Revelation 18 Discussion
Notes
Transcript
Announcements - dinner next week is us and Johnny
Prayer
Discussion
As we said last week, Revelation 17 and 18 tell us about what will happen to Babylon, the world’s great city. Chapter 18 deals with the implications of Babylon’s fall, as we will see.
Let’s start by reading Revelation 18:1-8
Let’s start by reading Revelation 18:1-8
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.”
What does the angel declare about Babylon in vv. 2-3?
What does the angel declare about Babylon in vv. 2-3?
Babylon is great, but she has fallen.
She has become a dwelling place for demons.
She has become a haunt for unclean spirits, birds, and beasts.
The nations have drunk the wine of her sexual immorality.
The kings of the earth have committed immorality with her.
Adorned with gold, jewels, and pearls (v. 4)
What is a haunt?
What is a haunt?
The word “haunt” could also be translated as “prison,” indicating a dark place of dwelling that is inescapable.
37 and Babylon shall become a heap of ruins, the haunt of jackals, a horror and a hissing, without inhabitant.
What is that description emphasizing about Babylon and those things that dwell there?
What is that description emphasizing about Babylon and those things that dwell there?
It reveals Babylon’s true nature. It was always a place of evil and wickedness, but now there is no denying it.
Notice the inclusive words in vv. 1-3 (every, all) and the scope of wickedness present here. How does this motivate you to pursue the Lord is the midst of all of this evil?
Notice the inclusive words in vv. 1-3 (every, all) and the scope of wickedness present here. How does this motivate you to pursue the Lord is the midst of all of this evil?
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.”
God’s people are called to be salt and light in the darkness of the world.
Christians were never promised and easy life. This is a wake-up call for us as followers of Christ that we are called to be righteous among the wicked.
Which leads us right into v. 4 where a voice says, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins.” What does it look like for us to obey personally?
Which leads us right into v. 4 where a voice says, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins.” What does it look like for us to obey personally?
Right now, it is as if we are living in exile. We are called to live in the world, but not of the world.
A couple of weeks ago we talked about the “already not-yet” aspect of the end times.
In our lives today, we are called to flee sexual immorality (1 Cor. 6:8), to not give the devil a foothold (Eph. 4:27); to flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness (2 Tim. 2:22). These, as well as many others, are examples of how to “come out of ” wicked situations that might lead us to sin.
We’ll continue with the theme of considering sin, but let’s go ahead and read the next section: Revelation 18:9-20
We’ll continue with the theme of considering sin, but let’s go ahead and read the next section: Revelation 18:9-20
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!”
What are the sins of worldliness mentioned throughout this chapter?
What are the sins of worldliness mentioned throughout this chapter?
Sexual immorality, rejection of God, greed, pride, etc.
We can help one another combat these sins and pursue holiness through opportunities the church provides for Christ-centered fellowship such as the Sunday morning gathering and growth group.
We can hold each other accountable.
We can pray for each other.
We can encourage each other.
We talked about this last week, but it is highlighted here again. In v. 6 notice the severity of God’s punishment. What are your initial reactions to this?
We talked about this last week, but it is highlighted here again. In v. 6 notice the severity of God’s punishment. What are your initial reactions to this?
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.’
We may feel that it is severe or harsh at first reading.
Now read v. 7 again. How is the righteousness of God’s judgment on display?
Now read v. 7 again. How is the righteousness of God’s judgment on display?
Verse 7 tells us that God’s punishment and judgment are given in equal measure to their sins. God’s judgments are always righteous and right.
Our modern culture seeks to minimize sin and its effects. Look at Psalm 5:4-6. How does God view sin?
Our modern culture seeks to minimize sin and its effects. Look at Psalm 5:4-6. How does God view sin?
4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.
5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
God hates sin. Sin can’t be present where God is.
This is why we can’t minimize it, because God does not minimize it.
How does that point us to our need for saving from sin?
How does that point us to our need for saving from sin?
Because we are sinful, we have no hope of saving ourselves from our sin.
We need a perfectly sinless person to save us from our sin.
This is where Jesus comes in. He was sinless and therefore he could justly be the sacrifice for our sins. He died on the cross in our place and gave us his righteousness so now, in Him, we can actually have a relationship with God.
Apart from Christ’s sinless life, death, and resurrection, this could not have happened.
What is the reaction of the people in this chapter to the destruction of Babylon?
What is the reaction of the people in this chapter to the destruction of Babylon?
The inhabitants will weep and wail and stand far off, presumably for fear of being destroyed themselves (vv. 9-10).
They will weep and mourn since no one buys their goods (v. 11).
They will stand far off, weeping and mourning aloud (v. 15).
They threw dust on their heads, wept, mourned, and cried (v. 19).
Why do you think this is?
Why do you think this is?
Their reaction is so severe because their entire livelihood is being destroyed. Their jobs, opportunities for wealth, purpose, etc., are all gone. They realized they had trusted in the wrong things.
There is one verse that is unique in this chapter from the others. It’s v. 20 - why do you think that is?
There is one verse that is unique in this chapter from the others. It’s v. 20 - why do you think that is?
20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!”
It’s telling God’s people, the redeemed, to rejoice over the judgment of Babylon. Amidst all of the wailing and sorrow that the earth-dwellers will be doing, God’s people should be rejoicing at God’s justice be played out. And not in a haughty way, but a humble way that praises God for his grace to us.
It’s kind of eye opening when you read this chapter and feel a little sad that all of these bad things happen to the world we live in. But we must remember that this kingdom isn’t our home. We’re apart of the kingdom of God that will soon be completely consummated at the return of Jesus.
Prayer
