Sermon Tone Analysis

Revelation Series #24

*Fallen Babylon*

*Revelation 18*

 

*Last week* we read and *expounded* on Chapter *17 *of this *wicked* *woman* riding the beast.

She was *identified* for us as the *Spirit* of *Babylon*, that spirit that would *not* *worship* *God*.

The Spirit that would *exalt* *anything* *but* Christ, that would *imitate* and *counterfeit* Christ.

The spirit of *idolatry* and *apostasy* that has existed *since* Ham's Grandson *Nimrod* was King of Babylon.

It was the *same* wicked *Satan* *infused* worship that *Jeremiah* spoke of and *Ezekiel* saw that *worshipped* the *false* "*Queen* of *heaven*" and her *son*, that *invaded* every *society* and *culture* all the way *through* to *our* *day*.

This "*religion*" that will *come* in the time of the *end* will be *used* by the leadership of the world and the *Antichrist*, the beast to *unify* the world and *then* she will be *destroyed* by the hands of those *leaders*.

They will *need* her *no* *more* and will do away with her.

In Chapter *19* we will see the Glorious *Second* *Coming* of Christ

In Chapter *20* *Satan* will be *bound* and cast into the pit

In Chapters *21* and 22 there will be a *New* *Heaven* and a New *Earth*, a New *Jerusalem*

 

But *before* we get there, and *after* the *seeing* of the 7 *Bowls* of God's wrath poured out, an *angel* *shows* John greater *detail* about the latter part of those bowls, the *Destruction* of Babylon that is found in Bowl 7.

 

*/"Fallen, Fallen, is Babylon"/* ---

*twice* Fallen because if you will this Babylon has *two* *personages*.

The *System* and *Spirit* of Babylon in the *religious* idolatry and apostasy is destroyed and *Judged* in Chapter *17*.

Then in Chapter 18 we have the *City* of Babylon *Judged* and destroyed because she *will* *be* *then* as in days of old, the *Center* of the *World*; *Commercially*, *Politically*, and *Religiously*.

*More* *than* *that* she will be the *center* of *Influence*, *Infidelity*, and *Inhumanity* for the World.

Chapter *14:18* speaks of the *fallen* *Future* of Babylon

Chapter *16:19* says Babylon will *receive* a *full* cup

 

This Judgment will be *Sudden* as in *unexpected* and Quick in time of being carried out.

It will *NOT* be a *long* drawn out thing.

But I get ahead a bit, let's *read chapter 18*

 

After Jerusalem, *Babylon* is *referred* to *more* times than any city, *260* times in Scripture

 

The *1st King of the earth*, Nimrod, was there.

He founded *Babylon* and *Nineveh* among other cities

The *First Great World Kingdom* was there in Babylon under *Nebuchadnezzar*.

Babylon *destroyed* *Judah*, *Jerusalem*, and the *Temple* of Solomon

*Israel* was *taken* there into *Captivity* and as they *wept* along the river, they *hung* their *harps* in the Willow *Trees* for there was *no* *reason* for *singing* and no *expectation* of any *reason* coming soon.

It was the *City* that *under* *Nimrod* tried to be *godlike* and *build* a *tower* that would reach god *status* into the Heavens, and *God* *confused* their languages and *separated* them from that city thus *called* *Babel* later known as Babylon

 

But *NOW* centuries later, all of these *great* *things* and in the *end* this *Center* of worldly *greatness* will again *attempt* to reach *god* *status* and pull Jehovah down and take the *Universal* *Throne* …

but the *only* thing that will be *piled* up, brick upon brick, to reach heaven, will be it's sin and *wickedness*.

So John says, that he *saw* *another* *angel* coming down from Heaven.

He had *Authority* and the earth was *illuminated* by his splendor.

It would *seem* that this angel *appears* during the *5th* Bowl Judgment of darkness.

If in the *horror* of that *darkness* this Bright Splendid *Angel* *appears,* think of the *awe* and *horror* of it all.

In the *midst* of the agony to *see* this *angel*.

This Angel will *pronounce* *Judgment* and perhaps be making a *final* *call* to *Repentance* to any with ears to hear and hearts that have not given themselves fully to the Beast as of yet.

I want us to see 4 things here in Chapter 18

The *Sins* *of* Babylon

The *Judgment* *on* Babylon

The *Lament* *for* Babylon and

The *Lessons* *From* Babylon

 

*1.

The Sins of Babylon*

 

There are Sins of

  A.

*Influence*

    1.

*leading* the world *away* from God socially, politically, culturally, commercially

    2.

"led the *nations* to *drink* the maddening wine"

    3.

her *sins* were *piled* up to heaven

    4.

also her *crimes* God has remembered … *sins* are the *attitude* of the heart and *Crimes* the *actions* of the body

    5.

*luxury* and *glory* --- elevated to a status never intended for man to have

    6.

*home* to *demons* of every kind … and every kind of evil bird --- this doesn't refer to "*birds*" but to the *actions* of the demons.

What did Jesus say about the *sower* and the *seed*.

He said that some fell on hard ground and the birds of the air stole it so that it didn't get into the ground.

This is the work of demons that would *steal* the *blessed* *truth* of God that it might not take hold in the life of the hearer.

YES the hearer is responsible but so is the one used by Satan who hinders.

They are guilty of the *stealing* the *Truth*

    7.

*Love* of *Power* instead of strength under the control of God

    8.

*Gathering* the *Wealth* of the Earth for Herself

 

There are also sins of

  B.

*Infidelity*

    1.

*adultery* with the world

    2.

*Refusing* to be *Joined* to God as we are intended to be

    3.

*Boasting*, I don't need God … You were *born* *for* *God*

    4.

v 7 says *Babylon* said "I *sit* as *queen*, I am not a widow, and I will never *mourn*.

--- Generally a *Queen* only received the *throne* as she got it from her *husband* --- but in *defiance* she says, I am *not* nor *ever* have been *married* to *anyone* I am *in* *charge* I am *responsible* to *no* man --- I do *not* *need* a male deity.

a.

*Boasting* of *self* *rule*

      b.

Boasting of self - *sufficiency*

      c.

I don't need a King, I don't need a man -

    5.

*Living* *apart* from the *Sovereignty* of God and *Boasting* of the independent life away from God or even the concept of God.

There are also sins of

  C.

*Inhumanity*

    1.

*ignoring* the *poverty* ~/ needs of the world in favor of gaining all riches for herself

    2.

*luxury* and *excess* while the world starves - a "let them eat cake" mentality

    3.

*Killing* of *Saints*, Prophets, Killing of *All* People - Did THIS city kill ALL the saints, ALL the prophets, ALL the people?

NO --- but understand if you break one commandment you have broken them all, if you *break* *one* law you are guilty of breaking the *whole* law.

God looks to the inclination of the heart and the *inclination* of Babylon is that all the saints be destroyed, all the prophets are destroyed as their words are rejected, and all blood is on their hands

    4.

The *One* who will *scream* the loudest for *tolerance* will become herself *MOST* *intolerant*.

5.

The *commerce* of not only every precious commodity but the one *commodity* you *think* is *off* the market will be *on* the market again … v13 … "*/the bodies and souls of men."/  ---* The words are correctly translated there … they are the words for Body, Humanity, and the word /psyche (psoo-*khay*)/ which means "breath of life" "vital force of life", "seat of feelings", or "soul" - Buying and *Selling* of Human *Bodies* and *Souls* --- Are we *far* off now?

We abolished that Right?

We could never get back there could we?

      a.

The *foundations* are being *laid* *today* for the dehumanization of Humans.

We have been told that we are *JUST ANIMALS*, part of the Animal Kingdom.

We don't have greater rights that *gorillas* in the mist, *trout* in a stream, or *owls* in the timber forest.

As a matter of fact, Owls, trout, sparrows, beetles, rainforests, gorillas, have *MORE* *protection* today than a *child* in her mother's womb.

And *soon* those things will have *more* rights than an *adult* in a *nursing* *home* or *one* *unable* to speak for themselves because of perceived *uselessness* to society or life through *brain* damage or *age*.

But I seem to *remember* *reading* that we have been /created just a little lower than the angels/, that I am /fearfully and wonderfully made/, that I have been /knit together by the very hands of God/.

That he /sees me in the womb/ and already has a *plan* for my life.

---

 

Oh but we wouldn't buy and sell human bodies and souls would we?

 

      b.

*Stem* *Cell Research, Human Cloning* … it is all for the purpose of science right.

Creating life to save more important life.