Jesus Christ is about to return to earth to establish His reign of righteousness. Before the establishment of His millennial kingdom, several things must take place. In chapter 16, the godless armies of the world must be destroyed in the great battle of Armageddon. In Revelation 17, God’s judgment must come on the false religion of the Antichrist. In chapter 18, the Antichrist’s commercial, political and governmental kingdom will be judged and destroyed. When these things are accomplished, Jesus Christ will set up His kingdom of righteousness.
In Revelation 17, the one-world religion established to worship the Antichrist government and person will be destroyed. The Antichrist appears to peacefully co-exist with the religion of the Jews and the temple is built in Jerusalem. He allows their worship until he exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped. At that time, the Antichrist desecrates and defiles the temple of God, takes away the sacrifices to God and sets up an image of himself to be worshipped.
Revelation 17:1 NKJV Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters,
The mention of the seven angels who had the seven bowls ties “Babylon the Great” with those judgments.
The angel shows John the false religion of the world and its judgment. In the Bible, harlotry often stands for false gods, worship, religion, and devotion to anything but God.
Historically, the religion of Babylon has been anti-God.
Ancient Babylonian was established by Nimrod in the city of Babel, when the people of the earth rebelled against God. Nimrod was a great-grandson of Noah, and his wife, Semiramis was a high priestess of idol worship. She gave birth to her son “Tammuz” whom she claimed was miraculously conceived and was considered “a savior” by the Babylonians. She was known as the queen of heaven to the Babylonians. The Canaanite name for “Tammuz” was “Baal.” The historical religion of the Babylonians involved magical arts, witchcraft and the worship of idols and demons. The “Great Harlot” of the tribulation will be the world’s religion and an abomination against God. Satan will do all he can to deceive the world into believing that the antichrist is indeed the Christ.
The phrase “sits on many waters” refers to the world wide influence of this Babylonian – antichrist religion.
Revelation 17:15 NKJV Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.”
Revelation 17:2 NKJV “with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”
The kings and inhabitants of the earth will be seduced into worshipping the Antichrist and commit spiritual fornication with Babylon the Great. “Spiritual fornication” is the worship of any god or person in the place of God. The Antichrist and his government will provide massive aid to kings, nations, and peoples who support and follow his deception and worship. The mark of the beast allows those who worship the beast and his image privileges to buy and sell, while those who refuse to take his mark will be persecuted and martyred. Any who refuse to fall into alignment and take his name, number, or mark will be counted enemies of the government and world religion.
Revelation 17:3 NKJV So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
This scarlet beast is the Antichrist and the woman is the false religion to worship Satan, the Antichrist, and the image of the Antichrist that will be set up in the temple of God.
Revelation 17:4 NKJV The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.
Everything about this woman (religion) is deceptive and evil. She is seen in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. Her appearance indicates royalty, wealth, and success. The golden cup in her hand is full of the abominations and filthiness of her fornications. Her adornment and appearance is a mockery of the cup of communion and the royal garments of the priesthood. The cup in her hand appears to be for her to drink from and for the peoples of the world to be “made drunk by the wine of her fornication.” This is a strong message of the true nature of this religion.
Revelation 17:5-6 NKJV And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.
When John saw the woman (the false religion) she was drunk with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus. His “amazement” was not admiration. He was having trouble understanding the meaning of the woman and the beast, so the angel told him what he saw.
Revelation 17:7-8 NKJV But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Here is an explanation of the Antichrist religion and government.
- It was — it existed in the form of the old Roman Empire.
- It is not — it was destroyed and has not existed since the fifth century and will not arrive on the world scene until the seven years of the tribulation.
- It will ascend out of the bottomless pit — this antichrist government and false messiah will come up from Satan.
- It will go to perdition — the Antichrist and the false religion will be cast into the lake of fire, (19:20).
When those who do not belong to Christ see the arrival of the Antichrist’s religion and government, they will marvel.
Revelation 17:9-10 NKJV Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time.
The seven heads symbolize seven mountains and seven kings.
- Most interpreters suppose this to be Rome because it sits on seven hills.
- Seven mountains may refer to seven kings or seven great world powers: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and the seventh is another kingdom that will arrive during the tribulation. Of the seven, five are past kingdoms. This will not be made clear until it is revealed at that time. This world religion of the antichrist is not active or present in the world until the last half of the tribulation.
Revelation 17:11 NKJV The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.
The antichrist person and government arises on the world stage with a confederacy of seven kings or governments. The eighth king and government will be the kingdom of the Antichrist.
Revelation 17:12 NKJV The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.
When the Antichrist comes into power and establishes his government and religion, ten kings will arise with him to rule for a short time. It is possible that these kingdoms and governments will not come into power until the church is removed from the earth by the great catching away (rapture).
Revelation 17:13-14 NKJV These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.
The one mind that is behind this confederacy is Satan. Ultimately, all of these kings, governments, or kingdoms will surrender to the Antichrist and his authority. When the Lamb makes war with them and overcomes them there will be a great alleluia given in heaven. That will be discussed in Revelation 19, when Christ returns to earth. Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, the Lord of lords and King of kings will overcome Satan and the Antichrist and their false religion.
Revelation 17:15-18 NKJV Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”
God is going to put it into the hearts of the Antichrist’s religion, government and confederacy to fulfill His purpose and it will disintegrate. You should know that the Lord God Almighty is able to turn the minds of wicked and evil men.
Revelation 18 announces the fall of Babylon the Great, the political, social, and governmental systems of Satan and the Antichrist.
The kingdoms of the world lament its fall but the kingdom of heaven will rejoice. In the New Testament “Babylon” represents rebellious and sinful humanity that stands in wickedness against God, His church, and people. In Revelation 18, Babylon is the satanic inspired world system. It is difficult to determine with certainty if Babylon is an actual city or a world political, commercial, social and cultural system. Some believe it will be Rome or the rebuilt city of Babylon, while others believe it could be Washington DC, New York, Tokyo, London, Moscow, Paris or any number of other cities. The reasoning behind the suggestion of the world capitals and major cities is the amount of evil and influence that is in them. Whatever it may be, the great capital city and kingdom of the antichrist’s government will be destroyed by the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Revelation 16:18-19, the seventh bowl was poured into the air and the great cities of the nations fell, now is the time for the fall of Babylon the Great.
Revelation 18:1 NKJV After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory.
This angel comes from heaven with such great authority and glory of God that the earth will be illuminated with his glory.
Revelation 18:2 NKJV And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!”
Satan’s kingdom and rule of evil cannot stand.
All kinds of spiritual and physical evil and wickedness will be practiced in this city.
Babylon, the dwelling place for demons and every unclean and foul spirit, is going to fall.
Revelation 18:3 NKJV For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”
All of the nations and kingdoms of the earth will be united under one rule, confederation and wickedness. The word “fornication” represents the immorality and perversion that will be practiced in her. The judgment that comes upon Babylon the Great will bring destruction upon all of the peoples and nations. Its glory, wealth and prosperity will be destroyed immediately.
Revelation 18:4-5 NKJV And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.”
From the beginning, God has required His people to be holy and separate from the sin and evil of the world. It is amazing that at this time God calls His people to separate themselves from her sins. Once again, the patience and goodness of God is revealed.“For her sins have reached to heaven” is similar to what was said about Noah’s generation and Sodom and Gomorrah. God will avenge Babylon the Great for its iniquities and sins.
Revelation 18:6-7 NKJV Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’
God’s judgment will repay Babylon double for her works. She glorified herself and lived luxuriously but will utterly fall. Her alliances, wealth, or fame will not be able to save her from God’s wrath.
Revelation 18:8 NKJV Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her.
This judgment and wrath will come rapidly upon Babylon in one day — “death and mourning and famine and she will be utterly burned with fire.”
Revelation 18:9-11 NKJV “The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’ “And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore:
The destruction and collapse of Babylon and the world’s economic and social system will cause the kings of the earth to lament, weep and mourn. The impact of this judgment will bring a complete end to the world’s commerce.
Revelation 18:15-19 NKJV The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’ They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’
It is difficult to imagine the world trade and shipping industry as we know it being shut down in one day. Babylon the Great and all of her wealth will be destroyed by God in one day.
Revelation 18:20 NKJV “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!”
This praise over the fall of Babylon the Great is a short version of the shout of hallelujahs issued from a great multitude in heaven in Revelation 19:1-5. All of God’s people who have suffered abuse and persecution will be vindicated by God in an hour.
Revelation 18:21-24 NKJV Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.”
Babylon the Great’s influence will be utterly and finally destroyed. Satan and the Antichrist’s kingdom and rule cannot stand. The destruction will be so great that it cannot be found anymore. This leads to great rejoicing in heaven in Revelation 19.
