REVELATION

Chapter 18

"Commercial Babylon"

INTRODUCTION:

1. Chapter 17 deals with the collapse of the world church headed by the harlot who rides the back of the beast.

2. Chapter 18 deals with the demise of commercial Babylon which enables the kings of the earth to "wax rich."

            3. They are two separate events.

I. THE DESTINY OF BABYLON (vs.1-8)

            A. The Certainty of Judgment

1. Again, as in 14:8, there is a double emphasis placed on the fact of her judgment--"is fallen, is fallen."

2. Although her doom is yet future the verbs in Greek present it as already happened.

3. It appears that the city of Babylon will be rebuilt and become the center of the world's commerce.

a. It was never fully destroyed. (Contra. Jer. 50:39,40; 51:26,61-64; Isa. 13:19-22; 14:21-23)

                                    b. Historical events show it was never completely destroyed.

                                                1) Captured by Cyrus - 541 B.C. (Dan. 5)

                                                2) Taken by Darius Hystaspis - 516 B.C.

                                                3) Its temple plundered by Xerxes - 478 B.C.

4) Alexander the Great made plans to rebuild its temple in 331 B.C.

                                                5) Jews still resided there in 60 A.D.

                                                6) Peter writes his first epistle from there. (I Pet. 5:13)

7) In the middle of the 5th century A.D. there were three Jewish universities there.

8) In the last year of the 5th century the Babylonian Talmud was issued.

9) In 917 A.D. Ibu Hankel mentions it as an insignificant village, but still existing.

10) In 1100 A.D. it had become a town of some importance known as the "Two Mosques."

                                                11) Later, Two Mosques was renamed Hillah, and held about                                     10,000 people in 1898 A.D.

4. The final destruction of Babylon as a city and commercial center awaits the last days of the tribulation. (Isa. 13:9; Jer. 51:61-64)

            B. The Confinement of Evil Spirits (v.2)

                        1. The latter part of v. 2 goes beyond the tribulation and into the millennium.

2. Following the complete ruin of commercial Babylon and the final judgments of God on the earth, all fallen, wicked spirits will be incarcerated.

3. The place beneath where the city of Babylon was once situated will become the prison house of demons. (cf. Isa. 34:13-15; Isa. 24:21-23)

            C. The Cause of Her Demise (vs.3,5,23,24)

1. Her pollution - they worship the idol of commerce and big business. "Man uses business as the biggest excuse for having no time for God." (McGee)

                        2. Her persecution (Isa. 47:6)

                        3. Her pride (Isa 47:7)

                        4. Her pleasures (Isa. 47:8)

                        5. Her powers - occult powers (Isa. 47:9)

                        6. Her presumption (Isa. 47:10)

                        7. Her profligacy (Isa. 47:15)

a) "Her sins have reached unto heaven" (Rev. 18:5) - lit. "glued or welded together"

                                    b) Her sins were "piled one on another as bricks in a building."

                                    c) "Unto heaven" - an allusion to the tower of Babel

d) "Babel's tower of stones did not reach to heaven, but her sins did." (Strauss)

            D. The Cup of Her Reward (vs.6-7a,8)

                        1. The law of retribution will be applied to Babylon.

2. Her cup is to be filled with a double portion of judgment because of the grossness of her sins.

3. "There is no mercy for the utter apostasy found in Babylon in all her phases of operation." (Walvoord)

            E. The Calling of the Saints (v.4)

1. Believers of the period are to have nothing to do with commercial Babylon and her wicked ways.

2. They are called to separate from the evil system (by not receiving the mark of the beast). Cf. Isa. 52:11; Jer. 50:8; 51:6,9,45

                        3. The saints' hope was not to be economic stability; they were to trust in the             LORD (Jer. 51:50).

II. THE DISTRESS OF BABYLON (vs.9-19)

            A. The Merchants' Complaint (vs.9-11)

1. The commercial system of Babylon has provided great wealth to the world's merchants ("kings of the earth").

                                    a. They lived in "insolent luxury" because of her.

b. Their wealth turns them from the True God to the gods of gold and silver. (cf. Dan. 5:22,23)

c. The power and influence of Babylon will extend to all nations; and when the luxury and riches afforded by her is cut off, their source of gain will be cut off.

                        2. The commercial Babylon will be destroyed suddenly. (v.10)

a. "In one hour" - even today, the disintegration of the world's market is a concern. Any adverse effect in the politics of the world causes an immediate downturn.

b. Cf. the fall of the kingdom of Babylon ruled by Nabodnidus and Belshazzar. (Dan. 5:30)

                        3. The merchants "weep and mourn" over her destruction (vs. 10,11)

a. "Alas, alas" is better translated "woe, woe" because it is more emphatic. (v.10)

                                    b. "Weep" denotes a vocal lamentation. (v.11)

                                    c. "Mourn" means to beat the breast.

4. Due to the complete collapse of the world's commerce, no one is able to purchase their merchandise.

            B. The Merchants' Catalog (vs.12-14)

1. Precious stones, pearls, gold, silver which constitute the wealth of nations (v.12)

                        2. Fine fabrics to clothe the wealthy (v.12)

                        3. Items used for furnishings (v.12)

                        4. Cosmetics (v.13)

                        5. Delicate food items (v.13)

                        6. Meats of animals (v.13)

                        7. Sources of transportation (v.13)

                        8. Slaves - bodies that are sold like animals (v.13)

9. Souls of men - those who have sold themselves for the accumulation of wealth (v.13)

            C. The Merchants' Collapse (vs.15-19)

                        1. Babylon's ruin means bankruptcy to the world's ungodly, wealthy merchants.

                        2. They "stand afar" off for fear of the judgment upon their benefactor. (v.15)

                        3. All that carry their merchandise also come to nothing. (v.17)

                        4. Their mourning is not for the city, but for the loss of their wealth. (vs.18,19)

III. THE DOOM OF BABYLON (vs.20-24)

            A. The Jubilation of Heaven

                        1. The scene shifts to heaven.

2. The passage records the reaction of those in heaven to the final and complete annihilation of Babylon.

                        3. The three classes of those who rejoice over the fall of Babylon:

                                    a. The saints - because they have prayed for it

                                    b. The apostles - of the N.T. because they predicted it

                                    c. The prophets - of the O.T. because they also predicted it

            B. The Judgment of the City (v.21)

                        1. The casting of the millstone into the sea speaks of:

                                    a. The suddenness of Babylon's downfall

                                    b. The violent overthrow of the city and its system (cf. Jer. 51:61-64)

                        2. Babylon "shall be found no more at all" (Jer. 51:62)

            C. The Joylessness of the Circumstances (vs.22-24)

                        1. No music

                        2. No manufacturing

                        3. No merriment

                        4. No milling

                        5. No marrying All is lost!!! The Tribulation Period is over -- Christ is coming!!