Please turn in your Bibles this evening to Revelation chapter 18 as we continue our study through the Word of God. Keep in mind that Revelation chapter’s 17 and 18 focuses on some other events of the Tribulation Period besides God’s wrath being poured out upon a Christ rejecting world.
Now some believe that these two chapters are speaking of the same thing, but they are not. As we saw last time, Revelation chapter 17 deals with the destruction of religious Babylon, or the false religious system somewhere around the 3½-year mark of the 7-year Tribulation Period. What we will see as we move into Revelation chapter 18 tonight is the destruction of commercial Babylon.
As you look at this end time world system, it can be broken down in three different ways. There is the political system headed by the Antichrist. There is the religious system headed by the false prophet. And there is the commercial system headed by the movers and shakers of society. Yes, I believe the Antichrist will also oversee this commercial empire, but it too will not stand before God. It is as John MacArthur tells us regarding man apart from God. He wrote:
Throughout history the petty kingdom and empires built by proud, arrogant, God-rejecting rebels have come and gone. The spirit of humanism first expressed at Babel has permeated human history ever since. Unshakably optimistic despite centuries of war, slaughter, injustice, and cruelty, people still seek a utopia, to be brought about by humanity’s upward scientific progress. Having taken control (so they think) of their own destiny through science, sinners have no use for God and haughtily replace Him as self-styled gods devoted to their own sovereignty.
- John MacArthur
With that as our background, let’s begin reading in Revelation chapter 18, starting in verse 1 as we see the destruction of commercial Babylon and how the world responds to her destruction!
VERSES 1-3
Some see this angel as Christ but that is not what the Scriptures are saying here. You see, John uses the Greek word ALLOS for the word “another” and it speaks of another of the same kind. He did not use the Greek word HETEROS, which means another of a different kind. Thus, this angel is the same type as the angel we read of back in Revelation 17:1, it is not Jesus.
Yes, he has great authority, but, like us, the Lord gives His authority to him. And in the blackness of the Tribulation Period, this angel illuminates the sky. It is as Swete said, “So recently has he come from the presence (of God) that in passing he flings a broad belt of light across the dark earth.” Folks, as we spend time with Jesus we also will bring the light of God to a world in darkness.
Here we see this angel cry out, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen.” But also understand that prior to her destruction the world was cashing in on her financial prosperity! The people of the world will lust after her, become intoxicated with her riches! But God will bring down what looks mighty in the eyes of man! And folks, think about this. When God is removed there is a void, a vacuum that is then filled with all kinds of unclean spirits, all kinds of evil. There truly is darkness apart from God.
Now when does this destruction of commercial Babylon take place during the Tribulation Period? I believe this commercial empire will come crashing to the ground towards the end of the Tribulation Period. Now, is this an actual city or is this just symbolic for the Antichrist’s godless system? I tend to see this as an actual city, a commercial empire, since it is called a city some 5 times in this chapter. Also, people watched a far distance off and saw her destruction, thus, I do believe this is an actual city.
Some believe this is speaking of any financial empire in the last days that controls the world economy. Others think it is speaking of Rome, while others say it is the United States. I don’t think so. Let me tell you what city I think this is, it might be BABYLON! I know, when you look at what is happening out there today it is hard to imagine this could be speaking of Babylon. But let me share with you a few things and then you can come to your own conclusion.
In Isaiah 13:17-18 we are told of the fall of Babylon by the Medes and the Persians. We are told, “Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, Who will not regard silver; And as for gold, they will not delight in it. Also their bows will dash the young men to pieces, And they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb; Their eye will not spare children.” When that happened in 539 BC Babylon was not destroyed. The Medo-Persian army entered through the gates of the city, the Euphrates River gates that were not locked, and walked right into the city. In fact, Isaiah 45:1-3 tells us that these gates were not locked, as I have said.
In fact, when Cyrus the Great captured Babylon it was done without much of a battle. And the city of Babylon served as a secondary capitol of the Persian Empire for two centuries. Then, in 325 BC Alexander the Great conquered the Persians and made Babylon his capital. Alexander the Great died in Babylon and his empire was divided up between his four generals, just as Daniel prophesied, and, over time Babylon gradually atrophied.
Here’s the thing, Babylon was never destroyed, not the way God said it would be destroyed. In Isaiah 13:19-22 we are told, “And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, The beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It will never be inhabited, Nor will it be settled from generation to generation; Nor will the Arabian pitch tents there, Nor will the shepherds make their sheepfolds there. But wild beasts of the desert will lie there, And their houses will be full of owls; Ostriches will dwell there, And wild goats will caper there. The hyenas will howl in their citadels, And jackals in their pleasant palaces. Her time is near to come, And her days will not be prolonged.”
How was Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed? With fire and brimstone. The Medo-Persian army did not destroy Babylon like this, nor did the Grecian army, so this must be speaking of a future rebuilt Babylon that will be destroyed!
You all remember the late Saddam Hussein, the leader of Iraq or what was known as Babylon. Back in 1985 he began to restore the ancient city of Babylon, spending over 500 million dollars to reconstruct the city and build a modern residence on the ruins of Nebuchadnezzar’s palace. Now, despite Saddam’s removal from power and his subsequent execution, the work of rebuilding Babylon continues.
You see, today the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is pumping in millions of dollars into Babylon and several other historical sites in Iraq. The UN, with the help of private donors, is hoping to turn Babylon into a thriving center of tourism and commerce. If their plans go well, Babylon will be a cultural center complete with shopping malls, hotels, and maybe even a theme park. Is this just the beginning to make Babylon the commercial empire of the world? I believe it is, only time will tell!
Henry Morris makes this interesting point regarding Babylon. He wrote, “The site of modern Babylon is strategically located at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and Africa and is not far from the Persian Gulf. It is also near the world’s richest oil fields and has a virtually unlimited water supply from the Euphrates. Those considerations led the famed historian Arnold Toynbee to proclaim that Babylon would be an ideal site for an important political and cultural center.” (Morris, Revelation Record, p. 349).
Notice also that the merchants love this commercial center, but why? Because it has made them rich and this lust for riches has caused them to become numb to its effects upon them. They have no feelings of what is right and what is wrong; it is all about them gaining more, at any cost. They are never satisfied, even though they are having a great time! Solomon, in Proverbs 27:20 tells us, “Hell and Destruction are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied.” Why is that? Because, outside of Christ you will never be satisfied. You will try to fill that void in your heart with all kinds of things but only Christ will satisfy. You see, only He can fill that void that is in a person’s heart!
Now, what is interesting to me is that as you listen to these prosperity teachers today, they preach more and more riches, more and more wealth, more and more things. Name it and claim it. Blab it and grab it. But notice what God has to say, notice what God calls His people to do in verse 4.
VERSE 4
Why is God calling for us to break our ties from commercial Babylon, from the materialism of this world? Because it will weaken our faith, it will cause us to do things that are not of God. Paul warned Timothy in I Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
Please don’t get the idea that money is evil, it is not. Money is paper or metal, that is it. But, the love of money is evil. Again, Christians and non-Christians come up with all kinds of evil schemes to make money, and that is wrong. Yes, they will try to justify it, but it still is wrong. And as you continue down this path, you will move farther away from God. Your fellowship with God will be weakened. It is as Proverbs 17:23 says, “A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back To pervert the ways of justice.”
Then what are we to do? Here in Revelation we are told to break ties from the materialism of this world, don’t get pulled into its intoxicating ways! Paul goes on to tell Timothy in I Timothy 6:11-12, “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” You see, be rich in the Lord, not empty with the things of this world!
If you refuse, the Lord tells us that we will “share in her sins.” I think that is important for us to understand. In I John 2:15-17 John tells us, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
Now this is not saying that if you buy some clothes or a car, or whatever, you love the world. John is speaking of loving the world system, which is driven by the Devil. If the focus of your life are the things of this world, yes, then the love of the Father is not in you. You can’t love two masters! And keep in mind that the things of this world are passing away and only the things of God will stand! You know that commercial that says, “What is in your wallet?” well, let’s change that around and ask, “Who is in your heart?” If it is not the Lord, there is no satisfaction and there is no eternal life with Him.
Paul warns us in II Corinthians 6:14-18 once again about coming out of the pull of this world, not to be united with the things of this world. He wrote, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.’ Therefore ‘Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.’ ‘I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.’” May we heed the words of the Lord!
VERSES 5-8
God is patient, He is longsuffering, but there comes a point when the cup of her sins is full and God will repay her for what she has done to others. In other words, she will reap what she has sown. In fact, here in verse 6 the Greek word for, “render” is APODIDOMI, (ap-od-een’-o-mee) and it literally means “to pay a dept” or “to give back that which is due.” Our God gives sinful man his due just as He will give commercial Babylon exactly what she deserves. And isn’t it amazing how she still boasts about her wealth, her security, her luxurious lifestyle just as judgment was about to fall upon her. Sinful man is no different!
In Isaiah chapter 47, beginning in verse 7 we see the fall of ancient Babylon that parallels the fall of commercial Babylon here in Revelation chapter 18. We are told, “And you said, ‘I shall be a lady forever,’ So that you did not take these things to heart, Nor remember the latter end of them. Therefore hear this now, you who are given to pleasures, Who dwell securely, Who say in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow, Nor shall I know the loss of children’; But these two things shall come to you In a moment, in one day: The loss of children, and widowhood. They shall come upon you in their fullness Because of the multitude of your sorceries, For the great abundance of your enchantments. For you have trusted in your wickedness; You have said, ‘No one sees me’; Your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; And you have said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else besides me.’ Therefore evil shall come upon you; You shall not know from where it arises. And trouble shall fall upon you; You will not be able to put it off. And desolation shall come upon you suddenly, Which you shall not know. . . . Thus shall they be to you With whom you have labored, Your merchants from your youth; They shall wander each one to his quarter. No one shall save you.” Isaiah 47:7-11, 15.
Did you notice what verse 10 said, “ . . . ‘I am, and there is no one else besides me.’” No, you are not for there is only one “I AM!” and it is not you nor is it this commercial empire, even with all its strength it will not be able to stop its destruction by God, He will judge her!
Also notice her three-fold sin. The first is self-indulgence or she lived luxuriously. Secondly, pride is spoken of or she glorified herself, she sits as a queen. And thirdly, she thought she would avoid sorrow or suffering, as she said that she is no widow. You see, the focus of these things is worldliness and materialism. It is all about her!
VERSES 9-10
What are these people mourning over? Notice it is not for the people who were destroyed when this commercial empire came crashing to the ground but it was for the commercial institution itself. Why did they mourn the destruction of commercial Babylon and not for the people? Because they were more interested in themselves and what the loss of this commercial empire meant to them – they would lose everything. You see, the kings of the earth see this destruction and the fall of this empire, and they lament for her. And this is not a silent cry, but a loud wailing because, once again their wealth, their lifestyles, their toys, their material things, the things of this world are going up in smoke!
Now before you are too hard on them, do you get mad because of a traffic backup due to an accident? You see, if you do then you are more concerned about yourself, what you are missing out on than the people who were involved in this accident. Here’s the thing, when you are more concerned for material things than you are for people then your heart is not right with God!
It is only in our recent past that we have developed the ability to destroy a city in 1 hour, within the last 60 years or so. But, with the introduction of the Atomic Bomb, within minutes, a city can be destroyed! In fact, we even have what is called a Neutron Bomb that kills people and leaves the buildings standing. Why do we need a bomb like that? Well, after the attack you can go in and use the buildings that your enemy built. Talk about the mindset of materialism and the worthlessness of life!
Why are they standing at a distance, watching this? Could it be that this city is destroyed by an Atomic Bomb? It is possible, but I think God will bring it down and as He does the people do not want to get close, just as when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah as Lot watched from a distance.
VERSES 11-19
Notice how John describes this commercial empire, through the eyes of man or how man sees it. And, of course, he sees it as great, as beautiful, wealthy. In fact, John lists some 28 items of luxury. We see gold, silver, precious stones and-so-on. Thus, there is no way you can spiritualize this, this is a literal commercial empire that will be destroyed.
I like the way that Jon Courson describes this section, like a department store. Verse 12 speaks of the first floor, jewelry. Then you can move to the second floor, again in verse 12, clothing. The third floor, again in verse 12, home furnishings. As you move to the fourth floor, in verse 13, you come to cosmetics. Then on the fifth floor, again in verse 13, is the food court. On the sixth floor, from verse 13 with the horses and chariots we have the automotive section. And lastly, from verse 13, the souls of men, which is found in the basement, you might call it the adult bookstore. Jon says “Please note not one of the aforementioned deals with life’s necessities. They’re all luxuries. Babylon specializes in materialism gone mad.” I would have to agree! These are all luxuries, not necessities!
We can also see verse 13, as it speaks of the “bodies and souls of men,” can speak of our enslavement into the material world. It is as Peter tells us “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption [depravity]; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage [slavery].” II Peter 2:19. We can become enslaved as we obtain more and more things and sink farther and farther into debt! There is no freedom in that and there is no satisfaction in that, there is always bigger, better, newer, faster, prettier, younger, and-so-on.
But I also think even more importantly, that these souls of men that are being enslaved is speaking of the bondage of sin and being condemned to Hell! You see, Jesus came to set us free from the bondage of sin, He has broken those chains that have us bound and all we must do to be set free is to receive the free gift of life that is found in Jesus. Ask Him to be your Lord and Savior. But if you refuse the gift of life, you will remain in bondage to sin. You have sold your soul to the Devil! Jesus tells us this in John 8:34-36, as He says, “Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.’” The choice is yours, free in Christ, or in bondage to sin!
Of this commercial empire, John Phillips writes:
What a catalog of opulence [luxury]! What a vivid picture of a great, commercial city, trafficking in every luxury the heart could desire. This is the world’s great Vanity Fair. It offers articles of adornment and display, beautiful things to grace the mansions of the world’s millionaires. It deals in exotic spices and perfumes, in delicacies for the table, in provisions for banquets, in slaves, and in the souls of men. And Babylon imported all these things. . . . Babylon’s demand for this world’s goods was insatiable; ever it clamored for more and more!
- John Phillips, Exploring Revelation, p. 225
VERSES 20-21
We have seen this financial empire through the eyes of man, the beauty, the wealth, and the luxury. But God see=s it far differently. It is an ugly, deadly empire that “ . . . in her was found the blood of the prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.” Revelation 18:24. And so as the earth dwellers mourn over her destruction, heaven rejoices, because this evil institution will be done away with. You see, what earthly man holds onto, loves, the lover of God sees as ugly, detestable, and wants nothing to do with it. And her destruction will be complete; she will not get away with anything. She will rise up no more. Like a milestone that was thrown into the sea and sank to the dark depths, never to rise up again, so too will commercial Babylon sink to the depths of destruction as she is judged by God.
In Jeremiah chapter 51 we see this played out for us as we read beginning in verse 60, “So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that would come upon Babylon, all these words that are written against Babylon. And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, ‘When you arrive in Babylon and see it, and read all these words, then you shall say, “O LORD, You have spoken against this place to cut it off, so that none shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but it shall be desolate forever.” Now it shall be, when you have finished reading this book, that you shall tie a stone to it and throw it out into the Euphrates. Then you shall say, “Thus Babylon shall sink and not rise from the catastrophe that I will bring upon her. And they shall be weary.”’ Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.” Jeremiah 51:60-64. That is what is in store for this Babylon, this financial empire, this commercial center, it will be sunk!
3. Back on 9/11 we saw the destruction of the Twin Towers there in New York City by terrorists. They leveled these huge buildings, brought them to the ground. What is interesting to me is that these towers represented wealth, power, luxury, and commercial enterprises and yet in 1 hour they were brought to the ground! What is also interesting to me is what was left standing after they came crashing to the ground! There were two huge metal beams that help support one of these buildings, and all that was left was this and as they came down they formed a cross! Folks, that is the reality, it is only in Jesus that we will stand no matter what comes our way. What are you putting your faith in?
Now, with the destruction of this commercial Babylon it will be on a far greater level than what we saw on 9/11 and God will bring this empire to the ground! And when He does, it will be complete! It is as Isaiah 14:22-23 tells us, “‘For I will rise up against them,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘And cut off from Babylon the name and remnant, And offspring and posterity,’ says the LORD. ‘I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, And marshes of muddy water; I will sweep it with the broom of destruction,’ says the LORD of hosts.” In Jeremiah chapter 50 we are told of Babylon’s complete destruction, “Because of the wrath of the LORD She shall not be inhabited, But she shall be wholly desolate. Everyone who goes by Babylon shall be horrified And hiss at all her plagues. . . . ‘Therefore the wild desert beasts shall dwell there with the jackals, And the ostriches shall dwell in it. It shall be inhabited no more forever, Nor shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation. As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah And their neighbors,’ says the LORD, ‘So no one shall reside there, Nor son of man dwell in it.’” Jeremiah 50:13, 39-40.
VERSES 22-24
A city that was alive with life is now dead. No music, no industry, no joy, but a financial ruin. As we have seen with the stock market crash of the 1920’s, joy was far from the hearts of the people. Society was in ruin. And during this time, it will be far worse. There will be no hope to resurrect this world financial institution, for this occurs at the end of the tribulation period.
And it is interesting to read that by “sorcery” or PHARMAKEIA, (far-mak-i-ah) in the Greek the nations were deceived. By drugs and witchcraft, occult practices the nations fall into this financial institutions enchantments until it was too late to turn back. But we are different; we are led by the Spirit of God and not by the flesh. Thus, these things should not overtake us!
As you look at what people are pouring their lives into, what the treasure of their heart is, they will be left with nothing. It is like the parable that Jesus gave in Luke 12:16-21, where He said, “Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, “What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?” So he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.’” But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.’” In other words, be rich towards God and you will not lose out on anything!
We have now seen the fall of the false religious system and the commercial system. All that is left is the political system, which will come crashing down in chapter 19.
As I close this evening, let me try to encourage you by saying this. You may look at the wealth of many today and be discouraged. You may look at the wicked and see them prosper and wonder why all these difficult times are coming upon your life. During the time of the depression, a Christian man hit some very hard times. He lost his job, his home and finally his wife. And he was depressed to say the least, and yet he did trust in the Lord. And as he was walking one day, he came upon this building project, and he saw this mason working on a small piece of stone, cutting this small triangular shape. And wondering what it was for, what he was doing, the man asked the mason. And he said to the man, “I must cut it and shape it down here so that it will fit up there,” as he pointed to a triangular opening in the upper portion of the building.
At that point the man began to cry, for he realized that what God was doing down here, was to prepare him for up there, for heaven. God is molding and shaping us, don’t fight against it, allow Him to make you into a vessel of honor for Him! As Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21. Where is your heart this evening, focused on the material things of this world or on the kingdom of God and His righteousness? We will see next week that Jesus is coming back to right the wrong in this world and to establish His kingdom here on the earth, are you ready for Him? I pray that you are!