THE LORD WINS - Series through the book of Revelation

THE MENTION OF BABYLON IS NOT A LITERAL BABYLON - BUT A SPIRITUAL

SERMON TITLE FOR TODAY:

YOUR BABYLON WILL FALL

BABYLON IS THE ENTIRE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT AND WORLD ORDER THAT OPPOSES THE KINGDOM OF GOD

BUT BABYLON REPRESENTS, ALSO, THOSE THINGS - SINS, WAYS OF THINKING, INFLUENCES, PASSIONS, ETC - THAT SEEK TO OPPOSE THE POWER OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN AND THROUGH YOU

SO WHILE WE SPEAK OF BABYLON AS A SYSTEM - IT IS RIGHT TO SPEAK OF BABYLON AS PERSONAL, SINFUL AND DEMONIC, INFLUENCES THAT OPPOSE THE WORK OF GOD IN YOU AND YOUR LIVING FOR HIM.

SO THIS MORNING, AS WE SPEAK ABOUT BABYLON AS A SYSTEM, I WANT YOU TO THINK, PERSONALLY, ABOUT YOUR OWN BABYLON: ABOUT

BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY

I. DO NOT BE SEDUCED INTO A SPIRITUAL BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY

OLD SCHOOL BABYLON: PHYSICAL CAPTIVITY AND PHYSICAL OPPRESSION

NEW SCHOOL BABYLON: SPIRITUAL CAPTIVITY AND SPIRITUAL OPPRESSION

Revelation 18:4 ESV

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;

BY TELLING THE CHURCH TO COME OUT OF BABYLON GOD IS TELLING US TO NOT LET BABYLON INFLUENCE US.

THIS IS THE LORD SPEAKING, DIRECTILY AT THIS POINT. UP UNTIL NOW HE HAS THE ANGELS HAVE SPOKEN FOR THE HIM, BUT NOW GOD INSERTS HIMSELF, PERSONALLY, INTO THIS DYNAMIC. WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE THE VOICE CALLS THE CHURCH - “MY PEOPLE.”

A. THAT GOD CALLS THE CHURCH “MY PEOPLE” IS A STATEMENT OF

1. RELATIONSHIP

WE ARE UNITED WITH HIM BY FAITH IN CHRIST. WE ARE NO LONGER ENEMIES, BUT FRIENDS

2. LOVE

WE ARE LOVED BY THE LORD WITH A LOVE THAT WILL NOT FAIL US

3. PROTECTION

GOD IS PROTECTING US WHEN HE TELLS US TO COME OUT OF BABYLON

THE LORD BASIS HIS CALLING FOR US TO COME OUT OF BABYLON ON THE BASIS OF HIS WORK OF RECONCILING US TO HIMSELF BY AND THROUGH THE DEATH OF JESUS ON OUR BEHALF

PLEASE GET THAT AND HERE THIS STATEMENT

GOD IS NOT CALLING US TO COME OUT OF BABYLON IN ORDER TO BE LOVED BY HIM. HE IS CALLING US OUT OF BABYLON BECAUSE WE ARE SAVED - BECAUSE WE ARE LOVED BY HIM

GOD IS NOT TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO DONT KNOW RIGHT OR WHO ARE UNAWARE OF WHAT GOD WANTS AND EXPECTS FROM THEM. HE IS SPEAKING TO THE CHURCH.

B. THERE IS NOTHING GOOD ABOUT BABYLON BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING IN BABYLON THAT FITS WHO WE ARE AS GOD’S PEOPLE

C. COMING OUT OF BABYLON...

1. IS NOT A CALL TO WITHDRAW FROM THE WORLD

2. IS A CALL TO NOT COMPROMISE OUR CHRISTIAN CHARACTER FOR GAIN.

Romans 12:2 ESV

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.

II. HOW DO WE FIGHT AGAINST BABYLON’S SEDUCTION?

A. TRUST THE BEHIND THE SCENES FOOTAGE (V2-3)

SEE, IN VERSES 2-3 WE ARE BEING SHOWN WHAT IS BEHIND THE CURTAIN.

GAME SHOWS - BEHIND THIS CURTAIN (GUESS)

THE WHORE CHURCH COULD NOT AND DID NOT WANT TO SEE WHAT IS BEYOND THE SURFACE

BUT GOD WILL NOT LEAVE HIS CHURCH TO GUESS

YOU AND I DO NOT HAVE TO LIVE GUESSING - IF THIS IS BABYLON OR NOT. WE SEE BEHIND THE CURTAIN.

1. BEHIND THE CURTAIN WE SEE

a.THE ESSENCE OF BABYLON (V2)

Revelation 18:2 ESV

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.

b. THE ACTIONS OF BABYLON (V3)

Revelation 18:3 ESV

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.”

IF THEIR ACTIONS SEEK TO MAKE ME EMBRACE EVERYTHING THIS PROVES TO ME THEIR ESSENCE AND THEIR ESSENCE PROVES T ME WHICH TEAM THEY ARE ON

ACTIONS (V3) EXPRESS ESSENCE (V2) POSITION

2. WE ARE SHOWN THE BEHIND THE SCENES FOOTAGE OF EVIL SO THAT WE WOULD BE DISCERNING AND NOT SEDUCED BY:

a. BABYLON’S SURFACE BEAUTY

SHE’S ACTUALLY DEMONIC IN ESSENCE - V2

LAST WEEK - THE WHORE CHURCH DOES NOT SEE BEYOND THE SURFACE: WE ARE SHOWN WHAT IS BENEATH THE SURFACE

b. BABYLON’S DECEPTIVE TOLERANCE

SHE TOLERATES EVERY RELIGION BUT CHRISTIANITY - V3

SPEAK ON THUIS ISSUE OF TOLERANCE

B. GUARD THE TWO TARGETED AREAS OF COMPROMISE

1. TARGETED AREA #1: THE COMPROMISE OF GODLY ETHICS

Revelation 18:3 (ESV)

For all nations have drunk

the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality,...”

WHEN JOHN SAYS ALL NATIONS HAVE DRUNK THE WINE HE IS SPEAKING OF THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN IDOLATRY.

ONCE WE TASTE THE JUICES OF BABYLON:

THE WILL TO RESIST BABYLON’S SEDUCTION DECREASES

IT BLINDS US SO THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO DISCERN ITS ESSENCE AND END

IT NUMBS THE SOULS TO THE COMING JUDGMENT OF GOD

HE MENTIONS SEXUAL IMMORALITY (SAME LANGUAGE HE USES IN CHAPTER 17:2) BUT HE MEANS MUCH MORE THAN WHAT WE THINK:

SEXUAL IMMORALITY (USING OUR SEXUAL ORGANS IN WAYS AND FOR THINGS NOT DESIGNED BY GOD) IS ONE ASPECT

BUT LET’S NOT MAJOR ON ONE THING AND MISS OTHERS. THE SEDUCTION OF BABYLON IS WIDE

WE SEE SOMETHING IN REVELATION 21 -

Revelation 21:8 ESV

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

PAUL GIVES US WHAT I CALL THE HALL OF HELL (CONTRAST HALL OF FAITH HEBREWS 11

a. THE HALL OF HELL (ROMANS 1:28-31- )

Romans 1:28–29 (ESV)

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,

Romans 1:30–31 (ESV)

slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

PAUL, IS SHOWING HOW SIN (NOT SIMPLY HOMOSEXUALITY) CONDEMNS ALL OF HUMANITY

LET’S BE VERY CLEAR: HOMOSEXUALITY IS NOT THE ONLY SIN ON ROMANS THAT PAUL SAYS BRINGS ABOUT A REPROBATE MIND - A MIND THAT JUSTIFIES AND MAKES EXCUSES FOR THE SINS IT COMMITS.

ALL OF THESE ARE THE SEDUCTIONS OF BABYLON - TEMPTATIONS TO COMPROMISE:

TEMPTATIONS TO MERGE CHRIST WITH SELF CENTEREDNESS

ALL OF WHICH REPRESENT WORSHIP OF THE BEAST!!!

GOD IS NOT TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO DONT KNOW RIGHT OR WHO ARE UNAWARE OF WHAT GOD WANTS AND EXPECTS FROM THEM. HE IS SPEAKING TO THE CHURCH.

THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE:

i. WHEN WE ENGAGE IN BABYLONISH ACTIVITY WE DO SO, NOT IGNORANT OF WHAT IS RIGHT - BUT WILLINGLY DOING WHAT WE KNOW IS WRONG

BUT THE SCRIPTURES SPEAK ONE MESSAGE FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION, SO THE HEBREW WRITER SAYS

Hebrews 10:26 ESV

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

SO WE ARE TOLD TO

Revelation 18:4 (ESV)

… “Come out of her, my people...,

THIS IS WHY THE APOSTLE PAUL PUT IT THIS WAY:

2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

2 Corinthians 6:15 ESV

What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?

2 Corinthians 6:16 ESV

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.

2 Corinthians 6:17 ESV

Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,

DO NOT BE SEDUCED BY THE EMPTY PROMISES OF BABYLON

IF WE ARE GOING TO FIGHT AGAINST THE TARGETS OF THE DEVIL WE MUST

SO WE MUST GUARD AGAINST TEMPTATION TO COMPROMISING OUR CHRISTIAN ETHICS

2. TARGETED AREA #2:THE COMPROMISE FOR ECONOMIC GAIN

· TO DRINK – THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN IDOLATRY IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ECONOMIC SECURITY. ONCE YOU TASTE IT, THE WILL TO RESIST BABYLON’S SEDUCTION DECREASES, BLINDS ONE TO SEEING WHAT IS TRULY THERE, AND NUMBS THE SOULS TO THE COMING JUDGMENT OF GOD

NOT TO LITERAL IMMORALITY BUT TO THE ACCEPTANCE OF BABYLONS RELIGIOUS AND IDOLATROUS DEMANDS IN RETURN FOR ECONOMIC SECURITY (2;9; 13:16-17)

THE MERCHANTS WHO COOPERATED WITH BABYLON BECAME WEALTHY, BUT ECONOMIC SECURITY WOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE FAITHFUL WHO REFUSED TO COOPERATE WITH HER IDOLATRY

SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE IDOLATROUS LOVE OF AMERICA AND THE ACCEPTANCE OF THINGS POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL – ALL FOR THE SAKE OF A DIME

- BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT CO-FOUNDER

THE PROBLEM WITH SOCIAL JUSTICE IS THAT IN SOME WAYS IT AS MUCH AN ATTEMPT AT MATERIAL GAIN THAN THE ISSUES OF JUSTICE

- POLITICIANS GOING AGAINST NORMS FOR THE SAKE OF ONE MAN

WONT ALLOW FOR A COMMISSION ON THE INSURRECTION OF JANUARY 6TH IN AN ATTEMPT TO PROTECT OTHERS AND THEIR OWN CAREERS, EVEN WHEN THEY

II. THE LAST CALL

KEY PRINCIPLE: YOUR BABYLON WILL FALL

A. IT IS A CALL OF ENCOURAGEMENT

1. That which haunts you will fall – Stay faithful

2. BECAUSE GOD WILL DEAL WITH BABYLON

a. THE ABUNDANCE OF BABYLON’S AGGRESSION HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED (V5)

b. THE MOMENTS OF BABYLON’S AGGRESSION WILL BE MET WITH ETERNAL TORMENT (V6)

c. THE PRIDE LIFE AND PROSPERITY OF BABYLON WILL BECOME DEATH AND EMPTINESS (Vv7-8)

B. IT IS A CALL OF EXHORTATION

1. That which you can’t resist will fall – Get Out!

2. BECAUSE GOD WILL CONDEMN WHORE CHRISTIANITY

VERSE 4

o WE ARE TO REMAIN IN THE WORLD BUT WITH HEAVEN’S PURPOSE AND, THEREFORE, NOT BE OF THE WORLD- INFLUENCENED BY DEMONIC PURPOSES

=

VERSE 2

Revelation borrows the language of Isaiah 21:9—“Babylon has fallen, has fallen!” In Isaiah, the proclamation had been about the coming end of the neo-Babylonian civilization; in Revelation, it is about the coming end of civilization as a whole.[1]

· BABYLON PROJECTS BEUTY AND GLORY (17:4;18:16) BUT HAS BECOME A DWELLING PLACE FOR DEMONS

o THIS SHOWS THAT THE DEMONIC REALM HAS BEEN BABYLON’S GUIDING FORCE

o THE DEMONIC REALM IS REAL – DEAL WITH THIS ASPECT AND, WHEN CALLED TO COME OUT OF BABYLON, IT IS NOT THE PHYSICALITY OF BABYLON, BUT THE SPIRITUALITY OF BABYLON

VERSE 3

· TO DRINK – THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN IDOLATRY IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ECONOMIC SECURITY. ONCE YOU TASTE IT, THE WILL TO RESIST BABYLON’S SEDUICTION DESCREASES, BLINDS ONE TO SEEING WHAT IS TRULY THERE, AND NUMBS THE SOULS TO THE COMING JUDGMENT OF GOD

VERSE 5

- THAT HER SINS HAVE REACHED HIGH TO HEAVEN SPEAKS NOT SIMPLY OF ITS ABUNDANCE – YES, THIS IS DOES – BUT ALSO OF THE LORD’S PATIENCE WITH SINNERS

- BABYLON HAS MULTIPLIED HER SIN AND SO THE LORD MUST MULTIPLY HIS JUDGMENT AGAINST HER IN ORDER TO BE JUST

o NOT THIS FOR THE LAST POINT: A GOD WHO MERELY LOVES AND DOES NOT JUDGE CANNOT BE JUST. A JUST GOD MUST DO WHAT HE SAYS, AT ALL TIMES AND IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, OR ELSE HE WOULD BE GUILTY OF LYING AND DECEPTION.

o SO WE CANNOT HAVE A GOD WHOSE LOVE ONLY MEANS THAT HE LOVES US. HE IS THE GOD WHO LIVES HIS GLORY AND, THEREFORE, HIS LIOVE FOR US FLOWS OUT OF HIS LOVE FOR HIS GLORY.

o GOD DOES NOT DISMISS HIS GLORY FOR OUR FEELINGS OR FOR OUR WAYS OF THINKING. HE IS NO MODABLE NOR MANIPULATED: HE IS WHO HE ALWAYS HAS BEEN – WAS, AND IS AND IS TO COME

VERSE 6

- THE NATURE OF JUDGMENT OF VERSE FIVE NOW EXPLAINED

- THE ANGLE’S CALL FORTH TO THE LORD – PAY HER BACK –

o SEE PS 137:8 FOR EARTHY BABYLON AS THIS IS THE FULFILLMENT OF IT)

- SHE IS PUNISHED “DOUBLE” – WHY DOUBLE (SEEMS UNFAIR)

o ACTS OF SIN OR ACTIONS AGAINST AN INFINIATE GOD AND, THEREFORE, WARRANT A PUNISHMENT THAT MATHCES ITS ESSENCE

o WE SAY, OH ITS JUST THIS OR THAT – BUT IN REALITY EVERY ACT OF SIN IS AN ACT OF INIFNATE INJUSTICE TO THE LORD AND DESERVES INFINATE PUNISHMENT

VERSE 7

- SELF GLORIFICATION IS SINFUL BECAUSE GOD ALONE IS RIGHTLY, AND ONLY TO RECEIVE GLORY (REV 15:4)

- TO THE DEEGREE TO WHICH SHE HAS EXTENDED HERSELF TO GAIN THE WEALTH AND THE RICHES OF THIS LIFE IS THE SAME DEGEREE TO WHICH SHE WILL BE TORMENTED AND MOURN

- NOTE THE INTENSITY OF JUDGMENT’S DESCRIPTION! WE ARE NEAR THE END OF THE BOOK ABOUT THE END AND THE END DELVES DEEPER INTO THE DEGREE AND OPICTIRE OF JUDGMENT:

o DOUBLE

o PAYBACK

o TO THE SAME DEGREE

o TORMENT AND MOURNING

- THE CHURCH MUST BE CAREFUL IN TRUSTING ECONOMIC SECURITY LEST IT BE JUDGED WITH THE WORLD

o WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TRUST IN ECONOMIC SECURITY?

§ NEGLECTING BIBLICAL CHARACTER VALUES IN OBTAINING IT

· Neglecting godliness to get ahead

· Neglecting family to climb the corporate ladder

o my dad turned down jobs

§ NEGLECTING BIBLICAL COMMAND TO FINANCIALLY GIVE TO THE CHURCH IN ORDER TO PRESERVE IT

§ NEGLECTING … IN ORDER TO PROTECT IT

§ NEGLECTING YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH TO GET MORE OF IT

o BB

§ GIVING A LITTLE TO

§

MAIN IDEA: When God destroys the final product of civilization, a great wicked city, its commerce and culture will vanish forever because it enticed people away from true religion and holiness and into false religion and impurity.[2]

[1]Easley, K. H. (1998). Revelation(Vol. 12, p. 326). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers. [2]Easley, K. H. (1998). Revelation(Vol. 12, p. 325). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

II. HOW YOU RESPOND TO BABYLON’S FALL HAS ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES

a. THE TWO WOMEN’S RESPONSE WHEN BABYLON FALLS OR YOUR RESPONSE TO THE FALL TELLS IT ALL OR NOTE HOW YOU HAVE RESPONDED

b. Those who cooperate will lament her demise (9-19)

c. The Faithful will rejoice over her demise (20-24)

i. WE WILL REJOICE BECAUSE, ACCORDING TO 1 COR 12 WE WILL SEE CLEARLY

III. GOD IS JUST ALL THE TIME AND ALL THE TIME GOD IS JUST

a. Climactic purpose of glorifying God as just