Taught by
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Taught by
Stephen ArmstrongLet’s return to the final bowl judgment of Tribulation
The seventh bowl judgment isn’t a single moment of destruction
Instead, think of it like a row of dominos set up on a table
As the final bowl is poured out, it’s as if the Lord’s finger pushes over the first domino in that row
Triggering a cascade of falling dominos that play out over a period of days and weeks
Some of those dominos were set up by God in the earlier bowl judgments and now that everything is set, it’s time to knock them down
As the final bowl judgment began, it started with an unimaginably destructive hailstorm and earthquake
They eliminated all mountains and islands, except the one on which Jerusalem stands
All the Gentile nations of the earth are destroyed
In particular, one Gentile city – the Great City, Babylon – will be utterly destroyed
While Babylon is an ancient ruin in our world today, in Tribulation the city will have been resurrected to its former glory
The Antichrist will make that city (or some new version of it) his world capital
So that as in ancient times, Babylon will once again be the seat of world power and the chief adversary of God’s people
Think back to the statue of Daniel 2, which the Lord gave to Nebuchadnezzar in a dream so that Daniel could interpret it
That statue represents a long age of history called the Age of the Gentiles, when Israel would fall under Gentile authority
The beginning of that period corresponded to the head of the statue, representing Babylon’s king, Nebuchadnezzar
He was the first to conquer Israel and rule the world
And the end of the statue represents the final Gentile authority to rule over Israel, and I told you that the end of the age will be much like the beginning
Just as it started with one man ruling the world in absolute authority, so it will end with one man in control of the world
And just as it starts with the seat of world power centered in Babylon, so it will end the same way
And this is more than coincidence…this is God sending us a message about the real adversary of God’s people
Satan has always been our true enemy, and like any enemy he has a base of power and a place for his throne on earth
And that place is Babylon…Mesopotamia
Throughout the Bible, this region has been associated with God’s enemy and his efforts to undermine God’s people
Of course, as the population of the earth has spread out, the enemy’s demonic forces have followed
But Satan’s headquarters has remained in the Middle East, in the plain of Shinar, in the historical area of Babylon
So in the final stages of Tribulation, the Lord is tearing down the enemy’s stronghold in preparation for the Lord’s Second Coming
His bowl judgments are the final series of blows to bring about the end
And there are two phases to His plan of destruction, the first of which we studied last time in Chapter 17
Chapter 17 described the destruction of spiritual Babylon
Spiritual Babylon is my term for the Kingdom that Satan has been trying to establish on earth in opposition to God
It takes the form primarily of false religious systems that Satan has created and promoted among the nations of the earth
While there are countless false religions on earth, they are truly just shades of the same color…they are inventions of Satan
And they all serve the same purpose…to distract humanity and lead them away from the truth of the Gospel
Collectively, they form an alternate Kingdom to the one God establishes for Christ
That false kingdom began, not coincidentally, in Babel with the tower and it continues to today
But those who come to the light and believe in Jesus are transferred by their faith from Satan’s kingdom to the true Kingdom
But at the end of the Age in preparation for Christ’s return, the Lord will systematically destroy the enemy’s Kingdom on earth
Chapter 17 opens with symbols that show us how the end of the Age of the Gentiles is connected to this destruction
A woman riding a beast in Revelation 17 pictured how the rulers of the Age of the Gentiles support Satan’s Kingdom
The woman was the mother of all harlots, a picture of Satan’s Kingdom of counterfeit worship
And this harlot rides a seven-headed beast, representing the rulers of the Age of the Gentiles
So during the Age of Gentiles, Satan’s spiritual Kingdom will be supported by earthly kingdoms under his control starting (again) with Babylon
These empires prompted false religion and trap generations of humanity in their false claims
The empires also oppress Israel and persecuted the saints
The beast had seven heads, representing various world rulers who come and go during the age
These heads serve as mile markers to mark the passage of time and tell us how close we are to the end of the Spiritual Babylon
By John’s day, only one world leader had not yet appeared, the Antichrist, and after he appears Satan’s Kingdom will come to an end
So Spiritual Babylon, the spiritual nature of Satan’s kingdom, will be set up for destruction first, beginning with the consolidation of all world religion
At the midpoint of Tribulation, all objects and houses of false worship are destroyed as the world is directed to worship the Antichrist only
All world leaders give their allegiance to the Antichrist, and with the help of the false prophet, everyone worships him alone
It’s still a false system of worship, of course, but because it’s been condensed to one monolithic religion, it’s easier to destroy
In Chapter 17 we read:
So as we move now to Chapter 18, the Lord has set up the spiritual kingdom of Satan for destruction at the Lord’s return
So all that remains is for Satan, the Antichrist and the false prophet to be destroyed and the Lord will deal with them personally upon His return
Now our attention turns to the physical remnant of Babylon and its impact on the earth
This second judgment takes place as part of the campaign of the war of Armageddon
The destruction of geographical Babylon is the subject of numerous prophecy in the Old Testament
To appreciate those prophecies, we need to examine passages from Isaiah and Jeremiah
We will move back and forth between Revelation, Isaiah and Jeremiah studying parts of them together
Also note that the events of Revelation 16-17 are the backdrop for the events of Revelation 18, so we will glance back at times
The chapter opens with our familiar phrase “After these things…” which in Greek is meta houte houtos
This phrase implies a cause-and-effect relationship so the events in Chapter 18 are the result of events described earlier
Those earlier events are the judgments poured out in Chapter 16, specifically the seventh bowl judgment
Remember, Chapter 17 was an interruption in the narrative of those judgments
In the beginning of Chapter 17 John was carried away to see a vision of the Harlot being judged
In fact, glance back at the start of that chapter, and in vs.1-3 we see the movement is away from the earth and into heaven
So that chapter was backstory to explain how spiritual Babylon existed for millennia but in the end it will be destroyed
Now in Chapter 18 John returns to a literal description of the Great City being judged by the seventh bowl
Notice in v.1 the direction of movement is away from heaven and toward the earth as an angel comes down…
John describes the angel leaving heaven as having great authority, perhaps an archangel
His authority does indicate the importance of the mission and the announcement
The angel declares (twice for emphasis) that Babylon is fallen
What follows is God’s fulfillment of previous prophecy concerning Babylon
These prophecies are scattered among numerous Old Testament prophets
In particular, Isaiah and Jeremiah (and Ezekiel) spoke extensively on Babylon’s end
The angel declares that the city will be so utterly devastated that it will be left uninhabited forever
The only thing that will remain in that place are the demons that will be confined there during the Kingdom
In v.2 we’re told it will become a dwelling place only for demons and unclean spirits and unclean birds, meaning scavengers
The reference to scavenger birds is a way of saying that only dead things will dwell in this place
And the mention of animals associated with death is an allusion to the resting place of the dead, including demons held in confinement
Jeremiah says something similar
The destruction of Babylon the Great will result in the place forever remaining uninhabited except by unclean animals
These descriptions preclude the possibility that the prophets were talking about the overthrow of Babylon by Medo-Persia
During that event, the nation of Babylon was not destroyed and it continued to be inhabited even to this day
Secondly, the conquest of Babylon in that day happened very differently than the way described here
In fact, the conquest of Babylon by the Medo-Persians was largely a bloodless affair
The city of Babylon was protected by high walls no one could successfully assault
The river Euphrates ran under the wall, but iron gates block anyone from swimming under the opening
Cyrus the Great invaded Babylon by diverting the Euphrates river upstream
Then when the river level dropped, his troops marched in the river bed undetected
They then destroyed the gates over the riverbed and entered the city under the wall
At the time, Babylon was sleeping off a night of feasting, so there was virtually no fighting during the capture of the city
So this must reference a future time of destruction, something that has yet to happen
Isaiah lists animals that will inhabit Babylon instead of people, but it’s an odd list of animals
Back to Revelation 18, the chapter says nothing about animals, yet it does talk about unclean spirits or demons
So we understand that Isaiah’s description of animals is a picture of demons, which is a typical pattern in scripture
Animals like goats and birds of prey are associated with sorcery, satanism or other cultic practices
Meaning that only the demonic realm will exist in this place after the destruction of the bowl judgment
We’ll see a similar description later when we read about the destruction of Edom in Isaiah 37 and Ezekiel 34
In v.3 we have the three reasons for her destruction
First, the nations have become drunk by her immorality
This statement sounds like the judgment of the previous chapter, that of the Harlot and Spiritual Babylon
But Chapter 18 is focused on physical Babylon, the city of the Antichrist that reigns over the world
So this first indictment refers to the city’s corrupting influence on the world of that day…specifically the world’s worship of beast
Secondly, the kings of the earth will commit acts of immorality with Babylon the Great
Babylon controls all political and military authority and causes all kings to do the Antichrist’s bidding
In Chapter 17:13 we heard how the kings of the earth give their authority to the Beast
So this is the second charge against the city…it is the seat of power of all corrupt government in that day
Finally, the merchants of the world have profited from the Antichrist’s rule in Babylon
Since the Antichrist regulates all commerce by the mark of the beast, his city becomes unbelievably rich
And his material wealth and financial control becomes another way of oppressing and controlling people
So the world’s corrupt economy also depends on Babylon
So now comes time to end all of that…
In v.4, a voice from heaven calls to those who belong to God to leave the city so they might escape the city’s corrupting influence and her coming judgment
Remember we said that the plagues have come upon the entire world except for the Jews and believers and except for Jerusalem
And so God will call from heaven for His people to leave Babylon before the city’s judgment
Because if the people remain in the city, they will surely experience the judgment with the city
This is a consistent pattern in the Bible, that the Lord is always discriminating between those who are His and those who aren’t
There is a principle in the Bible that when God pours out judgment, He protects those who are His
We remember how the Lord removed Lot and his family before the coming judgment in Sodom
And He removes the Church from the earth before the coming judgment of Tribulation
And now He calls for believers in Tribulation to leave the city prior to the judgment on Babylon
God spoke of this warning to leave Babylon before judgment in Jeremiah
The Jews still living in Babylon (and any who haven’t taken the mark of the beast) will flee the city in response to God’s warning
God’s warning to leave Babylon is similar to the one Christ gave believers concerning Jerusalem in the Olivet Discourse
He told those in Jerusalem to flee to the mountains when they see the armies surrounding the city
Only those who heard and believed God’s word would respond to the call to flee
Similarly, those Jews who hear and believe the call from Heaven will flee, only those who do not have the mark of the Beast
By their departure, they will save their lives and give opportunity for eventual salvation
But where will the Jews who flee Babylon go?
They go to the only other city remaining on earth: Jerusalem
When they arrive in Jerusalem, these refugees from Babylon share the news with the other Jews that the city was destroyed
That the news comes only by messenger reminds us the world is so utterly devastated that all other communication is gone
And back in v.6-8 the angel declares that this judgment is recompense for Israel
In particular, Babylon is held responsible for her mistreatment of Israel during the invasion of Jerusalem under Nebuchadnezzar
In v.7 the psalmist asks the Lord to remember the day Babylon ordered that Jerusalem be razed to its very foundation and judge her
And in Revelation 8:7, the angel quotes from Isaiah 47, a lament against Babylon
Then he goes on to say how blessed is the one who repays Babylon
Historically, we could credit the Medo-Persian empire for accomplishing that revenge against Babylon but only in a limited sense
In effect, the Persians just became Babylon as they conquered and assimilated Babylon
The true and ultimate destruction of Babylon awaits Tribulation when the Lord once and forever destroys it
And that’s the destruction that Jeremiah is describing here
So the city will be destroyed as punishment for the history of the city and its people in opposing Israel and corrupting the world
The destruction of physical Babylon is actually a two-part process, with both parts orchestrated by God
The first part is accomplished at the hands of men and directed against the citizens of the city
The second part is accomplished supernaturally by God alone and directed against the structures of the city
Revelation 18 only summarizes the outcome of both, so we need to go outside the chapter to find details on each part individually
Let’s study the destruction of Babylon at the hands of men, starting in Isaiah 13
Isaiah delivers an oracle or word against Babylon and in vs.2-3, God describes how He will destroy the city
First, the Lord will command His mighty warriors to execute His anger against Babylon
These warriors are God’s “consecrated” ones commanded to attack Babylon
The word for consecrated is qadash in Hebrew
The word can mean holy, but it can also mean simply “set apart” or “appointed for God's purpose”
God’s call is followed by the sound of an army, many people, numerous nations gathered together to muster for battle
They come from a far away country as God’s instruments of indignation to destroy the whole land of Babylon
So God sends some armies to destroy Babylon but what army is there to oppose the Antichrist?
Jeremiah describes it
This is a prophecy about the ultimate destruction of Babylon, and again it can’t be a description of the Medo-Persian conquest because that was bloodless
This is a description of the Tribulation destruction of Babylon, when God promises to raise up the spirit of the destroyer against Babylon
The translation of the phrase “spirit of the destroyer” is a poor choice
A more literal translation would be a “destroying wind” because this is not a reference to a spirit
The invading army is compared to a violent windstorm that blows in from the north and destroys the city
The invading army attacks the people in the city using hand-to-hand combat and simple weaponry
With the result that all the citizens of the city are killed…all of them
Remember, no one inhabits the city again
And the Lord says this attack will also be against leb-kamai
Leb-kamai means “heart of my adversaries” which is an ancient term for Chaldea or Mesopotamia
It conveys a sense similar to the phrase “mother of harlots"
It means that Mesopotamia is the heart or source of all God’s adversaries and that corrupting source will be destroyed
Who will conduct this attack upon the Antichrist’s headquarters?
Like Isaiah, Jeremiah give us an answer…to a degree
Jeremiah tells us the attack will come from the north and consist of a great nation and many kings
And it will involve peoples from all parts of the earth
Later Jeremiah identities the northern nations involved
Jeremiah names God’s consecrated as the kingdoms of Ararat (Turkey), Minni (Armenia), Ashkenaz (southern Russia/Black Sea), and the Medes
We know that in the time of Tribulation, the political map will look very different than it does today
There will only be ten kingdoms and ten rulers and then later just one ruler for all ten kingdoms
North of Babylon today, you find the nations of Iran (Persia), Turkey, Armenia and Russia
Perhaps these will all become part of a common kingdom and together they attack as Jeremiah describes
So God’s judgment on Babylon starts in very ordinary ways…an army invading the city to destroy it
But why would an army dare to attack the Antichrist’s headquarters in Tribulation?
Let’s revisit the story from the earlier stages of the War of Armageddon
First, at the release of the sixth bowl judgment, the Euphrates was dried up
This made it possible for the Antichrist’s armies to leave Babylon to engage in the great war against God
His armies gather in Northern Israel in preparation to invade the city
Secondly, we heard in Chapter 17 that God caused the kings of the earth to give their allegiance to the beast
Notice v.17 says they will give their kingdoms to the beast only until the words of God are fulfilled
The phrase at the end of the verse suggests that the kings will change their mind at some point during Tribulation
They follow the Beast only until it’s time for the word of God concerning Babylon to be fulfilled
That’s a reference to Isaiah 13 and Jeremiah 50-51
So once God is ready to judge Babylon, he causes His consecrated ones (i.e., the kings of the earth) to turn against the Antichrist
Because the Antichrist has left his city unprotected, Babylon becomes an easy target, emboldening the nations of the north to attack
Those kings attempt a coup by destroying the Antichrist’s city while the Antichrist is away
We can suppose that the motivation for the kings to attack is to take it for themselves and to topple the Antichrist’s rule
But in reality God is using them to do His will in destroying the the city and its people
So to review, Phase II of the Battle of Armageddon is the destruction of Babylon
That destruction is accomplished in two steps, beginning with an invading army sent by God to destroy the city left unprotected
These armies defeat the city but they do not hold the ground for very long
Following this manmade attack, the Lord will utterly destroy the the physical city supernaturally
That supernatural destruction was described in Chapter 16 as part of the bowl judgments
And all of this physical destruction is part of putting spiritual Babylon to an end, as described in Chapter 17
And the effect of that supernatural destruction is described in the rest of Revelation 18
God’s destruction reduces the city to ruins
The city is burning and everything in her has been laid waste
Her ruin is complete, and all three classes of society mentioned in v.3 are shown mourning for her
In v.9 the kings of the earth mourn for the loss of their important city and the political power that came from controlling her
In v.11 the merchants mourn the loss of trade and wealth associated with her
In vs. 15 & 17 the working class that profited from the city mourned
Notice that the destruction comes very quickly, reflecting the supernatural desertion
Three times we’re told that the destruction of the city comes in an hour
This is not a description of the invading armies described earlier
In fact, the kings who led that invasion are most likely the same kings shown mourning here
Notice that the kings and merchants and laborers are described as standing at a distance from the city
They are at a distance because they fear her torment, as they experienced the judgment of the bowl judgment
We saw that judgment mentioned briefly earlier in this chapter in v.8
And back in Chapter 16:9 we were told that this judgment resulted in the city being split
Jeremiah provides a nice two-verse summary of both parts of God’s judgment against the city
Jeremiah says nations rise up against her while the land quakes and writhes
The nations rose up against Babylon and then the Lord destroyed the city supernaturally through the bowl judgments
Finally, the city receives a brief eulogy
An angel takes a great millstone and throws it into the sea, and obviously, a large stone will sink and never be found again
This is the image the Lord wants His people to have in their minds when they think of Babylon’s future
The enemy and all his power and work on earth is going to be completely vanquished and forgotten
And that day is coming soon
As a final footnote, what do you suppose the Antichrist thinks of all this as it’s happening while he’s sitting in the Jezreel Valley?
Jeremiah tells us that as well….
Messenger after messenger transfers the news of his city’s fall (notice again the rudimentary form of communication)
When the Antichrist hears the news that his city is gone, he is distressed and in agony
Now he and his armies have no choice but to attack Jerusalem, for Jerusalem is the last city standing on the earth
And destroying the Jews is the enemy’s last hope for rescuing himself
The Lord baited him into leaving his city unprotected, and now the Lord has given him no reason to return
The Lord is moving the Antichrist steadily toward his own destruction in Jerusalem at the Lord’s return
The Lord is whittling away at the world leaving the Antichrist cornered and right where He wants him
So the second stage of the War of Armageddon is complete and stage three sets the stage for the Lord’s return in Chapter 19