Revelation Series: 17 & 18
Deception and Kingdoms Divided: A Study of Revelation 17-18
We crossed a huge milestone in our journey through the book of Revelation. For weeks, we've been immersed in the tribulation period—a seven-year span at the end of this age when God will judge the sin of the earth. Last week, we witnessed the culmination of the major judgments in this period, particularly the bowl judgments, where God unleashes the full strength of heaven against sin and darkness.
Yet, through all of this chaos, God is still reaching out, calling people to repentance. The book of Revelation is not meant to confuse us or instill terror, but to reveal Jesus—the unveiling of who He is and what is to come. This book fills us with awe and reverence for our King, Jesus, who, as Philippians 2:6-11 reminds us, humbled Himself for our sake and is now exalted above all.
As we study this book, we pray we would see that the kingdom of God is a kingdom of unity and victory. And the kingdom of the hell is a kingdom of division and destruction.
The Spirit of Babylon and the Great Deception
In Revelation 17, John is introduced to the "great prostitute"—a powerful representation of spiritual adultery and corruption. The spirit of Babylon has existed since Genesis 11, where humanity sought to build a tower to make a name for themselves. This kingdom is one of self-righteousness, idolatry, and personal ambition. John sees this woman sitting on the scarlet beast (the Antichrist), revealing how the religious and political systems of the end times will be in perfect unity, deceiving many.
This passage warns us that the Antichrist will use the Babylonian system—marked by deception, idolatry, and greed—for his gain. But in the middle of the tribulation, he will turn against this religious system and destroy it. Even in this, we see that God is in control at all times, using even the actions of the wicked to fulfill His purposes.
The Fall of Babylon: The End of Corrupt Systems
Revelation 18 shifts focus to the fall of Babylon's political and economic power. While some debate whether Babylon refers to a literal city or a corrupt global system, the emphasis is on its unrighteousness. The angel declares, "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!" signaling the end of its reign of oppression, perversion, and injustice.
Merchants and rulers who once profited from Babylon’s corruption will mourn as its destruction happens swiftly. The people who rejected God’s warnings will lament their losses, while heaven rejoices—not in destruction, but in the victory of righteousness over darkness.
God’s Sovereign Judgment and Restoration
These chapters highlight two key truths about God.
First, He is an all-consuming fire, and He will judge all corruption.
Second, He is the ultimate Restorer. The end of Babylon signals not just the destruction of sin but the preparation for a new and righteous kingdom.
1 John 4:10 reminds us of the core of God's story: "This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." As we witness the fall of Babylon, we must remember that God's purpose has always been to restore what sin has corrupted. The judgment of the earth is as much about His victory as it is about justice.
A Call to Examine Our Hearts
In light of this, let us examine our hearts. Are we entangled in the deceptive systems of Babylon—selfish ambition, idolatry, and materialism? Or are we placing our trust in the eternal Kingdom of God? Now is the time to choose where our allegiance lies, for the victory of God is near. Amen!