TOPIC:‌“The Judgment of Political Babylon”

                  by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap

 

TEXT:‌Revelation 18:1-24

 

‌‌“Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine,

‌‌and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judges

‌‌her” (18:8).

 

‌Chapter 18 is a continuation of the subject of Babylon. As we come to this chapter we need to remind ourselves that the reference to Babylon in prophecy takes two forms. There is ecclesiastical Babylon, the harlot woman, representing the worldwide apostate church already discussed in the previous chapter, which shall be destroyed by Antichrist at the middle of the Tribulation or shortly thereafter. There is also political Babylon as a city, the throne and kingdom of Antichrist, as already seen in Revelation 16:10. This capital city of the beast seems to be rebuilt ancient Babylon as stated in the previous chapter.

 

‌It is to this political, commercial, capital city of the world that the judgment of God falls upon in this chapter. Babylon, the city of the Euphrates, the wonder city of the ancient world, now a rebuilt city in which wickedness reaches its fullest manifestation is destined to be disposed of by God. This judgment it seems will take place near the end of the Tribulation period, just before the second coming of Christ.

 

I.

 

‌First of all, we have the DECLARATION of the Angel. We read these words in verses 1 through 3: “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power, and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.”

 

‌The phrase “And after these things” in verse 1 shows that this revelation of chapter 18 comes after that which has already been revealed in chapter 17. In this chapter John beholds another angel with great authority coming down from Heaven. The radiant glory of the angel lights up the entire earth. The word “another” shows that this is not the same angel as mentioned in 17:1, but an angel similar in character who is great in might and has a strong voice. Perhaps the reason for the strong voice of the angel is so everyone will hear and listen to the important message that he is about to announce.

 

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