INTRODUCTION The most common view among Christians is that this harlot is either Rome, the city; Rome, the government or empire; or Rome, the seat of the papacy. Many see this chapter as the fall of the civil Roman Empire in 476. I do not believe that this chapter seeks to write history. Where is... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory._ A. An angel comes down from heaven. This angel has great power. B. The angel has power to announce. He also has power to act and judge.... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 2 And 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, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!_ A. Babylon is one of the terms studied in the previous chapter. This announcement fr... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 3 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 merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”_ A. People of all nations have fallen at the feet of immorality. All nati... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues._ A. God expects his people to be separate from sin. Baptism puts us on the other side of the river. The water of baptism separates us from our former life... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities._ A. God knows who has shared a role in immoral activity. B. God will remember their sins. Men will be judged by the deeds done while here on earth, good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 6 Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her._ A. The great harlot will be rewarded as she rewarded those who worshiped her. Those who thought of immorality as their god, were rewarded with AIDS, STD,... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 7 In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’_ A. In this life immorality seems to “live it up” in luxury. Many immoral sins are seen by the... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 8 Therefore her plagues will come in one day-death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her._ A. There is a payday. There is a day of reckoning. She will suffer the plagues that she has caused on others. B. Babylon will suffer d... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 9 “The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning,_ A. The kings (civil governments) lived in luxury. They, the kings, made an alliance with Babylon. They passed laws that allowed immorality to b... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 10 standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’_ A. These kings now seek to distance themselves from her. They were responsible for her success. Now that she is being punished, they try to... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 11 “And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore:_ A. All the merchants of immorality are in mourning. The source of their income is going up in smoke. B. The filth shops, the drug dealers, and the porno sales on the Internet are exposed... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 12 merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine a... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 14 The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all._ A. There is an old proverb, “The chickens have come home to roost.” We need to be reminded that sometimes we think the wicked are g... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 15 The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!_ A. Just as the ki... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 17 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 sea, stood at a distance 18 and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’_ A. The term “merchants” includes all who... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 19 “They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’_ A. All the profiteers are in mourning. The source of their gain is gone. B.“In... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 20 “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!”_ A. God promises that vengeance belongs to Him. Our God will repay the evil that we suffer. B. Heaven (angels and martyrs) rejoice. They are not rejoicing because someone is suffering. They are r... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 21 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._ A. A powerful angel stands up with a great stone. This huge stone is thrown into the sea. B. The symb... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 22 The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore._ A. All the “pleasure” associated with evil and immorality has been stopped. No... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 23 The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived._ A. All the glitter is gone. The candle has been blown out. B. Al... [ Continue Reading ]
_ 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.”_ A. Immorality is NOT a victimless crime. When a person commits fornication - a spouse, children, extended families, friends, the church, are also harmed. One person’s immoral activity can, in fact,... [ Continue Reading ]