Revelation chapters 17:1 – 19:10 (The Fall of Babylon)

17:1-6 – Apostate Jerusalem must be removed in order for the New Jerusalem/church/kingdom of Christ
The harlot woman is Jerusalem; the beast is Rome
Seven heads = complete power of the ruling Roman emperor
Ten horns = ten kingdoms over which the emperor ruled
The woman appeared attractive, but underlying sin is destructive (cf. Matthew 23:28)

17:7-10 – Refers to the Roman emperors
“Five have fallen” = Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, and Claudius
“One is” = Nero
“The other has not yet come” = Domitian

17:11-14 – Jerusalem will be destroyed, but persecutions against the church will continue in Diocletian’s “reign of terror” (Rev. 2:10)

17:15-18 – Rome was a tool used to serve God’s purposes
“Earth” of 17:18 = land of Judea; the city of Jerusalem was the royal city where the kings of Judah reigned

18:1-3 – “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen” (cf. Isaiah 21:9)
This is a view from the point of view of the Gentiles (“the nations”)

18:4-8 – Warning to the faithful to flee Jerusalem
Destruction of Jerusalem would come in “one day” or suddenly (cf. Matthew 24:16-18)

18:9-19 – Three groups lament over the fall of Jerusalem:
          * “Kings of the earth” (18:9)
          * “Merchants of the earth” (18:11)
          * “Shipmasters” (18:17)
The riches of this life are not eternal (cf. 1 Timothy 6:17)

18:20 – Joy that the apostles and prophets have been avenged by the Almighty

18:21-24 – The millstone metaphor
Jerusalem had stumbled, and had caused others to stumble, and was destroyed for it (cf. Matthew 18:6)

19:1-6 – Worship and praise for God’s righteous judgments upon the church’s oppressors
“Alleluia” = praise ye the Lord – used only in 19:1, 3, 4, 6

19:7-9 – The relationship of the church to Jesus (cf. Romans 7:2-4; Ephesians 5:22-33)
The wedding feast is ongoing; every time one obeys the gospel, he or she becomes wedded to Christ

19:10 – The Christian must put his or her trust in God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
Far too often, more trust is placed in preachers than the Word
Be a Berean – receive the teaching, but verify for yourself that it is of God (cf. Acts 17:11)

Review
1. In Revelation 17:10, who are the seven kings? To whom specifically does the phrase “one is” refer?

2. Who are the “ten kings” of Revelation 17:12?

3. What three groups of people lamented the fall of Jerusalem in Revelation 18?

4. Who is worthy of worship? In whom should we place our faith and trust?