Babylon the Great is Fallen
I have never realized that there is a “commercial Babylon.” But in Revelation 18 we will read about the fall of Babylon, the judgment and destruction of the city.
Have your own Bible handy to look up the references I mention.
If you do not have a Bible, I recommend Biblegateway.com or search for an online Bible.
1. John was watching “apparently still from the desert (17:3”, he saw another angel coming down from heaven. (Easley, Kendell H., Holman New Testament Commentary: Revelation. [Nashville: B&H, 1998’], 326)
“Other angels in Revelation are ‘mighty’ or ‘powerful’ (5:2; 7:2; 18:21); this is the only one said precisely to have great authority.” [NIV] (Easley, 326)
It is as if a bright light is shining as the earth was lightened with his glory. (KJV.)
2. “His message will add to the consternation and terror caused by his appearance.” (MacArthur, John. New Testament Commentary: Revelation 12-22. [Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2000], 178)
Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen. (KJV) (Isaiah 21:9)
This “is about the coming end of civilization as a whole.” (Easley, 326)
Haunt means dwelling place or prison.
Many translations use bird instead of animal.
Vultures and bats (Easley, 327)
These are valid reasons for the fall of Babylon.
Jeremiah 50:39 Isaiah 13:21-22; 34:11-15
God’s Judgment
3. “This is God’s judgment on big business which denies God’s authority. This is the unholy alliance of government and business.” (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume V: [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983], 1037)
The kings “were seduced by what she offered.” (Easley, 327)
“The word for merchants means ‘those who travel.’” (McGee, 1037)
“Man uses business as the biggest excuse for having no time for God, yet these same men must finally stand before God.” (McGee, 1037)
“Commerce and trade are not condemned here as inherently evil, only commerce and trade run amuck, as verses 11-13 [next article] will demonstrate.” (Easley, 327)
Escape the Judgment on Babylon
4. Another voice indicating a second angel. But it might be God or Jesus speaking.
Come out of her, my people,’ [KJV] (Jeremiah 51:45)
God is giving people another chance to repent.
Leave your sins behind and turn to Jesus.
Romans 12:2 2 Corinthians 6:14
So that you will not share in her sins [NIV]
Are you tempted to share in her sins? [NIV]
I am. But I must flee:
“Like Joseph, they [believers] must flee to avoid succumbing to the ‘lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life.’” (MacArthur, 181)
“Only those who refuse to identify with Babylon will not receive any of her plagues.” [NIV] (Easley, 328)
Many Sins
5. Read what God did to those who built the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9.
“It may seem to us that the unbeliever is getting by with sin, but God’s judgment is coming.” (McGee, 1038)
“The blessed truth is that God says of believers, ‘I will not remember your sins. . . .I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more’ (Isaiah 43:25; Jeremiah 31:34). But for defiant, unrepentant Babylon there will be no forgiveness, only judgment.” (MacArthur, 182)
Are your sins forgiven or are you being defiant and unrepentant?
6. “That the destroyers are to give back to her as she has given is an application of the famous biblical law of justice, ‘an eye for eye and a tooth for tooth.’” (Easley, 329) [NIV]
Exodus 21:24 Leviticus 24:20 Deuteronomy 19:21
“This simply means to pay her back in full measure (Jeremiah 16:18; 17:18). (Easley, 329)
“Here human beings do not carry out divine vengeance” (Romans 12:19) (Easley, 329)
“With her own golden goblet; the prostitute city Babylon had seduced the earth.
With bitter irony she must swallow down a double portion from her own cup.“ [NIV] (Easley, 329)
See No Sorrow
7. This “invites us to think concretely, as if pleasures and pains could be measured out in quantities.” (Easley, 329)
“Had Babylon indulged in a quart of glory and luxury? [NIV]
Then she must gulp down a quart of torture and grief. [NIV]
Had she indulged in ten gallons of splendor?
Then she must drain ten gallons of sorrow.” (Easley, 329)
In her heart she boasts [NIV]
Pride is showing itself. Are you proud?
I sit enthroned as queen. I am not a widow; [NIV] (Isaiah 47:7-8)
“That proud boast echoes that of ancient Babylon, who said ‘I will be a queen forever. . . .I will not sit as a widow, nor know the loss of children’ (Ezekiel 27:3; 28:2; Zephaniah 2:15). Yet God’s devastating reply was that these two things shall come on you suddenly in one day: Loss of children and widowhood.” (MacArthur, 185) Isaiah 47:9
I will never mourn. [NIV]
I am in “control of my destiny.” (Easley, 329)
8. “The wicked city will be instantly destroyed (cf. vv.10, 17,19).” (MacArthur, 185)
This will be a shock to those who are still alive.
After all that Babylon will be destroyed by fire.
Think of a modern city near you. Could you ever think it could be destroyed by fire or some other catastrophe?
Do we even realize how mighty the Lord God is?
We must recognize that the Lord God is a mighty God!
References
Scripture quotations from the Holy Bible, King James Version. Public Domain
Scripture quotations taken from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Easley, Kendell H., Holman New Testament Commentary: Revelation. Nashville: B&H, 1998
MacArthur, John. New Testament Commentary: Revelation 12-22. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2000
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume V: Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
Seven Heads Ten Horns Mourning for Babylon
