The False Kingdom Falls

Revelation 17 speaks of it in terms of the spiritual kingdom of the antichrist. The false religion that traps and enslaves the world and leads them to worship the beast.

Revelation 18 speaks of Babylon’s final and ultimate fall. At the very least, it speaks to the Antichrist’s economic and political kingdom.

But is also has a very strong possibility of being a literal and physical city that becomes the ruling center of his one world kingdom. OR perhaps it is simply used to refer to the city that will become the seat of power for the antichrist, even if that city is not named/renamed Babylon.

Scripture is not entirely clear on it, but there is a good argument for the rebuilding of Babylon in the future.

If this is so, it is safe to say that Babylon, as a physical city serves as the symbolic kingdom of the antichrist and represents both his economic and political kingdom.

Revelation 17 saw the fall of the spiritual kingdom, the one world religion as the beast and the world turn on her allowing no room for worship of anyone other than the beast himself.

Revelation 18, though still referring to Babylon, has a different focus in mind. God turns to the economic and political aspect of Babylon and will decimate it—both literally and figuratively.

Let’s read Revelation 18 together.

Revelation 18 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.”

As we jump into this text, we will see (Big idea)

Body

Big Idea: God’s holiness will be satisfied and glorified through the fall and judgment of the false kingdom and all it stands for.

Babylon’s Fall Declared - Revelation 18:1-3

Revelation 18:1–3 ESV

Church, what we must see and understand is that God promises judgment upon the wicked. He must. Or else He would not be just and good God. Ps 9:7-8

We have seen this enough in the course of our study, I do not have to belabor that point.

Time is up.

God’s patience is gone.

The bowl judgements have been poured. The final war of the tribulation is coming.

And the Day of the Lord will soon be complete.

The culmination of wrath is here.

The angel came

With a mighty voice (power, authority, purpose)

Filling the earth with his glory (won’t be missed; clearly seen and acknowledged that he was sent by God)

And he will declare with certainty that—Fallen, Fallen—is Babylon.

The meaning of the word Fallen paints a vivid picture. It means to move with relative rapidity, downward.

That is an understatement.

Likely, this destruction and judgment is coming as part of the 7th bowl judgment— Revelation 16:19-21.

Revelation 16:19–21 ESV

19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 21 And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.

God remembered Babylon…

Revelation 18:5 “for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.”

Revelation 18 appears to be a parenthesis's expanding on Babylon’s fall with the 7th bowl.

God remembers Babylon and brings about her total destruction—for her wickedness is beyond description.

She has become a dwelling place for demons/unclean spirits (synonyms)

You may remember from Revelation 9:13-16, that nearly 200 million demons were released from here to terrorize the world. Those demons were said to be locusts.

Here, we are told that demons and unclean spirits dwell in Babylon. To further deepened the picture of these demons, they are described as unclean birds and unclean, detestable beasts.

This unclean nests is a reference is the OT idea of being ceremonially unclean.

Here is the point: Babylon attracts death, the unclean, the abominable.

Evil attracts evil.

And perhaps, unclean birds, depicts its looming destruction. Like carrion circling overhead ready to feast, the presence of unclean birds and beast speaks to is coming death.

Either way, it seems that demons, unclean spirits, unclean birds, unclean and detestable beasts are all referring to the same thing. The parallelism emphasizing the uncleanness and wickedness of the demons and evil that have gathered to the city.

These demons, unclean HAUNT the city.

This word “haunt” means the act of guarding.

The imagery is that of a person acting as a sentinel or guard.

This evil GUARDS the city…and all it stands for.

They flock to the city partaking and protecting what it purports and stands for.

Babylon guards them and they, her.

The nations have drunk the wine her she proffered.

Drunk - Literally to fall, to fall prostrate or down.

Literally, they are stumbling, mumbling drunk.

They have indulged to the point of saturation and beyond.

Her indulgence has taken over the world.

MacArthur calls it a materialistic orgy.

They have not denied themselves pleasure at her table.

Like the original Babylon (Daniel 5:1-30), it appears they will be partying when the final judgment falls.

God’s warning in James 5:1-5 could certainly be applied to them.

James 5:1–5 ESV

1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

THIS IS BABYLON

And it is this wanton wickedness that God is bringing judgment against.

As God prepares to send it, he sends one warning to His own to flee.

God’s Own Warned to Flee - Revelation 18:4-5

Revelation 18:4–5 ESV

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.

God is bringing utter destruction to the city. Any of God’s people still living in the city, need to flee lest they be destroyed with it.

IT COULD ALSO BE a call for the repentance and salvation of Israel…one final plea before God sends judgement that will not be turned away from once it descends.

Again, I believe there is likely a physical city that will be destroyed but it could go either way.

OR, it could be a little bit of both.

Church—for us, reading this, this side of glory—come out of Babylon.

We have no business being any part of her.

Despite being His, we still participate in Babylonian style worship and activities at times.

We follow her allure and give way to the passions of the flesh—far too often if we are honest.

We MUST DISTANCE ourselves from Babylon and Babylonian ways of thinking and living. Her enticements ought not be named amongst us.

Church, leave no room in your life for her lies, manipulations, and attraction.

Fleeing Babylon means not participating in her immorality and sin. We must flee - Gen 39:7-12; 1 Cor 10:14; 1 Tim 6:11; 2 Tim 2:22; 1 John 2:16.

We must have no part with her.

Romans 12:2 ESV

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2 Corinthians 6:14–17 ESV

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,

Romans 12:2; 2 Cor. 6:14-17; James 1:27; 4:4; 1 John 2:15.

Nothing about the world should be named among us.

Babylon, the world system is an enemy of God.

Come out—Judgement is sure—Come out lest you be swept away with her.

Babylon’s judgement is here.

Babylon’s Sin Judged

Jeremiah the prophet speaks to her judgement. Jeremiah 51:9

Jeremiah 51:9 ESV

We would have healed Babylon, but she was not healed. Forsake her, and let us go each to his own country, for her judgment has reached up to heaven and has been lifted up even to the skies.

In this text, and in Revelation 18, we behold her “tower” of sin.

Babylon’s “Tower” of Sin

Jeremiah declares that her judgement has reached to heavens.

Revelation 18 refers to it as being piled to the heavens.

Piled - kollao - Glue together; to join

Her sins are the new “Tower of Babel”

The original Tower of Babel was man’s “thumbing their nose at God,” their assertion of their own glory, worth, independence, and desire to live as they please.

Babylon’s “Tower of Sins” is the same. Babylon will be condemned for:

Self-glorification

Self-gratification

Self-sufficiency

The Tower of Sins IS the Tower of Babel at its most extreme expression.

The Fall of Babylon Doubled - Revelation 18:6

Revelation 18:6 ESV

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.

Under Mosaic Law, double was complete restitution - Ex 22:4-9

This cry parallels saints prayer in Revelation 6:9-10

It is based on OT concept of an “eye for an eye” - Mt 5:38; Ex 21:23-24; Lev 24:19-20; Deut 19:21

The angel cries out for her to now receive that which she has dealt out. Ps 137:8

This a cry for vindication.

This is a cry her punishment to match the crime.

So wicked were her deeds that DOUBLE is the only fitting punishment.

Psalm 137:8 ESV

8 O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us!

BLESSED is the one who repays Babylon what she has done.

So wicked are her deeds that the one is blessed who repays her. (See also Jer 50:14-15, 29; 51:24, 56)

Church, I want…I need…to make this point as well…this is God’s territory, not ours. Vindication, judgement, is not our right. But His.

Listen, church, it is God’s right to repay, not mans. God is the only one who has the right to vengeance.

Man has the right to justice, but not vengeance.

Vengeance belongs to God - Prov 20:22; Rom 12:14-21

We are to repay good for evil - Rom 12:14-21; 1 Th 5:1

Honestly, if you are not terrifying the wrath and judgement sought and granted here, then I am not sure what it will take to terrify your soul.

Even if it is our enemy, such wrath and terror ought to waken our hearts to terror.

But know this…God will end self-glorification once and for all. He will show what a vile thing it is.

The Fall of Self-Glorification- Revelation 18:7

Revelation 18:7 ESV

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.’

She glorified herself.

She promoted her own value and worth.

She elevated herself to the place that demanded and expected worship.

She dethroned God from that spot.

Listen, only one person or thing can sit in the seat of worship. Of supreme and ultimate worship. We may worship multiple things but ONE always rules all.

One will always govern the rest.

And in truth, everything else is really rooted in self worship.

We seek pleasure…because we have elevated ourself to first position.

We seek praise and approval of man because self sits on the throne, wanting everyone else adoration

We seek comfort because our wants and needs are ruling.

Babylon’s sin of self glorification, is THE SIN of Satan, THE sin of humanity, and the SIN that will be most highly opposed by God—Pride.

God Hates pride - Is 42:8; Prov 6:16-19; James 4:6

God stands opposed it.

Pride makes us god.

Pride keeps us from god.

Pride blinds us to sin

Pride blinds us to fault

Pride blinds us to the needs of others.

Pride blinds love.

When we are built up on self, we will not “unselfishly choose for the highest needs of another.”

The real need of our daily lives is to be SEE the glory of God—A reality we looked at just weeks ago in Psalm 8.

Self-glorification keeps us from God.

It robs us of enjoyment of Him

It robs us of the goodness and perfections of His person.

So God must (and does) stand opposed to it.

And He will judge Babylon for her refusal to repent of her self-glorification.

Because her self glorification leads only into abominable self-gratification.

The Fall of Self-Gratification - Revelation 18:7-19

Revelation 18:7–20 ESV

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!”

She lived in luxury…

She spared herself no expense to get what she wanted…

She denied herself nothing.

Nor did the world who worshipped her.

Notice the grief and lament of Kings, merchants, and shipmasters…

They mourn the loss of wealth, abundance, beauty, and greatness.

They had lives sensuously and abundantly.

Like Babylon, they withheld no possible desire to satisfy their hearts.

They ARE Babylon, in fact. They are the city. They are the people who make her up. The philosophy of the Antichrist in Babylon drew them, and they fed into and she into them.

They did what they wanted.

Unfortunately, those desires cannot and will not satisfy.

We NEED to hear this. Too often we fail pray the lie and temptation to think that these things can satisfy our hearts. They cannot.

In fact, God tell us that…

Those who live thus are dead even while they live - 1 Tim 5:6

1 Timothy 5:6 ESV

but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.

However, there is a desire that will be satisfied and that will never disappoint. Ps 84.

Psalm 84 ESV

To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. 1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! 2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. 3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 6 As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. 8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah 9 Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed! 10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!

A day in your courts…

…is better than a thousand elsewhere.

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord

A door keeper—not the most glamorous job, but better than any of the luxury that Babylon has offer.

Being a doorkeeper in the house of God better than…

…dwelling in the tents of the wicked and enjoying the delights they offer.

Church—Do you delight at being with the Lord more than anywhere else?

Does your lifestyle choices and priorities reflect this?

Church—Be warned—the object of your pursuit with either make or break you.

Babylon took pleasure in the wrong things.

They had their reward.

Now comes the recompense for it.

In verse 6, we find the third of three calls for judgment.

And in the verses that follow, we fine a triple affirmation of that judgment.

Triple Call for Judgment - Revelation 18:6-7

Revelation 18:6–7 ESV

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.’

Pay her back…

Repay her double…

Give her a like measure…

Three times God’s vengeance is sought

And three times, we have affirmation of God’s affirmative response.

Triple Affirmation of Judgment - Revelation 18:10, 17, 19

Revelation 18:10 ESV

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.”

Revelation 18:17 ESV

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

Revelation 18:19 ESV

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.

Three times judgment is called for…

Three sins call for them…

Self-glorification (seen)

Self-gratification (considering now)

Self-sufficiency (will look at)

Three times we have acknowledgement that in a single hour judgment came to pay recompense for these three sins.

Three sins that encompass all others.

Self-glorification and self-gratification naturally lead to the third—self-sufficiency.

The three together—find only death in the end.

The Fall of Self-Sufficiency - Revelation 18:7

Revelation 18:7 ESV

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.’

I sit as queen…

I am no widow…

Mourning I shall never see…

What is the only way you could guarantee you never lose anything, never have anything to grieve?

If you were in complete and total control and could ensure the exact outcome you wanted. Which would make you sovereign, omnipotent—God.

The Tower of Babel was a claim of self-sufficiency.

The claim of never being a widow, never having reason to mourn—is a claim of self sufficiency.

It is Babel—amplified.

To suggest that you can control your circumstances in such a way to prevent all loss and sorrow…that is a bold claim indeed.

It is a declaration that you and you alone, not God, not anyone else, will dictate the terms of your life.

From Satan to Babel and from Babel to Revelation—man has been declaring his self-sufficiency.

God promptly down such claims and makes clear, over and over again, what He thinks of them.

God will always humble when such arrogant declarations are made. (Is 47:7-9; Ezekiel 27:3; 28:2; Zeph 2:15)

What King of Babylon did God vividly make this clear with?

Nebuchadnezzar.

Nebuchadnezzar boasts of his greatness in Daniel 4:30: “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built…”

God immediately pronounces judgment in Daniel 4:31–32.

The humbling itself is described in Daniel 4:33: “He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.” (ESV)

After a period of humiliation (7 Years), God restores him in Daniel 4:34–37, where Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges God’s sovereign rule and concludes: “Those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” (Daniel 4:37

Nebuchadnezzar is forced to acknowledge his LACK of self-sufficiency, the worth of value of the one higher than himself, and the reality that the only true satisfaction is found in pursuit of Him.

A reality that the world will very poignantly be shown during the tribulation.

They will reject it still, but they will have no doubt about whose glory stands above them all.

Such pride and arrogance to elevate self so highly, to indulge so deeply, and to assert self-sufficiency so staunchly will always been opposed by God.

God will always stand against pride. James 4:6

James 4:6 ESV

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Not just hates it, but OPPOSES it. Actively resists and pushes back.

If you are feeling the resistance of the Lord today—it may just be that you are feeling His opposition to your own pride.

Trial and suffering is not necessary the opposition of the Lord—it could only be the curse of living in a broken and fallen world.

BUT, if you sense God actively opposing, confronting, rebuking, disciplining you—you would be wise to heed it—to ask for discernment to know why and the grace to respond righteously.

A prayer of humility seeking exposure to the reason for his opposition would be in order.

It may seem like you are thriving for a while in these attitudes but, rest assured…in the end…you will not stand. Your pride will fall.

And like Babylon here in Revelation, you will lament the fall. We only pray that the lament is one that leads to repentance and not hardening of your heart against God.

The world laments the fall of Babylon, but not in a way that leads them to turn from their sin to God.

Babylon's Fall Responded To

The Fall Lamented - Revelation18:8

Revelation 18:8 ESV

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.”

Revelation 18:10 ESV

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.”

Revelation 18:11 ESV

And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore,

Revelation 18:15 ESV

The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,

Revelation 18:19 ESV

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.

They mourn, wail, weep, cry, and lament…

In ashes (deepest level of mourning)

She will fall…

In a single day…

Rapid…

And without apology.

Death - Confronts their self-glorification. Gods don’t die.

Mourning - Confronts their self-sufficiency - They are not in control

Famine - confronts their self gratification - Takes away the things they delight in.

She will be burned up with fire.

They will experience the loss of all that they have held dear—to make clear—who IS GOD and WHO IS really in control.

All her boasts and claims will be laid bare.

They will experience a small taste of hell on earth. (Rev 20:10; Luke 16:23-28; Mt 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30)

The world will mourn and weep over her destruction.

They will wail her loss.

While they wail, others will celebrate

The Fall Celebrated - Revelation 18:20

Revelation 18:20 ESV

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

This judgement is a call for celebration as far as heaven is concerned.

For in it,

Justice is had

Vindication is made

Evil is punished

The adversary is defeated

Rebellion is squashed.

Wrong’s are righted.

This is what heaven and all creation has been waiting for, since the original fall.

The contrast could not be greater.

So much text devoted to describing the mourning of the world…

And yet, in heaven…REJOICING!

In this moment, all the suffering, sorrow, loss, and death find answer. They find the fullness of heaven’s response.

The finality of it is as total as the suddenessness.

Babylon’s Total Destruction - Revelation 18:21-24

Revelation 18:21–24 ESV

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.”

The destruction will be so sudden and absolute that the normal functionings of life will cease. They will grind to a halt.

Musicians won’t play

Craftsman won’t work

Mill’s won’t function

Light’s won’t be lit.

The city will be dark and silent save for the sound of mourning.

The city will be a millstone thrown into the sea.

Millstone - same as that which is used to grind grain.

Picture—they will be crushed...pulverized...destroyed

AND

Then thrown into the sea.

When fine things are tossed in water, they are dispersed, absorbed, as if they never were.

Jeremiah 51:61-64

Jeremiah 51:61–64 ESV

61 And Jeremiah said to Seraiah: “When you come to Babylon, see that you read all these words, 62 and say, ‘O Lord, you have said concerning this place that you will cut it off, so that nothing shall dwell in it, neither man nor beast, and it shall be desolate forever.’ 63 When you finish reading this book, tie a stone to it and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates, 64 and say, ‘Thus shall Babylon sink, to rise no more, because of the disaster that I am bringing upon her, and they shall become exhausted.’ ” Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.

This picture is that which describes it utter destruction. Not partial, but complete.

In this total destruction—Three more additional sins find judgement.

Abusive Power Judged - Revelation 18:23

Revelation 18:23 ESV

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.

...Your merchants were the great ones of earth...

They were the great ones, wealthy and powerful, who abused that power, took advantage of others, and took from others to pad their own comforts and pleasures.

James’ words are for them — James 5:4-6

James 5:4–6 ESV

4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.

This is what the words “Your merchants were the great ones of earth” is referring to.

They took, at the expense of others. They abused those with less. They took what they wanted to feed their own indulgences with no thought or care to the hurt it caused others.

And for those who threatened and opposed what they held dear, they warred on and killed without a second thought.

They abused their power.

See also - Is 3:14-15; 5:8; Amos 4:1; 5;11; 8:4-6

Deceptions and Sorcery Judged - Revelation 18:23

Revelation 18:23 ESV

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.

The nations were deceived by your sorcery…

The deceptions of these days will not be limited to man’s fleshly desires.

There will be magical deceptions involved. A reality that has not been uncommon in history and won’t be uncommon in the tribulation. (Rev 9:21; Gal 5:20)

There will be spiritual forces, sorceries, demonic activity, and power being exercised in that day unlike anything we have seen before.

This will strengthen and deepen the deceptions on mankind.

This deception will be judged.

Harshly.

The abusive power and deceptions upon man lead to the murder of God’s people—the third and final act to be judged.

Death of the Saints Judged - Revelation 18:24

Revelation 18:24 ESV

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

The saints whose lives were ended, whose blood was spilt at their hands, will be vindicated. (Revelation 6:10; 11:7; 13:7; 16:6; 17:6)

And here is a truth that struck me pretty powerfully—No more will saints die at the hands of the enemy. Their slaughter will end, once and for all.

God will repay the evil spent upon His children.

Conclusion

Church, the Tower of Babel survived the confusion of languages.

No, the physical tower itself was never finished.

Yes, the OT civilization of Babylon was destroyed.

BUT

Babel/Babylon was never merely about a physical city. Yes, was one…and may well be one again…but whether or not it is, is not the main point.

Any physical city is ultimately the outward expression of an inward reality in sinful mankind.

Babel/Babylon is about self-glorification, self-gratification, and self-sufficiency.

Babel is a belief, a world view.

Babylon is an attitude that is expressed in physical ways…but Babylon is fundamentally prideful, sinful rebellion against God and the promotion of man.

And it will see its day of judgment.

Evil, sin, and the adversary will meet justice and retribution.

Self glorification

Self gratification

Self sufficiency will be judged.

Church, where does this trio of sin exist in your life? Where is any of it present in your own heart and practices?

Self-Glorification

Living for praise.

Living for recognition.

Living for reputation.

Social media image management.

Wanting people to think highly of you.

Being devastated by criticism.

Self-Gratification

Pornography.

Sexual immorality.

Greed.

Materialism.

Entertainment addiction.

Comfort worship.

Food becoming an idol.

Self-Sufficiency

Prayerlessness.

Refusing help.

Acting as though God is unnecessary.

Anxiety driven by trying to control everything.

Living as though success depends entirely upon you.

Pause

We may not be living in Revelation 18 Babylon, but every time we pursue our glory over God’s glory, our satisfaction over God’s satisfaction, or our sufficiency over God’s sufficiency, we are laying another brick in Babel’s tower.

Church, the warning for us is this: Luke 12:13-21

Luke 12:13–21 ESV

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

The pursuits of our own glory, gratification, and sufficiency will meet with failure and judgment.

Church, pursue HIS glory

Pursue satisfaction in Him

Pursue dependency upon His mercy and grace.

These will be rewarded.

Now

And

Then

All else will full to ruin.

So pursue that which will last.

Pursue that which thrills the heart of heaven.

Pray.

Application

How does the fall of Babylon serve as a warning for us concerning our own self-glorification and self-gratification?

In what ways might we unknowingly participate in the 'Babylonian' ways of the world?

How can we ensure that our worship is directed solely towards God and not towards materialism or self?

How can you personally combat feelings of self-glorification in a social media-driven culture?

What does God’s vindication in the fall of Babylon teach us about His justice and righteousness?

Where do you see Babylon’s spirit of self-glorification, self-gratification, or self-sufficiency gaining ground in your own heart?

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