The Fall of Babylon

I have a series of Bible study books by a scholar named, Irving L. Jensen, so below are a few outline notes from the one on the Revelation. Why the Revelation? My church has an adult Bible study where we just started a study in this book. This is an outline of Jensen’s work with a few of my own additions.

Not only is the fall of Babylon foretold, this section mentioned the sins of Babylon. The subject of Babylon comprises almost 14 percent of the prophetic chapters 6-22. The subject is not new in the Revelation (Revelation 14:8, 16:19). Now, with all the bowl judgments recorded, it is an appropriate time for John to backtrack and describe in detail his vision of fallen Babylon.

For background, read Genesis 10:10, 11:1-9 for the earliest references to the city of Babel (meaning the gate of God). There is a rich history of Babylon in the Bible. This city was a symbol of greatness to the world at large. Note that Revelation 17:1 is related to chapter 16; keep the bowl judgments in mind as we read this section.

Revelation 17:1-18 – John describes in highly metaphorical language a filthy religious prostitute.

1. Information about the great harlot (Revelation 17:1-6)
   1. Her corruption (Revelation 17:1-2, 4)
      1. Sits on many waters.
      2. With whom the kings of the world committed acts of immorality.
      3. Clothed in purple, scarlet, gold, precious stones, pearls, holding a golden cup full of abominations and immorality.
   2. Her compromise (Revelation 17:3)
      1. Sitting on a scarlet beast.
      2. Full of blasphemous names.
      3. Having seven heads and ten horns.
   3. Her caption (Revelation 17:5) written on her forehead, a mystery, “Babylon the great, mother of harlots.”
   4. Her cruelty (Revelation 17:6)
      1. Drunk with the blood of the saints.
      2. Drunk with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus.
2. interpretation in regard to this great prostitute (Revelation 17:7-18)
   1. What John sees (Revelation 17:7) he wonders, and will be told the mystery of the woman and the beast.
   2. What John is told (Revelation 17:8-18)
      1. The woman represents a corrupt system depicted by the city of Babylon (Revelation 17:8)
         1. The beast will come up from the abyss and go down to destruction.
         2. Those whose names are not listed in the book of life will wonder at the beast.
      2. The beast represents various kings (Revelation 17:9) seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.
         1. Some have already ruled (Revelation 17:10-11)
            1. Seven kings.
            2. Five have fallen (Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Vespasian, Titus)
            3. One is (Domitian)
            4. One is yet to come (Nero)
            5. The beast is the eighth, and is one of the seven (Nero Redivivus myth)
         2. Ten kings are yet to rule (Revelation 17:12)
            1. Not yet received a kingdom.
            2. Receives authority as kings from the beast for one hour.
         3. One will be the most powerful (Revelation 17:13) they have one purpose, to give power and authority to the beast.
         4. These kings will destroy the woman but themselves be destroyed by the Lamb (Revelation 17:14-18)
            1. They wage war with the Lamb.
            2. They will be overcome by the Lamb.
               1. He is Lord of lards and King of kings.
               2. His people are called chosen and faithful.
            3. The waters are the peoples, nations, multitudes, and tongues.
            4. The harlot will be made naked, desolate, flesh eaten, burned with fire.
            5. God will put it in their hearts to execute his purpose, until God’s words are fulfilled.
            6. The woman is the great city (Roman empire).

Revelation 18:1-24 – John witnesses the destruction of the city of Babylon.

1. Condition of Babylon (Revelation 18:1-2)
   1. An angel descends and illuminate the earth.
   2. An angel’s declaration.
      1. Fallen is Babylon the great.
      2. She has become the dwelling place of demons.
      3. She has become a prison for ever unclean spirit.
      4. She has become a prison of every unclean and hateful bird.
2. Curse of Babylon (Revelation 18:3)
   1. All the nations are drunk with the wine of her passion of immorality.
   2. The kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her.
   3. The merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality.
3. Call out of Babylon of God’s people from above (Revelation 18:4)
   1. My people, come out of her.
   2. Don’t participate in her sins, and receive these plagues.
4. Cause and effect in Babylon remembered and rewarded (Revelation 18:5-6)
   1. Her sins have piled up as high as heaven.
   2. God has remembered her iniquities.
   3. God will pay her back double, according to her deeds.
5. Character of Babylon (Revelation 18:7) pride, plenty, presumption.
   1. To the same degree she glorified herself and lived sensually.
   2. To the same degree give her torment and mourning.
   3. Pride: “I sit as queen and not a widow.”
6. Consequences for Babylon (Revelation 18:8) death, mourning, famine, fire.
   1. In one day her plagues will come.
   2. The Lord God who judges her is strong.
7. Condolences for Babylon (Revelation 18:9-19)
   1. Mighty men of earth lament (Revelation 18:9-10)
      1. They will weep and lament when they see the smoke of her burning.
      2. They will stand at a distance in fear of her torment.
      3. Woe to the great and strong city.
      4. She fell in one hour of judgment.
   2. Merchants join the chorus (Revelation 18:11-19)
      1. They will weep and mourn because no one is buying their cargo.
         1. Gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet, wood carvings, stone carvings, bronze, iron, and marble.
         2. Cinnamon, spice, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, slaves, and human lives (literally, souls of men).
         3. Fruit is gone, luxurious and splendid things are gone.
      2. They will stand at a distance in fear of her torment, weeping, and mourning.
   3. Mariners lament the city’s destruction (Revelation 18:17-19)
      1. The city laid to waste in one hour.
      2. These all stood at a distance.
      3. They cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning.
         1. What city is like the great city?
         2. They threw dust on their heads, weeping, and mourning.
         3. Woe to the great city.
8. Celebration for Babylon’s downfall (Revelation 18:20-24)
   1. Rejoicing in heaven (Revelation 18:20) saints, apostles, and prophets.
   2. Retribution inflicted (Revelation 18:21)
      1. The strong angel tosses a millstone into the sea.
      2. So Babylon will be thrown down with violence and be found no more.
   3. Ruin indicated (Revelation 18:22-24)
      1. The music will be heard no longer.
      2. The craftsmen will be unemployed.
      3. The mill sounds will be heard no longer.
      4. The light of the lamp will no longer shine.
      5. The voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard.
      6. The merchants and nations were deceived by her sorcery.
      7. In her was found the blood of prophets and saints who have been slain.

NOTES:

1. Clearly the woman represents Babylon (Revelation 17:18), but what is Babylon?
   1. The real Babylon located near the Euphrates? If this view is correct, the entire city would need to be revived between now and the end times. It was at one time the most splendid city in the world.
   2. A real city located somewhere other than the city near the Euphrates? The text mentions the seven hills upon which the city stands (Revelation 17:9). Rome is the likely city; the seven hills of Rome are as prominent today as they were back then. It is not difficult to imagine this city becoming the world capital described here. For John, Rome is this real city responsible for opposing God and killing the prophets, apostles, and saints.
   3. It symbolizes a world system? This view has a world-wide scope.
   4. It is a real city and symbolizes a world system of which it is the capital? All world systems (religious and secular) will be judged. Kings, merchants, and mariners will watch the system’s downfall. One would expect a system so described to have a real capital city.
2. Babylon here is described:
   1. World wide influence.
   2. Material wealth.
   3. Political power.
   4. Full of immorality.
   5. Religious power, anti-God, and anti-gospel (Refer back to Revelation 13).
3. Babylon has a prophetic destiny (of destruction).
   1. Contrast the beast and his league of nations (Revelation 17:12-13, 16) with the woman (Revelation 17:18).
   2. Who seems to mourn here downfall the most (those who have a financial stake in the game).
   3. What do you think about Revelation 18:13 referring to the souls of men?
   4. What do you think about the many times the word, great is used to describe this city?
   5. What do you think about the repeated phrase, in one day or in one hour?
4. What may be the purpose of Revelation 18:20?
5. Terms:
   1. Mystery (Revelation 17:5) – this word is not part of the woman’s title, but an introductory word to the title.
   2. Babylon the great (Revelation 15:5) – the seven hills makes it clear, this city being bend on opposing the authority of God.
   3. These will hate the whore (Revelation 17:16) – while centered on Rome, other harlot groups exercise political influence. The city becomes a challenge to the power of the other kingdoms.
6. Food for Thought:
   1. What characteristics of Babylon are prevalent in the world today?
   2. What current systems in the world can compete with what we see in biblical Babylon?
   3. What do these two chapters teach us about material wealth?
   4. What else do we know about satanic influence in world systems? (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11, 1 John 2:16-17, 4:3-4, 5:19, Galatians 1:4, Colossians 1:13, 2 Peter 2:20, James 4:1-4).