Revelation 20, After the Tribulation and the Millennial Kingdom

Dan 9:24-27 (ESV) "Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.  25  Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. 27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator."



• A prophetic year is 360 days, as were Jewish years. They would add an extra month in there ever so often to adjust the months
• What is the purpose of the seventy sevens?
1. To finish transgression
1. Israel's rejection of the Messiah (since it is specific to Israel)
2. To put an end to sin
1. This and the next one may refer to the original rebellion in the garden
3. To make atonement for sins
4. To bring in everlasting righteousness (new age or millennium?)
5. To seal or shut up or (literally) to cause a cessation of prophecy
6. To anoint the Most Holy Place - the new temple (or fourth temple) of the Messianic Kingdom
• The seventy sevens are broken up how?
1. Seven sevens
2. Sixty-two sevens
3. One seven
• When does the counting start?
• At the issuing of the decree
• 4 Possibilities
1. The decree of Cyrus, 539 BC (Ezra 1:1-4) "… build him (God) a house …"
2. The decree of Darius, 519 BC (Ezra 5:3-6:12) "… let the work on this house of God alone …"
3. The decree of Artaxerxes to Ezra, 457 BC (Ezra 7:11-26) -- authorization to travel and to provide for the temple
4. The decree of Artaxerxes to Nehemiah, 444 BC (Neh 2:1-8) -- authorization to rebuild the city
• The fourth decree is the only one that gives permission to rebuild the city.
• We know it is in the month of Nissan, if we assume the first day (of the week) of the month which would fit Jewish custom, the date is March 5, 444 BC
• It prophesies 49 years to rebuild the city and 69*7 or 483 till the coming of the Messiah.  Taking into account that the prophetic year is a little different (360 days versus 365 days), we end up at March 30, 33 AD
• Most likely the day that Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem
• The last seven is set aside (it is not consecutive, it could have been, but it is not)
• Verse 9:26 So what happens at the end of the 69th seven?
• Jesus is cut off (crucified)
• In AD 70, 37 years later, the temple is destroyed as the Roman army comes and attacks.  When flood is used symbolically, it refers to an Army
• 3 1/2 years is 1260 days.
• Rev 11:2-3 describe the first half as that length
Revelation 11:1–3 (ESV) — 1 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, 2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. 3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
• Rev 12:6 describes the second half as that length
Revelation 12:5–6 (ESV) — 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.
• The woman (Israel) does not flee until the breaking of the covenant
• The passage describes the three main events of tribulation: the beginning, the middle, and the end
• Beginning starts with the signing of the peace treaty between the Antichrist and Israel for seven years
• The middle is the breaking of the peace treaty at 3 1/2 years, the stopping of sacrifice, and the desecration of the temple
• The end is the decree against the desolator (the end of the seven years)


Dan 12:1-13 (ESV) "At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3  And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase."

5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. 6 And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream,  "How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?" 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. 8 I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, "O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?" 9 He said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10  Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12  Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. 13  But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days."



• Verse 2 could be the Law of Double Reference
• Those to everlasting life occur at the end of the tribulation
• Those to shame occur at the end of the millennium. Nothing says they have to be at the same point in time (initial thought)
• Our focus is on verses 11-12
• Time of abomination set up is middle of tribulation
• Time to end of tribulation is 1260 days (Rev 11:3 length of the two witnesses ministry (first half); Rev 12:6 time set up for Israel to flee into the wilderness (second half))
• Time to end of abomination is 1290 days (an additional 30 days, probably to cleanse the temple)
• Additional time to some undefined event is 1335 days (Millennial kingdom)  - see Armstrong notes


Rev 20:1-3 (ESV) Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.



• We have already dealt with the Antichrist and the false prophet. They are the first two thrown into the lake of fire. But Satan is dealt differently, why?
• God still has a purpose for him
• Even with Jesus ruling on earth, men's hearts will still turn away from God
• Why only him?
• He is the only one of the three who was supernatural
• Why 1000 years?
• Not sure, but there is no reason to suggest a non-literal view
• It could suggest a total of 7000 years for man on earth, which would mean we are still a couple hundred years away from Tribulation or that the Jewish calendar does not include the correct starting date (maybe it starts with Noah)
• Nations still exist, why?
• In order to complete the promises to Israel for the land and the rule of David


4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6  Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.



• Multiple thrones, why?
• We will have authority to judge, or at least some of us
• We will be involved in the ruling of the planet. Our responsibility will be dependent upon how we lived our Christian life on earth
• Who are the specific group of believers? Tribulations saints
• Remaining dead, who are they? All dead unbelievers
• Who are a part of the first resurrection? Believers of all types. The last type are the OT saints and the tribulation saints
• All participate in the marriage feast
Isaiah 25:6–8 (ESV) —
6 On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,
of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.
7 And he will swallow up on this mountain
the covering that is cast over all peoples,
the veil that is spread over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.
• What will the earth be like?
• These verses are referring to the millennial kingdom (17-25) and not to the Eternal order. Rev 21 refers to the eternal order -- similar wording but different subjects (Fruchtenbaum)
Isaiah 65:17–19 (ESV) —
17 “For behold, I create new heavens
and a new earth,
and the former things shall not be remembered
or come into mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever
in that which I create;
for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,
and her people to be a gladness.
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem
and be glad in my people;
no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping
and the cry of distress.
• The earth will be recreated in the 75 day period. It will be different. Age limits will be different. Animals will be different
• APPLICATION: Do I take my responsibility to live for Christ seriously? Do I care about how God will use me or reward me in the age to come? Do I not see my rewards as thanking God for my salvation?


Rev 20:7-10 (ESV) And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.



• Why release Satan?
• To make a point - holiness alongside justice and mercy
• To finish God's judgment
• How long?
• It doesn't say
• What is the end result?
• Devil finally joins beast and false prophet
• Description of punishment?
• Eternal torment


Rev 20:11-15 (ESV) Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.



• At what point in history are we?
• Somewhere after the millennial kingdom
• Plus whatever time it took for man to rebel again
• This section is commonly referred to as the great white throne judgment
John 5:26–29 (ESV) — 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
• The is also the second resurrection
• All unbelievers are resurrected
• All are thrown into the lake of fire
• It is called the second death (this is the one to fear)
Luke 12:47–48 (ESV) — 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
• I am not suggesting this, only pointing out that some commentators suggested degrees of punishment
• I have typically viewed this verse as referring to a believer's rewards or even to our temporal life
• What about "obliteration?"
• Earlier, the lake of fire is referred to as a place of torment for the Antichrist and false prophet
• Here, there is no mention of torment, just the phrase "second death"
• They may also have resurrected bodies that are different from their mortal bodies and are indestructible, and so Hell will be torment
• What about God's mercy?
• What about God's holiness?
• What about God's justice?
• What about God's eternal word and previous warnings?
• APPLICATION: Eternal torment is not very popular, but who are we to decide what the Holy Judge of all the earth has decreed is an acceptable punishment. We are just the clay

Revelation 19, The Final Destruction of Babylon and Return to Earth

Rev 19:1-5 (ESV) After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,

"Hallelujah!
 Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2 for his judgments are true and just;
for he has judged the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her immorality,
and has avenged on her the blood of his servants."

3 Once more they cried out,

"Hallelujah!
 The smoke from her goes up forever and ever."

4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!" 5 And from the throne came a voice saying,

"Praise our God,
all you his servants,
you who fear him,
small and great."



• NOTE: We are telling the story again but this time with a few more details (5 Hallelujahs and details about the second coming)
• "After this" refers to what?
• The destruction of Babylonianism or the Babylonian System. We see this in verse 2, referencing chapter 17 and the great prostitute (this is the first Hallelujah)
• The first Hallelujah focuses on what?
• I think this is the spiritual effect of Babylon
• The world view
• The opposition to anything that is commanded from God
• The second Hallelujah focuses on what?
• The destruction of physical Babylon. We see this in verse 3, referencing the actual fire that burns her
• The third Hallelujah  and rejoicing comes from two sources (possibly three)
• The 24 elders
• Possibly 12 representing the old covenant
• Possibly 12 representing the new covenant (the church)
• The four living creatures representing the angelic host
• And a voice from the throne? The son?
• What is the point of the third hallelujah?
• THOUGHT: Verse 5 says that it is not just men who have fought against Babylon but all of God's creation. The final verse reiterates that all servants are to praise God for what he has done
• APPLICATION: God has used 2+ chapters to describe the destruction of a city that doesn't even exist currently. But Babylon is more than a city, it is a way of thinking. And it is why the battle for the mind is the most important battle that is going on now.


Rev 19:6-10 (ESV) Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

"Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8  it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure"—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

9 And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God." 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God." For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.



• The fourth Hallelujah refers to the coming marriage of the Lamb. The bride is the church and the marriage supper invitations go out (prior to the second coming)
• A Jewish marriage had four distinct steps
1. The father made the arrangements for the marriage and paid the bride price
2. A year or more later is the fetching of the bride
1. The father of the groom determined the timing
2. Prior to the fetching, the groom must prepare a place for her
3. The wedding ceremony. The bride undergoes a ritual immersion for ritual cleansing. The honeymoon lasts seven days. They are at the place prepared in the Father's house
4. The marriage feast (it can last seven days). This is at the wife's (bride's) family house
• This process is repeated for the church
1. God the Father makes the arrangement. The blood of the Messiah is the price
2. The rapture is the fetching (at the Father's time and Jesus prepares the place)
3. The ceremony occurs in heaven after the judgment of the saints
1. Ritual cleansing is the judgment of the believers (burning away of the wood and hay) see 1 Cor 3:10-15
2. The honeymoon was seven days long and was at the Father's home in the place prepared
3. The family and friends are kept away
4. The feast takes place on earth after the second coming
1. Usually at the wife's home (Earth)
2. Invites the family and friends (The OT saints and the tribulation saints)
3. Party is usually seven days in length
• Verse 7-8 show us that the bride has made herself ready. The marriage occurs prior to the second coming (also why the rapture could not occur at the end of the tribulation or in the middle since it would not include all tribulation saints)
• The marriage feast begins the millennial kingdom on earth
• The guests are bidden to come suggesting that they are not all in heaven. Who are the guests?
• The tribulation saints (Martyrs and those who live through the period) since they are not members of the church
• OT saints who are resurrected at the beginning of the millennium
Dan 12:1-2 (ESV) "At that time Michael, // the great prince who watches over your people, // will arise. // There will be a time of distress // unlike any other from the nation's beginning // up to that time. // But at that time your own people, // all those whose names are found written in the book, // will escape. // 2 Many of those who sleep // in the dusty ground will awake - // some to everlasting life, // and others to shame and everlasting abhorrence.

• John is caught up in the worship and starts to worship one of the angels
• He is strictly rebuked, why?
• Because Satan was an angel and he willingly took the worship of others
• Even this event seems to highlight Babylonian worldview and its effect
• We learn that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. What does that mean?
• It is all about Jesus
• The future centers on Jesus
• He is the object of everything and the true person to worship (as David said this week. It is not enough to believe in God now, the person must believe in God because of the work of Jesus, the son of God)


Rev 19:11-21 (ESV) Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12  His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15  From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18  to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great." 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.



• What is the event? This is the second coming described in much more detail than previously
• How is Jesus described and what is the meaning of the descriptions
• On a white horse
• The Antichrist also rode a white horse
• Called faithful and true (in contrast to the Antichrist)
• Jesus judges and makes war (this is the second coming)
• His eyes are like flames of fire
• Goes back to chapter 1
• All-seeing; all-knowing; he judges man's sin
• His head has many diadem (king of kings)
• A name written that no one knows
• (unknown in John's day but may be made known on his return)
• People thought knowing a person's name gave them power over the person. No one will have power over Jesus
• Clothed in a robe dipped in blood
• In context, could be the blood of the enemies (called proleptic, anticipating his victory)
• He is not a redeemer here but a warrior and a judge
• Called the word of God
• Identifies as the second person of the trinity going back to Genesis and John
• The word is the instrument of Justice (the measuring rod)
• Armies of heaven follow (with an interesting description for an Army)
• Only arrayed in fine linen
• No weapons
• The sharp sword out of the mouth (also goes back to chapter 1)
• Strikes down the enemies of God (his Word)
• Treads the winepress of the fury of God's wrath (references back to previous discussion in chapter 16)
• On his thigh and robe is written: King of kings and Lord of lords
• The battle is … the campaign of Armageddon which starts at Bozrah
• An angel calls to the birds to eat the flesh of men
• Beast is captured and the false prophet (note: who only does miracles in the presence of the antichrist)
• Both thrown alive into the lake of fire (eternal torment)
• ALL the rest are slain by the sword that comes from Jesus' mouth
• This time, no one else fights, only Jesus
• APPLICATION: the key weapon that will end all battles and history is the word of God. How flippantly we handle such a powerful tool

Revelation 18, Babylon as a Physical Entity

Rev 18:1-3 (ESV) After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. 2 And he called out with a mighty voice,

"Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
She has become a dwelling place for demons,
a haunt for every unclean spirit,
a haunt for every unclean bird,
a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
3 For all nations have drunk
 the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality,
and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her,
and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living."



• "After this" meaning what?
• After the image of the Babylonian system's destruction, we repeat the story but now in a physical sense
• Specifically, Verses 2 and 3 repeat previous prophecies, thereby reaffirming the fact that Babylon was never destroyed
• Here, we are told that Babylon's new inhabitants are
Isa 13:19-22 (ESV) And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms,
the splendor and pomp of the Chaldeans,
will be like Sodom and Gomorrah
when God overthrew them.
20  It will never be inhabited
or lived in for all generations;
no Arab will pitch his tent there;
no shepherds will make their flocks lie down there.
21 But wild animals will lie down there,
and their houses will be full of howling creatures;
there ostriches will dwell,
and there wild goats will dance.
22 Hyenas will cry in its towers,
and jackals in the pleasant palaces;
its time is close at hand
and its days will not be prolonged.

• A Dalhan is a demon that rides an ostrich in the desert. All the animals listed are pictures we have of demons
• Three groups have engaged Babylon
• Nations (people of the world) - drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality
• Political leaders (kings of the earth) -  committed immorality with her (larger sense than just sexual, but anything immoral and against what God has said is true)
• Merchants of the earth - have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living (greed, the super-rich, those who are incredibly wealth at the expense of others, …)
• APPLICATION: These are sins that God is judging the world. And these are the things that are increasing in our society, and in our Christian lives. They are warning to us regarding our own behaviors.


Rev 18:4-8 (ESV) Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,

"Come out of her, my people,
lest you take part in her sins,
lest you share in her plagues;
5 for her sins are heaped high as heaven,
and God has remembered her iniquities.
6  Pay her back as she herself has paid back others,
and repay her double for her deeds;
mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.
7  As she glorified herself and lived in luxury,
so give her a like measure of torment and mourning,
since in her heart she says,
'I sit as a queen,
I am no widow,
and mourning I shall never see.'
8 For this reason her plagues will come in a single day,
death and mourning and famine,
and she will be burned up with fire;
for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her."



• The story adds more detail.
• God warns his people to get out (to come out of the first group, the nations). Not sure how they could survive in the city without the "mark" anyway
• Judgment is coming because of her sins (this goes back all the way to the time of Babylon and before)
• The reaching to heaven reminds us of one of Babylon's first sins (the bricks used to build the tower of Babel)
• Babel represents a system that is opposed to God
• It is not just idolatry but luxury
• In both cases, you can own something but it doesn't have to own you
• You can have nice things, but you don't have to live for your nice things
• The entire destruction takes a day. The burning probably occurs in the last hour (vs. 8)
• Two more reasons for her destruction (or insight into Babylon's character is seen here)
• Her arrogance (APPLICATION: this is the first sin, pride)
• Her belief that she was above the troubles of the earth
• Implication is that she really did not care about other's problems -- they were never her problems (otherwise in compassion she would have hurt for others)


Rev 18:9-10 (ESV) And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. 10  They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, "Alas! Alas! You great city,
you mighty city, Babylon!
For in a single hour your judgment has come."



• How is it that the judgment comes in a single hour?
• The attack appears to take much more than an hour (probably a day - verse 8), yet the transformation to fire and to something like Sodom and Gomorrah may be the "hour" event that the observers are referencing
• This is the second group that laments over her loss
• The kings of the earth -- the political leaders
• Involved in the sexual immorality
• Involved in the luxury
• APPLICATION: The destruction of Babylon is because they disobeyed God's moral laws on sexuality. Also, they lived for luxury items. If God destroyed them, what will He do to protect his children from those sins?


Rev 18:11-20 (ESV) And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, 12 cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, 13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.

14 "The fruit for which your soul longed
has gone from you,
and all your delicacies and your splendors
are lost to you,
never to be found again!"

15  The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,

16 "Alas, alas, for the great city
 that was clothed in fine linen,
in purple and scarlet,
adorned with gold,
with jewels, and with pearls!
17 For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste."

And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off 18 and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning,

"What city was like the great city?"

19 And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out,

"Alas, alas, for the great city
 where all who had ships at sea
grew rich by her wealth!
For in a single hour she has been laid waste.
20  Rejoice over her, O heaven,
and you saints and apostles and prophets,
for God has given judgment for you against her!"



• This is the third group (vs 11-16), the merchants (businessmen)
• Interesting in this list of 29 items
• Human trafficking is listed
• Second most lucrative crime globally, surpassed only by the drug trade (US State Dep., June 2012)
• APPLICATION: The world loves wealth above the dignity of humanity (this is such a sick sin)
• The fourth group are the middle men, transporters, and sailors
• Their concern is the loss of wealth
• The emphasis on the ships suggest that the city will be a seaport (this could argue against Babylon being rebuilt). Or it could just suggest a transportation center.


Rev 18:21-24 (ESV) Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,

"So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence,
and will be found no more;
22 and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters,
will be heard in you no more,
and a craftsman of any craft
will be found in you no more,
and the sound of the mill
will be heard in you no more,
23 and the light of a lamp
will shine in you no more,
and the voice of bridegroom and bride
will be heard in you no more,
for your merchants were the great ones of the earth,
and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints,
and of all who have been slain on earth."



• This verse is a reference to a passage in Jeremiah
Jer 51:60-64 (ESV) Jeremiah wrote in a book all the disaster that should come upon Babylon, all these words that are written concerning Babylon. 61 And Jeremiah said to Seraiah: "When you come to Babylon, see that you read all these words, 62 and say, 'O Lord, you have said concerning this place that you will cut it off, so that nothing shall dwell in it, neither man nor beast, and it shall be desolate forever.' 63 When you finish reading this book,   tie a stone to it and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates, 64 and say, 'Thus shall Babylon sink, to rise no more, because of the disaster that I am bringing upon her, and they shall become exhausted.'"

• Two more reasons are emphasized
• Deception of her sorcery (engaged in the occult), word is the word for pharmacy
• Blood of the saints (killed believers)
• CONCLUDING THOUGHT: God finishes all of his prophecies against Babylon at the end of tribulation
• Is it the literal Babylon? That would be the logical hermeneutic
• But the non-literal Babylon precedes the literal destruction, therefore Babylon could be another city which carries on, and represents the Babylon worldview
• Remember the city in one of the seven churches, who for a time, had the actual seat of Satan
• Is it Rome (7 Hills, 4th largest city in EU), Paris(not near a port), London (#2 richest), NYC (#1 richest), Berlin (not near a port), Babel (not near a port)?