Living in the Last Days (20)

“The Fall of Babylon”

Revelation 17:1-6 “And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.”

I. Intro

The destruction of Babylon mentioned in (14:8) and (16:19) is now described in detail. In the OT, Babylon was so often denounced by the prophets that the name became synonymous with immorality and false religion. The name Babylon should be understood as an evil world system, not in terms of geography. Beginning in Revelation 17, John describes the Lamb’s step-by-step victory over the beast and his kingdom. In Revelation 17, the religious system is judged; in Revelation 18, the political and economic system fall victim. Finally, the Lord Himself returns to Earth; judges Satan, the beast, and the false prophet; and then establishes His Kingdom. One reason John used symbolism was so that his message would encourage believers in any period of church history. The true church is a pure virgin, but the false religious system is called a “harlot” who who has abandoned the truth and prostituted herself for personal gain. In every age, there has been a “harlot” who has persecuted God’s people; and this will cultivate in the last days in a worldwide apostate religious system. Likewise, every age has featured a “Babylon,” a political and economical system that has sought to control people’s minds and destinies. Just as the contrast to the “harlot” is the pure bride, so the contrast to “Babylon” is the City of God, the New Jerusalem, the eternal home prepared for the Lamb’s wife. Revelation 21:9 “And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” Each generation of believers must keep itself pure from the pollution of both the “harlot” and “Babylon.” In these two chapters, John prophesies two divine judgments.

II. The Fall of Ecclesiastical Babylon

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls now comes to John and says, “Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters.” The word ‘whore’ is a metaphor for false religion. Look to verse 15 to see how the phrase ‘many waters’ is explained. This indicates there will be one worldwide religious system. With ecclesiastical Babylon, the kings of the earth have committed fornication and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. This indicates the great spiritual whore has the support of world leaders. Her false teaching is so enticing her followers are described as drunk, or intoxicated, with her teachings. John is then carried away by the Spirit into a wilderness and sees a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. The beast is the Antichrist, so the harlot sitting on him suggests a religious-political coalition. The ten horns represents ten kings who are subordinate to the Antichrist. Revelation 17:12-13 “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.” Prostitutes usually dress to entice; therefore, the whore is described as arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication. On her forehead is written-MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. The angel promises to interpret the mystery of the woman and the beast, which is so baffling to John. The angel explains the beast....shall ascend out of the bottomless pit (abyss) and go into perdition, or destruction. The angel also tells him the people who do not have their names in the book of life will be amazed to see the beast (Antichrist) that was, and is not, and yet is. The angel is referring to the beast’s resuscitation of a previously dead nation. This evidently happens in the middle of the Great Tribulation. The beast ascended out of the abyss in (11:7) making this section precede that event chronologically. The angel next explains the seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. Revelation 17:9-10 “And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.” This could represent seven Gentile world empires, of which five have fallen-such as Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece. None of these empires ruled the world, but were the greatest powers of their time. The one that is, which existed at that time, is Rome. The other that has not yet come refers to the beast and the final world empire of the Antichrist. Like other world empires, the Antichrist, the seventh king, is also going to destruction. While six of the seven heads represent past empires, the ten horns are ten kings, or contemporary world leaders, who will receive power as kings one hour [a brief time] with the beast. They will unite and support the beast to make war against the Lamb. Revelation 17:14 “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” This will happen at the Battle of Armageddon, which will be described in detail in chapter 19. When Christ returns to defeat Satan, He will have with Him the called, and chosen, and faithful, which refers to true believers. The waters in verse 15 were explained in connection to verse 1. The angel next explains the ten horns and the beast shall hate the whore. After using a false religion to gain control of the world, the Antichrist shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. This indicates the Antichrist will plunder her wealth and totally destroy her. While the time is not given, it seems these events are in the middle of the seven-year tribulation. Daniel 9:27 “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” When the beast takes over world power, he will assume the place of God and demand everyone worship him or die. 2 Thess. 2:4 “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” The angel further explains, “For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill His will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.” The beast and his followers will think they are serving their own ends, but it is all part of God’s plan. Finally, the angel explains the woman John saw is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the Earth. Apparently, the false religion of the whore will be centered in some great city with such power it has control over world leaders.

III. The Fall of Commercial Babylon

1. Now, John sees another angel come down from Heaven, having a great power; and the earth becomes lightened with his glory. The angel calls out with a mighty shout, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen.” This is another proleptic message-the angel is announcing a future event as already having happened. Babylon’s destruction occurs because she is the home of devils and a hideout for every foul spirit…every unclean and hateful bird. Babylon’s influence will be worldwide because the kings of the earth commit fornication with her. John hears another voice from heaven calling God’s people to leave Babylon and avoid her plagues, which are the bowls of wrath discussed in chapter 16. This indicates the events in chapters 17 and 18 precede chapters 15 and 16. Unrepentant Babylon will be judged because her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. God’s patience has run out. Therefore, God’s people are commanded to come out of her because of her sins and eventual judgment. The judgment will come in one day because strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. This means commercial Babylon will be destroyed quickly. The world leaders will be terrified and cry out to Babylon: ‘for in one hour thy judgment come.’ The merchants of the world will weep because there is no one left to buy their goods. God’s judgment on commercial Babylon will destroy the world economic system. These merchants will be terrified and weep aloud because although the great city has enormous riches, in one hour is she made desolate. Although the earth mourns, heaven rejoices over the desolation of Babylon. Babylon has slain God’s saints, so God slays Babylon. Hebrews 10:30 “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.” A mighty angel casting a great millstone into the sea symbolizes the utter destruction of Babylon. So complete is her destruction that the sound of music shall be heard no more. Also, craftsmen and tradesmen will not be found anymore. Affluent lifestyles that characterized the first part of the tribulation are ended. Babylon the Great, the final evil world empire and all its splendor, is still future. However, the evil system called Babylon is under construction right now. When it reaches its culmination, it will deceive an unbelieving world and lead it to total destruction. Therefore, God wants us to be aware of the fall of ecclesiastical and commercial Babylon.