Beginning in chapter 17, John describes the Lamb's step-by -step victory

over the Beast and his kingdom:

1. Rev. 17 - religious system judged

2. Rev. 18 - political and economic system judged

3. Rev. 19 - military system judged

There are TWO BABYLONS in Rev. 17 & 18, but while they share the

same name and Satanic motivation, they are different entities:

17 - this Babylon destroyed at midpoint of Tribulation

- this Babylon destroyed by men who hate her

- John "wondered" at this Babylon (ie: he never saw it before)

- this destruction never mentioned in other Bible prophecies

- this Babylon called Great Whore, woman, mother of Harlots

- this Babylon makes herself rich

18 - this Babylon destroyed at end of Tribulation

- this Babylon destroyed by God's judgment; men mourn over it

- John recognized this Babylon as God's ancient opponent

- this destruction prophesied in the O.T. (Isaiah 13:1,6,19)

- this Babylon is described as a queen

- this Babylon makes the merchants of earth rich

Religious Babylon (ch.17) is identified with a city that reigned in John's

day (in v.18, "reigneth" is present tense) - ROME!

Rome had "grown out of" the Babylonian system (ie: Daniel 2)

Rome is the only city consistently identified with "seven hills"

this woman is the "mot her of harlots" (ie: birthed all false religions)

The key to Babylonian worship is the exaltation of the individual "to become like

god" (the word "Bab-el" means "the gate of God" - see Gen. 11:1-9). This

demonic system motivated every ancient false religion and is behind each

modern New Age cult that opposes the true worship of God. The city and

empire of Babylon was founded by Nimrod, the "mighty hunter" (ie: mighty

rebel, mighty in sin) according to Genesis 10:8-10. The name Nimrod became a

proverb for a great apostate or evil rebel against God. Nimrod had a wife

named Semiramis, according to ancient tradition. Their son, Tammuz, was

killed. The occult tradition claims his mother prayed for forty days and he was

revived. This story of Semiramis and Tammuz was known to the Greeks as

Aphrodite and Eros, to the Romans as Venus and Cupid, and to the Egyptians

as Isis and Osiris. The Assyrians called her Ishtar and her son Tammuz but the

Phoenicians, who inhabited Palestine, called her Astarte and her son Baal. This

primeval Babylonian myth traveled to Assyria, Egypt, Greece and Rome. It

became the source of many of the occult mystery religions of the ancient

world. The worship of Astarte involved offering incense and weeping for forty

days until they celebrated her son's resurrection by exchanging Astarte eggs.

This mysterious Babylonian cult was a continual temptation and snare for the

Children of Israel. The prophet Jeremiah confronted the idol worshippers in

Israel who were still burning incense to Astarte and offering a host, a wafer of

bread, to honor "the queen of heaven." (Jer. 7:9,18; 44:15-19) Later, the

prophet Ezekiel was taken by God into the secret chamber of the Temple to

observe the occult worship of the pagan mother Astarte and the child. "Then he

brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD'S house which [was] toward the

north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz." (Eze. 8:14)

harlot riding beast with 7 heads (7 mountains - v.9, also 7 kingdoms -

v.10); five kingdoms fallen (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia,

Greece had already dominated Israel), one is (Rome a world power in

John's day), the other is not yet come (future worldwide empire - the

beast's 10 horns, or 10 kingdoms, are future to John - v.12)

because the Beast's nature will change drastically in the middle of the

Tribulation after his deadly wound is healed (Rev. 13:3, 17:8), he can be

said to be "of the seven" (ruler of revived Roman empire) and "the eighth"

(satanically -possessed ruler during last 3.5 years)

when John saw the apostasy of the false church after the Rapture, he

"marveled" (Rev. 17:6) - his experience in the first-century church was of

a small, powerless group under continual persecution by the Roman

Empire, but now he sees a rich, powerful and apostate church killing

tribulation saints who reject her demonic doctrines!

the only people present-day ecumenical groups oppose are those believing

And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven,

having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 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. 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. 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. 5 For her sins have reached unto

heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 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. 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. 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.

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, 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. 11 And the

merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man

buyeth their merchandise any more: 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, 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. 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. 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, 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! 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, 18 And cried when they saw the

smoke of her burning, saying, What [city is] like unto this great city! 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. 20 Rejoice over her, [thou] heaven, and [ye] holy

apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. 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. 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; 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. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of

saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Babylon - not only an ancient city and a powerful empire, but

also the symbol of mankind's rebellion against God

in Revelation 18, it represents the Beast's world system,

particularly its economic and political aspects

Where will the Antichrist's capital be?

- possible: Rome, Jerusalem, Babylon, UN headquarters

- many scholars equate "Babylon" in ch. 18 with "Rome,"

particularly since the Harlot and the Beast cooperate

during the first 3.5 years of the Tribulation

- Peter used "Babylon" as a code word for "Rome" in 1

Peter 5:13, and John's readers would definitely think of

the Roman Empire's headquarters!

chapter 18 of Revelation includes four voices:

- announcement of Babylon's destruction earlier in 14:8

- foreshadowed by destruction of ancient Babylon,

prophesied in Jeremiah 51-52)

- 18:2 ("is fallen, is fallen") and 18:6 ("double unto her

double") indicate dual destruction (chapters 17 & 18)

- 18:2 - birds also a type of Satan in Matthew 13:31-32

- "drunk ... fornication" - tempting world through LUSTS

- message parallels Jeremiah 51:6, 51:45 - GET OUT!

- God's people have to separate themselves from the

worldly, anti-God, Babylonian system in every age!

- sins of Babylon: idolatry, pride, worship of pleasure

- kings (v.9) and merchants (v.11) mourn the destruction

of Political Babylon (government, business intertwined)

- this section is an exact description of trade as it existed

in ancient Rome (v.13 - one third of Rome's population

were slaves, as many as 10,000 auctioned in one day!)

- last day citizens will be "enslaved" to the economic

system of the Beast in a literal sense!

- this destruction will be swift ("one hour" - v. 10, 17);

Babylon will drop out of sight like a millstone (v. 21)

- the same things that cause mourning on the earth cause

rejoicing in Heaven (and vice versa) - WE NEED TO

LOOK AT THINGS FROM GOD'S POINT OF VIEW!

- compare 18:24 with 17:6 - Satan has used both politics

(economics) and religion to persecute God's people, but

God will avenge the blood of His saints!

- note the refrain "no more!" (see also Rev. 21:4)

at this point, the Antichrist's Religious, Political and Economic

systems have been destroyed; all that remains is for Christ to

come from Heaven and personally defeat the Beast and his

armies (Military system) in chapter 19

Raymond Woodward - Lead Pastor
Capital Community Church
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Canada

He is a sought-after Bible Teacher, and has ministered at numerous meetings and conferences throughout the United States, Canada and abroad. Raymond brings to Capital Community Church years of experience in administration, teaching, music and pastoral ministry.

Web: www.raymondwoodward.com