Jesus and His Return: Babylon Has Fallen Pt. 2

John heard reasons for the destruction of Babylon. 1-3

1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory. 2 And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “^aFallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her ^dsensuality.”

Babylon has fallen because of demonic activity.

1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory. 2 And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird.

Babylon has fallen because of immoral activity. 

3 “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality.”

John hears the remedy for people to avoid destruction. 4

4 I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; 

The action is to come out of Babylon

The reason is avoiding the sins and judgment of Babylon

Isaiah 52:11; Jeremiah 51:45

John heard more reasons for destruction. 5-8

5 for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6 “Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her. 7 “To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning. 8 “For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong.

John heard the regrets of the world.  9-19

These groups share these regrets:

The sadness because of the judgement 9, 11, 19

The separateness because of the judgement 9, 15, 17b

The seriousness of the judgment 10,16, 19

The suddenness of the judgment 10, 17a, 19

The kings of the earth lament the fall of Babylon.

9 “And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’

The merchants of the earth lament the fall of Babylon

11 “And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more—12 cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble,13and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives.14 “The fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and men will no longer find them. 15 “The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, 16 saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls; 17 for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!’

The merchants of the sea lament the fall of Babylon. 

17 for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!’ And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood at a distance,18 and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What city is like the great city?’ 19 “And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!’

John heard rejoicing in heaven 

20 “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her.”

John heard the results of destruction

21 Then a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer.

22 “And the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer; and no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer; and the sound of a mill will not be heard in you any longer; 23 and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery. 24 “And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth.”

Elimination from existence 21

21 Then a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer

Elimination of musicians 22a

22 “And the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer;

Elimination of industry 22b

and no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer; and the sound of a mill will not be heard in you any longer;

Elimination of light 23a

23 and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer;

Elimination of marriage ceremonies 23b

23. . .and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer;

Explanation of judgement 23c-24

Because Babylon’s merchants deceived all the nations by sorcery

23. . .for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.

Because the blood of prophets, saints, and all slain are found in Babylon

24 “And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth.”

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