Revelation Part 25

 

Revelation 17:18

 

In Revelation Chapter 17 we have been looking at that great city of Babylon, the great whore, who ends up controlling and dominating the peoples and nations of the world. We know from the description given in Revelation Chapter 17 about the false one-world religious system, and we know that this religious system becomes closely aligned with the antichrist. In Revelation 17:18 we are also told,

 

"And the woman which you saw is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth."

 

What city was the apostle John writing about, when he described it as the

 

"great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth?"

 

Again we must remember that John lived in the Roman Empire, and the city that reigned over the kings of the earth was the city of Rome. John probably did not want to be accused of speaking against the government of Rome, so he used symbolic language to make his point. The city of Babylon was mentioned in this chapter. The city of Rome was described in a very obvious way. So is it the city of Babylon, the city of Rome, or some other city? The most important thing to know is that it will at least be a city with the same characteristics as the cities of Babylon and Rome. We can find ourselves so caught up in arguing over points of end-time theology that we cannot for a certainty know of until it occurs that we miss the big picture. What we do know is this. It will be a great and prosperous city that will be the seat of both a one-world religion and a one-world government. Rome, a rebuilt Babylon or possibly another city very much like them will one day be the home of a one-world false religious system that according to Revelation 17:15 will dominate

 

"peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues."

 

We are given more information about this city in Revelation Chapter 18. Revelation 18: 1-8 says,

 

"And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 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. 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. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she has filled fill to her double. How much she has glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she says in her heart, I sit a queen and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 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 judges her."

 

Of course, one of the things that these verses remind us of is the eventual destruction of the one-world religious system and the city where it is found. This in particular leads me to believe that John is speaking here of a rebuilt city of Babylon. Old Testament prophecies indicate that at some point in time the great city of Babylon will be completely and utterly destroyed. It has lain empty and has wasted away over the years, until recently when Sadaam Husein has begun a rebuilding project. The stones/bricks are engraved with the wording, Sadaam Husein, Nebuchadnezzer II. Sadaam intends to rebuild Babylon to what it once was. I think we are very narrow minded in our study when we try to make everything that is talked about as a symbol. Some of what John wrote about in Revelation was not symbolic but was literal. In the case of Babylon my personal opinion is that he was speaking of a literal, rebuilt, prospering city of Babylon.

 

We are also told that the destruction comes from God. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. God gives opportunities, but everyone will one day have to answer for how they made use of their opportunities. The one-world religious system will be destroyed, and it will be destroyed because God will decide to do it. According to the Bible it will be destroyed sometime during the Great Tribulation but before the battle of Armageddon and before the antichrist is destroyed.

 

God will destroy this great false religious system of the world. Until the destruction comes, what action should Tribulation saints take in regards to the false religion? Revelation 18: 4 gives the answer. It says,

 

"Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins."

 

Separation and independence from false religion is the revealed will of God for His children. If you have been saved through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ then God does not want you to unite or be a part of false religion. There is a one-world religious system that is being formed, and it will obtain its greatest power during the Great Tribulation. It will also be destroyed suddenly and dramatically. If you are a believer it’s important that you understand this truth and come out and be not a partaker with the sins of such an organization. How are we to know if the organization we are a part of is false or true? Really now, the answer is quite simple, do they preach and teach the uncompromised Word of Almighty God, is relationship with God made available through the shed blood of Jesus Christ? Does the organization, church or ministry reflect the church from the book of Acts? If so have no fear you are in an organization, church or ministry that is right on target with the Bible and you have found the real thing.

 

When the Bible says in Revelation 18: 4 to not be a "partaker" with the one-world religious system, the word that is translated "partaker" is a Greek word that refers to participating with someone or being connected with someone in a close and sympathetic way. The meaning is obvious. Do not participate in the activities, ceremonies or programs of the one-world religious system. If you participate with them, then you are assisting them in their deeds by which they teach falsehood and keep people in blindness and darkness. Instead of joining with them, come out and be separate.

 

In Revelation 18: 9-19 the destruction of what is called the "great city of Babylon" is retold for us again. This time we are told that there is a connection between this city and a great deal of commerce in the world. The city is known for its prosperity and success in the world from a material standpoint. Its demise and destruction astonishes the people of the earth who are involved with commerce. Most people will have rightfully assumed that such a successful community would continue to prosper. So we know that a place of much false religion will also be a place of much financial and material success. Which place in the world fits this description? One possible meaning to this passage of scripture is that we are not being told about a city, but a country, and that the reference to a city is symbolic in nature. In recent times America has been called a city on a hill. Some people want to know if the United States of America can be found in Bible prophecy. This is one place where it just might be found. It certainly lines up with scripture as far as economic prosperity is concerned, and the growing presence of a movement towards a one-world religious system cannot be ignored. The rise of the New Age Movement which encompasses so much of every kind of false religion imaginable and mix in just a little bit of truth to make the message palpable to the masses, and viola the phony religion is in place and accepted by the masses. Also, a connection to the Roman Empire can be seen because America gets most of its culture, language and heritage from Europe.

 

Revelation 18: 9-19 says,

 

"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, 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. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buys their merchandise any more: 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, And cinnamon, and odors, 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. And the fruits that your soul lusted after are departed from you, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and you shall find them no more at all. The merchants of these things which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing. 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! For in one hour so great riches is come to nothing! And every shipmaster and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, what city is like unto this great city! 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."

 

This nation or city that is destroyed will have been celebrated because of its great economic prosperity. Many upon the earth will lament the destruction that is described in Revelation Chapter 18 because of the loss of material things; but while there is sorrow on earth, there will be joy in heaven.

 

Revelation 18: 20-24 says,

 

"Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets; for God has avenged you on her. 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. And the voice of harpers, and of 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; 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. And in her was found the blood of the prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth."

 

The teachings of Jesus are higher and greater than any other teachings that have ever been given. Even in the day that Jesus walked the earth among man it was said of Jesus, "never a man spake like this man".That should not surprise us, since He is the Son of God. One of the important teachings of Jesus was to love your enemies. Everyone has enemies. One of the ways of knowing how close to God you really are is to evaluate your own attitude toward your enemies. Do you love them? Do you pray for them? Jesus also said that

 

"blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake."

 

Do you really believe what Jesus taught on this subject? If you do, then do you consider yourself happy and blessed when you are persecuted, or do you complain about it? One of the reasons that God told us to love our enemies is because this is the age of grace, and God loves everyone and is trying to win them before it’s too late. Another reason that God told us to love our enemies is because He is the judge.

 

"Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord. I will repay."

 

God does repay. In His own way, and in His own time, things will get straightened out. We really have nothing to worry about. No one will get away with anything. There is justice in the world because there is a God in heaven. From a human standpoint the wheels of justice may seem to move ever so slowly, but never forget that they move surely towards Judgement Day!

 

One of the messages of the Book of Revelation is that the judgment of God must and will come upon man, and when it does there will be rejoicing in heaven.

 

Revelation 19: 1-6 says,

 

"And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are His judgments: for He has judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia, And her smoke rose up forever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all you his servants, and you that fear Him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth."

 

Once judgment comes upon the earth, many praises are heard in heaven from the people who are there. It’s significant to notice the first thing for which the people in heaven praise God. In Revelation 19: 1 John said,

 

"And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God."

 

Salvation is the first thing for which God is praised by those who are in heaven: especially in this context where we are talking about the judgment of God against a sinful world. One reason for this is because everyone who will be in heaven will be a sinner who was saved by grace. No one will deserve to be in heaven. Everyone who ends up in heaven will have deserved the judgment of God like everyone else, but they will have escaped because of having trusted in Jesus as their Savior.

 

If you have been saved by Jesus Christ from your sin, and if you want to live a little more the way that you will live in heaven; then be more thankful. We are reminded many times in the Bible to be thankful and to praise His name. I Thessalonians 5:16 says,

 

"Rejoice evermore,"

 

and verse 18 says,

 

"In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God concerning you."

 

Philippians 4:4 says,

 

"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice."

 

Notice that we can be thankful while we are still in this life for the same things that those in heaven praise God for. Every day we can lift our hearts to God and thank Him for salvation. To be saved from your sin is the most important thing in the world. If God has given you salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, no one can take it from you. No matter how bad things get, you will still have your salvation, and you will still have this reason to praise God and say, ‘‘Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul. Thank you, Lord, for being a merciful God. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to the earth and dying for our sin."

 

Are you listening this morning and have never invited Jesus into your heart and life? In a moment of time your eternal destiny can change.

 

Revelation 3: 20 tells us that Jesus Christ is standing at our hearts door knocking, and if we will open the door to our heart He will come in.

 

1John 1: 9 tells us that if we confess our sin he is faithful and just to forgive us.

 

Romans 10: 13 tells us that whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord, (Jesus) shall be saved.

 

Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

 

Romans 6:23 tells us that the penalty for that sin is eternal death and separation from God, but that God has supplied a marvelous gift, eternal life and salvation, through the shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ.

 

Won’t you invite Jesus into your heart right now.

 

Scripture tells us that today is the day of salvation. Jesus is at your hearts door knocking right now, won’t you invite Him in. We have described some terrible things in our study, but if you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior you can avoid all this and while Judgement is being poured out upon earth, you can rest in the safety and security of heaven. Your place is reserved. Your place is paid in full by the blood of Jesus.