Dover Assembly of God
Let's jump back into our study in the book of Revelation.
It may seem like it has dragged on for a while, but we’re getting closer to the end. And in the end, we win.
A couple of weeks ago we finished up chapter 17, which details the destruction of the false religion of the world.
During the tribulation, there will be a one-world religion that is comprised of every type of false cult and idol worship you can imagine. It will include all the new age material we see now, astrology, fortune telling etc.
This false religion will be in cooperation with the anti-Christ’s government. The government will protect them and build them up an in return the religion will support anything the government wants to do.
But in chapter 17, the anti-Christ will want all worship to go to him, so he sets out to destroy this false religion so there is no competition for worship.
What is happening is that God is using the anti-Christ to pour out his wrath on this false religion. Like he used Babylon to punish the Jews when they were exiled.
Now we come to chapter 18. My Bible and most that I have seen give the heading: ”The Fall of Babylon”.
Some feel this is the real city of Babylon, and some feel it’s a symbol of the world’s system.
Since chapter 17 talks about the Harlot being Babylon,
Revelation 17:5 NLT
We assume that this is a figurative name given to the rebellious world system.
Revelation 18:1 NLT
This vision happens some time after the previous vision of the religions of the world being judged.
And we have another angel, different from the one in Revelation 17.
Revelation 18:2 NLT
Since the church is gone and the Holy Spirit is not as present, that means demonic forces are free to roam without restraint.
Filthy buzzards or unclean birds have been images of the enemy.
Matthew 13:3-4 NLT
Matthew 13:18-19 NLT
God will also use those unclean birds to eat the carcasses of God’s enemies.
Revelation 19:17-18 NLT
Revelation 18:3 NLT
So here God is judging the commercial and economic systems.
The economic systems will have intoxicated the people with all the pleasures it could offer.
2 Timothy 3:4 NLT
Remember what the devil offered Jesus in the garden?
Matthew 4:8-9 NLT
The enemy will offer to give you anything you want if you will worship him.
He will tempt us with all the material wealth we can imagine if we just forget about God.
He is doing it during the tribulation and he’s doing it right now.
It happened to Israel. And it continues to happen today.
How often do we forget about God when everything seems to be going well and we have all we think we need?
But take it all away then we come back.
God is going to take it all away in ch 18 so people understand the consequences of forgetting about God.
Revelation 18:4 NLT
Yet another voice, but here he’s calling for those who still haven’t taken the mark.
Obviously, there are a few left that got saved during the tribulation, haven’t been martyred and haven’t taken the mark.
This is God’s last call to this last generation of believers to not be a part of this system.
It’s very tempting, but God says don’t join them.
If they do, they will be judged along with everyone else.
We probably have heard this verse:
2 Corinthians 6:17 NLT
This doesn’t mean we go and live in a commune, but it does mean that we don’t participate in the same sins of the world.
This voice from heaven is saying the same thing.
Don’t participate in what the world is doing.
We should ask ourselves, is my lifestyle (or how I live my life) any different than those who are not believers?
If we live and act exactly like the world, then we better check our walk.
2 Corinthians 13:5 NLT
Revelation 18:5-8 NLT
There is coming a time when God will have had enough.
It says the sins are pile as high as heaven.
Just like the towel of Babel, tried to reach heaven, and we know what happened then.
When it says, “Do to her”, it is not a command for the believers that God calls out, it is still the voice from heaven asking God to “Do to her” as in all the other verses.
Revelation 18:7 NLT
Does that sound like anyone we know? People who feel that they have a protection against any type of hardship or sorrow.
All those that we see today that seem to get away with so much wrongdoing and corruption, and nothing seems to be able to right any of the wrongs.
God is keeping score and will handle it.
Revelation 18:8 NLT
Whether that is a person or a corrupt system, even if we don’t see anything happening now, God knows and will judge accordingly.
We can’t live our lives worried and fearful over what is happening in our world.
Last Tuesday, we went to the Billy Graham prayer and worship night and the speaker said this:
The enemy comes to steal-steal what?
Your joy, your peace, your hope.
If we have a constant diet of nightly news and social media, the enemy will use those to steal your peace and joy.
God is in control no matter what we see happening around us, so look up and be joyful.
The Bible says . . . LET the peace of Christ rule in your lives!
It’s something we have to do.
Revelation 18:9-10 NLT
Here we see those in power, “rulers of the world” terrified in the destruction that happened in one single day.
Now their power and position have come to an end.
But they are only concerned for what happens to them, not anyone else.
They see the destruction of the economic system; but it hasn’t affected them personally yet.
But they know it’s inevitable.
Revelation 18:9 NLT
God hates those who profit from the hardships of others, and these rulers did just that.
Revelation 18:10 NLT
They stay away from the judgment; afraid they will get caught up in it.
They make no effort to help those immediately affected by it.
That great city. . .
For years that city has been able to defy God, kill his people and stave off any resistance.
I’m sure these guys were thinking this would last forever, but now they see it’s destruction in a single day.
If Babylon was so great and mighty, how much greater is God to destroy it in a single day!
Revelation 18:11-13 NLT
So first we had the rulers (politicians, if you will) crying out.
Now we have the leaders of commerce. These are the CEOs and owners of corporations who have built up huge surpluses of good to be sold.
All their money is tied up in supplies that nobody can buy. Apparently, banks have closed, and the current money is worthless.
Think 1929, or confederate currency. In a moment, it is worthless and unavailable.
Up to that time things were pretty good. Roaring 20’s the south before the civil war.
And here, we have the stock piling of goods to be sold seems to indicate a period of prosperity.
Look at what they have for sale.
Great quantities of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple dye, silk, scarlet cloth, every kind of perfumed wood, ivory goods, objects made of expensive wood, bronze, iron, and marble.
So the economy was booming.
If they can’t sell any of it, that means, all those mega rich people who would normally buy it now cannot.
Revelation 18:14 NLT
Why is it necessary to list those items along with all the others:
cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, and slaves--yes, she even traded in human lives.
To illustrate how prosperous the world was and that all of it was because of immoral activities.
Does that sound like today?
Revelation 18:15-17 NLT
Again, these were only concerned about themselves, not for those people who would buy them. No matter how much we seem to accumulate, it never seems to be enough.
This entire chapter is only about material things and their effects on people.
There is no mention of anything spiritual.
All these are external things, nothing about concern for the inner man.
Our world seems to be heading in that direction even now.
I want to close with this analogy. I think back to Hezekiah. He invited the enemy into his palace.
2 Kings 20:14 NLT
Babylon?
He let the enemy into his heart. (his heart was what he had amassed over the years)
2 Kings 20:15 NLT
Everything HE owned, all HIS treasures.
No credit given to God for his blessings, or even some humility.
Just like the merchants in Rev 18, he was concerned about what he had acquired, not the people in the kingdom.
Then he was rebuked by the prophet.
2 Kings 20:16-18 NLT
You would think that would cause him to repent, right?
2 Kings 20:19 NLT
He heard the message, said it was good, but it didn’t change him.
How often do we hear sermons or lessons, or read something in the bible and we like it, we agree with it, but we don’t do it?
Hezekiah didn’t care because it didn’t affect him personally.
2 Kings 20:19 NLT
When we hear these things that will happen during the tribulation, it’s easy to think the same thing. At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime-because I will be raptured.
But not all your relatives will be. Not all your friends will be.
You want them going thru this?
Having material things is not a sin. Having God bless you with money and wealth is not a sin.
As long as we hold those things loosely.
And we give God the glory, the thanks and the credit for all of it.
And use those things for God’s business and care about those who don’t yet know Christ.
Remember why we are studying this book?
Revelation 1:3 NLT
Either we believe this promise, or we don’t.
I want to obey what it says.
It says that the time is near. I believe the time is near.
You know what I want for my blessing (not that I can choose it, but).
I don’t want money or things. My family and friends all come to know Christ.
If that is what you want for your blessing, then I want us come up and claim that promise.