Revelation Part 4 Lesson 5 Babylon in Revelation

Revelation Part 4 Lesson 5

Babylon in Revelation • • • Is Babylon a literal city? Rev. 17: 3 -5, 18 “The woman. . is the great city” 1 st mention: Rev. 14: 8 “fallen, fallen” Describe Babylon: Immoral Anti-God Lustful, harlot, blasphemous Connected with the dragon Powerful, world power in the middle east Rev. 16: 19 7 th bowl of wrath is poured out on her Timeline: Rev. 17 -18 7 th bowl

Babylon and the beast • Anti-Christ arises from among 10 kings • Babylon/prostitute/woman rides ON the beast • Babylon is carried by what the beast does as the world ruler • Rev. 17: 18 She reigns OVER the kings of the earth • Beast is demonic • Rev. 18: 2 Babylon is filled with demonic activity • Rev. 18: 7 Torment and mourning are her destiny • Rev. 18: 7 Proud • Rev. 18: 8 She will be burned up with fire • Babylon is the great city of the beast’s kingdom

Babylon and the beast • • Rev. 18: 24 She hates the saints, prophets, apostles Rev. 18: 20 Judged by God, who is strong Rev. 18: 23 She is a deceiver “sorcery”: pharmakeia – magic, the use of medicine, drugs or spells, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it: the deception and seductions of idolatry • Only 2 occurrences in Scripture: Gal. 5: 19 -20 and Rev. 18 • The deeds of the flesh are evident, ……. sorcery • Mostly connected with worldly riches: pearls, fine linen, spices, gold, silver, precious stones……

Babylon’s Judgment • Why? • Drunk with the blood of the saints and the witnesses of Jesus Rev. 17: 6 • She is against the Lamb Rev. 17: 14 • She is demonic therefore Anti-God Rev. 18: 2 • She is immoral Rev. 18: 3 • How? • Rev. 17: 16 Beast and kings will hate her and make her desolate, naked, eat her flesh and burn her • Rev. 18: 5 God remembers her iniquities • Rev. 18: 8 -10, 21 With plagues of pestilence, mourning, famine, fire, abandonment and violence

Timeline • 6 th Bowl: Kings of the earth gather for war against God Rev. 16: 14 -16 • 7 th Bowl: The beast and 10 kings go against Babylon Rev. 16: 17 through Rev. 17 and 18 • Beast says he is God and the world worships him Mark 13: 14 • God begins pouring out His wrath on the beast’s kingdom and the beast turns against Babylon • Revelation 17 and 18 says Babylon’s fall takes place in one hour, one day (17: 12; 18: 17)

Jerusalem • Is Jerusalem a literal city? • Rev. 11: 2 The holy city will be tread under foot for 42 months • Rev. 11: 8 Two witnesses are killed inside it • Rev. 11: 8 Jesus was crucified in it • Rev. 11: 13 One tenth of the city fell in an earthquake • The beast comes to his ultimate power INSIDE this city • Rev. 11: 7 He KILLS the 2 witnesses • He takes his seat in the temple and declares himself to be God

Jerusalem • There will be nothing holy about Jerusalem during the last 3 ½ years • Timeline: End of the 6 th trumpet, beginning of the 7 th • Rev. 14: 20 “Outside the city” The wine press of God’s wrath was trodden outside the city – blood • Rev. 16: 19 The great city was split into three parts • Rev. 20: 9 Beloved city – AFTER the 1, 000 years when Satan will deceive the nations and bring them against Jerusalem • Rev. 21 -22 NEW Jerusalem – God’s dwelling place • Jerusalem = Bride Babylon = Prostitute

Application • How does all of this pertain to you? • Why is it important that you know about Babylon and Jerusalem and that they are LITERAL cities? • What are YOU to do with all of this? • Fear? • Become a recluse? • Warn others? • Make everything fit into YOUR timeline? • “Let the reader understand……” • Remember WHO your God is • By faith, by trust, by walking daily in His presence we fulfill HIS purpose in us, whatever that may be