Come Out of Babylon

In the end, God’s enemies always lose. That is demonstrated to be the case in Revelation 17-18, where the fall of Babylon—and the reaction to that fall (on earth and in heaven)—is vividly depicted.

1. The Characteristics of Babylon
2. The Judgement of Babylon

GOD’S SWIFT JUDGMENT. God is patient in bringing judgment (2 Pet. 3:9). But when he finally does so, it comes quickly. The swiftness of God’s judgment against his enemies is acknowledged by both God’s servants (Rev. 18:8) and his enemies (Rev. 18:10, 17, 19). God’s victory comes in a “single day,” or a “single hour.” This demonstrates God’s great power (see Rev. 18:8), because his enemies are no match for him. Their present success is not because of any weakness or deficiency on his part. It is simply not yet time for his judgment to fall.

COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE. John’s vision of the prostitute shows that the gravest danger for God’s people is often not external persecution but the allurement of prosperity, social advancement, and ease of lifestyle. The carrot may be more dangerous than the stick. The recipients of Revelation were facing both persecution (Rev. 2:10, 13) and enticement (Rev. 2:14, 20), just as God’s people in the Old Testament did (see, e.g., the book of Daniel). Jeremiah exhorted Israel to seek the peace of the city where they were sent into exile (Jer. 29:7), but also to get out of Babylon when the opportunity became available (Jer. 51:45). In Revelation, Christians are not required to physically leave their cities because of the evil done there (Rev. 2:13), but the churches are exhorted to remove worldliness from their midst (Rev. 2:2, 6, 14–16, 20; 18:4). This accords with the teaching of Jesus (John 17:14–15) and Paul (1 Cor. 5:9–13).

Getting Started                          

1. For most expats living in the UAE, weather warnings are a novelty. Can you remember where you were the first time you received a weather warning on your mobile phone? Was it alarming or ordinary? Share your story.

• Read Revelation 18:1-8

2. What insight, principle, or observation from Sunday’s sermon did you find to be the most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling?

 Digging Deeper

3. How do the angelic inhabitants of heaven announce and describe the fall of Babylon in Revelation 18:1–8, 21–24? In what ways do they highlight the severity of God’s judgment on Babylon? 

4. How do these verses in Revelation 17:7–18remind and reassure Christians that God is in ultimate control? 

5. In Revelation 18:6–8, the voice addresses those who are to carry out God’s judgment on Babylon. On the basis of these terrible judgments, what are God’s people exhorted to do (see  18:4–5)? 

The Heart of the Matter

6. In John’s day, the seductive appeal of godless society was most clearly seen in the “great city” of Rome ( 17:18). In what ways does godless society tempt modern Christians? 

7. Read Revelation 19:1–5. How do these verses demonstrate God’s great power and swift judgments are reasons for his people to praise him? 

8. In Revelation, Christians are not required to physically leave their cities because of the evil done there ( 2:13), but the churches are exhorted to remove worldliness from their midst (Rev. 2:2, 6, 14–16, 20; 18:4). Do you think church discipline helps towards this end?