Apocalyptic Insight: Babylon – The Worldwide System
Revelation 17 – 18
November 12, 2023
Jay Haugh
Revelation 17 – 18 is the last parenthesis or timeout.
God sees the world as one wicked entity and it’s called “Babylon.”
Babylon is seen in three different aspects: Religious, Political, and Commercial.
“This calls for a mind with wisdom…” —Revelation 17:9 ESV
Harlots give you momentary or temporary delights, but death and destruction follow.
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters.” —Revelation 17:1 ESV
“The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.” —Revelation 17:15 ESV
All religions or religious ideologies have one thing in common: the unfaithfulness and rejection of God.
This worldwide religion is wicked.
“with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” —Revelation 17:2 ESV
And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. —Revelation 17:3 ESV
The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. —Revelation 17:4 ESV
This ecumenical or religious system looks splendid.
And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” —Revelation 17:5 ESV
And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly. —Revelation 17:6 ESV
But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.” —Revelation 17:7-8 ESV
“This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while.” —Revelation 17:9-10 ESV
“And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast.” —Revelation 17:12-13 ESV
This new worldwide empire will give authority and power to the beast.
“And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire.” —Revelation 17:16 ESV
“For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.” —Revelation 17:17 ESV
God’s announcement of judgment.
After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. 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.” —Revelation 18:1-2 ESV
God appeals to a wicked world.
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; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” —Revelation 18:4-5 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 18:8 ESV
“For in a single hour your judgment has come.” —Revelation 18:10 ESV
“For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste.” —Revelation 18:17 ESV
“For in a single hour she has been laid waste.” —Revelation 18:19 ESV
God tells us to repent because judgment is coming and it’s coming quickly.
The world’s anguish.
“And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, 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… 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!” —Revelation 18:11-14 ESV
They’re weeping because there’s no more pleasures from sin.
God’s saints rejoice.
“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!” —Revelation 18:20 ESV
The saints rejoice at the full and final judgment of God.
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” —Revelation 11:15 ESV
Big Idea:
Sin and its pleasures will not last, but Jesus is our complete Savior.
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE:
Memory Verse: Revelation 4:11 NIV
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
The goal of these questions is to foster meaningful discussion and to encourage participants to reflect on God’s Word to lead to heart transformation. Feel free to modify or expand upon these questions based on the dynamics and needs of your Small Group.
Read Revelation 17
Why do you think idolatry is described as adultery in the Bible? See Jeremiah 3 or Ezekiel 16. With an understanding of spiritual adultery, what is being conveyed about the harlot who sits by many waters? What can be done today to avoid spiritual adultery? If you were ever spiritually unfaithful, how did God speak to you and bring you back into a right relationship with Him?
The angel tells John that what he has seen “calls for a mind with wisdom.” How would you describe the difference between knowledge and wisdom? When you need wisdom, where do you go? Why is it essential for us to seek wisdom from God? What can we do to become wise? In which areas of your life do you need more of God’s wisdom?
The harlot is dressed beautifully and offers worldly pleasures to lure people away from God. Where do you observe/feel/experience the harlot tempting you? What spiritual practices can help us combat seductive forces that try to draw us away from God?
Jesus tells us that a house divided against itself cannot stand. What does the beast do to the very prostitute that it carries? What does that teach us about the ultimate outcome of participating in Satan’s work?
Read Revelation 18
In vs 4, God calls His people to separate themselves. What are some reasons why God calls His people to be set apart? How do we balance not being of the world but still being a light to the world?
Babylon tried to build a tower to heaven, but instead, her sins are stacked so high they reach heaven. The tower of Babel was constructed so the people could make a name for themselves. Reflect on your heart and personal motives. How much of what you do is “me first, my way” instead of “God first, His way”? How can we recognize when we are living selfishly and pivot to be more of a servant? Do you struggle to find joy in putting others first if you never feel like you are put first?
Some believe that the torment of hell will come from being given over full measure to their sin. How do we see God employing consequences connected to their life choices? There is a connection between the way we treat people and the way God interacts with us. See Matthew 6:14-15; 7:1-3; 25:41-46. How do our choices reflect our relationship with God?
Those who are mourning over Babylon are sad because of all the luxury items, connected to their way of life, that have been destroyed. They are caught up and focused on their outward appearance and their income. Contrast this with how God looks at our heart and how we should rely on Him for provision. Have you ever been more focused on appearances than the condition of your heart? How can we strive to put proper focus on the things that really matter?