The Age of the Apocalypse
“Babylon Is Fallen”
Revelation 17:1-18:24
Revelation 16-18 describes the Lord’s step-by-step victory over the beast and his evil empire.
- His first step will be to defeat all of the armies of the world that have come against Jerusalem. The Bible refers to this as the “Battle of Armageddon” because the Valley of Har Megiddo is where the armies of the world will assemble.
- The Lord will release the seven bowls of wrath to destroy all who refused to believe in Him as their Savior and Lord.
- Those seven bowls of wrath will render the earth uninhabitable until Jesus removes the curse and restores it to its original condition.
- Then, having destroyed the city of Babylon, which will serve as the capital of the Antichrist during the tribulation, He will destroy the New World Order Satan used to rule the world.
- Once Satan’s false religious system, corrupt political system, and dishonest economic system are destroyed, Jesus will come and set up His kingdom upon this earth as it now is in heaven.
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The Description of Babylon and its False Religion – Revelation 17:1-6 – “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” So, he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. And on her forehead a name was written: mystery, Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots, and the abominations of the earth. I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.”
- Satan has used false religion to doom more people to hell than any other tool in his arsenal because false religion promises salvation, security, and the hope of heaven without one’s full and complete submission unto the Lordship of Christ.
- While false religion has always been a part of our society, it will rise to its highest point during the final three years of the Great Tribulation, and millions of people will be caught in its web of deceit.
- The false religion instituted by the Satanic Trinity will be fully supported by the leaders of every nation on earth.
- Rather than the people worshipping the one true God, they will worship the “image” of the state, which will be the Antichrist.
- In verse 1, John described this false religion as a “harlot,” a woman who sells the use of her body for profit.
- False religion rejects God’s concept of what the church should be and prostitutes itself for personal gain.
- Spiritual harlotry stands for false gods, false worship, false religion, or false devotion – the lack of true devotion to God.
- In verse 2, John said, “the great harlot who sits on many waters,” – many millions of people will be deceived by it.
- Millions of people today are being deceived by false religions, and millions of others are being deceived by their faith in a false gospel. But that number will increase in the Tribulation.
John’s description of the false religion:
- Verse 3 – It will be supported by the New World Order because it, in effect, worships the government as God.
- Verse 4 – It will be lavished in wealth as signified by the purple and scarlet clothing, gold, precious stones, and pearls.
- Verse 4 – “a golden cup” – appealing, looks successful, but “full of abominations and filthiness,” – deception and empty promises.
- Verse 5 – this final false religion will be the mother of all false religions.
- Babylon began with the building of the tower of Babel under the leadership of Nimrod, who set out to create the ideal world apart from the influence of or the need for God.
- The tower of Babel became the city of the godless, and when God scattered the people to the other parts of the earth, they took their false religion with them.
- There is no “city” of Babylon today, but it will be revived during the final seven years of this age and serve as the headquarters for the Antichrist.
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The Destruction of Babylon and its False Religion – Revelation 17:16-18 – “And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”
- In Galatians 6:7, the Apostle declared an undeniable truth: “Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.”
- During the Great Tribulation, the Antichrist will become so powerful that he will not need the support of the False Prophet.
- The Antichrist and the ten world leaders will destroy the False Prophet, and as many nations are today, the government and the religious systems will become one.
- The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ has been the most effective and influential when it has maintained its separate and distinct position in the world.
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The Desolation of Babylon and its godless government – Revelation 18:1-24 – Vs. 1-2 – “After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. 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!”
- World history began in Babylon, according to Genesis 11, and, according to Revelation 18, world history will end at the very same spot.
- Babylon began as an ancient city of beauty, and it became the world’s first major empire.
- Babylon will end as the evil city of the Antichrist, and it will be the world’s last empire.
- In Revelation 17, God will destroy the false religion of Babylon.
- In Revelation 18, God will destroy the false government as well as the physical city of Babylon.
- Verse 2 – because of its spiritual corruption – every vile and wicked activity known to man will be practiced in Babylon during the last days of this age – it’s stench will reach for miles.
- Verse 3 – because of its political corruption – as the world’s most powerful city, it will entice the remaining nations of the world to follow its evil ways.
- Verse 4-5 – because of its philosophy of shameless secularism – at least for a while, Babylon will be the greatest city the world has ever known – it will be Las Vegas times 1,000, where the sun never sets, and the enjoyment of life never ends, until it does.
- Verse 6 – because of its persecution of people – the worse holocaust against Christians, Jews, Moslems, and anyone who will not bow before the beast will originate in Babylon.
- Verse 7 – because of its self-glory – wealth, power, and the accumulation of resources will be their only life goal.
- Verse 8 – “Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her.”
- Verse 10 says it will happen in ONE HOUR of ONE DAY! “Alas, alas, the great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.”
- In Revelation 16:17-19, John said Babylon will be destroyed by an earthquake with lightning and thundering – like Sodom and Gomorrah – it will first be set on fire and then swallowed up by a giant earthquake. Since that whole area is underlaid with Bitumen, which we know is Asphalt, as the foundations of the buildings begin to crumble, the city will implode and then burst into flames.
- Revelation 18:11-20 – the merchandizing ceases:
- “And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 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; 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. 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. The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 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! 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 and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’ “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 [i]is made desolate.’
- The foreign merchants that traded with Babylon will weep, for they know their days of wealth are gone, and those who sold their goods to the merchants will wonder how so great a city could fall so quickly – but they will never wonder why!!
- However, in verses 20-24, there will be rejoicing in heaven because God has finally avenged the faith, and often the death of those who did not succumb to the temptations of Babylon.
- “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!” 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. 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. 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. And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.”
- Where are the beautiful hanging gardens?
- Where are the great towers that scraped the sky?
- Where are the beautiful bridges that crossed the Euphrates River at each end of the city?
- Where are the great businesses and banks and shops and malls that were abuzz every day and night during the week?
- Where are the great halls of education, technology, science, and philosophy?
- Where are the talented voices and musicians?
- Where are the actors and actresses who display their talents every day in the many theatres?
- Where are the sounds of hammers, and engines, and trains, and planes?
- Where are the bright lights and the neon signs that never let the city go to sleep, or separate one day from the other?
- They are no more – for “Babylon has fallen, has fallen,” – meaning a double portion of God’s judgment has been poured out on this wicked city, simply because of the way they treated those who would not bow before the beast.
Revelation 18:4 “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.”
- Is God calling YOU to come out of your false religion?
