The Fall of Babylon the Great - Revelation 18:1-24

Welcome to God first. With economic committing to encouraging you to put God first won't even like the window in the Bible. Now, in honor of the one and only true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob left doing fine. See Thomas for today's message the destruction of Babylon detailed in chapters 17 and 18 of Revelation will rid the world of the major evils that have plagued it for nearly 5000 years. The religious Babylon will be destroyed near the middle of the tribulation. We saw that last week in chapter 17 and on the other hand, commercial and governmental Babylon will be destroyed at the end of the tribulation. We will see that here in chapter 18.

Some Bible scholars believe the events of chapters 17 and 18 are the same, but I believe they are not for the following reasons. First, we will see as we come to come to verse one of chapter 18 that the text tells us after these things, which indicates events in chapter 18 Take Pl. only after events in chapter 17 have been fulfilled will also see in verse one. I saw another angel coming down from heaven.

Verse one of chapter 17. On the other hand, speaks of one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came to the events of chapter 17 were introduced by this angel. But the angel in chapter 18 appears to be a different one will also see the names of different refined Babylon the great's in chapter 18. Whereas we see the term mystery, Babylon the great, in chapter 17, but a lot of chapter 17 will be destroyed by the kings of the earth, but the Babylon of chapter 18 will be destroyed by the judgments of God and then he tells us in the Scriptures that the teams rejoice.

Upon destroying the Babylon of chapter 17. But the kings and merchants. We, upon the destruction of Babylon in chapter 18.

So I believe when we come to chapter 18 we are seeing the destruction of commercial Babylon.

Where is in chapter 17 we see the destruction of the false religion of Babylon through the loop today. Again, a chapter 18 the please turn your Bibles bear with me. We will begin with verse one. Heavenly father, we thank you Lord for this day.

We thank you for this time of Bible Fellowship Lord where we come to hear a word from you. It is my prayer Holy Spirit to do a God. Our hearts guide our minds guide our speech. Lord, so that all things are spoken there to be nothing but sound doctrine. May you be other than glorified in all things in your name Jesus. Amen.

Revelation chapter 18 verse one tells us after these things are so another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority in the earth was illuminated with his glory. Souther said in the opening whether another angel is one of the seven who had the seven bowls we are not told but this seems to be not of the seven since his great authority illuminates it lights the earth now think we must warn here not to think that this is Jesus Christ. Because the Bible does tell us that when our Lord comes. His glory will fuel the earth. It will illuminate the earth, but this here is not Jesus Christ coming.

This is another angel and then verse two, Revelation 18 says he cried mightily with a loud voice saying Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit in a cage for every unclean and hated bird so we see is this angel is loudly proclaiming the fall of Babylon. Again the commercial and governmental capital of the world during the tribulation and he says is going to become me habitation for unclean spirits, file birds so the question is where is the city located there are a few different theories among scholars. Some say it is enrollment. We've talked about that in past weeks. Some even say New York City which I do not hold to that view at all. And then there are some that say Babylon, which would be the literal interpretation and I live. I lean towards it being literal Babylon, the city that we are looking at so concerning that theory of Babylon. This location it does not exist today. So that means it must be rebuilt at some point in the future.

Prior to its falling without some prophecies concerning his destruction that seemed to not have yet been fulfilled.

We look at the book of Isaiah chapters 13 and 14 when we look at Jeremiah, chapters 50 and 51. They described his destruction as the day of the Lord, and these four chapters reveal a double reference because what we find here that they referred to the overthrow of Babylon the enemy of Israel in the 70th year of Israel's captivity, but says Babylon is the headwaters of the world, governmental, commercial and religious systems in opposition to God.

The second reference in these prophecies is its destruction in the day of the Lord. That is, during the seven year tribulation. So secondly, in consideration of this being literal Babylon. The rulings of Babylon have been use to view other cities to be contrary to Jeremiah chapter 51 verse 26 so turn your Bibles bear with me to Jeremiah 51 verse 26 and we find the text, they shall not take from you a stone for the corner noise stone for foundation, but you shall be desolate forever, says the Lord. History tells us that at least six cities have been built with ruins from Babylon, including Baghdad which is 50 miles to the north, certainly concerning this being literal Babylon, the prophetess Jeremiah and Isaiah stated Babylon would be suddenly destroyed in Jeremiah 51 verse eight. Babylon has suddenly fallen in been destroyed well for her. Take balm for her pain.

Perhaps she may be healed and then turn over to Isaiah chapter 13 we find similar texts in verse 19 and Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans pride will be as when God overthrows Sodom and Gomorrah. This destruction has never happened. We know that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of such a high level of sexual immorality and the things that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for the things that our nation is now celebrating and if we do not repent, and we do not turn back to God, then we will face the same outcome.

The same judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah, so we need to repent of these things that we are celebrating that are contrary to the words of Almighty Lord shortly concerning this being literal Babylon, Isaiah 1320 declares the city will never be inhabited again that text tells us it will never be inhabited, nor will it be settled from generation to generation. Nor will the Arabian pitch tents there, nor will the shepherds make their sheep fools. There were history shows that this is not been the case, as recent as 1898 there were 10,000 people that inhabited a nearby suburb by the name of Gila and we know that ancient Babylon has become a major tourist attraction and Saddam Hussein spent over $1 billion in an attempt to rebuild the city and so with the richness of oriole that we find in Iraq. Babylon could be quickly rebuilt because there are some who are skeptical because they say will it doesn't even exist. How could it be literal Babylon we can come very quickly due to the richness, the abundance of resources in that area.

So the angel declares that the city's destruction and it will be inhabited by demonic spirits and unclean and hated birds.

As I look at our society today. I feel that we already have in an infiltration of unclean demonic spirits because I see people who have had good relationships great relationships husbands and wives and brothers and sisters and fathers and sons and mothers and daughters.

I see people who had wonderful relationships for decades and all of a sudden things are happening that is causing division that is causing hatred that is severing those relationships and I say these are due to the spirits that are coming upon the world. The Bible says that in the last days, that the love of many shall grow cold.

We see that happening today between loved ones is my prayer that we understand folks that we are not battling each other as human beings we are not battling the flesh. The Bible tells us that we battle against principalities, not against flesh and blood, so we need to recognize the, the deception and the tricks of the real enemy which is Satan and transcend those things so that we continue to have love and harmony between one another. But the Bible says that in these latter days in the tribulation. We are going to see a an infiltration of these wicked spirits. These dark unclean spirits that are going to come upon this area. Babylon says move on verse three of Revelation 18 is says for all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. The kings of the earth have committed fornication with her and the emergence of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury many nations and leaders of nations will partake in the idolatry and the immorality of the city during the tribulation, and many will become rich through its commerce, which again I think implies an abundance of oriole next verse says, and I heard another voice from heaven saying come out of her my people, lest you share in her sins and less you receive of her plagues, so the Lord is pleased to leave the immorality of Babylon. Jimmy asked the question, you say well if we as the church we arrived to heaven were not here during this time of tribulation, who is our Lord talking to who these people that he said come out of her come out of the city will think it is very likely that this is tribulation saints. Those who receive Jesus Christ after the rapture but I will say it is not clear as to why they would be in the city before whatever reason, I will is income from Earth. It could also be Israelites who have not yet recognize Christ as the Messiah, but I will Lord God as if come out just as he called lots out of Sodom and Gomorrah before his destruction. The people are warned that they too will be judged if they participate in the sins of Babylon, and we see once again the display of our Lord's grades, long-suffering, mercy. Verse five says for her sins have reached to heaven and God has remembered her iniquities, so this verse tells us of the magnitude of seniors and Babylon.

God will bring justice and God is going to bring justice to our nation and throughout the world. We do not repent. We do not turn back to him. Stop celebrating wickedness sub celebrating things that he calls an abomination. Stop celebrating the perceived right to to take the life of an unborn child is God says he hates hands that shed innocent blood. That is what we're doing here in our land there people leaving who profess to be Christians were going along with this wickedness God is going to bring about justice. If we do not repent verse six rented to her just as she rented to you and repay her double according to her works in the cup, which she has mixed mixed double for her.

So this is a call that Babylon is going to experience a double portion of judgment in comparison to her rebellion against God.

Verse seven says in the measure that she glorified herself and live luxuriously in the same measure give her torment and sorrow for she says in her heart us. It is a queen and am no widow and I will not see sorrow. We see here what we saw the Old Testament and I 49, a tooth for tooth, Babylon. Not only is going to be very sinful, but is going to boast of his sin, but the just punishment will come, and I see people today boasting in senior.

It amazes me as I remember, to the days in which I was a single man in in dating young ladies, young women. There were multiple occasions in which these young women would actually boast to me about their sexual exploits. So what I mean is they would they would be proud and they would with Dragon boasts about sexual encounters that they had with other men before they met me that if you're as dumbfounded as I was at the time as to why is it that it if they want to romantically get involved with me wildly talking about others who they have been with intimately like I could make sense of that estimate to why that would be but that is what the Bible tells us is that when we see and we embrace sin and we go against the ways of God. The Bible says that eventually our conscience become senior like a hot iron. It would become proud of wrongdoing even to our own detriment because you see these young women were actually causing major a major strike. Not just the major strike, but the, the, the definitive strike against them because I was not going to get involved with a woman who was going to boast, who's going to disrespect me by boasting of her sexual sins. But that is what the devil does the devil causes us to bring harm to ourselves and so we must not boast of ICN. Instead, we need to come out for mercy as we need to repent and receive his boastfulness here in the city of Babylon. You are listening to God first. If you believe in what we stand for God first Bible Fellowship, would you consider partnering with us, our God first bought this program is based on Matthew 633 but seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added on to forward coagulation of $6.33 per month you can help us share the message of grace and God's commands when viewing the issues of our culture is visit our website God from the Lord God first Bible Fellowship, PO Box 266, Niceville, NC 27545 for more information. Now let's return to the conclusion of the program per se says therefore her plagues will come in one day, death and mourning and famine shall be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges are the judgment of Babylon will come quickly, you will come forcefully verses nine and 10 says the kings of the earth who committed fornication and live luxuriously with her one week and leave it for her when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance for fear of her eternal torment, saying Eliza lies the great city, Babylon, that mighty city for in one hour your judgment has come. This city of Babylon is going to serve as the seat of Satan governmentally religiously and commercially during the tribulation and the Bible says these people were staying and we do to no longer being able to make money and live by gratifying the flesh in Babylon is says in one hour.

The judgment will come signifying that it it it will come quickly because of their love for money and power. The merchants the religionists the governmental leaders of the day for four centuries, have tried to destroy the true prophets and apostles of God. This should be a reminder to put our faith in our Lord and not put our faith in stocks and bonds of houses and land in any ways of making money. As we continue to see in verses 11 through 13 Revelation 18 and emergence of your week and worn see again weeping and mourning over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple silk and scarlet every kind of Citroen would every kind of object of ivory every kind of object of most Christians would bronze, iron, marble and cinnamon incense fragrant gold and frankincense wine in old fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots and bodies and souls of men. We see once again the people mourning their weeping over the destruction of this wicked place because they were no longer be able to make money and it makes me think about this time that we're living in today in which we recently seen the overturning of Roe versus Wade which is something that for us as the church we rejoice about because we are pro-life we believe in the lives of the unborn, that they should be allowed to live. No matter the circumstance. Even in the case of rape and incest the lives of the unborn should leave and and I'm troubled because III hear Christian leaders who say they are pro-life but yet they say, while abortion is wrong but except for in the case of rape and incest wealth understand that even in the case of rape and incest that may be is going to still suffer during an abortion is not that baby's fault that it was conceived through wickedness.

We must let God be the judge to determine who lives and who does not live. It is not for us to decide because of you were willing to go in and say well it's okay for that baby because it was conceived in rape. It was conceived and incest.

She can go away and with these forceps and ripped that baby apart limb by limb and crush his goal you are condoning wickedness. But as I look at today's society. And I see how the overturning of Roe versus Wade and and in those of us who are in the church. We celebrate that, but I see the world and is wickedness.

I see women out in the streets in their their protesting their crying and in and they're just falling to pieces over the idea that they no longer have a constitutional right to kill an unborn child because his wickedness photos. I see that the Planned Parenthood and their upset because it it reduces their profit margin when you do not allow them the right to take the life of an unborn child, and so we see people weeping. Today we see people mourning we see people in outrage because they cannot continue to participate in wickedness we see the same thing is going to take place here during this Babylon city of darkness and evil the collapse of the city is going to bring devastation to the world economy and note that even the bodies and souls of me and will be affected. We hear that saying selling your soul to the devil, and many have done that in in entertainments. There are many accounts of people who say they were approached by evil spirits and that evil spirit told them they had what it takes. If only they would give their soul to him, which is the devil, and many have done so so they can have riches so they can have frames of the have notoriety for the Bible say would profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul. We see that taken place here.

During this time of the tribulation. Verse 14 the fruits that your soul long for has gone from you and all the things which you which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. This is a good reminder of Matthew chapter 619, 21 do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven were neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also use your heart for heaven is your heart to the Lord. That is where our treasure should be laid up not getting caught up in the ways of this world.

Verses 15 and 16 in the merchants of these things will become rich by her will stand in the distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing. Sam Eliza lies that great city that was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls.

So we see basically a repeat of verses nine through 13 through 13 in a sign of emphasis again.

You see, the weeping over the fact that they will no longer be able to gain wealth through the wickedness of the city. Revelation 1817 and 18 for in one hour. Such great riches came to nothing. Every shipmaster all who travel by ship sailors and as many as trade on the C scooter the distance and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning same. What is like is great city. We can see the torment of those whose way of making money is destroyed. They exalted the city but they see his destruction. Next verse they threw dust on their hairs and cried out weeping and wailing and saying, alas, alas, that great city in which all who has ships on the sea became rich by her will for in one hour. She is made desolate. The throwing of the dust on the head is an active, deep morning. Due to this, again, loss of riches the city will be destroyed quickly and when our verse 20 says rejoice over her will heaven and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her heaven is told to rejoice. The saints are told to rejoice over this destruction is God has brought about justice concerning the persecution of his people. The world is mourning and that is why we as believers should always check our sales when it comes to an issue if you on the side of the world, then you are not on the side of God. We and as believers. The Bible says we are to be in the world but not of the world. We should not love the things that the world loves so so when it comes to issues like abortion and in the end you are on the same side is what the six Satanists are pushing for, like the Satanic temple they said is is a religious rights to sacrifice children through abortion.

And if you claim to be a believer in Christ, you are agreeing with them than let you know you not on God side. Verse 2122 then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, thus with violence, the great city, Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore the sound of harpist musicians flutist and trumpeters should not be hurting you anymore. No craftsman of any crap shall be found in you anymore and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore this casting of his great millstone. It symbolizes the permanence, the suddenness of the destruction of Babylon. It will happen by an earthquake by thunder, lightning's plagues, death, mourning family flyer in the city will become desolate. I find it interesting that Dr. Charles pack stated that he was told by his guy during the tour to this area in the Middle East that is for black tar lies only 13 feet on the ground below this area of Babylon. This tar may be what aids in the fire. The Scripture tells us is going to take place in this time the tribulation because the taxes shall not be found anymore, which coincides with the prophecies of Isaiah 13 and in Jeremiah 50 and 51, which we looked at earlier which the detail of its permanent instruction. Some even say the curse will not be lifted from Babylon, even during the millennial kingdom of our Lord's reign on earth. Last verses versus 2324 the light of the lamp shall not shine in you anymore and the voice of the bridegroom and bride shall not be hurting you anymore for your merchants were the great men of the earth by your sorcery. All the nations were deceived and in her was found the blood of prophets and saints and of all who were slain on the earth see the final destruction of Babylon here want to be engulfed in darkness in this final judgment will be for her slaughter of the prophets, and of the saints, and just as God chose Jerusalem as his holy headquarters, we see that Satan is going to choose Babylon as his unholy headquarters and many have been deceived and many will be deceived by the sorcery of Satan which is the use of supernatural power over others, through the assistance of spirits through the assistance of witchcraft.

There's going to be a finality to this judgment upon Babylon foes.

These are not uplifting type of passages dilute when we look at the destruction, but we need to know this because if we as believers in Christ if we backslide a return from the Lord and for all who have never received Jesus Christ who have rejected him.

There is going to be a finality to judgment. But the thing about it though we as we as people we are created to be eternal.

Babylon is going to be destroyed and will no longer exists for those who reject our Lord Jesus Christ. For those who turn away from him. You will have a final judgment, but you will continue to exist. You will continue to exist in eternal damnation. You will continue to exist in the lake of fire. You will continue to exist alongside Satan and the false prophet in and the antichrist and all the others throughout all the ages who have rejected Jesus as our Lord and Savior so it is my plea today for all of the sound of my voice. If you've never received him come to Jesus today. This is not a fairytale.

The Bible is really tells us we want to see in a few weeks to come of the great white throne judgment in which all who have rejected Jesus Christ will find their final sentencing into the lake of fire. Heavenly father, we thank you Lord for your great and holy word.

We thank you Lord for your justice. We thank you Lord for your judgment. We thank you Lord that we can put our rest, our trust in our faith in you there for all who come against us for being a follower of you we can rest in the assurance because he said they hated you first. So therefore they will hate us also. You also said love that their great rewards waiting in eternity. For those of us who remain faithful.

Those of us who did not grow weary of those of us who continue the race all the way to the end. So it is my prayer, Lord. Therefore, any today who are weary that you continue to strengthen. Continue to encourage and Lord. It is my prayer that all who have not received you that they will take these were seriously there is a day of judgment that is coming.

There's a day of judgment that is coming from the wickedness of Babylon with the spirits that are driving those were headed by Satan and his fallen angels that are driving people influencing them to be a rebellion against you.

So it is my privilege that you would touch their minds touched the hearts don't allow them to have peace don't allow them to have rest until he realized the need to receive US militancy is the Lord Jesus. As we depart from here.

Today, we look forward to the day you will come back for lesser people will come to rule and reign for all of eternity and we would give the appraisal will give you adoration will magnify your holy name for all of eternity for that would be nothing but peace.

Nothing but joy where your glory will feel the entire earth. Thank you for these things. Lord we look forward to that day and until then remember to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Lesser great nation of Israel and into the only wise God be glory. Jesus Christ, forever a man you can think of the Bible to blank the boundary of God for Ryan and I first was a right protected under our copyright is available@ourwebsite.org until next time great nation of Israel first picking