Revelation 17:1-18 Babylon & the Beast

Who is the woman? (17:1-7, cf. 14:8; 16:19) –The kings of the earth have consorted with her in idolatry – she is called “the great harlot.” (17:1-2) –Her clothing suggests royalty and wealth. (17:4) –Her forehead is labeled “Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth” –She is drunk with the blood of the saints. (17:6) –She sits upon many waters which represent human societies (cf. 17:15) –She is supported by the beast but also controlling it. –She is a “great city” that reigns over kings (17:18) She is the CITY OF ROME!

Revelation 17:1-18 Babylon & the Beast Who is the Scarlet Beast? (17:3, 8-17) –There are many similarities to the Sea Beast of Revelation 13, which is the Roman Empire. Sea Beast/Chapter 13Scarlet Beast/Chapter 17 Out of sea (1) 7 heads, 10 horns (1) Name of blasphemy (1) Warred with saints (7) Wounded, healed (3) World marveled (3) Out of the abyss (8) 7 heads, 10 horns (3) Names of blasphemy (3) Makes war with Lamb (14) Was, is not, yet is (8) Earth shall marvel (8)

Revelation 17:1-18 Babylon & the Beast Who is the Scarlet Beast? (17:3, 8-17) –There are many similarities to the Sea Beast of Revelation 13, which is the Roman Empire. –The 7 heads are 7 mountains and 7 kings. Rome is famously known as “the City of 7 Hills” Five of the seven kings had fallen, one is to come. –The 10 horns are 10 kings to come who rule briefly with the beast They make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb overcomes them (17:14) Eventually they turn on the harlot, “make her desolate and burn her with fire” (17:12-13, 16-17)

Revelation 18:1-24 The Fall of Babylon John sees an angel descend from heaven with great authority, illuminating the earth (18:1) The angel declares that Babylon is Fallen.. –She is a dwelling place of demons, etc. (18:2) –Nations, kings & merchants have defiled themselves consorting with her (18:3) God’s people are called to come out from her “lest you share in her sins” (18:4; 1 Tim. 5:22) God’s judgment upon her is full, just and certain (18:5-8) –She glorified herself (18:7, see Isaiah 47:8) –The promise that judgment will come in “one day” and “one hour” reflects its certainty, not timeframe (18: 8, 10, 17, 19; Isaiah 9:14; 10:17)

Revelation 18:9-20 Reactions to the Fall of Babylon The kings of the earth will weep (18:9-10 cf. 6:15; 16:14; 17:1-2, 18) –“In one hour your judgment has come” (18:10) The merchants of the earth will mourn (18:11-16) –“In one hour such great riches come to nothing” (18:17) The shipmasters wail (18:17-19) –“In one hour she is made desolate” (18:19) Heaven is told to rejoice! (18:20) What lessons can we take from this? What should our reaction be to the fall of evil institutions, etc.?

Revelation 18:21-24 The Fullness of the Fall of Babylon Like a millstone cast into the sea (18:21) Life is taken away (18:22-23a) The judgment is justified (18:23b-24) – because she deceived the nations – because she spilled the blood of prophets and saints