Cecil A. Fayard

Elliott Baptist Church

September 19, 2004

 

The Destruction of Political Babylon

Revelation 18:1-24

 

INTRO: In chapter 17, we saw the destruction of Religious Babylon.  Now in chapter 18, we have a different Babylon. This is Political or commercial Babylon. The two Babylons are differentiated in these ways:

 

RELIGIOUS BABYLON	COMMERCIAL BABYLON
Called Mystery Babylon	Called Babylon the great
Presented as a woman	Portrayed as a city
Situated on seven hills	Visible from the sea
Destroyed by Kings of the earth	Destroyed by God’s judgment
When destroyed, the kings rejoiced	When destroyed, the kings and merchants “lament for her.”

 

I. Vss 1-3, THE FALL OF COMMERCIAL BABYLON ANNOUNCED

 

A. Vs 1, “After these things” points us back to chapter 17 and the fall of the ecumenical religious system, religious Babylon.

1. John says “I saw.”  This speaks of a panoramic view of the end time.

2. The angel in this verse announces the destruction of commercial Babylon.

a) Revelation 16:10 tells us that the earth, at this time, is in darkness.  This angel illuminates the earth.

b) The power of the angel comes from God.

 

B. Vs 2, All will see and hear this angel.  None will be able to ignore him.

1. What is predicted in Rev 14:8 is now reality.

a) “Is fallen, is fallen” is in the aorist tense meaning that in a point in time when the system is at its peak destruction falls.

b) Out of ancient religious Babylon came Nebuchadnezzar and the first world empire.  The commercial system of the tribulation is a revival of ancient political Babylon.

2. Commercial Babylon is the habitation of Satan.  The devils here are demons.  

a) “The first cause given for Babylon’s destruction is that she has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit” (MacArthur 179).

b) Corruption, morally and financially, will lead to God’s judgment upon commercial Babylon.  What we see in our cities today says the end is near.

 

C. Vs 3, The nations of the world will commit themselves to the idolatry of religious Babylon and the immorality and wheeling and dealing of commercial Babylon.  Even in our day we see to what extent folks will go to make a dollar.

 

II. VSS 4-5, THE CALL TO GOD’S PEOPLE TO BE SEPARATED

 

A. Vs 4, Although this is written to tribulation saints, it is a timeless summons to God’s people in any age.

1. “Come out” is always God’s command to His people.  God always orders His people out of corrupt alliances (II Cor 6:12).

2. We must guard ourselves against becoming infatuated with the things of the world (I Jn 2:15-17).

B. Vs 5, God is aware of what goes on here on earth.  Sinner, be sure your sins will find you out.  God keeps records: “hath remembered her iniquities.”

 

III. VSS 6-8, THE CHANGE LEVELED AGAINST BABYLON

 

A. Vs 6, Heaven calls on God to reward Babylon even as Babylon has rewarded God’s people.

1. “Reward” is “to give back that which is dues,” or “to pay a debt.”

2. The normal law of retribution “an eye for an eye” is here doubled.

 

B. Vs 7, Self-glorification is what she was given to.

1. “Lived deliciously” means that she lived as she liked with no regard for morals or respect of life.

2. “Am no widow”–she has plenty of boyfriends, kings of the earth.

3. “Shall see no sorrows”– she thinks that she is above God.

 

C. Vs 8, She thinks she is something, but she is no match for God.  The Lord God of heaven will suddenly destroy commercial Babylon.

1. Her judgment is described as “death and mourning, and famine.”

2. Destruction will be swift and complete.  “They that sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind.”

 

IV. VSS 9-10, THE LAMENTATION OF THE KINGS OF THE EARTH

 

A. Vs 9, All the stock markets will collapse.  Every nation will go broke.

1. The city of Babylon and its burning is symbolic of the fall of all political and economic might.

2. The kings of the earth will weep and beat their breasts.

B. Vs 10, They stand afar off fearing that what happened to the city will happen to them.

1. “Alas, alas,” mournful in sound and meaning.

2. Their cry is as the hopeless despair of one who has lost a loved one without faith.

 

V. VSS 11-19, THE LAMENTATION OF THE MERCHANTS OF EARTH

 

A. Vs 11, The merchants weep because their business is gone.  There is no profit.

B. Vss 12–13, These verses list twenty-eight articles of merchandise that lose their value.

1. Vs 12, Lists:

a) Gold, silver, precious stones, pearls– for the investment portfolios.

b) Fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet– for fashionable dress.

c) Thyine wood, vessels of ivory, vessels of precious wood, brass, iron, marble– for high class furniture.

2. Vs 13, Lists:

a) Cinnamon, odours, ointments, frankincense– for sensuousness.

b) Wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, beasts, sheep, horses– for the satisfying of the flesh.

c) Chariots– for the getaway.

d) Slaves– for labor to increase wealth.

e) Souls of men– for lust, prostitution.

3. All is lost, the treasures of sin are gone.  Children of God “lay up for y ourselves treasures in heaven.....” (Mt 6:19-21).

 

C. Vs 14, The things that people think are so important will be gone along with bare necessities. This will drive the lust hounds of earth crazy.

D. Vss 15-16, The commercial world will fall apart.

E. Vss 17-19, All the container ships, merchants of the sea and sea commerce is affected.

 

VI. VS 20, WHEN BABYLON FALLS HEAVEN REJOICES

 

A. The people of Rev 19:1 are called upon to rejoice over Babylon’s fall.

B. “Hath avenged”–God brings on Babylon the righteous recompense for the slaughter of the saints.

 

VII. VSS 21-24, BABYLON IS UTTERLY DESTROYED

 

A. Vs 21, Christ, the Rock of Ages, will destroy the kingdoms of this world (Dan 2:44-45).  Babylon will never rise again.

B. Vs 22, The entertainment industry will be gone.

1. Craftsmen will be out of work.

2. This wicked world is judged.

C. Vs 23, There will be on energy crisis.  Lights will be put out.

1. Marriages will not be performed in the end.

2. There will be no thought of fun or romance.

D. Vs 24, the systems that were responsible for the martyrdom of millions will be destroyed.  Religious Babylon (chp 17) and commercial Babylon (chp 18) will be destroyed.

 

CONCLUSION: With the destruction of the world’s religious and economic systems the way is paved for the second coming of Christ and the establishment of the millennial kingdom.

 

For additional copies of the sermon CD's, please contact the church office:

Elliott Baptist Church
566 Nat G. Troutt Road
Elliott, Mississippi 38901
Phone: 662-226-4425
Pastors Email: cecilafayard@msn.com