The Revelation of Jesus Christ | The Fall of Babylon – Revelation 18:1-24
by Daniel Burton
Read Revelation 18:1-24
Download Discussions Guide to go through with a friend
Wealth, success, luxury, and pleasure are no substitute for the Sovereign King
Revelation 17 shows us how the world arrives at its final place of judgment. The temptation of the prostitute allured the rulers of the world to their ultimate demise. In chapter 18, as the vision John sees continues to unravel, the final judgment comes from the improprieties of those who trading long-standing life for immediate gratification. This chapter breaks down into three dirges, details the extent of the suffering and punishment of the city of Babylon. This city represents the opulence and flash of fleshly pursuit and selfish ambition. It mocked the presence and existence of God, setting itself up as the goal that everyone should aspire to be. Yet, Revelation 18 displays clearly that, for all their wealth, power, influence, and success, they too will fall apart from the grace of Jesus Christ.
Babylon is Fallen (Revelation 18:1-3)
The first angel that appears comes with “great authority” clearly demonstrating the importance and significance of the event. The angels declares that Babylon is fallen. Despite the fullness of this event being a future event, the victory is declared through the sovereign God that stands outside of time. There is nothing else that Babylon can do to rescue themselves and their chances have run out. Only demonic spirits and those who have rejected the Lordship of Jesus Christ remain in Babylon. From the spiritual to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field, nothing but the remains of demonic spiritual decay remain.
This defeat comes from the flirtatious relation with the prostitute from the previous chapter. Previously, they used her for pleasure as she distracted and enticed the people from the one true God, They drank from the wine of her enticement until she could give no more then they dispensed with her only to come face to face with the consequence. In rejecting God the true High King, for the pursuit of pleasure and gain, they sought to make themselves kings and gods. Yet, God cannot be dethroned as the creator of heaven and earth. God judges the immorality and decay of Babylon and rules over it. Apart from the grace of Jesus Christ, they cannot stand and, thus, Babylon is fallen.
A Once Great City Leveled (Revelation 18:9-20)
For any believer still remaining in Babylon, now is the time to leave. The angel comes with the warning that all who remain in the city will face the consequences. Yet, despite this warning, it seems that all who would leave have already done so. Now, Babylon remains a shell of its former presence. Everything the city once clung to as its source of worthy and value now had been stripped away from them. The items that are specifically mentioned through this section describe a scenario of expansive monetary gain, wealth, and influence. Every spice, every trader, every king all established their blessing through the wicked profit of Babylon. While they held arrogantly to what they had achieved as gods unto themselves, God took from them everything their heart desired. God cannot be dethroned nor will God share the authority. Furthermore, the speed with which they are dethroned runs at an incredible pace. They spent their lifetime pursuing wealth and self sufficiency only to have God strip every ounce of their being from their hands within the span of an hour. Everything crumbled as unsustainable when compared to the richness and glory of God.
The city of Babylon pursued the temporary blessings that the world had to offer, uniting with the world and rejecting Christ. Furthermore, the believer is encouraged to rejoice over the destruction of evil. At some point, the justice of God will be poured out on the evil of the world. Until that moment, we should seeks to show love and grace to those who reject God. Yet, the punishment of sin is a good thing. Justice must prevail for God to be fair and evil must be punished. To leave it unpunished would defile the new heaven and new earth that God sets apart for His people. For Babylon to relentlessly seek to destroy the Christian, the ultimate judgment comes from the God who reigns in righteousness and perfection from above.
Millstone To The Sea (Revelation 18:20-24)
The final, great angel took a millstone and cast it into the sea. Where the previous section lamented the loss of city and its pleasure, this brief section demonstrates the finality of the judgment. A millstone would have no chance of returning to the surface, but instead would sink to the bottom. For Babylon, this is precisely the eternal fate. Even the things that God intended to bring beauty and blessing would no longer be present in Babylon. Music. Craft. Light. Marriage. All these will no longer be enjoyed by the city as they are the ones who drew these blessings out from how God intended them to be.
As God created the heavens and earth, He sought to be a blessing to mankind. From the beginning in the Garden of Eden, mankind existed in harmony experiencing the blessing of creation. Sin’s presence corrupted the blessing of God through using the blessings beyond how God intended them. In short, rebellion against a sovereign and loving God. Now, Babylon pays the full price for their rebellion. By misusing the blessings of God, they became cut off from them, choosing their ways over the ways of God. When we submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, we allow Him to guide and direct every aspect of our life, enjoying the fullness of life without sin and rebellion, returning to the intended purpose of the Garden of Eden.
Discussions Questions
How quickly does Babylon fall? What aspects fail during their final days? What does this tell us about the power of God?
Often, we see wicked people prosper and feel that God is unfair. Revelation 18 demonstrates that God remembers the wickedness of those who stand again Him. How does God’s remembering their sins compare with God’s remembering ours?
In verse 4, the angel says “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sin, lest you share in her plagues.” What area of your life do you need to come out of Babylon?
Why will wealth and personal gain ultimately fail when compared with Jesus Christ?
Do you have issues in submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ? Why do we want things on our terms rather than on God’s terms? How does the outcome of obedience to God different from acting as our own God?
