The Destruction of Babylon

Transcript

GR 1560
03/14/10
The Destruction of Babylon
Revelation 18:1-8
Gil Rugh

We're in amazing days as you watch the news, you read about the news and see where the focus is. Last week or so, a couple weeks, continually but again because of events we've had leaders of our country interacting with Israel, the place that Iraq has, the concerns over Iraq and the land of Israel, the land of Iraq, the city of Jerusalem and the city of Babylon. Two focal points in scripture, two climactic centers, if you will, as we move toward the end of time. Amazing that here we are thousands of years after the prophets wrote, a couple of thousand years almost after John wrote the book of Revelation under the inspiration of the Spirit and where is the focal point of the world? Where God says it will be.

Two major cities in the Bible, the city of Jerusalem mentioned more often than any other city. You might expect that. And what city is mentioned next most often? The city of Babylon. Some 260 references to Babylon in our Bibles. It plays a key role because Babylon is the satanic opposite of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem the city that God has chosen for Himself, the place where He will establish the center of His kingdom. Babylon the satanic system that will culminate in the city that will be established in the end time. It's the pervasive system that has worked down through history and comes to culmination as we get to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to earth.

That's where we are as we turn to Revelation 18. Chapters 17-18 are all about Babylon, the destruction of Babylon. It has been prophesied in the Old Testament, we have been anticipating it in the book of Revelation. More attention is given to Babylon in the book of Revelation than any of the other events, except of course what is going to climax with the kingdom that Christ will establish. In Revelation 14 there was the anticipation of the destruction of Babylon, context of the proclaiming of the eternal gospel as we saw in verses 6-7. Fear God, give Him glory, worship Him is the cry to the peoples of the earth. And another angel, Revelation 14:8, a second one followed saying, fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality. And that was anticipating what would take place as we move through this seven-year period to its closing events. Chapters 17-18 record the fall of Babylon the great.

In chapter 16 with the seventh bowl poured out, verse 17, the seventh angel poured out his bowl on the air and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne saying, it is done. Verse 19, the great city was split into three parts, the cities of the nations fell, Babylon the great was remembered before God to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath. We come to the climax, God will bring to completion His promises to Jerusalem and that will be in the context of the destruction of the satanic city, Babylon. And Babylon will receive the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath.

Chapter 17 talked about Babylon. Babylon will come to a focus in the city of Babylon which I take it will be rebuilt. In light of the prophecies of the Old Testament and the New Testament, it seems to me that there is no real other alternative. But the city of Babylon will be reconstructed. We have problems, we think if the Lord is going to come soon how are they going to get that all built and operating any time soon? And the answer to that is simple, I don't know. But I would not underestimate the power of satan and the abilities he has to accomplish something when the restraints are removed from him. And we see touches of what God permits him to do and accomplish and he is an awesome figure, controlling, as we saw in the book of Job, the weather and armies and so on. He controls empires as we saw Gabriel in the book of Daniel having to confront the demonic angel that restrained him as he came with the message for Daniel. And it took Michael the archangel to come. Awesome power.

So when the restraints are removed and Satan at last has the opportunity to construct the city that will be the center of his empire which he has been pervading the world with, religiously, commercially, politically and so on down through history, as we've seen the various empires, I take it things will happen with a speed that will be all but supernatural. So how it will take place, and what will take place, I don't know but it does seem the Bible is clear that Babylon will be rebuilt and be rebuilt to be destroyed. The city itself and all that it represents ultimately are going to come crashing down.

We're going to be back in the Old Testament a number of times and we're going to go back to Zechariah. This is one of those passages in the Old Testament that makes very clear that Babylon will be in existence at the end because Zechariah says that will be the focal point of evil and evil will pervade the world because the whole world lies in the evil one as I John tells us. But the center of the satanic empire will be in Babylon. Zechariah 5:5, the angel who was speaking with me went out and said to me, lift up now your eyes and see what this is going forth. I said, what is it? He said, this is the ephah going forth. Most who take the Bible literally take this ephah, a measure, as an indication of the commercial side. Why is this evil going to be contained in the ephah. We might refer to it in our updated language, a bushel. But it's a commercial measure. So the ephah going forth. And he said, this is their appearance in all the land. Behold a lead cover was lifted up and this is a woman sitting inside the ephah. He said, this is wickedness. He threw her down in the middle of the ephah. So here you have the woman representing sin contained in this ephah, this basket with a lead weight on it. I lifted up my eyes and looked and there two women were coming out of it with the wind in their wings. They had wings like the wings of a stork. They lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heavens. I said to the angel who was speaking with me, where are they taking it? Then he said to me, to build a temple for her in the land of Shinar. Plain of Shinar, that's Babylon, modern day Iraq. And when it is prepared she will be set there on her own pedestal. So the center of evil and Satan's empire in the world, and that would include its commercial dimensions as we are going to see as we move into chapter 18, will be in the land of Shinar. If we are going to take what the Bible states literally and all Zechariah would address with this revelation would know what the land of Shinar is. We know today it is the land of Babylon. Back in Genesis 10-11 it's where they attempted to build a city with a tower in its center that would reach to the heavens. And God came down and scattered them by dividing their languages. So this is where evil will be centered in the last days. And there will be a temple there, a place for her to dwell that will be the center.

Come back to Isaiah. We've looked at some verses here and I want to read through some verses with you and then when we go through Revelation some of these you'll connect in your mind. Depending on time we'll come back for some of them. Isaiah is writing approximately 700 B.C., we round this off. His ministry began about 740 B.C. and goes to about 682 B.C. so we'll put it around 700 B.C.. In 740 B.C. to 682 B.C. something major happens here during Isaiah's ministry. The Assyrians carried the northern ten tribes away into captivity in 722 B.C. So those are the days of Isaiah's ministry, he is ministering of course in the southern kingdom. But give you some kind of setting.

Isaiah has much to say about Babylon and portions throughout his prophecy. But Isaiah 13-14 focus on Babylon. We've read portions of this but let me read some of this again. You see the context has to be future days, the last days. Now within this there are comments that will pertain, and this will be true as we look at some other prophetic passages, to a more immediate setting. For example, what happened to Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar. Then he'll carry that to a more distant time as you see. He starts out by saying, chapter 13, the oracle concerning Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw. So this is about Babylon. The end of verse 4, the Lord of hosts is mustering the army for battle. So it's in that context that there is a sound of uproar of kingdoms, of nations gathered together. They are coming from a far country, from the farthest horizons, verse 5. The Lord and His instruments of indignation to destroy the whole land. He is bringing the armies of the world together and they become instruments for the accomplishing of His purpose.

Note where we are. Wail for the day of the Lord is near. It will come as destruction from the Almighty. Therefore all hands will fall limp, every man's heart will melt. They will be terrified, pains and anguish will take hold of them. They will writhe like a woman in labor, they will look at one another in astonishment. Their face is aflame. Behold the day of the Lord is coming, cruel with fury and burning anger to make the land a desolation. And He will exterminate its sinners from it. This is a future time, prophecy concerning Babylon carries us to an ultimate time when God is prepared to deal with all of His enemies—the Day of the Lord, that closing tribulation period. Remember some of the verses we've already looked at like in Revelation 6. The stars of heaven, their constellations will not flash forth their light, the sun will be dark when it rises, the moon will not shed its light. Thus I will punish the world for its evil. You see the focus on judgment on Babylon, but this is in the context of a broader judgment of God on an unbelieving world. I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their iniquity. I will put an end to the arrogance of the proud and abase the haughtiness of the ruthless. This pride and arrogance will come out clearly in Revelation 18 with the judgment on Babylon, which is characteristic of the kingdom of Satan and its arrogance against God. I will make mortal man scarcer than pure gold and mankind than the gold of Ophir.

Turn to Matthew 24, which we've referred to a number of times. Sometimes I quote it and don't turn you to it. Verse 21, the context here is Jesus talking about the abomination of desolation which Daniel spoke about, which we noted that will be set up in the temple in the middle of the seven years, the 70th week of Daniel. Verse 21, then there will be a great tribulation such as had not occurred since the beginning of the world until now nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short no life would have been saved. You can appreciate the prophecy in Isaiah 13, I will make mortal man scarcer than pure gold and mankind scarcer than the gold of Ophir. But Christ will intervene at the climax of this seven-year period for the sake of the elect, to spare them and to bring to fulfillment His promises to His people Israel.

Come back to Isaiah 13:13, therefore I will make the heavens tremble, the earth will be shaken from its place. Again, if you've been with us through Revelation and the seals and the trumpets and the bowls, you see the similarity. The heavens tremble, the earth shaken at the fury of the Lord of hosts, in the day of His burning anger. I mean, He has destroyed kingdoms and had them destroyed and replaced. But what we're talking about here goes beyond that. This is the day of His burning anger. And goes on to talk about the destruction. Then you pick up in verse 17, He's going to stir up the Medes against them, carries it to a more immediate destruction of Babylon which is yet in Isaiah's future because Assyria is the dominant kingdom as Isaiah is carrying on his ministry. So this context he can come back and talk about events that will take place in Babylon in history, but in this context it carries us beyond.

Look at chapter 14. What's the context? When the Lord will have compassion on Jacob and again choose Israel and settle them in their own land. Then strangers will join them and attach themselves to the house of Jacob. The peoples will take them along and bring them to their place and the house of Israel will possess them as inheritance in the land of the Lord as male servants and female servants. They will take their captives captive and rule over their oppressors. It will be in the day when the Lord gives you rest from your pain and turmoil and harsh service in which you have been enslaved. That deliverance has not yet happened for Israel. So you see it's in the context of God's burning anger that these prophecies of the destruction of Babylon are recorded. It's the context of Israel being restored to the land and the central people of the world that these prophecies are given. So a taunt against the king of Babylon. And it's in this context that we have this great passage in chapter 14 verse 12, how have you fallen from heaven oh star of the morning, son of the dawn. You have been cut down to the earth, you have weakened the nations. You have said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven, I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High. Nevertheless you will be going down to Sheol to the recesses of the pit. And behind this whole Babylonian system has been King Lucifer, if you will, the god of this world as he is referred to. And he will be brought down and revealed to be without power. Come to verse 24, the Lord of hosts has sworn saying. Now we move on to Assyria because this is in the context. God giving promises concerning the nation, but these two chapters focus primarily on Babylon.

Come to Isaiah 47. This picture of the harlot and the judgment on her. Come down and sit in the dust oh virgin daughter of Babylon. Sit on the ground without a throne oh daughter of the Chaldeans, and the judgment that comes. The picture, remove her veil, strip off her skirt, uncover the leg. Your nakedness will be uncovered and so on. As judgment comes. Verse 4, our Redeemer, the Lord of host is His name, the Holy One of Israel. Sit silently and go into darkness oh daughter of the Chaldeans for you will no longer be called the queen of the kingdoms. Remember that, that's going to come up in chapter 18 where she is claiming to be queen of the kingdoms as she comes under judgment. God has used Babylon to judge His people but now since they didn't show mercy to them. You said they were proud, they thought it was their own power. Nebuchadnezzar experienced this. You said I will be a queen forever. Again we see this kind of emphasis when we come back to Revelation 18. Now then hear this, you sensual one who dwells securely, who says in your heart, I am and there is no one beside me. You see this arrogance of Babylon and arrogance against God?

Look back in Isaiah 46:9, remember the things long past for I am God and there is no other. I am God and there is no one like Me. But Babylon, the claim here was to have that kind of exalted position. Isaiah 47:8 says, in your heart I am and there is no one beside me. I will not sit as a widow, that's going to come up in Revelation 18. It's a claim of Babylon, I will not sit as a widow, nor shall I know loss of children. In other words the arrogance and power that I am invincible. They claim to be a divine kingdom, basically.

These two things will come on you suddenly in one day. The suddenness of destruction. Loss of children and widowhood. And note what this is mixed with. We talked about the Babylonian system being a religious system as well as a commercial and political system. The religious aspect dealt with in Revelation 17, the commercial and political in Revelation 18. You'll see at the end of Isaiah 47:9, in spite of our many sorceries, in spite of the great power of your spells. You felt secure in your wickedness and said no one sees me. Your wisdom and your knowledge has deluded you. For you have said in your heart, I am and there is no one besides me. You see these claims that God has reserved for Himself. We just read the one in Isaiah 46. It's a claim of Babylon as Satan has attempted to establish a kingdom that replaced the kingdom that God has established that would be a reflection of his person and his power.

Come over to Jeremiah 50. Jeremiah 50-51 are about Babylon, they are not the only references to Babylon in Jeremiah but they are two key chapters. Chapter 50 starts out, the word which the Lord spoke concerning Babylon the land of the Chaldeans through Jeremiah the prophet. These words start out with the shattering of the idols of Babylon, this pagan adulterous worship system. Verse 2, Babylon has been captured, Bel has been put to shame, Marduke has been shattered. Her images have been put to shame, her idols have been shattered. Nations come up against her out of the north, they will make her land an object of horror, there will be on inhabitant in it. Man and beast have wandered off, they have gone away. In those days and at that time declares the Lord, the sons of Israel will come, both they and the sons of Judah. So we have the restored kingdom here—the ten tribes of the north referred to as Israel and the southern kingdom referred to as Judah. They will go along weeping as they go and it will be the Lord their God they will seek. They will ask for the way to Zion, turning their faces in its direction. They will come that they may join themselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten. You see the context here, the restoration of the nation Israel. It will come to this we will see here in these chapters in a moment. Then when we get to Revelation 18 the call of God to His people, come out of Babylon so that you do not partake in her destruction. I take it that's in the context of the turning of the nation Israel to Christ in preparation for their restoration.

Verses 4-5 show clearly that we are carried to future days. The past defeat of Babylon did not result in this kind of restoration, spiritual restoration to the nation Israel.

Goes on to talk about, verse 8, wander away from the midst of Babylon, go forth from the land of the Chaldeans. Verse 9, behold I am going to arouse and bring up against Babylon a horde of great nations from the land of the north. They will draw up their battle lines and so on. Verse 15, for this is the vengeance of the Lord to take vengeance on her. As she has done to others, so do to her. That comes up in Revelation 18. This is just judgment that Babylon has been an agent of cruelty and destruction and now it is going to suffer the same fate that it has inflicted on others. Verse 19, I will bring Israel back to his pasture and he will graze on Carmel and Bashan. His desire will be satisfied in the hill country of Ephraim and Gilead. Israel is back to enjoy the fullness and blessing of the land. In those days and at that time, declares the Lord, search will be made for the iniquity of Israel and there will be none. Israel is restored, salvation has come to the nation. You look for the sin of Israel and it has been wiped clean. There is none, there will be none in those days. For the sins of Judah, but they will not be found. Northern kingdom, southern kingdom, look, there is no sin in Israel. For I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant. So you see where we are, we're carried to the end times when there is a remnant left in which all the promises of God to Abraham and his descendants will find their fulfillment. Verse 34, their Redeemer is strong, the Lord of hosts is His name. He will vigorously plead their case so that He may bring rest to the earth but turmoil to the inhabitants of Babylon. So there will be peace on the earth, perhaps more specifically to the land of the Jews. But turmoil, destruction to the Babylonians.

You come to Jeremiah 51. Starts out, behold I am going to arouse against Babylon and against the inhabitants of Leb-kamai the spirit of a destroyer. I will dispatch foreigners to Babylon that they may winnow her, may devastate her land. Come down to verse 5, for neither Israel nor Judah has been forsaken by his God, the Lord of hosts. Although their land is full of guilt before the Holy One of Israel, flee from the midst of Babylon and each of you save his life. Do not be destroyed in her punishment for this is the Lord's time of vengeance. He is going to render recompense to her. Again this would be the cry in Revelation 18. Babylon has been a golden cup in the hand of the Lord intoxicating all the earth. We saw that when we started Revelation 18, didn't we? The woman with the golden cup in her hand and all the kings have drunk of the wine of her immorality. Sovereign God has been behind, controlling all of this, even the rebellion against Him. He is in control.

The nations have drunk of her wine, therefore the nations are going mad. Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken. Wail over her. Verse 10, the Lord has brought about our vindication. Come and let us recount in Zion the work of the Lord our God. Can you imagine there will be a day when you look through Israel and you won't be able to find any sin? God fulfilled His promise for their salvation. And it's a long chapter, goes on. Come down to verse 45, come forth from her midst my people, that will be the cry in Revelation 18. Come forth from her midst my people, each of you save yourselves from the fierce anger of the Lord. Even the picking up of this in Revelation 18, I mean, Babylon is going to be defeated, conquered by the Medes and Persians in 539 B.C. I mean, John is writing in 95 A.D. The historic Babylon that we identify with Nebuchadnezzar and his successors has been out of power a long time. But we have this quote, in the city of Babylon in Revelation 18, come forth from her midst my people. And an encouragement to them. And what is God going to be doing in all of this context? Verse 47, the days are coming, I will punish the idols of Babylon. The whole land will be put to shame. Verse 48, then heaven and earth and all that is in them will shout for joy over Babylon. Verse 49, indeed Babylon is to fall for the slain of Israel. As also for Babylon the slain of all the earth have fallen. Goes on. Verse 55, the Lord is going to destroy Babylon. Verse 56, the Lord is a God of recompense, He will fully repay. So how full is the promise? Now think if we were to take the time to look at all the other passages, we wouldn't get to anything else.

Now come over to Revelation 18. This is the background. So we come and read about Babylon in Revelation 17-18 and if you've been through chapter 17 you see some of those kinds of references and the description of the woman. Revelation 17:6, the woman drunk with the blood of the saints. What did we just read in Jeremiah of the slain of Israel, the slain of the earth? And it goes on.

We've come down through chapter 17 and the religious dimension of Babylon. This will all be focused in the city that is constructed, just as it will be in Jerusalem for God's people. The Old Testament, it will be in the New in the millennium in the kingdom that Christ will establish and then into the New Jerusalem and eternity. Jerusalem is the capital of the world, it is the focus of the religious activity as well. I mean, Christ is going to reign from Jerusalem, the temple is going to be reconstructed in Jerusalem. It will also rule the earth politically and commercially and so on. So you see what the devil does now, he has Babylon and that will be the religious center, the political center, the commercial center.

We saw something happen. For the first 3½ years you have a ten-king confederacy that is dominating the world, the revived Roman Empire as we'll see. The religious aspect is pervasive here and controlling, as we have seen. In the middle of that seven-year period these ten kings decide that they don't need the religious dimension as it has been any longer, so they destroy the harlot. Chapter 17 verse 16, the ten horns which you saw and the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate, naked, will eat her flesh, burn her with fire. So that absolute destruction. God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose by giving their kingdom to the beast until the words of God will be fulfilled. Then we're told the woman which you saw is the great city which reigns over the kings of the earth. This woman focuses in Babylon but it would seem that doesn't mean the final destruction of Babylon was at the end of chapter 17 because chapter 18 verse 1 says, after these things I saw another angel. So this is a further subsequent revelation and unfolding. After what we've seen here. So what we've seen is the woman in this city, identified with this city is destroyed. But they give their authority to the beast, they give their kingdom to the beast. So now we have the most, I don't know if this is the right word to use, pure form of satanic worship because now we have the Antichrist. So the clearest, fullest manifestation that Satan has been able to bring about in the history of the world is the counterfeit to Christ, his christ, an antichrist for 3½ years. And all worship is focused on him. So the worship systems that have pervaded the world, the Babylonian system with all of its corruption is now annihilated. The only worship allowed in the world is the worship of the Antichrist. And you see where it has come to. In the kingdom that Christ will establish all the world will worship Him. So we've had that Babylonian system destroyed but false religion is not over. But now we have it in a form and to a degree it never had with all the world worshiping one man, all unbelievers in the world.

So you start chapter 18, after these things. Now it’s just been recorded in chapter 17. I saw another angel coming down from heaven having great authority and the earth was illumined with his glory. Something of his awesome presence, some have thought this is Christ but I don't believe Christ is referred to in this way in the book of Revelation. These angels as we've noted before that come from the presence of God, come with great authority. I mean, remember Gabriel when he came to the father of John the Baptist and announced his birth? And the father of John the Baptist, Zacharias, said, how will I know these things will be? What does Gabriel say? What do you mean how do you know these things will be? I am Gabriel, I come from the presence of the Lord. You won't be able to speak a work until it is fulfilled. I mean, the audacity of it. How will I know this will happen? I'm Gabriel. It's not that Gabriel in and of himself, but I stand in the presence of the Lord and you ask me how this will happen? You know it will happen because I told you it will happen. So he had great authority.

So here you see this angel coming having great authority and the earth was illumined with his glory. I mean, this is an angelic being but even Moses' face glowed when he spent a little bit of time on Mt. Sinai in the presence of the Lord. We think of the angels who serve consistently in the presence of the Lord and come out from the presence of the Lord to do His bidding. It's not amazing that the earth was illumined with his glory. I mean, he has just come from the Lord of glory, standing in His presence for how long. I mean, a little bit of time on Mt. Sinai and Moses is glowing and here is an angel who is created and serves in the presence of the Lord.

He cried out with a mighty voice. He has great authority and he has the voice to go with it. Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great. We didn't read Isaiah 21:9 but there you have another section talking about Babylon and there you have that announcement. Isaiah 21:9, fallen, fallen is Babylon the great. So you see whatever is included in those prophecies regarding historical Babylon, we're often carried beyond that to the final Babylon. That's why I say this has to be literal Babylon, a literal city of Babylon and all that it will represent in the world. Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great. And that was the announcement in Revelation 14:8 which we read when we began, in anticipation of this. Now we are ready for the fulfillment of what was announced at that time.

These are what we call prophetic pasts. Remember we talk about prophecies given in the past tense and here the angel comes and announces it, using the Greek as an aorist tense, the normal way of speaking in the past. And Babylon the great has fallen, like it happened a month ago, but it's about to happen. But when God announces it, it is as good as done. So often prophecies are given in the past tense because there is no doubt, once God declares it to be, it will be.

Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great. She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. Again these passages are drawn from Isaiah 13, Isaiah 34, Jeremiah 51, speaking of complete desolation, devoid of any human activity. That didn't happen in historic Babylon, that Babylon there wasn't suddenly destroyed and annihilated. The Medes and the Persians came in, remember, and took the city really without having to wage a major war. Belshazzar was having his feast and so on, then the Persian kings used Babylon as a capital city and a king city. So what was announced is Babylon and its annihilation and total destruction is anticipating the future. Same kind of destruction was prophesied for other cities like Ninevah in the Old Testament as well, but Babylon becomes a major focus.

A dwelling place of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. It is worthless for anything good. God's judgment on it is complete, it is final. There has been complete and utter desolation as a result of the wrath of God. Fits the prophecies we saw and read about.

For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality. The kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her. The merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality. So you see there is not only a religious dimension of this city, there also is a commercial dimension. And people in their rejection of the living God have committed themselves to the service of Satan and involvement with his system. And in effect as we would refer to it, they sell their souls to the devil and they profit from it and they think they are doing well. I think of this when you look at people who have great wealth and they get much attention and you realize they have nothing. They soon will be totally destitute, have nothing. And ultimately all that has been provided in satanic system is going to come to nothing with its destruction. But the peoples of the earth have been excited to be involved because that is often twisted to be a sign of God's approval. That is what is so ugly about health and wealth preaching, it is trying to preach the satanic system under the veneer of biblical message. How repulsive to take and twist it around as though material success is what God is promoting for us today.

But the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality. And you see this corruption, it's not just a religious corruption in specific worship, but this is a corruption of being involved in the commercial dimension as well. It's all part of the continuing rebellion against God.

Three groups are mentioned here in verse 3—the nations, the kings, the merchants. So you have the political dimension, the commercial dimension. They have been in opposition to God and to His purposes. And so they have been involved in the satanic system, now they will suffer in its destruction.

Look at verse 4. I heard another voice from heaven saying, come out of her, my people. Remember we read that in the Old Testament prophecies? Come out of her my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues. The call for the people of God to separate themselves from this satanic system and this satanic city to avoid coming judgment. We saw that kind of cry in Jeremiah 51:6, 45. You can go back and reread those chapters and mark them. You see how clearly God connects Revelation 17-18 with what He promised hundreds of years earlier with the prophets.

Come out of her my people. Similar to what happened with Lot and his family. God was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah and it's a picture that He uses often where He is going to destroy others. It will be like Sodom and Gomorrah. What does He do? Calls Lot and his family out but Lot's wife can't leave. Attachment is too great, she longs to be there and she is turned into a pillar of salt. I take it this is in the context as we read in those Old Testament passages, that's why we took so much time to do it, where God promises deliverance for His people, salvation for His people.

Back up to Romans 11:25, for I do not want you brethren to be uninformed of the mystery. Understand what is happening. So you won't be wise in your own estimation. Don't try to figure out on your own, understand from what God has revealed. A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. This is the time of the fullness of the Gentiles, the time of Gentile salvation. And so all Israel will be saved. As it is written, a deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob. This is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins. Remember we read those verses, you'll look through Israel, the northern kingdom, you won't find any sin. You look through Judah the southern kingdom and you don't find any sin. Why? Because there is a time coming when I will take away their sin. Remember Zechariah talked about the Lord won't come until they say, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. So I take it this is where we are. And the call goes out and the Spirit draws out and Israel turns from its commitment to a Babylonian system and calls upon Jesus Christ as the Messiah.

So this is all going together. Israel called out from Babylon and its corruption. And the result of that will be there will be a mess. We will come to the time of the deliverance of Israel. Because verse 28, from the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake. Now they are under the judgment of God, they are the enemies of God experiencing the wrath of God. But from the standpoint of God's election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. Nothing has changed in the ultimate commitment of God to them because He chose them, made a commitment to the fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. So the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. It just boggles my mind how there are people today who claim to believe the Bible and think God is done with Israel. I mean, I don't know how stupid a believer can be, but if they are believers they are on the edge of ........... I mean, how clear could it be? Is God done with Israel? No, He's put them under judgment and we are benefiting from that judgment because He has turned His plan of salvation and offer and work of salvation to Gentiles. But when the fullness of the Gentiles, the time of Gentile salvation is over, we're back to Israel. That's where we are.

Come out from them my people. We are on the brink of that time when you will be going through Israel and you won't find any sin because God will have cleansed the nation because they will have turned to the Messiah. And the Messiah will come and remove ungodliness from Jacob and the cry of the nation for their Messiah as they place their faith in Him.

Come back to Revelation 18. Here, great chapter, because it's not just about the future because we get to chapter 19, remember, we're coming back with Christ to carry this all out. So I'm reading about what is the most exciting thing in my future. I mean, I'm going to be there. He is unfolding here and you and I are going to be there waiting on the edge of heaven for the heavens to open and here we come with Christ. We have to wait until chapter 19 for that.

Come back to chapter 18. Verse 5, why is God calling His people out? So that you do not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues. For her sins have piled up as high as heaven and God has remembered her iniquities. Remember in Genesis 11 when they in rebellion against God were determined to build a city in the plain of Shinar, Babylon, and have a tower whose top will reach to the heavens. Evidently this is the background for that. For her sins have piled up as high as heaven. They thought they had a tower that reached to heaven, you know what has reached to heaven? Their sins. God has remembered her iniquities as a way of indicating now it is time for judgment. It's not that He has forgotten, but now it's time to bring judgment. He has remembered her iniquities, now is the time. Remember Israel would not go into the land, yet what did God tell Abraham? Because the iniquity of the Amorite is not ripe. Those people haven't ripened for judgment yet. That's why when God send them into the land there is no mercy, every man, woman and child is to be destroyed. Why? They have ripened for full judgment. So here God remembered her iniquities, they have piled up to heaven. It's like they keep piling up, piling up. Now they've reached the point, they've reached to heaven. In other words there comes a point for heaven to respond, now God will remember their iniquities. Takes them all into account to pour out His judgments on them.

Verse 6, pay her back even as she has paid. Give back to her double according to her deeds. In the cup she has mixed, mix twice as much for her. We saw in the passages we read both in Isaiah and Jeremiah that emphasis on the cup in the hand, a cup in the hand of God. And we saw in Revelation 17 the cup that they've been partaking of. Now eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Fitting judgment. Judgment is based on the basis of works, we saw that in Romans 2. Salvation is not on the basis of works, but judgment is on the basis of works. And here her judgment will fit. Give her back double according to her deeds. As we read in Jeremiah 50 and 51, pay her back for what she did. This is what she did, now she is about to bear destruction.

Now this is the destruction coming on the city and the satanic empire. Then we are 1000 years away from the Great White Throne and the ultimate sentencing to hell that will be recorded at the end of Revelation 20. But this is the immediate judgment coming on the city, the people, the people of the world associated with this city. And she is going to get more than she meted out.

Verse 7, to the degree she has glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning. Remember we talked about that arrogance and what did she say. Remember I told you to remember this, I sit as a queen, I am not a widow, we'll never see mourning. You know, I am invincible, that arrogance. It's part of seeing herself as divine. I mean, this is a satanic system, we're invincible. Remember the miracles and power that had been demonstrated in the world in these days. I mean, this city is the center of the world, focused in opposition to God, in utmost arrogance. Self-sufficiency, self-satisfaction. I sit as a queen. Remember, I'll never suffer loss of my children, I'll never be a widow, the bad things will never happen to me. I'm above that, my power is too great for that.

For this reason in one day her plagues will come—pestilence and mourning and famine. She will be burned up with fire for the Lord God who judges her is strong. The mighty city of Babylon is no match for our mighty God. I mean, her destruction will be complete in one day. That's not how Babylon fell. Historic Babylon was defeated by the Medes and the Persians, the Persian kings took it over. And others dwelt there and it just sort of phased out and declined and then in the days of Saddam Hussein. But his goal, remember, was to rebuild Babylon. I was reading a book by a man who in the '80s had the privilege of visiting Babylon for some affairs that he put on over there, Saddam Hussein. Wanted to see how he was rebuilding the city and some of the old building blocks of the city had been restored and this is going to be the center of glory. He built a palace there but he wasn't the man. He died a dog's death, if you will. But there will be a future Babylon and it will become the center of the world.

But it is doomed to destruction, it will be a momentary glory, this Babylonian city because the contrast with this city, remember, is going to be with Jerusalem and ultimately the New Jerusalem. That's why some who write about Babylon in this section talk about the two cities. Like Charles Dickens and A Tale of Two Cities where he obviously was talking about London and Paris, but they'll use that title, A Tale of Two Cities, because that's what the Bible is about—Jerusalem and Babylon. And the book of Revelation is bringing us to the climax, and here we are, finally Babylon. And for that seven-year period and particularly the last 3½ years the world will be in awe. We have a one-world government, we have a one-world religion, we have the world united finally and now destruction comes. And then God's city will rule and reign over the world. And we're going to be part of it. Glorified saints, the church, remember all the way back in the letters to the churches in the opening part of the book of Revelation, promise to the overcomer. We will reign with Him on His throne. So remarkable events. And we look around at the world today, we're looking for the rapture but I am amazed to see so much taking place in the world in preparation for the coming together of these final events. Well we have to leave Babylon at this point, we'll pick it up next time.

Let's pray. Thank you, Lord, for the unfolding of truth in your Word. Lord, only you can tell the future and thousands of years ago you used your prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zechariah, others, to speak of these final days. Then your servant John was used to record these awesome events of end times. Lord, even in our day we see the world before us, the coming together of events that are amazing. So much of the world's attention on Israel, so much of the world's attention on the land of Iraq. Lord, ultimately the world events will focus more fully on these parts of the world. We thank you that you are a strong God, a mighty God, a God of salvation for all who place their faith in your Son. We praise you that there is a future for Israel, that your promises will be realized for them. There will come a time when their iniquity will be removed. Lord, that's a great encouragement and reminder to us, you are a God who keeps your word. The gifts and calling of our God are irrevocable. You have called us to yourself as your church, you have promised us great glory, you have promised us that we will share the ultimate victory when Christ comes to rule and reign. May we live our lives in the days of the week before us, should Jesus tarry and in light of the future that you have set before us. We pray in Christ's name, amen.