Come Out of Her! Revelation 18:1-19:3

Revelation 18:1-19:3

Revelation 18:1-19:3

Today we are going to look at the largest portion of Scripture that I have ever tried to cover at one time. We are going to look at Revelation 18:1 through Revelation 19:3. Actually this entire passage runs from chapter 18 all the way through verse 10 of chapter 19 but I’ll stop short of doing those last 7 verses until another time. This entire passage sounds much like what Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel wrote about the destruction of the cities they called harlots; Babylon, Nineveh and Tyre. It sounds like the funeral dirges of Isaiah 13-14, Jeremiah 50-51 and Ezekiel 26-28. I am not going to read all of that to you but I will reference some of the verses in those passages. I do encourage you to go back and read those to see the similarities to what God says to Babylon, and Tyre.

Like last week, since this is a long passage, instead of reading the entire passage to begin with I will be breaking it down into a bit smaller chunks (smaller chunks is a theological term I believe) as we move through the passage. Let’s go ahead and pray asking the Lord to bless the reading and preaching of His Word.

In chapter 17 John was told that he would be shown by an angel what would become of the harlot, Babylon the great. But very little was revealed in that chapter concerning her judgment. We were introduced to the fact that she has been the instigator in leading people away from God by capturing their imaginations and lusts to supplant man’s desire to see God’s goodness. We talked about the fact that as a harlot she was a substitute for all the goodness God has to offer. She is literally the love of the world and the things in the world as John described it in 1 John 2: 15-17. Babylon the great is in fact the culture of the world that seeks to draw mankind away from God and those she cannot draw away she seeks to kill and destroy. Of course she is riding on the back of the Beast who is the Antichrist but throughout history she has ridden on the back of antichrists that have always been in the world. In that chapter we are told that there would be 10 kings that would, under the leadership of the Beast, attack and destroy the world system. But this is all due to God’s plan to destroy this world system that, has since the fall, sought to lead God’s creatures, made in His image, away from Him.

This brings us to our reading this morning starting at Revelation 18:1-3 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”[1]

When John says “After these things” it is easy for us to get the idea that we are going from one event to another. And to be honest that is the way many try to understand the Revelation. But what I have noticed in our study of this letter to the church is that there is not a timeline of events but a sequence of visions by which a subject is introduced then later on is elaborated on. These verses are a very good example of that. Back in chapter 14:8 we read: 8 And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”[2] This is said just after an angel flew across the sky proclaiming the gospel, representing the gospel being preached to all the world during the time between Christ’s resurrection and His second coming (vs 6-7). Then came the announcement that Babylon is fallen is fallen and the reason (vs 8). Then the pronouncement that all the people who followed the beast would receive the wrath of God (vs 9-11) . After that came the announcement that Christ would come and reap His harvest, His people (vs 14-16). And finally we see the reaping of the grapes of wrath where God’s wrath is indeed poured out on those who followed the Beast (vs 17-20). Of course we saw the wrath of God being poured out on the people of the earth who followed the Beast in chapter 16 with the seven bowls of God’s wrath. In chapter 17 we saw a description of Babylon the great as a harlot and now in chapter 18 we are going to see her destruction carried out. In chapter 14 we got the proclamation of God’s plan. In 16 we received the how of God’s plan and in chapter 17 we get the why of God’s plan and now in chapter 18 we see the results of God’s plan in bringing down the culture of the world that is opposed to God.

In verse 2 of our passage we can see that there will be no one left in Babylon, this world system that seeks to supplant God in the heart of man. You can see much the same thing said in Isaiah chapters 13 and 34 and in Jeremiah 51. This is revealing total destruction much like was described in Revelation 14:9-11 and 17-20 concerning the reaping of the grapes of wrath. In verse 3 we are given again the reason for the judgment on the harlot, she has made the nations (those who are not the redeemed) drunk in seeking her treasures (love of the world and the things in it). She has prostituted herself to the kings of the earth and she has allured the merchants to seek more and more riches through her as the substitute for the goodness of God.

Remember a few weeks back I talked about “breaking the fourth wall” in theater? It is where the actor on stage turns and speaks directly to the audience instead of to the other actors. Well I think that is what we are seeing again here in verses 4 and 5 where a voice is heard from heaven. Revelation 18:4-5 4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.[3] I don’t believe this statement is just for the last days. God is warning us and every believer throughout the ages to separate ourselves from the world because the world is not going to last (1 John 2:15-17). When the voice says God has remembered her iniquities it is making it very clear that He is going to do something. Every time in Scripture that it says that God remembers something it means He is fixin’ to do something about what He remembers. He remembered Noah and his family on the ark so He dried up the land. He remembered the people of Israel in Egypt and He liberated them. When it says that God remembers iniquities it is clear He is going to do something and since the sin of the harlot has stacked up to heaven, God is going to judge.

Lest we misunderstand, this voice from heaven is not instructing the redeemed of God to leave civilization and go live in the wilderness away from all the allure of sin. Even though the idea of joining an Amish community is sometimes attractive that is not at all what God is telling His people. He is calling His people to holiness, do not share in the sin of the culture of the world. John said it this way in 1 John 2:6 “Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk just as He walked”. These two verses in Revelation 18 are clear that we as the redeemed are called to be different from the world and to beware lest we get caught up in her allure. This is what Paul said about that in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.[4] Come out of her my people! Be holy.

In verses 6-9 the voice from heaven (God the Father) turns His commands to another group. I believe He is now speaking to the angels He sends to reap the grapes of His wrath as told in Revelation 14:18-20 where the grapes (those who follow the beast and have been seduced by the harlot) are tread upon in judgment. Revelation 18:6-8 6 Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. 7 In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’ 8 Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong isthe Lord God who judges her.[5] I am not going to spend too much time here but the harlot clearly sees herself as too beautiful and too magnificent to receive any kind of judgment. She is too big to fail so to speak. But clearly God sees her as deserving of judgment. The culture of the world, the civilization of man will be destroyed, she will receive her due, she will receive the wages of sin. Regardless of what man’s civilization thinks of itself the Lord God is mighty to judge sin and it will come upon her quickly and somewhat unexpected (in one day) because of the pride of mankind.

Let’s move on to the longest part of our text this morning. Revelation 18:9-19 9 “The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’11 “And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 12 merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. 14 The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17 For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance 18 and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’19 “They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’[6]

The kings of the earth are lamenting the destruction of the harlot, the merchants are distraught at her demise and the shipping industry or the distribution industry, and everyone who worked in seafaring industry is mourning her death but why are they so upset? They obviously are not concerned with the loss of life or the pain and suffering of people. All of those mentioned are concerned with one thing and one thing only, their own loss of riches and comfort. That of course is the very nature of man, we are above all, selfish, self consumed, self worshiping. That doesn’t mean we cannot do anything altruistic, we are created in the image of God but for the most part we are motivated by our belly. Philippians 3:18-19 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things[7]What we see in these verses is that the kings, merchants and seafarers are distraught because they can’t get those things listed in this shopping list; fine linen, citron wood, gold, jewels, pearls…Before you start saying to yourselves; “I’m not a king or a merchant nor do I live anywhere near the sea” we need to see that this is talking about the rulers, the merchants and everyone who works because it’s not just the sea captain but everyone who trades by sea. That would include, in the first century, everyone.

This is not a condemnation of rulers or merchants or of the wealthy at all. This is a condemnation of those who put all of their hope in the things of the world which is going to pass away. If your hope is built on anything other than Jesus blood and righteousness then your god is your belly, you have set your mind on earthly things.

Let’s look at verse 20. 20 “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!”[8] This verse brings up a question; is it ok to rejoice at our enemy’s misfortune? Proverbs 24:17 is clear that we are not to celebrate our enemies bad luck. However we are not talking about misfortune, we are talking about the holy judgment of the holy God. We will see in a moment that His judgment is righteous. These holy apostles and prophets are the very ones that this world system has first off sought to lead away from God and then because she couldn’t so she killed or at the least tormented them. Read the history of the Apostles after Christ ascended, research and see how many prophets of God were hunted and harassed and killed, then ask that question again.

Let’s look at verses 21-24. 21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. 22 The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. 23 The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.”[9] The first thing I want us to see is that this angel is talking about a future event. That is why I keep harping on the fact that this is not a series of events but elaborations on coming events. At the time of John the world system, Babylon had not fallen but the angel said “Babylon is fallen is fallen”. That is speaking of a definite event that will take place. Today human civilization has not been judge and destroyed but when it does happen it will be like a rock thrown into a pond, the sinking will be immediate and final. There will be no more music, no more craftsmen plying their trade to furnish the needs of the community, no more food being processed, no more light in the homes of people and the saddest part is that there will be no more marriages and I would say consequently there will be no more love. Here we see the very fabric of civilization being destroyed, the arts, the crafts, the food production, light which is one thing that separates man from beast and finally the collapse of family. All had been led astray by the world system supported by those who buy and sell the things that capture the eye. Those who could not be led astray have been slain.

Remember back in chapter 6 with those souls under the altar crying out to God; “How much longer until you avenge us?” Well we still don’t know how much longer but we see the surety and the finality of God’s judgment. Let’s read Revelation 19:1-3 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! 2 For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” 3 Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!”[10] In these verses and all the way through verse 10 of this chapter we see an elaboration of what we read a moment ago in verse 20. There is celebration in heaven that God is judging sin. For the redeemed of God, me and you if you are a believer, that is not a difficult thing to understand and to celebrate because Christ Jesus took our judgment for us. He bore on the cross the judgment we deserve. We have been justified and declared righteous based on Jesus’ sacrifice and His resurrection proving His being the perfect sacrifice. But what about those who have never received Christ? To celebrate God’s judgment of sin would be to celebrate their own destruction. And to be sure it should, from our earthly location, cause us distress to know that there are those we know, those we love, those we are family with who are still subject to God’s judgment.

We can see this morning that God will judge the world system that seeks to lure mankind away from God. Those the culture cannot lure away will be killed, tortured, or maimed. God is mighty to bring destruction on the world system and it will come upon mankind quickly. As followers of Christ we are to be set apart, different, holy to God. If we reject that call to holiness we are not rejecting the call of man we are rejecting God’s call on our lives. We have seen that mankind is selfish and arrogant believing themselves to be secure in their sin. Jesus spoke about that in Matthew 7:22-23 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’[11] Four different times in our passage this morning the people are surprised at the quickness of God’s judgment, “in one hour” was said three time and “in one day” was said once. People who are in love with the world and the things of the world are ok in their own eyes because they say so. But the destruction that comes upon the world system, the harlot and the people of the earth will not only be quick but it will be complete. The very fabric of human culture will be destroyed because the world culture killed, and sought otherwise to destroy the people of God and supplant Him as God. Those who are His will join with heaven celebrating the judgment on sin. However those who are not believers, those who are not the redeemed of God will be judged and go to destruction. People of God, today is not the day to celebrate. Today is the day to proclaim the gospel. Let’s pray.

[1] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 18:1–3). Nashville: Thomas Nelson. [2] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 14:8). Nashville: Thomas Nelson. [3] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 18:4–5). Nashville: Thomas Nelson. [4] The New King James Version. (1982). (1 Th 4:3–8). Nashville: Thomas Nelson. [5] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 18:6–8). Nashville: Thomas Nelson. [6] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 18:9–19). Nashville: Thomas Nelson. [7] The New King James Version. (1982). (Php 3:18–19). Nashville: Thomas Nelson. [8] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 18:20). Nashville: Thomas Nelson. [9] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 18:21–24). Nashville: Thomas Nelson. [10] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 19:1–3). Nashville: Thomas Nelson. [11] The New King James Version. (1982). (Mt 7:22–23). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.