REVELATION SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 18.6

Gleanings from the Book of Revelation:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

The

REVELATION TO JOHN

 

Chapter Eighteen

The Great Tribulation

Parenthesis

Mystery Babylon

(Political Babylon)

 

 

Review

Eventually, pride will completely overcome Antichrist. As this occurs, he will determine to overthrow the religious system (Mystery Babylon), become its high priest, and demand the world worship him. He then will personify himself to be the supreme global commander over all facets of the earth, i.e., religious, economic, commercial, political, and military entities. Literal Babylon will thus be portrayed as the center of abominations, demonic powers, and unimaginable wickedness.

 

Following, another announcement will be heard from Heaven. Upon the collapse of the one-world Babylonian religious system, a diverse mighty angel proclaims loudly: Babylon the Great is fallen, is fallen (as if it has already taken place) - A warning that the world’s global economic and political system will cease to exist - And its capitalistic financial economy crash. The entire world will be reduced to an inhabitable place where only demonic evil spirits and wild hateful birds prey.

 

And so, in Chapter 18, the final form of the world controlled by the Antichrist, empowered by Satan, will be in view. But, not everyone will face judgment. God always retains a surviving remnant. Because of His grace, God Himself will give one last warning by allowing any living repentant to flee before total disintegration.

 

Introduction

People often speak of God as unjust because of His wrath. They claim He is not a God of love. However, when the Old Testament biblical references are studied carefully, His punishments have always come as a result of disobedience to Him and His Laws.

 

God is a God of vengeance and a just God Who eventually will repay sinners for their sins. Rightfully, as His love is demonstrated in the once-and-for-all sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whosoever believes in His death, burial, and Resurrection shall inherit eternal life – So too His wrath will befall upon everyone who rejects His love.

 

When wickedness upon the earth reaches its crest, His vengeful judgment is neigh. Well stated are His reconciliatory promises in Scripture.

Given are three examples:

Deuteronomy 32:35 – To Me belongeth vengeance, and recompense (retribution); their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste. [Emphasis mine]

 

Romans 12:19 – Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is Mine; I will repay (recompense), saith the Lord.

 

Hebrews 10:30 - For we know Him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people.

 

And so, for all the persecuted saints from the beginning of time, and especially those of Tribulation, who are anxiously waiting for their blood to be avenged (cf. Revelation 6:9-10), soon and very soon they are going to meet the Lord.

 

 

1. The Pronouncement of Babylon’s Punishment (Vv. 1-3)

2. The Plea to the People of God (Vv. 4-5)

3. The Payment Babylon Procures (Vv. 6-8)

(Verse 6)

 

Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

 

From verses 6 through 8, it appears the mighty angel is speaking to God. In other words, according to her works, God is summoned to declare His wrath upon Babylon in three ways:

1. Render Babylon retribution as she has rendered

2. Render Babylon double as she has doubled

3. Render Babylon double mingle in the cup she has filled

God’s Law of Retribution

1. Render Babylon retribution as she has rendered

Reward her even as she rewarded you

In understanding this passage, it is necessary to first define the words reward and rewarded. They both come from the same Greek word, ἀποδίδωμι (apodidōmi), meaning to return, give or pay back, repay, requite, or vindicate. In this context, God is asking them to follow His law of retribution, i.e., to return that which is due or rendered to her as she rendered.

 

Biblical examples embrace:

Leviticus 24:20 – Breach (fracture) for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.

 

Deuteronomy 19:21 – And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

 

Psalm 28:4 – Give (repay, requite) them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert (what they deserve).

 

Double Retribution

2. Render Babylon double as she has doubled

And double unto her double according to her works

In severity, God is going to pour out double (literally, twofold, double the double things) according to her works. Double also means complete. In other words, her punishment will be equal to what Babylon has meted out to all saints of God whom she tormented, tortured, and martyred. God’s law exacts:

Exodus 22:4 - If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.

 

Exodus 22:7 - If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man's house; if the thief be found, let him pay double.

 

Exodus 22:9 - For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.

 

Contrasted to Israel’s double portion of punishment, Israel’s sins had been paid double during the Babylonian captivity as her prophets were issued to voice words of comfort:

Isaiah 40:2 - Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.

 

Close to the end of Israel’s captivity, the prophets of God overtly predicted Babylon’s destruction:

Psalm 137:8 - O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.

 

3. Render Babylon double mingle in the cup she has filled

In the cup which she hath filled fill to her double

Mix Babylon a double portion of wrath or twice as much in her cup of wickedness is the connotation being communicated. Being double stained in her sins, the cup of her luxuriousness has become the cup of her vengeance, i.e., a double intensity of the Lord’s wrath is being filled to the brim of her cup which she wrung out the people of God (i.e., referenced):

Revelation 14:8 - And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

 

 

(Verse 7)

 

How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

 

Reminding God, the angel reviews how the rich misused their riches and should be judged proportionately (cf. James 5:1-6). Besides, three underserved expressions are visible in Babylon’s boastful behavior:

1. Self-glorification

Overflowing with pride and arrogance epitomizes Babylon’s character in the last days of her existence. Not only will Babylon be judged for what she has done to the saints of God, but she will be judged for what she has become. That is to say, give her back for her pride. And, she has blinded herself from God’s judgment.

Boastful pride is irritable to God:

Proverbs 6:16:19 – These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

 

James 4:6 - But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He Scripture) saith, God resisteth (opposes) the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

 

2. Self-gratification

Lived deliciously is an interesting phrase meaning, to live wantonly or luxuriously.

 

So much torment and sorrow give her

As a result, expect God, in proportion, to retaliate for her self-glorification and self-gratification with much more torment or torture and sorrow (i.e., grief, similar to the loss of a husband) than she had once given the saints.

 

3. Self-exaltation

For she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow

In exalting herself, Babylon is overtly boastful of three delusional securities:

1. I sit as a queen

Babylon is proudly and boastfully glorifying herself by living arrogantly, sensually, and deliciously above everyone else.

 

2. I am no widow

By this reasoning, Babylon saith she is not in a state of mourning, sorrow or depression, and that her joy is full.

 

3. I see no sorrow

She is not living in a degree of fear, notwithstanding all the indications of approaching calamities and her destruction.

 

The combined three vaunts are an indication of being oblivious of the truth of God:

Luke 8:18 - Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken [away] even that which he seemeth (thinks) to have.

 

Luke 14:11 - For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased (humbled); and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

 

1 Corinthians 10:12 - Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

 

 

(Verse 8)

 

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 judgeth her.

 

An old idiom states: History repeats itself. For this reason, just as historic Babylon had fallen in one day (cf. Daniel 5:30-31), sudden destruction will surely befall a second time. Not only will the seventh plague (vial) bring about death, mourning, and famine, but also destruction employed by fire (cf. Revelation 17:16 and also 18; 9, 18)

Prophetically speaking, the fall of Babylon was foretold by Isaiah:

Isaiah 63:4, 6 - For the day of vengeance is in Mine heart, and the year of My redeemed is come…And I will tread down the people in Mine anger, and make them drunk in My fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.

 

For strong is the Lord God who judgeth her

The Lord God is the Strong or Mighty One Who judgeth the earth (Elohim Shophtim Baarets). All the power of wicked men and demons not only pales but is insufficient in delivering Babylon from God's judgment.  

Psalm 58:11 - So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily He is a God that judgeth in (on) the earth.

 

In the succeeding study, the reaction to Babylon’s destruction is discussed in detail.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1.   What announcement does another mighty angel proclaim?

2.   Define God’s law of retribution.

3.   Why will Babylon receive double retribution?

4.   Why is Babylon receiving retribution for her deeds?

5.   What characteristics of Babylon are prevalent today?

6.   What are Babylon’s boastful acclamations?

7.   If history repeats itself when was Babylon's prior fall?

 

 

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