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Babylon's Fall
Marion Clark
Revelation 17:1-19:10
Introduction
Last week we read of the seven bowls of woe being poured out, which led to reflection that someday God's full and just judgment will come. Now is the day for salvation; now is the time to repent; now is the moment to turn to Jesus.
Our text this morning brings on the stage a new character. One reference had been made to her back in chapter 14, which reveals her particular evil: ''Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality'' (v. 8).
Text
Queen Babylon
Chapters 17 and 18 present a profile of Queen Babylon. It is summed up in the title written on her forehead: ''Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations'' (17:5). She is, as verse 1 states clearly, the great prostitute.
Why this designation? It is fitting in that sexual immorality is a hallmark of Babylonian culture, i.e. worldly culture. Physical lust is a deep-rooted sin in man, and once the restraints are removed, as they are for any culture that abandons God, it is a wide-spread sin.
But sexual immorality is a figure of speech for an even deeper-rooted and more wide-spread sin, that of idolatry. Idolatry is giving worship to any and everything else other than the true God. In Ezekiel, God condemns Israel for being a faithless bride who commits adultery with the gods of pagan countries (cf. Ezek. 23:28ff).
Queen Babylon has committed sexual immorality with the kings of the earth. Her lascivious culture has seduced the nations. That she rides upon a scarlet beast indicates that she is partner with Satan and with his beast. As such she is the great enemy of God's church and his people. Indeed, she is a formidable enemy, for she is ''drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus'' (17:6).
Chapter 18 reveals more about her through the laments offered over her when she falls. She is mourned by the ki ...
Marion Clark
Revelation 17:1-19:10
Introduction
Last week we read of the seven bowls of woe being poured out, which led to reflection that someday God's full and just judgment will come. Now is the day for salvation; now is the time to repent; now is the moment to turn to Jesus.
Our text this morning brings on the stage a new character. One reference had been made to her back in chapter 14, which reveals her particular evil: ''Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality'' (v. 8).
Text
Queen Babylon
Chapters 17 and 18 present a profile of Queen Babylon. It is summed up in the title written on her forehead: ''Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations'' (17:5). She is, as verse 1 states clearly, the great prostitute.
Why this designation? It is fitting in that sexual immorality is a hallmark of Babylonian culture, i.e. worldly culture. Physical lust is a deep-rooted sin in man, and once the restraints are removed, as they are for any culture that abandons God, it is a wide-spread sin.
But sexual immorality is a figure of speech for an even deeper-rooted and more wide-spread sin, that of idolatry. Idolatry is giving worship to any and everything else other than the true God. In Ezekiel, God condemns Israel for being a faithless bride who commits adultery with the gods of pagan countries (cf. Ezek. 23:28ff).
Queen Babylon has committed sexual immorality with the kings of the earth. Her lascivious culture has seduced the nations. That she rides upon a scarlet beast indicates that she is partner with Satan and with his beast. As such she is the great enemy of God's church and his people. Indeed, she is a formidable enemy, for she is ''drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus'' (17:6).
Chapter 18 reveals more about her through the laments offered over her when she falls. She is mourned by the ki ...
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