Don't be Duped by Babylon
Revelation • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Please turn to Revelation chapter 17. Chapter 17. We are almost there.
and this chapter brings up the topic and symbol of Babylon.
For my wife Jamie and I, one of the highlights of our dating life was the night we got engaged.
it was the summer of 2006. We had one more year to go in school.
and I was doing an internship in Michigan, and she was in Fort Wayne.
I arranged to surprise her—with her roommate, at the time.
I showed up at her door (she didn’t know I was coming) and she saw me. and I said where comfortable clothing, we are going on an adventure.
and so we took off.
we drove about an hour to the Wabash Indiana area, and there we met a guy we never knew—a pilot. not just any pilot.
he takes people on hot air balloon rides.
I had found this guy online—keep in mind this was 2006. and I had googled hot air balloon rides. found a # called it. talked to someone. paid with credit card. I had no idea if it was truly legit.
and he had us help set it up—
and we got in the basket, and before we knew it, we were flying…the three of us—Jamie, myself, and our pilot.
and it was amazing. He took us up about 1000 ft....1500 ft....
unforgettable night. (some photos)
now, it was interesting b/c landing a hot air balloon is very interesting…he slowly let us down. you really can’t steer it..you go along with the wind, and his partner was in a car following us with walkie-talkies.
and as we are getting closer to land—he is looking for a good spot (trying not just go in a corn field and destroy some crops), and as we are going over a forest, getting closer, he says “brace yourself” “I’m going to allow our basket to scrape the top of the trees here to slow us down so we can land. so we did.
and before we knew it, the basket landed.
and we were safe.
later, that night, when we got back to Berne, I got down on one knee, and proposed to Jamie—she said “yes” we were engaged. and began the journey of planning a wedding about a year later.
if you are engaged, you know, that you are so excited. can’t wait to get married, so you can be together, and do life together.
Nancy Guthrie, author of Blessed, says “Actually, if you are in Christ, you are the person who is engaged to be married. You are preparing for a wedding. Perhaps you’ve never thought of yourself and your relationship to Christ in this way. But clearly the Bible intends for us to view it that way. From the very beginning of the Bible, God speaks of his relationship with his people in terms of a marriage. Since the very beginning in Eden, when God presented a bride, Eve, to his son, Adam, and everything went terribly wrong with this bride and groom, God has been at work to present a bride to his Son, Jesus. It has been a very long engagement. But the wedding day is coming. In light of this coming wedding day, the questions we need to consider are these: Are we preparing ourselves for it? Are we remaining faithful to our bridegroom as we wait for him to come for us?”
Guthrie, N. (2022). Blessed: Experiencing the Promise of the Book of Revelation (p. 188). Crossway.
there are a lot of temptations out there.
a lot of things that try to seduce us away from our relationship with Jesus.
and chapter 17 shows us one big temptation, that all of us face...
Remember, the Apostle John is getting a vision from God to encourage him and the early church, to keep following Jesus. Don’t give into Satan or the world.
Revelation 17:1–5 (NIV)
1 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls (from ch.16) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters.
2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”
3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.
4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.
5 The name written on her forehead was a mystery: babylon the great the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth.
6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.
7 Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.
before we go there…let’s pause.
so here is the vision that John gets — it’s weird.
a picture of a woman, on a beast with 7 heads and 10 horns. Revelation is all about using overwhelming images and symbols to communicate God’s truth.
so who is this woman—it is Babylon the Great.
she is depicted as a prostitute.
she is depicted as luxurious, attractive.
and she is depicted as riding on a scarlet beast. we learned about the beast in chapter 13—he belongs to the Dragon—Satan—is some type of political and powerful leader or leadership system, all backed by Satan.
What is Babylon? it is more than just a city....more than just an empire that existed.
Babylon is a symbol.
Babylon here stands :
—city of man, humanity intent on living apart from God
Babylon actually began back in Genesis.
Genesis 11—if you know the story of the tower of Babel.
mankind came together to build a tower—into the heavens—in order to make a name for themselves. they didn’t want to glorify God.
they wanted to elevate themselves…and so they did...
Babel or Babylon represents pride…pride in man, pride in ourselves, pride in a life that can life apart from God.
self-glorification rather than glorying God.
In the book of Daniel, Babylon is the dominant Empire, and Shadrach, Meshach, and ABednego and Daniel have to learn how to live there as believers in God. and King Nebuchadnezzar boasts that this kingdom he has built by his mighty power and his glory?” that spirit of Babylon still lives.
Scripture uses other language to describe Babylon—the “world.” do not love the world.
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.
16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
and Babylon is attractive…calling to John and the early church, calling to us— “follow me. Love me.” “Don’t love Christ…what will Christ do for you. You will find real pleasure in me.”
I entitled my message “Don’t be duped.” “don’t be duped by Babylon...”
“Don’t be duped by the world...”
The world looks attractive, it seduces us…it preaches its own gospel message to us...
and says “If you follow me…you will really be happy.”
“If you follow me…you will have all you ever wanted.”
even John seems duped a little bit—he is marveling, he is astonished—and the angel has to snap him out of it— “don’t be duped.”
Think of our American culture—what is the message, what is the “gospel” that our culture preaches to us all the time—that its own good news.
“It’s all about you.” “you do you.” “you find, you discover, you search for your own happiness—and only YOU can define it.” we are very individualistic—and we look inward for it. (that is the message of most Disney movies today). The problem with this—is our hearts, what we want can be pretty fickle. what i want today could change tomorrow. and Scripture says our hearts are deceitful. One of our staff said there is a Beatles song called “I, Me ,Mine...” Frank Sinatra said, “I did it my way.” each of us is our own final authority… “who am I to judge someone else.”
what else? that if you are really going to be happy—the happiest people are people who have _______ money, fame, success (career), influence, power, toys. Money, sex, and power. those things in and of themselves are created by God for the right context—but if it’s all driven by me....it’s a problem. this me-ism influences our money—our sexuality—I will do what makes me happy… “I am no longer attracted to my spouse—I am attracted to that person…God wouldn’t want me to be unhappy…so I will pursue that person...” No, no no.. don’t buy into that lie. that is the world.
another—we are very short term based..instant gratification...
and this message is seductive—it is not so much preached…but we see it on the Netflix shows we binge watch, on the ads on YouTube, on social media—on what is portrayed…on the news we get and what that particular network values...
but Revelation is all about pulling back the curtain—showing us what is really going on.
and its says don’t be duped (comes from the Greek Word dupos…) just kidding...
Why are we not to be duped.
this chapter is an awakening for John and the early church and for us today...
look closely...
Reason #1....
Because the world is like an addiction—it’s like wine (vs. 2), it’s like a prostitute (vs. 1).
it promises much but fails to deliver...
it is like a prostitute, promising pleasure, but is not a real relationship, it’s not real commitment.
it’s like wine—tasting good, but too much, and it takes over and can consume your life.
the thing about addiction is what used to give you a high, the more you use it, you need more of it—just to get the high. It has diminishing returns. never quite leaving satisfied.
those of you who have faced addiction or know someone—knows how it can consume a life, control you, enslave you before you know—you will do anything for it, sacrificing money, relationships, maybe even your own life.
such is the same with the world.
are you having a love affair with the world? or are you committed to Jesus, your fiance?
because the world can hate and persecute followers of Jesus (vs. 6)
6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.
and this is because the world’s values are often in direct contradiction to what our loving God values and wants.
the world’s focus on self is very different than what Jesus said, that if you will follow me you must die to yourself. that’s what Bay Forrest preached a couple weeks ago—put it on our church sign—come and die with us. we die to ourselves, and deny ourselves—and follow Jesus.
the world says—discover yourself, affirm what’s in here—that’s who you are.
Jesus says, “No...” you often have to die to those things in your heart, deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.”
and that can feel horrible at times, let’s be honest. the world’s message that you must follow your heart to be happy is so seductive—but don’t trust the world—don’t trust your heart.
it’s constantly changing
it is a mixture of good and sinful motivations...
Jesus knows our heart better than we do—I need to trust that He, the Creator of my Heart—knows what will truly bring me joy.
and yet Jesus promises if you lose your life for me…you will gain it.
and he warns us—if you gain the world, you will lose and forfeit your very self.
if you truly live like someone who is dying for Jesus—you will stick out.
you will spend money different than the average money. money is not about you—it’s ultimately about God and his kingdom—it belongs to him!
You will think about and use your sexuality differently than the world. sex is not about self or what I want—it’s about giving—and to your spouse—that is the only expression of sex that God defines—not because he is trying to hurt but he knows if we just sleep around—it will devastate—we are to wait for the holy covenant of marriage—because God cares so much about us.
you will approach God and religion differently. God isn’t someone that we can earn his good graces and be legalistic or control or about the rules—it’s about his radical grace—I need it…and he has poured it our on me, and now I belong to Him.
you live like this—you will face opposition, persecution
but if you live like this—you will get Jesus…your fiance…your bridegroom…the one who spent himself on your behalf…the one who is life Himself, who is the way, who is truth…who have come that we may have it to the full...
are you being duped by the world? or are you staying faithful to Jesus—your fiance...
The 3rd reason why you shouldn’t be duped…is because the world is backed by Satan. by the beast)
verse 3 — Revelation 17:3
3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.
the world may look innocent and seductive, but it is supported by Satan. It’s message and values are Satanic,
man’s kingdom is Satan’s kingdom. we need discernment to see this.
look at verse 8—and following as God explains through an angel to John what is going on:
Revelation 17:8–14 (NIV)
8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come. (that language of once was, now is not, and yet will come—is the same language used to describe Jesus the Lamb—Satan’s beast is the master deceiver—imitating Jesus—we saw that in chapter 13))
9 “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. (this would have reminded John and the early church of Rome—built on 7 hills) Rome was so seductive with its promise of power and money and success—if you just get in line)
10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. (these 7 kings may refer to Roman Emperors—or just the # 7—man in its attempts to have fullness of power)
11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
12 “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.
13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.
14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
many would love for me to identify who are these 7 kinds. who are these 10 kings. and we can give a very confident “we don’t know!”
and this reminds us that this vision isn’t just about Rome, but all human kingdoms throughout history can be applied to this passage. there have been many human kingdoms who have operated without God, declared their own greatness...we see that these kings, these human
and we see these kingdoms are constantly changing…not stable..
and they are backed ultimately by the beast, the counterfeit Christ. but the woman can’t see it, human kingdoms can’t see it!
if you keep reading—look at what Satan’s beast does…
15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.
16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
17 For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God’s words are fulfilled.
18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”
the day is coming when the beast will turn on the woman.
if you make your bed with the world, ultimately Satan will turn on you; you play with fire, you will get burned.
don’t be duped—stay faithful to your fiance Jesus...
the last reason not to be duped by the world...
#4 because God wins/Jesus is worth it.
yes I combined 2 points in 1.
verse 14
14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
and then look at verses 16-17—who is really in charge—even though it doesn’t feel that way
16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
17 For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God’s words are fulfilled.
God is accomplishing his purpose through Babylon, through the beast. He is not surprised. He is the one who grants them authority. The beast may be upholding Babylon, but God is overseeing it all, and will take them down in an instant.
don’t be duped.
sometimes our engagement to Jesus doesn’t feel very real—the world seems real and now…but following Jesus is hard… (next week we will talk about how do we put this into practice…)
You see we have a great Savior…we are engaged to our fiance—Jesus—and one day will be with him.
He called himself the bridegroom…look at this...
19 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them.
Jesus is our long awaited bridegroom…he is the kind of God who sacrificed for us in our place. He is the kind of God who moved heaven and earth to be with us. He is not out to take advantage of us or use us and spit us out like an addiction. No, he knows that we are meant to live on Him and Him alone, nothing this world will satisfy. He is the kind of God that if you fully give and surrender your life to Him—though it is death to self—it is life abundant now and forever…as we look to Him and develop our relationship with Jesus—it enables us to resist the world and Babylon.
as you think about this coming week…how can you stay faithful to Jesus? How can you keep your eyes on Jesus? Maybe it’s getting back into the Word? having coffee with a friend? getting reconnected at church in a Sunday School class or small group? maybe it’s time to break up with the world and its lovers—like money, sex, and power? maybe you have been duped—you need to confess it to God—call it like it is and receive his grace and mercy.
where do you need to apply this?
Final Plug—discussion questions...
next week — we will learn about how to avoid getting duped by the world; what does wisdom look like. a tale of 2 cities
--in the world not of it - not withdrawal
—radical heart change—deep change...
--cultivating a life of wisdom and discernment…being the kind of people
—new identity—citizenship is in heaven
—watch your emotions...
—remember the theme of Babylon - this has been going on for a while...