Babylon's Fall (Revelation 18)

Let’s now take a look at the fall of Babylon, the end of a corrupt world political and religious system, in Revelation 18.

Revelation 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

This important event, the close of a chapter of mixed religious and political corruption, is delegated to another angel.

Revelation 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

The outward trappings of this corrupt system are gone and what is at the heart of it lies exposed for all to see.

Revelation 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

Politicians and merchants of all nations have partaken of the corruption of this horrid system.

Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

“Come out of her” is a mandate to the church. Though we must live in this world, we do not partake of its corrupt politics and business practices.

Revelation 18:5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

The Holy Spirit has inspired the Holy Scriptures, which will teach any Christian who is submissive to God, what is right and wrong. In this manner, the Scriptures are self-correcting of all heresies and apostasies that may creep into our midst, bringing periodic Reformation to those who are willing.

Revelation 18:6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

The ills that this Babylonian system have brought upon the world will be visited upon her double.

Revelation 18:7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

Christians who are in tune with the Holy Spirit will instantly recognize and reject such bragging and narcissistic self-glorification.

Revelation 18:8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

Jesus tells us not to judge or condemn, yet in the same chapter not to give what is holy to those who would only trample it down, and to beware of false prophets (Matthew 7). So, we must not judge wrongly but we must judge or discern between right and wrong. Here we see that God will ultimately judge all evil.

Revelation 18:9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,

When this world’s self-destructive and oppressive system ultimately ends, those who have profited from it will be very sad.

Revelation 18:10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

They will be shocked that her destruction came about so suddenly and will stand back in case Babylon’s destruction also consumes them.

Revelation 18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

God reveals in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) that there is a righteous form of capitalism, from whom much is given, much is expected. Babylon is a system of idolatrous greed, capitalism without any love of neighbor.

Revelation 18:12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

Babylon is a very wealthy system for those who profit from it, but a very oppressive system, especially hard on those who love God.

Revelation 18:13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

Slaves? We must not believe for a second that the days of slavery are over. It still exists and it will return.

Revelation 18:14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

Babylon is an empty shell. Her fancy delicacies are gone.

Revelation 18:15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

This is the end of all unrighteous forms of capitalism, whereby men are made slaves, the environment is ruined and Christians are oppressed.

Revelation 18:16 And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

When men say that God has blessed their land with wealth, we ought to ask if that wealth has been gotten with Babylonian systems, on the backs of oppressed people, in other lands or at home, because all countries refuse to face their own sins.

Revelation 18:17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

When we thank God for the riches of our nation, let’s ask ourselves if we would willingly give it all up so that others may eat today, drink good water and have shelter.

Revelation 18:18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

When we brag that ours is the greatest nation, the best of this or that, are we actually admitting that we are a part of this corrupt Babylonian system?

Revelation 18:19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

Let's never forget that this system will end in one hour.

Revelation 18:20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

How many of us will rejoice when this world’s systems fall?

Revelation 18:21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

Using a rock as a demonstration, and with a large splash Babylon is gone.

Revelation 18:22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

The sights and sounds of unethical world entertainment, manufacturing and agricultural practices will be no more.

Revelation 18:23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

Mixing of merchandising and witchcraft will no longer deceive the nations.

Revelation 18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

The real cost of a corrupt religious, political, manufacturing, and merchandising system is the high cost of human lives and especially those who dare preach the Word of God.

Heaven is not against righteous capitalism, the buying and selling of goods done in love for God and neighbor. However, that form of self-destructive capitalism inherited from ancient Babylon is often an excuse for idolatrous greed, mercilessly devouring the poor and suppressing the messengers of Divine truth. That system is about to die.

Human government

Intro 

Where do we find good human leadership? Where do we find government that truly is in service of the people? 

Goal 

Throughout all human history governments have oppressed and enslaved their citizens. There is only one government that truly exists to serve. 

Sermon Plan 

We will look at the kind of leadership that God expects, conduct a search for a godly politician, and look at the manner and ultimate end of human governments. 

True greatness 

Since long before the days of the robber barons, success in business has been defined by those who have taken the most no matter the means. The name robber baron began in Germany, where for a thousand years feudal lords and bishops blocked traffic on the Rhine River and charged a passage fee, sometimes appropriating the whole cargo. In the USA, wealthy and unethical industrialists have been dubbed with the same pejorative title. Yet those who know the Gospel are not fooled by such claims to greatness. How can a man claim to be a business success when to make his millions he has walked all over others, destroyed businesses and taken people’s jobs? Since the first disciples wanted position (Mark 10:35-45) this worldly thinking has also infected the church. Jesus defined greatness not by position but by giving. 

Seeking a godly politician 

This election is no different than most for those who love God. We wonder if heavenly values will be represented by worldly leaders. This brings up a very important question for all Christians. Can we find a godly politician? Even two of Jesus’ first disciples, James and John, seemed to confuse positions of power with “lording it over” others and flaunting “authority” (Mark 10:35-45). Jesus clearly pointed out what makes for great leadership, self-sacrificial service. Can we find politicians who will give their lives as a ransom for all? Can we find politicians who will give up their pensions, health benefits, their millions, their oppressive authority over us and throwing their weight around with excessively burdensome legislation? If so, then we may have indeed found a truly godly politician. If you find such a person, please let everyone know. 

Manner of human government 

When Israel was given freedom from slavery, God also gave them judges as leaders. These men and women were generals in wartime and court justices in peacetime. But Israel rejected God’s style of government and demanded a human form of government like other nations (1 Samuel 8). Samuel gave them a warning from God about what human government would look like. The administration would engage in conscription for national service, grabbing up large parcels of land for federal use, enact a ten percent tax and the people would be in slavery to the government that they had chosen. Jesus warned his own disciples that human leadership had not changed (Mark 10:35-45) and that can also be said of human governments today. Our taxes are far more than that ten percent and we have all become slaves to burdensome regulations. 

Fall of human government 

When Jesus returns he will replace all human government with God’s. Many rich entrepreneurs will not be happy about it. Human government is symbolized in the book of Revelation by the ancient city of Babylon. Its system is pictured as a mixture of the public and private sectors. Merchants and shippers in the private sector are pictured as mourning over the fall of the Babylonian public sector. They had grown rich through immoral human government. Revelation pictures that government's sins as piled up to heaven (Revelation 18). It is a form of government that enslaves the people. It is a style of leadership that Jesus described in Mark 10:35-45, tyrannical and authoritarian. That is why the cross is such a victory for the poor and oppressed. Jesus showed us sacrificial leadership, the kind exhibited by the government of God. 

Outro 

Good human leadership is what Jesus expects. It has nothing to do with position, but service. Can we find government that truly is in service of the people? Human governments do not exist to serve, but to enslave. There is only one government that truly exists to serve. Thy kingdom come!