon to come (Rev. 17)… now he hears and sees another heavenly vision which announces that the day of her destruction has come.

And this first announcement is a kind of summary of the whole chapter.

1. John says that he “saw another angel coming down from heaven” (v1).

a. This angel has “great authority,” and “the earth was made bright with his glory” (v1).

b. This heavenly messenger is likely Christ Himself, since every other description of “glory” in Revelation refers to God or Christ.

i. It’s also fitting that the “Lord of lords and King of kings” (Rev. 17:14) would announce His own victory over the great city in opposition to Him – Babylon.

2. John says he heard the heavenly messenger “call out with a mighty voice, ‘Fallen, fallenis Babylon the great!’” (v2).

a. In other words, there is no more delay… the day has come.

3. Verses 2-3 describe Babylon’s conditionat the time of her destruction.

a. “She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt…” for all things “unclean” (v2).

b. “all nations” have joined with her (in some sense), and they have “drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality” (v3).

i. This includes “the kings of the earth” (v3) and also “the merchants of the earth” (v3).

1. Both civil and economicpowers have joined in with the beastly woman.

c. Note the tandem realities here:

i. The kings and the merchants of the earth have benefitted from their relationship with this Jezebel-type woman – they have been able to drink themselves “drunk” on the “wine” of her “immorality” (v3).

1. Wine is often a sign of blessingin the Bible – only victorious and powerful people (or nations) have the kind of peace and prosperity necessary to produce lavish non-essentials such as wine.

ii. But these successful “kings” and “merchants” (as they are described here)… they dwell right alongside “demons” and all sorts of “unclean” things (v2).

1. In the Bible, sexual immoralityand idolatry are so closely related that the one is nearly synonymous with the other.

2. It seems that a rejection of God as King and Lord is demonstrated in no greater way than…

a. the throwing off of sexual restrains,

b. the destruction of the institution of marriage,

c. and the use of fellow image-bearers as mere instruments for sexual pleasure.

4. Friends, civil power and economic success and sexual pleasure are not bad things in themselves.

a. God has instituted civil structures for society, including government and the power or authority it wields.

b. And God has written the protection of private property into the basic summary of His moral law (Ex. 20:15; see the 8th commandment). So too, He has told us that honest and diligent work is a fundamental good for us (Gen. 2:15; 1 Thess. 4:9-12).

c. And God has also instituted marriage for our good (Gen. 2:18-25); He has intended us (husbands and wives) to enjoy one another in the relationship of marriage (1 Cor. 7:2-5).

5. But, brothers and sisters, these goods… when they become the goal (i.e., an end in themselves)… then those who pursue such things become like the kings and merchants described in our passage – drunk on immorality.

a. And this world (with all its pleasures) is naturally enticing to us.

i. Some of us are enticed by the invitation to worldly power… we want a seat at the table, and we might make all sorts of compromises to get there.

ii. Some of us are enticed by worldly wealth… we want entertainment and luxuries, and we may be willing to speak and act in dishonest and cruel ways to get them.

iii. Some of us are enticed by sexual pleasure… we want to fulfill our brute desires, and we are inclined to do so.

b. But don’t be fooled!

i. On the very day that Babylon seems so strong and so luxurious… so indulgent in all sorts of unclean (or sinful) activity… that is the very day when the announcement shall ring out, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!” (v2).

2. Second Heavenly Announcement (v4-8)

This second heavenly announcement includes the call for separation, which is (I think) the main takeaway from our passage today… I will circle back to it in the final point of my sermon, but right now, I’d like us to focus on the swiftness of God’s judgment and the rationale given for it.

1. Note the swiftness in v8.

a. John says he “heard another voice from heaven” (v4), and this one said (in v8), “her plagues” (i.e., the plagues from God that will fall on Babylon) “will come in a single day.”

b. Even the “kings” and “merchants” and “seafaring men” who lament her destruction in our next section (v9-20)… even they are amazed by the suddenness of God’s judgment.

i. They all three say:

1. “in a single hour your judgment has come” (v10).

2. “in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste” (v17).

3. “in a single hour she has been laid waste” (v19).

c. And v8 also tells us that it is “the Lord God who has judged her,” “burning her up with fire” (v8).

i. Friends, God promised never to destroy the earth again by water, which He did in Noah’s day (Gen. 9:8-17), but the Bible teaches us that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief [i.e., with a surprising swiftness], and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed” (2 Pet. 3:10).

ii. When God’s fiery judgment finally comes, it will be swift.

2. And most of this second announcement (v4-8) is the rationale for it.

a. “her sins are heaped high as heaven” (v5)

b. “she herself has paid” condemnation and judgment to others (v6)

c. “she glorified herselfand lived in luxury” (v7)

d. “she says” in “her heart” (v7), “I sit as queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall neversee” (v7)

e. “For this reason” (says the heavenly messenger, in v8) “her plagues will come in a single day” (v8)

i. “God has remembered her iniquities” (v5)

ii. Heaven demands (i.e., God’s righteousness demands), “Pay her back” and “mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed” (v6).

f. Friends, just as every individual sinner will face God’s swift and righteous judgment on the last day, so too will the whole world of them.

i. In the same way that sinners live individually rebellious lives, rejecting God’s commands, denying Christ’s authority, and mocking Christ’s people…

1. so those same sinners join together in civil institutions, in community organizations, and in big business to the same effect – rebellion against God, rejection of Christ, and persecution of Christ’s people.

ii. And on the last day, God will “mix a double portion” in His “cup” of wrath, and sinners will all (individually and collectively) drink it to the dregs.

3. Three Earthly Laments (v9-20)

In v9-20 we read about three laments – one from the kings of earth, one from the merchants, and one from the seafaring men. All three are devastated by the destruction of the “great city,” the one that once gave them such power and luxury. As v14 says, “The fruit for which [their] soul longed has gone from [them], and all… delicacies and… splendors are lost… never to be found again!”

This section is full of lament on the part of the earth dwellers… those who have made their home in the kingdom of Babylon… those who have enjoyed the worldly benefits and have trampled under foot the kingdom and people of Christ.

But there is also another group who is called to respond to Babylon’s destruction – they are called to “rejoice.”

Let’s first look at the lament, and then the rejoicing.

1. Three Laments

a. The “kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with [Babylon], will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning” (v9).

i. They say, “Alas! Alas! You great city, you mightycity, Babylon!” (v10).

b. And “the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore” (v11).

i. They who “gained wealth from her” will stand “weeping and mourning aloud” (v15).

ii. They say, “Alas, alas, for the greatcity that was clothed… [and] adorned” with beauty and wealth (v16).

c. And “all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea…” they too “cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning” (v17-18).

i. They say, “What city was like the great city?” (v18), and “Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth!” (v19).

2. Friends, note again the emphasis on the power and wealth of Babylon.

a. She seemed so mighty, she seemed so prosperous, and it seemed that nothing would overthrow the great city.

b. But God’s judgment will come, and Babylon will be destroyed or “laid waste” in a “single hour” (v10, 17, 19).

c. For those who make their home in Babylon, there will be nothing but lament and mourning on the last day… But for those who’s home is the heavenly city, they will rejoice.

3. See the call to “rejoice” there in v20.

a. “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!” (v20).

i. This speaks again of the vindication that God will give to all His people on the last day.

1. Remember the prayer of those saints who have already died in Rev. 6 – “They cried out with a loud voice, ‘O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how longbefore you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’” (Rev. 6:10).

2. And the saints were told to “rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete” (Rev. 6:11).

ii. God sees the suffering of His people, and He will judge sinners on the last day in a display of judgment that will vindicate all who remain faithful to Christ.

1. The faithful ones may suffer in this life (sometimes brutally and sometimes less so), but they shall most definitely rejoice in the end… and in the life to come.

4. Describing Total Judgment (v21-24)

Very briefly, let’s notice the finality and the totality of God’s judgment that is emphasized in v21-24.

1. The picture of the “millstone” being “thrown down” into “the sea” (v21)

a. John says he saw a “mighty angel” take up “a stone like a great millstone and throw it into the sea, saying, ‘So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence…” (v21).

b. This picks up imagery from the OT prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel, but Jesus used this imagery too, during His earthly ministry.

i. Jesus warned that anyone who causes another to sin would face a punishment so severe that “it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matt. 18:6).

ii. Jesus went on to say, “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!” (Matt. 18:7).

c. Friends, one day sinners in the world will be judged, not only for the sin each one has committed, but also for the part each sinner played in perpetuating the whole worldly system that encourages and celebrates and normalizessin.

i. Note the rationale in at the end of v23-24:

1. “for your merchants were the great ones of the earth [i.e., those in leadership, those with influence, those with the power to set and to change societal norms], and all the nations were deceived [or “led astray” NIV] by your sorcery” (v23).

a. It is as though the cultural and political and economic leaders of the world use spells or trickery or magic to sway the whole of society toward sin and ungodly rebellion… and God will one day judge those who use their influence in this way.

2. Another reason for final and total destruction of Babylon is that “in her was found the blood of the prophets and of saints” (v24).

a. This poetic and prophetic imagery speaks to the fact that those who press for more sin and rebellion often destroy the ones who stand in the way of “progress” by speaking the word of truth and warning.

2. The rhetorical rhythm of “no more”

a. Six times (in three verses) the heavenly messenger says, “no more;” God’s judgment on Babylon will be final and total.

i. “musicians” will be “heard in you no more” (v22)

1. No more singing or celebration.

ii. “craftsman” will be “found in you no more” (v22)

1. No more building or construction.

iii. “the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more” (v22)

1. No more production or economy.

iv. “the light of the lamp will shine in you no more” (v23)

1. No more light of life or knowledge.

v. “the voice of the bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more” (v23)

1. No more marriage, which is the basic institution of civilization itself.

vi. In sum, “Babylon the great city… will be found no more” (v21).

3. Friends, the kingdoms of this earth (represented by Babylon here) will soon face the swift and complete judgment of God.

a. One day it will be the end of the world as we know it, and no one will feel fine.

i. Some will look upon the destruction of this world with sorrow and mourning because all that they enjoyed has come to an end.

ii. And others will look upon the destruction of this world with rejoicing and praise because the true King has vindicated His people and delivered justice on those who oppressed and despised them for so long.

4. So, what are we to do with this sobering news? How ought Christians live in a world that is Babylon?

5. The Call for Separation (v4)

I said earlier that I thought the main takeaway of our passage today was to be found in that second heavenly announcement – “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues” (v4).

Let’s finish our time this morning by considering why we Christians ought to separate from the world and what that might look like.

1. Insofar as we join in with sinners in their disordered and rebellious lives and systems, we take part in their sins.

a. We cannot disconnect entirely from sinners in this world (nor should we aim to do so), but we ought to separate ourselves in meaningful ways.

b. The Bible teaches us (2 Cor. 6:14-18) to be careful not to join in with sinners, but to strive for holiness in our thoughts, words, and deeds.

2. Christians are to live peculiar lives marked by obedience and love.

a. 1 Peter 4 says, “live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God” (1 Pet. 4:2).

i. In other words, learn what God commands and what God forbids, and live accordingly.

b. “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded… keep loving one another earnestly… show hospitality to one another… [and] serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Pet. 4:7-11).

i. In other words, live in real relationship with other Christians, and give yourself for the good of other believers.

3. If you’re a young Christian man or woman, how are you cultivating the courage to live differently than many of your peers?

a. Are you spending all your efforts on pursuing the American dream or chasing the next pleasure or defending all your leisure time?

b. Or…

c. Are you reading and learning and thinking about God’s good design and intentions for your life?

d. Are you spending time with older Christians who model Christian living well?

e. Are you learning about the heritage of faith you have inherited from the Christians who have lived before you?

f. Are you personally putting into practice the disciplines of Christian growth and godly living?

4. If you’re an older Christian, how are you budgeting your time and treasure to invest well in the Christians coming after you?

a. Are you spending all your efforts on building a bigger earthly kingdom or fighting the latest social media battle or mindlessly scrolling on your phone or watching TV (filling your head with all sorts of worldly passions)?

b. Or…

c. Are you inviting younger or newer Christians into your life?

d. Are you helping younger or newer Christians to understand what it looks like to order their lives according to God’s good design and intentions?

e. Are you making use of your time and money to help sinners come to know and follow Christ… to help newer Christians mature in the faith… and to ensure that there will be a strong generation of faithful believers to carry the torch after you are gone?

Friends, the kingdoms of this earth will soon face the swift and complete judgment of God; therefore, we ought to separate ourselves by living faithfully for Christ in anticipation of that day.

May God help us to live faithfully, to avoid being sucked in by the temptations of this world, and to persevere all the way to the end.