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Revelation: Part VI The Great Babylon PowerPoint by Mark E. Hardgrove, Ph.D., D.Min., M.Div. Bi 622 Beulah Heights University

Chapter 17 19

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Page 1: Chapter 17 19

Revelation: Part VIThe Great Babylon

PowerPoint by Mark E. Hardgrove, Ph.D., D.Min., M.Div.Bi 622 Beulah Heights University

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The Four Views:

What does Babylon represent and when do

these events occur?

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HISTORICIST APPROACH

The fall of Babylon the harlot is the overthrow of the papal system of religion and government—yet to be seen in the future. These chapters feature the divergent reactions of the ungodly to this final vindication of true religion.

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HISTORICIST APPROACH (cont.)

The rider on the white horse represents the ongoing conquests of Christ through His Word, or else continuing campaign of judgment upon other enemies.

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PRETERIST APPROACH

Babylon is identified either with Rome or Jerusalem

If the former, these chapters describe the downfall of the Roman Empire and especially of the city of Rome, the harlot.

If Babylon is Jerusalem, these visions depict the burning of that city by the Romans and the mixed reaction of the wicked and the righteous.

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FUTURIST APPROACH

Babylon may represent the Catholic Church or some great apostate religious entity forming under the Antichrist in the end times.

Alternatively, Babylon may be a holy city—either a restoration of the ancient Babylon, or a revived Rome.

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FUTURIST APPROACH (cont.)

In any case, this great enemy of truth and righteousness will be destroyed in the end of the Tribulation, to the chagrin of the wicked but the rejoicing of the righteous.

Jesus visibly returns to earth in chapter 19, riding a white horse.

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SPIRITUAL APPROACH

Babylon represents the world system as the seducer of the godly.

Its destruction at the end of the age is depicted in terms of its current manifestation in John’s time: Rome.

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SPIRITUAL APPROACH (cont.)

The ultimate judgment upon this harlot comes through Christ at His Second Coming, who is the rider on the white horse.

Alternatively, the rider may represent Christ’s more gradual conquests over the world system through the preaching of the gospel.

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Revelation Chapter 17

Revelation 14:8 introduces this section:

“And another angel followed, saying, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.’”

 Chapters 17 and 18 give us the details of the fall of Babylon.

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Who or What is Babylon?

Babylon is a veiled reference to Rome, in that Babylon serves as a fitting type and Rome the antitype of any empire that rejects the rule of the true God and which, uses false religion to serve its purposes.

Babylon will be a world-wide political power that will be controlled (or heavily influenced) by religious elements until the political power no longer needs religion for legitimacy. At that time the political power will discard the religious elements.

Which religion? Catholicism (so say the Seventh Day Adventists and others), Islam, or Apostate Christianity.

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Verses 1-2

1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication."

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Verses 1-2 Commentary

This is the first reference to “the great harlot.” However, the name Jezebel is used for a specific woman in the letter to the church of Thyatira (2:20):

Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

 Jezebel seduces the servants of the Lord to “commit sexual immorality,” and the great harlot “committed fornication,” with the kings of the earth and with “the inhabitants of the earth.”

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Verses 1-2 Commentary

The great harlot represents a religion that is hostile toward Christianity and to those who have accepted Christ during the Tribulation Period.

The influence of the great harlot is global in its impact and infects humanity around the world. Harlotry is often used to depict false religion and specifically spiritual adultery/idolatry (Isa. 1:21; Jer. 3:8; Ez. 16:15-28; Mic. 1:7).

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Verses 1-2 Commentary

The reference to waters, however, is later explained as a reference to various “peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues” (v. 15). So the reference to the “waters” is clearly symbolic and has no geographical significance when trying to identify the great harlot.

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Verse 3 & Commentary

3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

At this point the angel carried John, “in the Spirit into the wilderness.” The wilderness in Revelation is seen as a place of safety for the people of God, but a place of destitution for the harlot. The woman was sitting on the beast. This suggests a certain amount of control on the part of the woman.

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Verse 3 Commentary

The beast is the beast John saw coming out of the waters (peoples, nations, tongues). It is further described here as being “scarlet” in color, which could be a reference to royalty, or it could be a reference to blood.

The beast will almost certainly claim a royal status, and will also come to power through the blood of martyrs and innocent lives lost in his claim to power and his hold on power. The beast, which represents godless government, will tolerate the harlot to the extent that she provides some form of religious legitimacy for the beast.

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Verse 4 & Commentary

4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.

The great harlot is described as coming in great splendor. She is arrayed in the colors of royalty, i.e., purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones, and pearls.”

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Verse 4 Commentary

In Ezekiel 16 Jerusalem is similarly described:

11 I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.

12 And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.

13 Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.

14 And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.

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Verses 5-6 & Commentary

5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.

In the original Greek there would not have been a comma and would read, “Mystery Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots . . . .” Indicating that “Babylon” is not to be taken literally, but is a symbolic reference to another world power.

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Verse 5-6 Commentary

Optional views of “Mystery Babylon”

Rome or a revived Roman EmpireThe Roman Catholic ChurchLiteral Babylon, rebuilt and revived under Islam

JerusalemWorld government in general/United States

Jerusalem

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Verse 7 & Commentary

7 But the angel said to me, "Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.

John marveled at the sight of the woman upon the beast, so that the angel asks him, “Why did you marvel?” The angel then goes on to explain the meaning of this vision.

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Verse 8

8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

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Verse 8 Commentary

Many see here a kind of analogy for the beast. In that the antichrist tries to mimic God—who was, and is, and is to come—this is an attempt to replicate God. However, if the vision were to be carried further, the beast would be described as, “and will be no more”—whereas God is everlasting.

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Verse 8 Commentary

As empires dissolved into regional, country and state powers it appeared that the age of the Empire was over, but the European Union, as well as the massive power of the United States, may indicate that there is yet another Empire ahead that will engulf the world with her influence and might. But this final form of self-rule and godless governing will be once and for all destroyed when it rises to confront God.

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Verses 9-10

9 Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. 10 There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time.

7 heads = 7 mountains=7 kings7 kings=5 past kings, 1 present king, 1 future

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Verses 9-10 Commentary

Many who see Babylon as a reference to a revived Roman empire try to use the reference to kings to designate Roman Caesars. This becomes a difficult task because it is impossible to decide which Caesar to begin or end the count with. Others see the seven kings as symbolic seven empires in succession, with the last and seventh yet to come. Perhaps 7 is merely symbolic of the scope and power of the beast.

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Verses 11-12

11 And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition. 12 The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.

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Verses 11-12 Commentary

The beast is in a league with ten kings that are concurrent with his rule. These ten kings receive power from the beast, that is, he confers to them the authority to exercise power in the realm of their local domains as vicars of the beast.

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Verses 13-14

13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful."

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Verses 13-14 Commentary

These kings receive their authority from the beast and they “give their power and authority to the beast.” This is to say, they will offer military, economic and political power to support the beast’s regime. These kings will side with the beast in his war with Christ, and they along with the beast will be defeated with a fierce swiftness that displays the power of God against all the power of the earth.

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Verse 15 & Commentary

15 Then he said to me, "The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.

The harlot represents a false religious system. Babylon is a fitting type, for in Babylon astrology was birthed, and sadly, this false religion continues to exist and be practiced in the twenty-first century.

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Verse 15 Commentary

In John’s day paganism was rampant throughout the empire as local expressions of religion were allowed as long as they incorporated the worship of the state, personified in the goddess Roma

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Verses 16-17

16 And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.

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Verses 16-17 Commentary

The other ten kings will despise the religion that the beast used to gain power. These kings will turn on the harlot, that is, they will turn against the practice of all religious expression and will destroy those who continue to practice it.

This is another example of God using one godless system or nation to judge another. This is God’s plan and purpose in judging the false religion that the godless government used to further its purposes.

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Verse 18

18 And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth."

For John’s readers this great city was Rome. Yet, in terms of eschatology we understand Rome to be a type of the end time Empire, even as Babylon was a type of Rome. That city, which represents a religious expression within the Empire, has influence over kings for a season, but in time that city will be destroyed and a new city, a New Jerusalem will descend.

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Revelation 18

Many scholars see two distinct references to two separate Babylons in chapters 17 and 18. The two are interrelated with a fine point of distinction between them, yet the fate of both will be judgment from God. The first reference is to the “Mystery Babylon” in chapter 17 verse 5 and is the symbol of spiritual adultery or religion that refuses to acknowledge the authority of the only Almighty God.

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Revelation 18

The second Babylon is “Babylon the great,” and this Babylon represents the commercial/political aspects of the seat of power for the Antichrist. The Antichrist casts aside the religious Babylon, while God Himself casts down the commercial/political Babylon.

This distinction between the two symbols of Babylon is held by LaHaye, Jeremiah and Carson, Van Impe and others.

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Verse 1 & Commentary

1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory.

The phrase “after these things” does not necessarily dictate chronological order of events, but it does communicate that another vision, or another chapter in the overall vision of Revelation, is unfolding.

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Verse 1 Commentary

This angel was so powerfully illuminated with the glory of God that the earth itself is lit up. Easly considers the possibility that this is the same angel who announces the birth of Messiah to the shepherds in the fields. While this cannot be dogmatically asserted, it would certainly be apropos that the same angel who announced the birth of Christ will also announce the death of the system that rejected Him.

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Verse 2 & Commentary

2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!

LaHaye says that the repetition of “fallen” indicates that two Babylons have fallen. This is an interesting observation, but it is much more likely that this is simply a doublet used for grammatical emphasis. It is also a phrase that comes from the language of Isaiah 21:9—“Babylon has fallen, has fallen!

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Verse 2 Commentary

Easly notes that there are two perspectives on the fall of Babylon in this chapter. First, there is the perspective of heaven, which is holy and which sees Babylon’s fall as just and reasonable, even worthy of rejoicing over. Second, there is the perspective of earthly sinful inhabitants of the earth, which is selfish and results in a lament, not for the loss of life but for their own loss of riches and wealth.

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Verse 3 & Commentary

3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury."

The reason for the fall of Babylon is peppered throughout the chapter. The first reason is given in verse 3.

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Verse 3 Commentary

In addition to the political leaders, the economic leaders of the world also sell their souls to the Antichrist and his kingdom to further their positions and gain economic advantage. These are men and women who are driven by materialism and greed. They have no moral compass and no boundaries to prevent them from doing whatever they can to gain more goods.

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Verse 4 & Commentary

4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.

The warning from heaven is, “Come out of her, my people.” Who these people that are called to come out of spiritual Babylon, this commercialism that drives humanity to excess and sin in pursuit of the luxuries that she offers?

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Verse 4 Commentary

In the futurist approach the church has been raptured. If this is the case then there are two possibilities: First there are those who do not take the mark of the beast, and who become believers during the Great Tribulation Period. Second, this is a timeless warning to all believers of every age.

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Verse 5 & Commentary

5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

The word “for” indicates yet another reason for Babylon’s downfall. The picture is of the sins of Babylon being piled up until they reached God. This is, perhaps, a reference to ancient Babel whose people attempted to build a tower that reached up into the heavens. Babylon has brought judgment upon herself because she was rolling in sin.

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Verses 6-7

6 Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. 7 In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, 'I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.'

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Verses 6-7 Commentary

The call is for judgment to be poured out upon her to the extent to which she has filled her cup with her sins. In fact, we see some indication that in this case she will receive double judgment for her sins. Indeed, to the extent that Babylon glorified herself, and did not give glory to God, and lived in luxury at the expense of morality and no doubt at the expense of others, she will be given torment and sorrow.

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Verse 8 & Commentary

8 "Therefore her plagues will come in one day--death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her.

The result of her spiritual fornication, her sins and her pride and arrogance is that her judgment will come swiftly. “Her plagues will come in one day.” In John’s day it was hard to conceive of an entire city the size of Rome being destroyed in one day by fire. But with the advent of nuclear war this possibility is commonplace.

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Verses 9-10

9 "The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.'

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Verses 9-10 Commentary

World leaders will weep. Their source of comfort and luxury will be gone. They weep not for the loss of life, but for the loss of their source of wealth and power. They repeat the fact that the destruction is sudden and dramatic. The perspective is as though the event has already taken place. Aune says that this is an example of a “prophetic perfect” tense, which describes a future event as though it has already come.

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Verses 11-14

11 "And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 12 merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. 14 The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all.

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Verses 11-14 Commentary

The list of goods that passed through the city is long, and as Kistemaker notes, “God takes from her everything she idolized.” Easly outlines this list in “seven general categories”: Jewelry, Clothing, Furniture, Interior decorating, Perfumatory, Food, Animals, Slaves/Labor

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Verses 15-17a

15 The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17 For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.'

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Verses 15-17a Commentary

Again we see “the merchants . . . who became rich by her” “weeping and wailing.” They will lament the fact that the city which epitomized everything they aspired to become has suddenly been reduced to nothing. The fine clothing and all the wealth has become nothing but smoke and ash.

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Verses 17b-19

17b Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance 18 and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like this great city?' 19 "They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.'

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Verses 17b-19 Commentary

There are three classes of seagoing people listed in verse 17. First, there are the captains of ships, their vocation depended upon the trade generated by Babylon. Second, there are the voyagers, the people who travel by ship, perhaps including they who lived the life of luxury on pleasure cruises. And finally, there were those merchants who made their living by their trade upon the sea. All of them will be weeping and wailing over the plight of the city that had afforded them such wealth and prestige.

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Verse 20 & Commentary

20 "Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!" In contrast to the weeping of those who had refused to come out of spiritual Babylon, the raptured saints of heaven, and particularly the apostles and prophets whose blood was spilled by the spiritual Babylon, and whose martyred voiced cried out from under the altar are now called upon to rejoice over the fallen city of Babylon.

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Verse 21 & Commentary

21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. The action of the angel represents the sudden, devastating and final judgment of God upon the world system that rejects God in favor of a selfish pursuit of the pleasures of the world. This is the final chapter of secular humanism and godless commercialism. It will all comes crashing down.

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Verse 22a & Commentary

22 The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore.

Godless entertainment will be silenced. It is interesting that music is listed. The secular music industry around the world promotes some of the most vile and vulgar acts imaginable.

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Verse 22b & Commentary

22b No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore.

Not only will the entertainment industry be silenced, the industries of spiritual Babylon will be silenced as well.

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Verse 23 & Commentary

23 The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.

Social and cultural life will come to a standstill. There will be no candles in the windows, the clubs will be closed, and people will be too despondent and devastated to even consider marriage.

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Verse 23 Commentary

The reason for this judgment is given again. In verse 23 two reasons are given: First, the merchants were running the world. Politicians were being bought and sold, and the voice of the average citizen was swallowed up in the sound of money greasing palms for political favors. Second, sorcery had made a revival and will play an important role in end time events.

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Verse 23 Commentary

The word “sorcery” is from the Greek word pharmacia, which is where we get the word Pharmacy from. Sorcery, in ancient times involved the use of mixtures and potions in casting magical spells. Some believe that the sin that is being spoken of as cause for judgment in the last days is drug use.

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Verse 24 & Commentary

24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth."

The final reason is that Babylon killed prophets and saints. Babylon is a spirit that has existed throughout history. Whether it was Babel, Sodom and Gomorrah, Tyre, Babylon, Rome or Jerusalem, it is a spirit that refuses to hear the voice of the prophet and which is willing to put to silence any truth that would challenge the idea that gain is godliness.

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Revelation Chapter 19

Chapter 19 has three main movements, each one preceded by the words, “I heard” or, “I saw.” The first movement encompasses the rejoicing in heaven, the introduction of the marriage of the Lamb, His wife, and the marriage supper. The second movement depicts Christ coming with His saints to quell the rebellion upon earth, and the third movement describes the swift defeat of the beast, the false prophet, and the armies of the earth. We are also introduced to “the lake of fire.”

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Verse 1 & Commentary

1 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!

The first word of “hallelujah” in Revelation is for salvation. The redeemed have been have a right to praise the Lord, anytime, every time, all the time.

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Verses 2- 3

2 For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has (condemned, KJV) judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her." 3 Again they said, "Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!"

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Verses 2-3 Commentary

The second word of “hallelujah” is for condemnation—not ours, but the condemnation of the great harlot. We are reminded that He will avenge us, and this releases us from the burden of thinking about how to get even. In Romans 12:19 Paul writes, “Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, ‘I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it,’ says the Lord.” (NLT).

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Verse 4 & Commentary

4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen! Alleluia!"

The third word of “hallelujah” is in veneration. The word “veneration” means, “to regard with deepest respect or reverence, to worship as holy.” This is not for a man, not even the Pope. It is not for the angels, but veneration is reserved for God alone.

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Verses 5-7

5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!" 6And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!

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Verses 5-7 Commentary

The fourth word of “hallelujah” is in exaltation.

The loud voice that comes from the throne is probably from one of the creatures that encircle the throne of God with praise, or perhaps another angelic being

The divine attribute of “omnipotence” is lifted up. It is similar to the designation of God as “almighty” (all-mighty). There is no limit to His power, and therefore no chance at all that the beast could ever be victorious.

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Verses 7-8

7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

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Verses 7-8 Commentary

On one hand it is Christ who prepares His bride, that being through His blood in which the church wash their robes and through His Word, but on the other hand preparation is also an act of the bride through obedience and through living righteous lives. God gave the church the fine linen; He gave us robes of righteousness for our rags of self-righteousness.

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Contrast: Harlot vs. BrideGREAT HARLOT THE BRIDE OF

CHRIST

1) In the wilderness

(17:3)

2) Rides the beast

(17:3)

3) Adorned in luxury

(17:4)

4) Cup of abominations

(17:4)

5) Great city (17:18)

6) War against the

Lamb (17:14)

7) Ends in destruction

(18:21)

1) In heaven (19:1-9)

2) Returns with Christ

(19:11-16)

3) Adorned in

righteousness (19:8)

4) Water of life (22:1)

5) Holy City (21:2)

6) Reigns with the Lamb

(22:5)

7) Lives forever (21-22)

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Verse 9 & Commentary

9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

It is almost as though the voice is instructing John to write an invitation to those who are called to attend the marriage supper. This is the fourth of the seven beatitudes in Revelation

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Verse 9 Commentary

Those who are not invited are not counted as one of His own, and therefore are either those whose fate is with that of the beast, or they are those who have had to endure the time of Great Tribulation. The marriage supper is for the bride, and the bride is the believers who were raptured into the heavenlies with Christ Jesus.

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Verse 10 & Commentary

10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

John was so overwhelmed at the presence and voice of the angel that he fell at the feet of the angel as in worship, perhaps thinking that this was Christ. The angel quickly dispels this misunderstanding.

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Verse 10 Commentary

What does the angel mean by, “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” It may mean that the testimony of Jesus (both the written Word and the living testimony in the life of the saints) is the essence and underlying content of all genuine prophecy. Horton says that

the purpose of prophecy is to bear witness to Jesus, to exalt Him, and to reveal His redemptive work. It does not exalt the prophet or messenger. Nor is it intended to merely satisfy curiosity. It should make us see the glory and holiness of Jesus and encourage us to be ready.

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Verse 11 & Commentary

11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.

This verse introduces the second movement the chapter. John sees Jesus. This is the Second Coming of Jesus to the earth. This is what the church has anticipated ever since Jesus’ ascension. This is the fulfillment of Jesus promise to His disciples in John’s Gospel chapter 14

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Verse 11 Commentary

He is called, “Faithful and True.” He promised to come again, and He will come again. He “is not slack concerning His promise” (2 Pet. 3:9), but He is faithful to His Word and true to His promises. He said, “If I go, I will come again.”

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Verse 12 & Commentary

12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.

Eyes like a flame of fire represent the fact that He is coming to complete the judgment of God upon the antichrist, the beast, and the false prophet. He is not coming as a Lamb, but as Judge, Jury and Executioner. The “many crowns” represent that He is royal and fully invested with the sovereign right to reign and rule upon the earth.

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Verse 12 Commentary

Of the many names of God, the one held in such honor that it was not even spoken aloud in by Hebrews—Yahweh. This name consisted of four consonants YHWH (the tetragrammation). Without the vowel sounds and given the fact that this name was seen as too sacred to even speak, the reference to Jesus having “a name that no one knew except Himself,” may well be an allusion to the fact that Jesus as well as the Father have that one holy Name that is the definitive Name of God.

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Verse 12 Commentary

Morris and others suggest that John is addressing an ancient belief that to know a person’s name was to have power over them. John is saying the, that no one has power over Jesus.

Easley says, “Because Christ is infinite, unknowable aspects of his attributes will always remain. Humans, even in their eternal glorified condition, may know only what he chooses to reveal, and his secret name reminds us of this.”

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Verse 13 & Commentary

13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

Whose blood covers His robe? 1) His own blood? 2) The blood of the martyrs? 3) The blood of His enemies?

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Verse 13 Commentary

The language of treading the winepress, along with earlier references to the blood of the enemies flowing in the streets, “favors the view that His robe is covered with His enemies’ blood” (Easley). Isaiah 63:2-4 supports Easley’s argument:

2 Why is Your apparel red, and Your garments like one who treads in the winepress? 3 "I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, and trampled them in My fury; their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, and I have stained all My robes. 4 For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come and His name is called The Word of God. (cf. Jn. 1:1)

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Verse 14 & Commentary

14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.

Not only does Jesus come riding on a white horse, but His bride comes with Him. That this is His bride is suggested by the fact that this army is clothed in the same manner as the bride. They are no longer coming to be martyred, persecuted and scorned, they are riding with the warrior Judge to witness the culmination of the plan of God.

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Verse 15 & Commentary

15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

According to Heb. 4:12 and Eph. 6:17 the Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit. Furthermore, Psalm 2 tells us that He will rule with a rod of iron, or with absolute authority.

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Verse 16 & Commentary

16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

This is His title. He is the King with authority and power over all the kings of the earth, and His is Lord, or Master, over every ruler of every type.

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Verses 17-18

17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great."

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Verses 17-18 Commentary

This is the third and final movement of chapter 19. Before Jesus and the saints enter into the earthly realm an angel calls the birds of the air to prepare for a feast. It is not the marriage supper of the Lamb that is being referred to here, but a gory feast for the fowls who will feast on the flesh of kings, captains, mighty men, horses and those who sit upon them, as well as the flesh of all people who remain in opposition against God upon the earth.

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Verse 19 & Commentary

19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.

The earth gathered to fight against the Lord and His army, but there isn’t a big battle. The battle of Armageddon will not be some long protracted war where the outcome is not in doubt. It will be swift and sure.

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Verse 21 & Commentary

20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

The lake of fire is the ultimate destination for all those who reject the grace and mercy of God. The beast is captured, along with the false prophet, and they are both cast into the lake of fire.

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Verse 21 Commentary

The capture of the beast and false prophet is not depicted as a long drawn out process, but is described with such brevity that it appears to be little more effort than it needed to pick a mouse up by the tail and toss it into a cage.

Given the contrast between the power of the beast and the power of God in Christ, it should motive everyone to be sure that they are riding with the right army when that day comes.

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Verse 21 & Commentary

21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

The beast and false prophet are cast alive into the lake of fire, while the armies of the earth are killed with the sword which preceded from His mouth—again, not a difficult process. Such is the omnipotence of God.

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Verse 21 Commentary

That they are killed does not mean that they will escape final judgment, but that they, like all who die in their sins, will yet have to face the great white throne judgment of God where their verdict will be read. At that point death, hell, and the grave will be cast into the lake of fire.

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Conclusion

It should be obvious! Know whose side you are on. This theme is repeated throughout Scripture. In the garden the serpent tempted Eve and Adam to choose the wrong side. Moses in the wilderness challenges the people to make up their mind whose side they were on. In Deuteronomy they are challenged to choose life or death, blessing or cursing. Joshua tells the people to choose today whom they will serve.

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Conclusion

Jesus tells us that He is the only choice if we want to see the Father. In Revelation the people are given clear and dramatic evidence that God is who He says He is, and He will do what He says He will do. They are given opportunity to choose God, and yet the vast majority continue to reject and refuse God.