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Pastor Scott L. Harris
Grace Bible Church, NY
December 7, 2025
*The Fall of Commercial Babylon & The Lament of Men
Revelation 18:1-24
Introduction
Last week we covered Revelation 17 and the doom of religious Babylon. If you missed it, I encourage you to go to our website and either read or listen to the sermon. It is a difficult chapter to interpret because of the amount of symbolism in it, but nearly all of that symbolism is explained within the chapter or the context of the book. Last week’s sermon explains all of that as well as its context. (See: Judgment on Religious Babylon). The chapter is part of another intercalation in the narrative flow of the Apocalypse that pauses in Rev. 16:21 with the plague of the 100 pound hailstones as part of the pouring out of the seventh bowl of wrath, and will pick up again in Rev. 19:11 with the opening of heaven and the coming of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords on a white horse with His armies to wage war and conquer the earth.
*There are three parts to this explanatory section. Revelation 17 deals with Babylon as a religious entity. Revelation 18 deals with Babylon as a political & economic entity. Revelation 19:1-10 describes what occurs in heaven during this same time period.
*In brief, Revelation 17 explains that the great harlot, false religion, is useful to the beast, the antichrist, as he builds his political and military power. However, once antichrist has become the world dictator, with the help of his political and military allies, he will turn on the ecumenical false religion that was supporting him and will utterly destroy it to replace it with worship of himself alone. *That best fits in the middle of the tribulation period in association with the abomination of desolation when the antichrist desecrates the temple and declares himself to be a god. He and his coalition will then later wage war with the Lamb and those with Him, but the Lamb will overcome them. The details of that victory will come in Rev. 19.
This morning we will examine Revelation 18 and the destruction of Babylon as a political and economic entity. This is a different aspect of Babylon even if there is a connection between it and Babylon as a religious entity. Economic Babylon’s destruction appears to be subsequent to the beast’s destruction of the harlot – antichrist’s desolation of the future ecumenical false religious system.
Revelation 18 can be broken down into three major sections. The first in verses 1-3 is the announcement by an angel of Babylon’s fall. The second section in verses 4-20 is another voice from heaven recording two pleas, the laments of the kings, merchants and sea men over Babylon, and concluding with those in heaven rejoicing over Babylon’s fall. The final section in verses 21-24 describes Babylon’s devastation and the reasons for it.
*The Angel’s Announcement – Revelation 18:1-3
Revelation 18 begins, 1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory.
* After the vision of the doom of the great harlot, religious Babylon, in chapter 17, another angel of the same kind that had shown John that vision comes down from heaven to where John is in the wilderness (Rev. 17: 3) to pronounce judgment on commercial Babylon. This is an angel with great authority and glory which illumines the earth. Since this angel does not actually administer the judgments he announces in verse 2, his authority appears to be in proclaiming the judgments. This is not Christ as some suggest. It would be demeaning to refer to Christ as “another angel,” *and angels can also be bright and shine with glory as was the angel that appeared to Daniel on the banks of the Tigris river (Dan. 10:5-6), the angel that rolled away the stone from Jesus’ tomb (Matt. 28:2-3), the one that told Cornelius his prayers had been answered (Acts 10:30; 11:3), and the angel that woke Peter up and freed him from prison (Acts 12:7). Hebrews 1:7 quoting Psalm 104:4 states, And of the angels He says, “Who makes His angels winds, And His ministers flaming fire.” Recall that the fourth trumpet judgment darkened the day for a third of the time, and the fifth bowl judgment darkened the kingdom of the beast, so the glory of this angel would be an even greater contrast to either of those.
*Verse 2 records the angel’s announcement. 2 And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! And she has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird . The powerful voice of this angel ensures his proclamation will be heard by all.
This same proclamation was made by the angel in Rev. 14:8 – “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! The double use of the proleptic aorist, fallen (pivptw / pipt ), emphasizes the certainty this will happen. A similar prophecy was made in Isaiah 21:9 concerning ancient Babylon, but this one concerns the future Babylon the great which will be a complete devastation as shown in the description as A dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit.
*Demons and unclean spirits refer to the same class of beings, fallen angels, and dwelling place (katoikhthvrion/ katoik t rion) and prison (fulakhv / phulak ) are used nearly synonymously here. The only difference being that a prison is where you dwell unwillingly. It is a place of banishment. Verse 2 also describes it as a prison for every unclean (aJkavqartoV / akathartos) and hateful (misevw / Mise – detestable) bird. *Those would include predatory birds such as eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, etc.; scavengers such as vultures, buzzards, ravens and sea gulls; fish eating birds such as pelicans, cormorants, storks & herons; and the hoopoe and the bat (Deut. 14:12-18). The idea conveyed here is that Babylon will become a place only fit for fallen angels and detestable and unclean birds. (Some manuscripts add “unclean and hateful beast” which would include other animals, but the meaning remains the same).
Verse 3 gives the reason for the judgment. 3 “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the power of her sensuality.” *The first phrase is the same as in Rev. 14:8 and almost the same as in Rev. 17:2 which also includes the same line as the second phrase here. The sexual immorality (porneiva / porneia : porneuvw / porneu ) is similar to the earlier uses in referring to the seriousness of their idolatry, the false worship and pursuit of something as a substitute for the true God. *The wicked of the world willingly yield to the influence of false religion in the same way a drunk pursues the intoxicating effects of wine. It brings a substitute satisfaction. The kings, those who rule nations, pursue Babylon to gain what she offers to them. It is the third phrase that distinguishes between the Babylons of chapter 17 and 18. “The merchants of the earth have become rich by the power of her sensuality.” This is the idolatry of materialism which is a powerful attraction both in accumulating wealth and the pleasures riches can bring.
*Living in a wealthy nation as we do, I think all of us can recognize the dangers of materialism since we can see its effect on our society and know the temptations it brings. It is sad to see people sacrifice themselves in the rat race of pursuing wealth and miss what is actually important in life. The effort to gain a larger portfolio or more possessions steals from their ability to have meaningful relationships since other people are viewed as stepping stones to get what is desired, and even if someone is found to have a meaningful relationship with, there is no time to develop it. Perhaps worse is the discontentment materialism brings because it is never enough. An abundance that is more than adequate cannot be recognized because there is always more than can be added. *Materialism breeds greed, envy and jealously. The philosophy of “He who dies with the most toys wins” fails to recognize that you take nothing with you when you die. He who dies without being prepared to enter eternity loses. Jesus’ parable in Luke 12 about the rich man that planned to build bigger barns to store all his wealth supposing he could then finally be content is direct on this point. The parable concludes, “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:20-21). What is bad now will become much worse when the powerful forces of this future Babylon’s materialism entices people to pursue her instead of God.
*Another Voice From Heaven – Revelation 18:5-20 (LSB)
Revelation 18:5 begins the second section, 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying . . .” *This is a voice of the same kind as occurred earlier either as in verse 1 or as in Revelation 14:13. It would appear to be an angel proclaiming God’s message. There are three parts to that message that comes from the voice. The first is a command for the righteous to flee Babylon. The second part consists of laments by the kings of the earth, the merchants and then the sea people concerning the destruction of Babylon. The final part speaks about the rejoicing that occurs in heaven over this same destruction.
*Flee Babylon – Revelation 18:5. The voice from heaven says, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; 5 for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” *This a command directed specifically to “my people,” those that belong to God. *The “her” is wicked Babylon whose sins have piled up as high as heaven. The verb used here, kollavw / kolla , means to “glue, join, bind together.” Their sins glue together stacking up to reach heaven so that God takes notice of their unrighteous actions. It is reminiscent of Genesis 11 when the people of ancient Babylon used bricks and mortar to build a tower in an attempt to reach heaven, but which instead called God’s attention to their defiant actions which he judged by confusing their language and forcing them to scatter over the earth as they were supposed to do.
*The command is given for God’s people to leave Babylon so that they would neither be enticed to participate in her sins nor receive the plagues of judgment that were about to come upon her. This shows there will be saints in wicked Babylon even to the end. There will be those who have recently come to faith in Christ and those that stay in order to witness for Christ. There is a principle illustrated here that also applies in the present. While 1 Corinthians 10:13 is true that “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able,” living in a wicked place can greatly increase the enticements to sin, and one of the ways God provides to handle temptation is to escape it. Verse 14 gives the command to “flee idolatry.” Be humble enough to recognize that the pressures to love and conform to the world can be great (Rom. 12:2; 1 John 2:15), and what you can and cannot handle is probably less than you think. The righteous who are wise will come out and separate themselves from among the wicked (2 Cor. 6:14-17).
*Vengeance on Babylon – Revelation 18:6-8.
Verses 6-8 gives the call for vengeance on Babylon along with the reason for it and a summary of it being executed. 6 “Pay her back even as she paid, and give her back double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. 7 “To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning, for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.’ 8 “For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong.” *This is the Old Testament principle of lex talionis, a punishment equal to the crime committed with restitution of double or more for certain crimes such as theft and fraud (Exodus 21:1,4, 7, 9). Jesus also stated this principle in Matthew 7:2, “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and aby your standard of measure, it will be measured to you,” and Paul in Galatians 6:7, “God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” The evil Babylon sowed will come back upon them, and double for some of her wicked deeds.
The “cup” was used for mixing wine, and Babylon’s cup was full of immorality and abominations. *She would suffer and grieve in equal measure to her self glorification and sensuous, luxurious living. That will be the answer to the prayers of the martyrs seen in back in the fifth seal. Isaiah 47:5-10 records ancient Babylon making the same boast of sitting as a queen, not be a widow or see mourning and then those things coming upon her in just one day. Daniel 5 records the conquest of ancient Babylon by the Medes & Persians in just one night. So it will be that future Babylon will also be destroyed quickly by plagues of death which brings widowhood, grief instead of self glorification, and famine instead of luxurious abundance. She will then be burned up with fire signifying total destruction. Rev. 17:16 noted the harlot, religious Babylon will also be burned up with fire.
*Whatever position and power Babylon acquires to make such boasting, it cannot begin to compete with the strength of the Lord God who judges her. That also answers the question of who is the ultimate source of bringing about vengeance upon Babylon. Vengeance belongs to the Lord regardless of the means by which He brings it about (Deut. 32:35; Psalm 94:1-3; Roman 12:19). In the case of Babylon, her destruction comes through both supernatural plagues and war by human forces (Rev. 17:16-18).
*The Lament of Kings – Revelation 18:9-10
To lament (kovptw / kopt ) is to express great sorrow of mourning. The laments in verses 9-19 are given from three perspectives as Babylon is observed from a distance after she is destroyed. The descriptions show that the Babylon described in this chapter to be a city of very great commercial and political importance.
9 “And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived sensuously with her, will cry and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’ *This is a broader group than the 10 kings aligned with the Beast, and they represent the various nations that have benefitted by their relationship to Babylon. They see the smoke of her burning, but do nothing to help, *and instead stay at a distance out of fear of being involved in the torment that has come upon her.
Their lament begins with two “woes” which expresses their grief. They affirm that Babylon was a city that was strong, powerful, able (ijscurovV / ischuros), yet its judgment comes in just one hour.
*The Lament of the Merchants – Revelation 18:11-17.
Next are the merchants in verses 11-17a. 11 “And the merchants of the earth cry and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo anymore— 12 cargo of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from precious wood and bronze and iron and marble, 13 and cinnamon and amomum and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargo of horses and carriages and human beings and human lives. 14 “And the fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were splendid and shining have passed away from you and men will no longer find them. 15 “The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, crying and mourning, 16 saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls; 17 for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!’
*The merchants also stay at a distance out of fear of being involved in the torment that has come upon her. Their lament is also personal because they became rich by trading with Babylon, but that would be no more because Babylon and all her items of commerce are destroyed. *The twenty-eight items of merchandise listed can fit into seven categories. 1) Precious metals & gems. 2) Expensive fabrics. 3) Expensive furniture and materials. 4) Precious spices & perfumes. 5) Agricultural products. 6) Transportation necessities. 7) Humans – slaves. The items listed would only be a small sample of all of the things that would be part of trade in such an important center of commerce, but the specific items included not only emphasize the great wealth generated by trade with Babylon, but they also point to trade with many diverse nations. Here are common origins of some of these commodities in the first century. Gold and silver from Spain. Pearls from the Persian gulf. Ivory from Africa. Purple from the Aegean sea. Silk from China. Citron wood from North Africa. Linen & wheat from Egypt. Cinnamon from east Asia. Precious woods from Africa & India. Marble from Greece. Perfume and frankincense from the Arabian Peninsula.
*Special emphasis is placed in verse 14 on their lust for the finest things that can no longer be fulfilled. Fruit (ojpwvra / op ra) is ripe autumn fruit which would be sweet and delicious. Splendid, (liparav / lipara), refers to what is oily, shiny with oil and hence is also translated as luxurious, rich, delicacies. Shining (lamprovV / lampros) refers to what is bright, radiant, brilliant. All of those things will be lost to them, and the doubled double negative used in the Greek text emphasizes they no longer, no, never will be able to find them again.
Their lament also begins with two woes. They then describe the city as a woman wearing expensive clothing and adornments which boasted of her great wealth, but all of it was laid waste in just an hour.
*The Lament of the Sea Men – Revelation 18:17b-19
The third lament in verse 17-19 is by those all those associated with the sea. “And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood at a distance, 18 and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like the great city?’ 19 “And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, crying and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who have ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!’”
*The shipmaster (kubernhvthV / kubern t s) was the one in charge of operating the ship – the captain or pilot. The passengers are those who “sail to a place.” A sailor is someone that works on a boat. A catch all phrase is used to include anyone else that earns their living by the sea. Their ships also stand at a distance from Babylon as they weep when they see the smoke rising from her burning. There was no other port city like Babylon. They throw dust on their heads as a sign of their deep grief. Their lament also starts with a double woe and then explains in no uncertain terms their sorrow is because the wealth of Babylon had made them prosperous by coming to its port. But that would be no more for in one hour Babylon was laid waste. It was destroyed and abandoned very quickly.
*The fact that these kings, the merchants and those who live by means of the sea are all still present to lament Babylon means that the destruction of Babylon occurs before Armageddon. The beast and his coalition of kings will gather to wage war against God after this (Revelation 17:14).
While placing this in the time frame of the sequence of events of the tribulation would be speculation, it is in the later part of it. * It is after the destruction of the harlot, religious Babylon, since that occurs in stages of being first plundered, then its corruption exposed, then consumed and finally destroyed (Rev. 17:17), and that is after the mid-point of the abomination of desolation. Depending on how close a tie there is between religious Babylon and commercial Babylon which is presented as a location, the burning of the harlot could coordinate with the burning of the city. However, it must be emphasized that commercial Babylon is destroyed quickly and the harlot is devastated sequentially.
*Rejoicing in Heaven – Revelation 18:20
The response in heaven was the opposite. 20 “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her.” The voice here would be the same one as in verse 4. The command is for all in heaven and especially the saints, apostles and prophets to rejoice over God’s judgment pronounced against Babylon. Saints is a general term for all of God’s people. An apostle is one sent with authority to represent his master or official sending him. The twelve and Paul were called Apostles because they were commissioned by Jesus Christ to represent Him. They may be in view here and they would certainly rejoice over the destruction of Babylon. However, my own thought is that this description in the tribulation period would also fit the two witnesses in Revelation 11. In a similar way, prophets of the Old Testament that foretold of the events of the last times would rejoice over the fulfillment of those prophecies. However, prophets in the New Testament include those who proclaim what God had already revealed (Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:10, 28), and in the tribulation period it includes those who were doing the same and were martyred (Rev. 16:6; 18:24). That would certainly fit the 144,000 Jewish slaves of God in Revelation 7 & 14. Again, this judgment fulfills the prayers of the martyrs in the fifth seal.
*Description of Babylon’s Devastation – Revelation 18:21-23
In Revelation 18:21-24 another angel comes on the scene to give descriptions of the utter devastation of Babylon that begins with a symbolic action
*Drowned – Revelation 18:21.
21 Then a strong angel picked up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer.
*This is the third strong angel presented in Revelation (5:2; 10:1). This one uses a symbolic object lesson to demonstrate the utter destruction of Babylon. This has to be a strong angel for he picks up a stone that is comparable to a great millstone which would be four to five feet in diameter and a foot thick which would therefore weigh thousands of pounds. He then throws it into the sea. Of course, though the stone is very large, it is minuscule compared to the ocean and it would quickly disappear beneath the water. It would be drowned. And so the angel draws the analogy. Babylon is a great city, but it will be thrown down with violence and disappear like the millstone in the sea. The double negation in the Greek emphasizes the completeness and permanence of its destruction – it will in no way be found any longer.
*Silent – Revelation 18:22.
A second description of complete destruction is given in verse 22. “And the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer; and no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer; and the sound of a mill will not be heard in you any longer.”
*It will be silent. The same double negation is used three times. No music of any kind to be heard any longer. No craftsman to be found any longer and therefore no sound of him working. *No mill will be heard any longer. The sound of complete desolation is silence.
*Dark – Revelation 18:23a.
The first phrase of verse 23 gives a third description. 23a “and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer.” The ancient world did not have electricity or gas to provide light at night, but torches and oil lamps would be used by humans to light their way in the dark. *The absence of humans means the lamps will go out and it will be dark. This also uses the same double negative construction. No light from a lamp will shine in Babylon any longer.
*Joyless – Revelation 18:23b.
The second phrase in verse 23 gives a fourth description. 23b “and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer.” *Weddings are common and joyous celebrations in any city. The complete devastation of Babylon means there will no longer be any grooms or brides or such joyous celebrations. It will not be a place to go for any celebration.
*Causes of Babylon’s Destruction – Revelation 18:23d – 24
The last half of verse 23 and verse 24 state causes for Babylon’s destruction.
Abuse by the Rich – Revelation 18:23c.
The first cause is 23c “for your merchants were the great men of the earth.” As already noted, Babylon had made the merchants rich, and they lamented the loss of that continuing. *Wealth commonly results in arrogance and selfishness as it did for these merchants. It is also the rich that commonly oppress others as James 2:6 & 5:4-6 point out. That reflects earlier judgments God has brought upon the uncaring rich (Ezekiel 16:49-50; Malachi 3:5; Proverbs 22:22-23).
*Deceptive Sorcery – Revelation 18:23d.
The second cause is 23d “because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.” The term sorcery (farmakeiva / pharmakeia) can refer to demonic spells, magical arts or drugs, any or all of which *Babylon used to deceive the world into participating in her immorality – which for commercial Babylon will include a rank materialism along with whatever religious elements are used as part of her deceptions. Ancient Babylon was condemned for the same thing in Isaiah 47:13.
*Murder – Revelation 18:24.
A third cause is presented in verse 24. 24 “And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth.” The Beast (Rev. 11:7), the unrighteous (Rev. 16:6), and the great harlot (Rev. 17:6), and Babylon were all guilty of the murder of countless prophets who boldly witnessed for Christ such as the 144,000 and other saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus (Rev. 14:12). *The martyrs in the fifth seal cried out how long it would be before God would avenge their blood on those who dwell on the earth (Rev. 6:10). Babylon is a main instigator of such bloodshed and is also noted here for the bloodshed of “all who have been slain on the earth.” That would be the murder of the unrighteous too.
*Conclusions
It may often appear that the unrighteous prosper in the midst of their evil. That was the lament of Asaph in Psalm 73 until he went to the house of the Lord and considered their end. We are to pray and work toward justice in this life because it is an action that reflects God in us, but we don’t hold our breath waiting for it. The Scriptures are clear that evil people do often prosper and literally get away with murder in this life, but that is only temporary. God is still on His throne. He is just, and He will take vengeance and repay (Romans 12:19). Babylon will be judged and will fall, and so will every other evil entity and person that has ever lived.
*And while we rejoice properly whenever justice is carried out against evil and evil people, at the same time we long just as God does for those same evil people to repent and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ to believe, be forgiven and be saved. One of the major quests of Christians in this life is to get those who are in the camp of our enemy, Satan, to defect and become part of the family of God. Our former enemies become brothers and sisters in Christ. That is a major reason why we do not return evil for evil, but instead do good and strive to be a blessing. We leave vengeance in the hands of the Lord, for only He knows who will receive the just measure of His full punishment for evil, and who will respond to His invitation to turn to Him and be converted and rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of His beloved Son.
Sermon Notes – 11/30/2025
The Fall of Commercial Babylon & The Lament of Men – Revelation 18:1-24
Introduction
Rev. 17 deals with religious Babylon, Rev. 18 with _______________Babylon, & Rev. 19:1-10 with heaven
The Great Harlot is useful to the Beast in building his political / military power, but turns & __________her
This will be near the time of the abomination of desolation because antichrist wants __________for himself
The Angel’s Announcement – Revelation 18:1-3
Another angel as the same kind as in Rev. 17:1 pronounces _____________on commercial Babylon
Angels can be bright & _________with glory – Dan. 10:5-6; Matt. 28:2-3; Acts 10:30, 11:3; 12:3; Heb. 1:7
The powerful voice of this angel insures the proclamation will be _____, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
Demons & _________spirits are synonymous – dwelling place & prison nearly so except prison is unwilling
A place of __________& detestable birds of prey, scavengers & fish eating birds
The reason is Babylon’s ____________- a pursuit of a substitute for the true God
The wicked, kings & merchants all pursue Babylon’s idolatry of _____________- to gain wealth & pleasure
Materialism is a problem in our own society – it breeds _________, envy & jealousy – and it never satisfies
Another Voice From Heaven – Revelation 18:5-20
A voice of the same kind as Rev. 18:1 or 14:13 – an ___________proclaiming God’s message
Flee Babylon – Revelation 18:5. A _____________ given to God’s people
Babylon’s sins pile up to heaven – ___________together like the bricks & mortar of ancient Babylon
_______to avoid participation in the sins of that society and the punishment that comes upon an evil society
Vengeance on Babylon – Revelation 18:6-8.
This is the OT principle of lex talionis – punishment equal to the _____& double restitution for some crimes
Babylon will suffer & grieve in equal ______________to her self glorification & sensuous, luxurious living
The _____is the ultimate source of bringing vengeance on Babylon by supernatural plagues & human forces
The Lament of Kings – Revelation 18:9-10.
A broader group of kings than the 10 aligned with the Beast that have _____________from Babylon
They do nothing to help her, and only lament from a ___________to avoid being involved in her torment
The Lament of the Merchants – Revelation 18:11-17.
They also stay at a distance, and lament the loss of their lucrative __________ with her
The items of merchandise listed emphasize the ________of her trade & the diverse ______of the merchants
They lust for the finest things Babylon offers, but they are lost to them & will _________________be found
The Lament of the Sea Men – Revelation 18:17b-19
The designations cover everyone that earns their living by a business involving _____________or the _____
The laments of these three categories of people shows Babylon’s destruction is ___________to Armageddon
Religious Babylon is destroyed in ____________, but commercial Babylon is destroyed quickly
Rejoicing in Heaven – Revelation 18:20
The voice is the same one as in vs. 4, and it commands for all in heaven to ________at Babylon’s judgment
Description of Babylon’s Devastation – Revelation 18:21-24
Drowned – Revelation 18:21. The millstone tossed in the sea symbolizes Babylon’s quick ______________
Silent – Revelation 18:22. A double negation used 3 times. _____________of music, craftsmen or milling
The sound of complete desolation is ______________
Dark – Revelation 18:23a. Without humans present to keep them lit – lamps will ____shine there any longer
Joyless – Revelation 18:23b. Wedding celebrations will _________________be heard
Causes of Babylon’s Destruction – Revelation 18:23d – 24
Abuse by the Rich – Revelation 18:23c. Wealth commonly results in arrogance & _______________
Oppression of others by the ____(James 2:6; 5:4-6) was a cause of God’s earlier judgments – Ezek. 16:49-50
Deceptive Sorcery – Revelation 18:23d. Includes demonic spells, magical arts or ___________
Babylon will use any or all of these to ________the world into participating in her immorality & materialism
Murder – Rev. 18:24. The Beast, the unrighteous, the Great Harlot & Babylon all __________God’s people
The martyrs seek God to avenge their blood. Babylon also murders the ____________
Conclusions
The prosperity & injustice of the wicked is only ______________- God will judge and repay
We rejoice in God’s justice – yet long to _________those in Satan’s kingdom to salvation in God’s kingdom
KIDS KORNER
Parents, you are responsible to apply God’s Word to your children’s lives. Here is some help. Young Children – draw a picture about something you hear during the sermon. Explain your picture(s) to your parents at lunch. Older Children – Do one or more of the following: 1) Count how many times the word “Babylon” is said. 2) Discuss with your parents the fall of future commercial Babylon
THINK ABOUT IT!
Questions to consider in discussing the sermon with others. Can angels shine with glory? Explain. Why does the angel use the past tense in his proclamation if the actual event is still future? Why is the description in verse 2 that of devastation? Why is Babylon judged (vs. 3)? What is the purpose of the first command of the voice from heaven (vs. 5)? What principle from this applies today? What is the extent of and why will there be vengeance on Babylon (vs. 6-8)? What is the reason for the lament by the kings, the merchants and those who live by the sea? What does each lament add to the description of Babylon’s importance and the consequences of its destruction? Why do all three groups keep their distance from Babylon? What do these laments indicate about the placement of Babylon’s destruction in the time sequence of the tribulation? What is the significance of distinguishing the saints, apostles & prophets in their rejoicing over Babylon’s judgment? How do the four descriptions of Babylon’s destruction in vs. 21-23 add to the picture of its utter devastation? Has this ever happened in history to date? What are the three causes for Babylon to be destroyed (vs. 23-24)? How should Christians respond to God’s judgment of the wicked? How should they treat the wicked prior to judgment?
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