Revelation Chapter 18
The Bible is very clear about the length of the Tribulation period. It will last seven years with the last three and a half years being the most intense judgement times. The second half is often known as the Great Tribulation. What is most important to know is that all of it is ordained by God and that it will come to an end. It is not the end that people of the world always hope for, the hope that after all the bad stuff ends things will just get better. But let me encourage you – we know that Jesus is coming back! He is going to take charge of this old world and things will never be the same. Hallelujah! But we will talk more about that tomorrow.
In many Bibles this chapter is titled “The Fall of Babylon.” There are differences of opinions on whether this chapter is referring to a literal city of Babylon or a figurative city. I personally think it is both. We have seen in previous chapters that Babylon has been a term for the world that is self-indulgent. We also know that the actual city of Babylon which is located in modern day Iraq has not been rebuilt. Saddam Husein was once vocal about his wishes to rebuild the city, but it never happened. So, the city could be rebuilt of course, but as of yet it has not.
The language used does seem to indicate that a literal city is destroyed. I think it could mean an actual city or even more than one city where the world’s wealth is piled up. And with the destruction of the wealth system of the earth, it will devastate mankind on the earth. Lately we have seen that there is this new rising of digital currency. This will require a worldwide web to operate it on a global scale. If God were to take out the world’s internet, the global wealth would be gone. But that is just my speculation. God will take care of it in His own way and this chapter describes what it will mean for the world who thought that all of their wealth building strategies would be their saving grace.
Let's Reflect
1. What we do know is that the events of chapter 17 fall more towards the beginning of the tribulation and the events of chapter 18 are at the end of the Great Tribulation. What does the angel announce with a great voice at the beginning of this chapter?
2. At the end of chapter 16 we read that God remembered Babylon and caused it to be split in 3 parts and then He sent great big, huge hailstones. The hailstones will take out the wealth systems of the citizens of Babylon. How quickly will this happen? See verses 10 and 17.
3. In the middle of the description of this great destruction is a warning. This warning is to the saints or the believers living on the earth during this time. What does God call believers to do?
4. In verse 9 Babylon is described as that figurative city that got into bed with the anti-christ. She thought that all of her wealth and self-indulgence in sexual immorality was going to be her winning ticket. But when God strikes, what is left of the city? See verse 9.
5. Verses 11-13 describe a world where all commerce has stopped; no one is buying or selling. What does the last part of verse 14 tell us about the wealth of the world?
6. Notice that in verse 20 there is rejoicing, as there should be. The wealthy of this world who have thought that they were in charge will discover that they are not. What does it say God has done to the wealthy?
7. No longer will the system of the Babylon types be able to deceive the world. What will these world leaders of Babylon be judged for? See verse 24.
