History and Fall of Babylon Part I

History and Fall of BabylonHistory and Fall of BabylonPart I Part I

Revelation 17:1-18Revelation 17:1-18

The Seven BowlsThe Seven Bowls(Rev 12:1 – 19:10)(Rev 12:1 – 19:10)

Background of the Bowls (12:1 – Background of the Bowls (12:1 – 14:20)14:20)

Rejoicing over and Preparation for Rejoicing over and Preparation for the Seven Last Plagues (15:1-8)the Seven Last Plagues (15:1-8)

Pouring out of the Seven Bowls (16:1-Pouring out of the Seven Bowls (16:1-21)21)

The History and Fall of Babylon (17:1 The History and Fall of Babylon (17:1 – 19:10)– 19:10)

Religious Babylon Destroyed (17:1-18)Religious Babylon Destroyed (17:1-18) Commercial Babylon Destroyed (18:1-Commercial Babylon Destroyed (18:1-

24)24)

The Harlot and the Beast The Harlot and the Beast (Rev 17:1-6a)(Rev 17:1-6a)

One of the 7 angels with the 7 One of the 7 angels with the 7 bowls is now ready to show John bowls is now ready to show John “the judgment of the great harlot.”“the judgment of the great harlot.” The symbolism of harlotry is used The symbolism of harlotry is used

widely in the OT as representing widely in the OT as representing idolatry or religious apostasy (Isa idolatry or religious apostasy (Isa 23:15-17; Jer 2:20-31; 13:27; Ezek 23:15-17; Jer 2:20-31; 13:27; Ezek 16:17-19; Hos 2:5; Nah 3:4).16:17-19; Hos 2:5; Nah 3:4).

The harlot’s position is sitting upon The harlot’s position is sitting upon the beast and on the shore of the beast and on the shore of “many waters” (cf. Rev 17:15; Jer “many waters” (cf. Rev 17:15; Jer 51:13). 51:13). She has committed fornication with all She has committed fornication with all

levels of society, from the kings of the levels of society, from the kings of the earth to the rest of earth’s inhabitants. earth to the rest of earth’s inhabitants.


The woman sits upon a scarlet beast, the same one The woman sits upon a scarlet beast, the same one which emerged out of the sea in 13:1.which emerged out of the sea in 13:1. The beast is the ruler who perfectly embodies the spirit of the The beast is the ruler who perfectly embodies the spirit of the

empire. He controls the political aspect of the Babylonian empire. He controls the political aspect of the Babylonian system, while the harlot controls the religious aspect. Theirs system, while the harlot controls the religious aspect. Theirs is an intimate and long-running relationship!is an intimate and long-running relationship!

The beast openly blasphemes the name of the true God.The beast openly blasphemes the name of the true God. As a harlot, the woman is dressed in colorful and As a harlot, the woman is dressed in colorful and

expensive clothing and wears flashy jewel. Her expensive clothing and wears flashy jewel. Her appearance is like the greatest queen, and is appearance is like the greatest queen, and is designed to entice her lovers to her.designed to entice her lovers to her.

She spreads her filthy vices and blasphemous She spreads her filthy vices and blasphemous activities by persuading earth’s inhabitants to drink activities by persuading earth’s inhabitants to drink from her cup.from her cup. From her own perspective, this cup symbolizes her own glory From her own perspective, this cup symbolizes her own glory

and greatness, but in reality the cup contains her own self-and greatness, but in reality the cup contains her own self-destruction as the consequences of her sin come upon her. destruction as the consequences of her sin come upon her.


The significance of “mystery” (v. 5) is that The significance of “mystery” (v. 5) is that the true character and identity of this the true character and identity of this woman, previously unknown, is now woman, previously unknown, is now clearly revealed.clearly revealed. Rev 17:18 shows her to be not only a great Rev 17:18 shows her to be not only a great

city, but also a vast system of idolatry through city, but also a vast system of idolatry through the ages that the great city represents.the ages that the great city represents.

It was at Babel that false religion had its It was at Babel that false religion had its beginnings (Gen 11:1-9), and in the future this beginnings (Gen 11:1-9), and in the future this city will again become prominent as a city will again become prominent as a worldwide religious and commercial center.worldwide religious and commercial center.

Did you read the articles concerning Babylon’s Did you read the articles concerning Babylon’s restoration?restoration?


The harlot’s role as “the mother of The harlot’s role as “the mother of harlots and of the abominations of harlots and of the abominations of the earth” makes her the source of the earth” makes her the source of everything that is opposed to the everything that is opposed to the true God. true God.

In the days just before Christ’s In the days just before Christ’s return, this enmity will manifest itself return, this enmity will manifest itself by the harlot’s intoxication with the by the harlot’s intoxication with the blood of the saints.blood of the saints.

The Significance of the The Significance of the SymbolismSymbolism

(Rev 17:6b-14)(Rev 17:6b-14) Upon seeing John’s amazement at the vision, Upon seeing John’s amazement at the vision,

the angel offered to explain it.the angel offered to explain it. In his explanation, the angel uses several details In his explanation, the angel uses several details

from Rev 11 and 13, as well as adding new from Rev 11 and 13, as well as adding new information.information.

The beast’s designation as one who “was and The beast’s designation as one who “was and is not, and is about to ascend out of the abyss” is not, and is about to ascend out of the abyss” ties him to the beast with the mortal wound ties him to the beast with the mortal wound who was healed in 13:3, 12, 14.who was healed in 13:3, 12, 14. Though his final destination is destruction (Rev Though his final destination is destruction (Rev

19:20), he will cause all those whose names do not 19:20), he will cause all those whose names do not stand writtenstand written in the Book of Life to marvel after him. in the Book of Life to marvel after him.


(Rev 17:6b-14)(Rev 17:6b-14) The 7 heads and 7 mountains are 7 The 7 heads and 7 mountains are 7

successive world empires, with the 7 kings successive world empires, with the 7 kings of v. 10 as heads and personifications of of v. 10 as heads and personifications of those empires (cf. Dan 7:17).those empires (cf. Dan 7:17).

These 7 kingdoms are the 7 that have These 7 kingdoms are the 7 that have dominated the world scene through dominated the world scene through human history: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, human history: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, and the future Persia, Greece, Rome, and the future kingdom of the beast.kingdom of the beast.

The beast is both 1 of the 7 and an eighth.The beast is both 1 of the 7 and an eighth. As 1 of the 7, the beast is a kingdom, but as an As 1 of the 7, the beast is a kingdom, but as an

eighth, he is the king over that kingdom that eighth, he is the king over that kingdom that sustains a fatal wound and rises again. sustains a fatal wound and rises again.

When this occurs, his rule will be far more When this occurs, his rule will be far more dominant than before. dominant than before.


(Rev 17:6b-14)(Rev 17:6b-14) The 10 horns are 10 kings who have not The 10 horns are 10 kings who have not

yet received their kingdom, but will do so yet received their kingdom, but will do so in the last days. They will co-rule with in the last days. They will co-rule with the beast in the final Gentile empire.the beast in the final Gentile empire.

This is predicted in Daniel 2:44 and 7:24.This is predicted in Daniel 2:44 and 7:24. They will rule with the beast for one hour They will rule with the beast for one hour

(i.e. a short time), giving unanimous and (i.e. a short time), giving unanimous and complete support to him.complete support to him.

All of these will wage war with the Lamb All of these will wage war with the Lamb in a final conflict, and will be defeated in a final conflict, and will be defeated (cf. Rev 19:11).(cf. Rev 19:11).

The Judgment of the Great The Judgment of the Great HarlotHarlot

(Rev 17:15-18)(Rev 17:15-18) The waters beside which the harlot The waters beside which the harlot

sits represent “peoples and multitudes sits represent “peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues,” and nations and tongues,” demonstrating her worldwide demonstrating her worldwide influence.influence.

In the end, the beast and the 10 horns In the end, the beast and the 10 horns (the political system) will turn against (the political system) will turn against this vast religious system.this vast religious system. The devouring of her flesh is a graphic The devouring of her flesh is a graphic

description of her complete desolation.description of her complete desolation. She (i.e. the city) ultimately will be She (i.e. the city) ultimately will be

destroyed by fire.destroyed by fire.


(Rev 17:15-18)(Rev 17:15-18) The ultimate cause behind this sudden The ultimate cause behind this sudden

friction between former allies is God friction between former allies is God Himself. Himself.

He has put it into the hearts of the 10 He has put it into the hearts of the 10 kings and their leader to turn against a kings and their leader to turn against a religious structure which no longer serves religious structure which no longer serves their purpose. their purpose.

All of this is according to the perfect plan All of this is according to the perfect plan of God!of God!


(Rev 17:15-18)(Rev 17:15-18) Verse 18 identifies the woman as “the great Verse 18 identifies the woman as “the great

city, which reigns over the kings of the city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.” earth.”

This city is both a physical place and the This city is both a physical place and the ideology that proceeds from it. ideology that proceeds from it. As an ideology, it is the anti-Christian religious As an ideology, it is the anti-Christian religious

system associated with the kingdom of the beast system associated with the kingdom of the beast that will seek to turn the world’s population away that will seek to turn the world’s population away from the true God. from the true God.

As a physical city, it is Babylon on the Euphrates.As a physical city, it is Babylon on the Euphrates. Thus the woman will be a religious system Thus the woman will be a religious system

connected with a material city. connected with a material city.

Next Time: The History and Next Time: The History and Fall of BabylonFall of Babylon

Part IIPart II

Read Rev 17:1 – 19:10Read Rev 17:1 – 19:10

History and Fall of Babylon Part I

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Transcript of History and Fall of Babylon Part I