The Destruction of Babylon (2)

Rev. 18:1-18

Introduction:  Babylon is not only an ancient city and powerful city, but also a symbol of mankind’s rebellion against God.  In Revelation 18, Babylon represents the world system of the beast particularly in its economic and political aspects.  John calls Babylon a city at least 8 times: 14:8; 17:18, 18:10, 16, 18-21. Old Testament prophecy seems to say that the city will not be rebuilt but its system will be.  The readers of John would think of Rome when the world Babylon was used.  This is clearly the resurrected Babylon.  The apostate religious system is destroyed by the kings of the earth but the economic Babylon will be destroyed by the coming King.

God reveals Satan’s political seat is going crumble here.  Notice three reasons.

I. The magnitude of her sins vv. 1-2

A. Her messenger v. 1

1.  The angel is sent from heaven with great authority.

2. God has given him his authority and the angel honors God’s request.

3. He is higher in rank than the other angels in chapter 17

4. Evidently, he has great prestige as indicated by his brightness.

5. He comes to do God’s bidding. 

B. His message v. 2

1.  Babylon has now become the home to demonism and depravity.

2. In chapter 17 Babylon is called the mother of harlots, means Babylon is not just wicked and corrupt but is the place that births wickedness and corruption.

3. In Daniel’s day, Babylon was the home of magicians, soothsayers, and astrologers.

4. There will be a revival of Satanism, spiritism, occultism, witchcraft, and astrology.

5. Fallen, fallen shows the dramatic destruction of this wicked city.

6. Full of foul spirits and unclean birds Matthew 13:31-Satan’s birds refers to demons.

II. The magnitude of her influence vv. 3-4

Babylon is a pusher of wickedness and debauchery.

A. The identification v. 3

1.  The judgment comes on Babylon because of their worldwide influence in bringing corruption widespread.

2. Babylonian system has intoxicated the world with pleasure and riches.

3. It has catered to a lover of pleasures more than lovers of God-

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;”   II Tim. 3:1-4

4.  The love of pleasures and possessions if nothing more than a form of idolatry, demonic in origin and destructive in outcome.

5. Her character will be freedom from restrictions and all forms of morality:  anything goes.

B. The separation v. 4

1.  The few Christians left are told to separate from this desctructive city.

2. Christians are warned regularly in the Bible to not love the world.

3. These Christians are saved during the Tribulation Period and will make it to the end.

4. The warning is clear:

a.  Come out before the judgment just as He called out Lot

b. Have no association or desire for the sins of Babylon.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye arethe temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saiththe Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” II Cor. I6:14-17

 III. The magnitude of her judgment vv. 5-8

A. The depth of sin v. 5

1.  There comes a time when sin gets so deep that it reaches heaven.

2. This was the condition of Sodom and the world in Noah’s day.

3. God does not let sin go unpunished but He is longsuffering for them to repent.

B. The arrogance of sin vv. 6-7

1.  Babylon has gone into sin as if she would never be judged.

2. God said that His cup of vengeance will get full and there will be a judgment according to the severity of their condition.

3. Cup of vengeance is found in Obadiah

“For the day of the Lord is near upon all the heathen: As thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee; Thy reward shall return upon thine own head.  Obadiah 15

4.  She has presumptuously thought she could sit on the throne forever as if indestructible.

5. Babylon will sit on top of the world with great opulence eating the rich foods of the world and in need of nothing.

6. She will gloat in her sin as if nothing will ever happen.

C. The destruction of sin v. 8

1.  God will bring all that crashing down rapidly.

2. He is more powerful than their supposed power and He will send all forms of judgment on them.

3. Death, mourning, and famine will one day come suddenly and destroy the city.

4. This will come in one day when Christ comes and destroys Babylon at the Second Coming of Christ.

Conclusion:  The religious/political system of the Antichrist will be ultimately judged.  God will deal with the sin and debauchery of this paganistic system.   Be assured God will judge sin in the world.