1. History and Fall of Babylon Part II Revelation 18:1-24

2. The Seven Bowls (Rev 12:1 – 19:10) Background of the Bowls (12:1 – 14:20) Background of the Bowls (12:1 – 14:20) Rejoicing over and Preparation for the Seven Last Plagues (15:1-8) Rejoicing over and Preparation for the Seven Last Plagues (15:1-8) Pouring out of the Seven Bowls (16:1- 21) Pouring out of the Seven Bowls (16:1- 21) The History and Fall of Babylon (17:1 – 19:10) The History and Fall of Babylon (17:1 – 19:10) Religious Babylon Destroyed (17:1-18) Religious Babylon Destroyed (17:1-18) Commercial Babylon Destroyed (18:1-24) Commercial Babylon Destroyed (18:1-24)

3. OT Background on Babylon from Jeremiah 51

4. First Angelic Announcement of Judgment on Babylon (Rev 18:1-3) A powerful and glorious angel of God proclaims the doom of Babylon. A powerful and glorious angel of God proclaims the doom of Babylon. The language of v. 2 is from the OT and describes the complete desolation of the city. The language of v. 2 is from the OT and describes the complete desolation of the city. Verse 3 provides the reason for the city’s destruction: her prostitution with the kings and nations of the earth and her luxurious immorality with the merchants of the earth. Verse 3 provides the reason for the city’s destruction: her prostitution with the kings and nations of the earth and her luxurious immorality with the merchants of the earth. Commerce and trade are the major subjects of the rest of the chapter. Commerce and trade are the major subjects of the rest of the chapter.

5. Prediction that Babylon Will Fall (Rev 18:4-20) A call for God’s people to come out of Babylon (vv. 4-8) A call for God’s people to come out of Babylon (vv. 4-8) God’s “remembering” of her iniquities has to do with taking special note of them and acting. God’s “remembering” of her iniquities has to do with taking special note of them and acting. He will pay her back exactly what she deserves! He will pay her back exactly what she deserves! Her pride has caused her to say that such things would never happen to her; she rejects the possibility of widowhood and suffering. She will therefore be greatly surprised when her plagues come upon her suddenly. Her pride has caused her to say that such things would never happen to her; she rejects the possibility of widowhood and suffering. She will therefore be greatly surprised when her plagues come upon her suddenly. Note the precise correspondence in the plagues (v. 8): Note the precise correspondence in the plagues (v. 8): death in response to her rejection of widowhood death in response to her rejection of widowhood sorrow in response to her reveling sorrow in response to her reveling famine in response to her abundance famine in response to her abundance

6. Prediction that Babylon Will Fall (Rev 18:4-20) Three different groups mourn over the destruction of the city, because of the way it affects their own self- interests: Three different groups mourn over the destruction of the city, because of the way it affects their own self- interests: the kings of the earth (vv. 9-10) – loss of power the kings of the earth (vv. 9-10) – loss of power the merchants (vv. 11-17a) – loss of commerce the merchants (vv. 11-17a) – loss of commerce the sea people (vv. 17b-19) – loss of employment the sea people (vv. 17b-19) – loss of employment All three groups stand at a distance and mourn her sudden destruction as they watch the city burn. All three groups stand at a distance and mourn her sudden destruction as they watch the city burn. In clear contrast, heaven rejoices, because God has brought righteous judgment on His enemies and the enemies of His people (v. 20). In clear contrast, heaven rejoices, because God has brought righteous judgment on His enemies and the enemies of His people (v. 20).

7. Second Angelic Announcement of Judgment on Babylon (Rev 18:21-24) The act of the angel casting the great millstone into the sea depicts the suddenness and violence of Babylon’s destruction. Babylon’s destruction is marked by the absence of: Music Commerce Light The joyous occasion of marriage Reasons for her judgment restated: Pride of her merchants Deception of the nations Bloodguiltiness

8. Next Week: Rejoicing over Babylon’s Fall & Conquest of the King of Kings Read Rev 19