Revelation Chapter 18
Introduction:
The seventh trumpet sounded in
chapter 11:15-19; chapter 11:1-14 and chapter 13 cover the last three and a
half years of the great tribulation; The Church was raptured in chapter
14:14-16 and the vine of the earth was harvested in chapter 14:17-20; Chapter
16 is the seven bowls of GOD’s wrath poured out on the nations of the earth.
Revelation chapters 17:1-19:4 are about the fall of the great harlot Babylon.
Chapter 18 is a continuing description of Babylon’s fall before the world as
part of the seventh bowl of GOD’s Wrath that is poured out on the nations of
the earth.
Revelation 14:8 One of three
angelic proclamations made after the sounding of the seventh trumpet and just
before the rapture of The church and the harvest of the nations. “Another angel
followed saying, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city because she has
made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.’”
Revelation 17:6 What John said
when he saw the great harlot Babylon. “I saw the woman drunk with the blood of
The Saints and with the blood of The Martyrs of JESUS; when I saw her I
marveled with great amazement.”
:1 After these things I saw
another angel coming down from Heaven having great authority, and the earth was
illuminated with his glory. (In our study of Revelation we have seen that stars
are angels like our sun; GOD created light before He created the sun, moon and
stars; this angel is reflecting the Glory of GOD as all Christians are supposed
to be doing. Matthew 5:14-16)*
:2 And he cried mightily with a
loud voice saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen and has become a
dwelling place for demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every
unclean and hated bird! (Is this before, during or after the judgment of
Babylon? I believe it is before and during.)
:3 For all the nations have drunk
of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have
committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich
through the abundance (Lit. strengths) of her luxury.”
:4-8 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. For her sins have reached to Heaven and GOD
has remembered her iniquities (Revelation 16:19). Render to her just as she
rendered to you and repay her double according to her works; in the cup she has
mixed, mix double for her. In the measure that she glorified herself and lived
luxuriously (sensually – any and every pleasure), in the same measure give her
torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen and am no widow
and will not see sorrow (Ezekiel 28:2-8). Therefore her plagues will come in
one day–death and mourning and famine; and she will be utterly burned with fire
(Revelation 17:16), for strong is The LORD GOD Who Judges her (Jeremiah
50:33-34 – both naturally and spiritually).”**
:9-10 The kings of the earth who
committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for
her, when they see the smoke of her burning (Revelation 17:16, 19:3), standing
at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, “Alas, alas, that great city
Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come (Ezekiel 26:16
– this is about Tyre another city-kingdom like Nineveh and Babylon).”
:11-13 The merchants of the world
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
(Ezekiel 27:12-13). The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and
all things that are rich and splendid have been lost to you and you shall find
them no more at all.”
:15-17a The merchants of these
things who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for 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.”
:17b-19 Every shipmaster, all who
travel by ship, sailors and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance
and cried our 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 has been laid waste (Ezekiel
27:25-28).”
:20 “Rejoice over her, O Heavens
and you saints, apostles and prophets, for GOD has avenged you one her
(Jeremiah 51:48)!”
:21-24 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, flutist and trumpeters shall not be
heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore,
and the sound of the 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. In her was found the
blood of prophets and saints and of all who were slain on the earth.”
*Revelation 1:20 “The mystery of
the seven stars which you saw in My right hand and the seven golden lampstands:
The seven stars are the angels of the seven Churches and the seven lampstands
you saw are the seven Churches.” The stars like our sun shines in all
directions at once, but their light does not wrap around objects. This angel is
lighting up the whole earth at once with the Glory of GOD.
** As you read through Isaiah all
of these spiritual judgments against Babylon the great harlot (one world
government) happened to the natural Babylon of Chaldea; Isaiah 13:19-21; 14:23;
21:9; 34:11-15; 47:15; 48:20 are a few.
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