Revelation 17 1 18 Babylon the Beast Revelation

Revelation 17: 1 -18 Babylon & the Beast

Revelation 17: 1 -18 Babylon & the Beast • Who is the woman? (17: 1 -7, cf. 14: 8; 16: 19) – The kings of the earth have consorted with her in idolatry – she is called “the great harlot. ” (17: 1 -2) – Her clothing suggests royalty and wealth. (17: 4) – Her forehead is labeled “Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth” – She is drunk with the blood of the saints. (17: 6) – She sits upon many waters which represent human societies (cf. 17: 15) – She is supported by the beast but also controlling it. – She is a “great city” that reigns over kings (17: 18) • She is the CITY OF ROME!

Revelation 17: 1 -18 Babylon & the Beast • Who is the Scarlet Beast? (17: 3, 8 -17) – There are many similarities to the Sea Beast of Revelation 13, which is the Roman Empire. Sea Beast/Chapter 13 Scarlet Beast/Chapter 17 • Out of sea (1) • 7 heads, 10 horns (1) • Name of blasphemy (1) • Warred with saints (7) • Wounded, healed (3) • World marveled (3) • Out of the abyss (8) • 7 heads, 10 horns (3) • Names of blasphemy (3) • Makes war with Lamb (14) • Was, is not, yet is (8) • Earth shall marvel (8)

Revelation 17: 1 -18 Babylon & the Beast • Who is the Scarlet Beast? (17: 3, 8 -17) – There are many similarities to the Sea Beast of Revelation 13, which is the Roman Empire. – The 7 heads are 7 mountains and 7 kings. • Rome is famously known as “the City of 7 Hills” • Five of the seven kings had fallen, one is to come. – The 10 horns are 10 kings to come who rule briefly with the beast • They make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb overcomes them (17: 14) • Eventually they turn on the harlot, “make her desolate and burn her with fire” (17: 12 -13, 16 -17)

Revelation 18: 1 -24 The Fall of Babylon • John sees an angel descend from heaven with great authority, illuminating the earth (18: 1) • The angel declares that Babylon is Fallen. . – She is a dwelling place of demons, etc. (18: 2) – Nations, kings & merchants have defiled themselves consorting with her (18: 3) • God’s people are called to come out from her “lest you share in her sins” (18: 4; 1 Tim. 5: 22) • God’s judgment upon her is full, just and certain (18: 5 -8) – She glorified herself (18: 7, see Isaiah 47: 8) – The promise that judgment will come in “one day” and “one hour” reflects its certainty, not timeframe (18: 8, 10, 17, 19; Isaiah 9: 14; 10: 17)

Revelation 18: 9 -20 Reactions to the Fall of Babylon • The kings of the earth will weep -10 cf. 6: 15; 16: 14; 17: 1 -2, 18) (18: 9 – “In one hour your judgment has come” (18: 10) • The merchants of the earth will mourn (18: 11 -16) – “In one hour such great riches come to nothing” (18: 17) • The shipmasters wail (18: 17 -19) – “In one hour she is made desolate” (18: 19) • Heaven is told to rejoice! (18: 20) What lessons can we take from this? What should our reaction be to the fall of evil institutions, etc. ?

Revelation 18: 21 -24 The Fullness of the Fall of Babylon • Like a millstone cast into the sea (18: 21) • Life is taken away (18: 22 -23 a) • The judgment is justified (18: 23 b-24) – because she deceived the nations – because she spilled the blood of prophets and saints