The Final Fall of Babylon and Satan’s Evil System
Bible Study Guide
(Verses 9-10) The world and all the participants will watch in horror this evil, God opposing system in the final fall of Babylon.
For decades, the American public has suspected unprecedented levels of corruption in our government. A level of corruption that has not only festered for generations, but has flourished and grown beyond what we could imagine.
“The development of DOGE uncovered and revealed this. What it unearthed in the bowels of government malfeasance was unimaginable.” It’s likely this is just the tip of the iceberg. The part we don’t see is the global arm of this fraud. A system that elites, globalists, national and economic leaders have used to manipulate markets and enrich themselves on the backs of unsuspecting people.
This is the very system that will meet its demise in Revelation 18. Christ warned that all things will come into the light and be exposed.
“For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.” (Luke 8:17)
Those a part of this system will cry in disbelief of its final destruction.
The Lamenting Merchants at the Falling of Babylon
(Verses 11-13) All the merchants throughout the world will mourn and wail at the destruction of the system that has supported the building of their own wealth. “The globalist leaders and rulers of the world will destroy all the luxury items they purchased and protected for themselves, along with their wealth.”
The world’s merchants will watch as the economic infrastructure that built their wealth vanishes and is destroyed forever.
Revelation 6 reveals to us the protection of items of luxury that the rich and powerful will reserve for themselves.
“Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” (Revelation 6:6)
Verse 13 even mentions what is a dire global problem today, human trafficking. It was estimated that in 2016, over 40 million people across the globe were victims of human trafficking. It has become a lucrative crime bringing in an estimated $150 billion annually.
How often do we hear today of the rich and powerful involved in the trafficking of young women for despicable sexual acts for their own evil desires. This evil system symbolized by the spirit and deception of Babylon will soon be destroyed before their very eyes.
The Fall of the Luxuries of Babylon
(Verses 14-17) Instead of placing their trust and faith in the God of creation, they chose to worship and trust in their wealth. It will become for them a false hope and system of trust that will lead to their final destruction.
All of the finest things in life that they horded and protected will be brought to ruin along with the fall of Babylon.
A system that has been opposed to God since the time of Nimrod and the tower of Babel will be destroyed in one hour. The mighty hand of God will reach down and attain victory according to His word that He gave His prophets all throughout the Old Testament. It’ll all to be fulfilled in an hour.
The Lament of the Fall of Babylon Will Turn Into Rejoicing
(Verses 18-19) For the last time, three groups of people will lament the final fall of Babylon. Monarchs, merchants and mariners who’ve all had a hand in this false, God opposing world system of deception used to attain wealth will mourn her complete devastation.
The use of the word “woe” in the Bible can mean misery, affliction, sorrow, grief, misfortune, wrath or wretchedness. It’s not a term you want to hear come from God.
The prophets Isaiah, Ezekiel, Samuel, Hosea, Zephaniah, and Habakkuk used it, some often in their recordings against the people of Israel.
Christ cursed the hypocrites of His day with seven “woes.” We even saw John record in Revelation 9 the release of the three “woes” by the fifth trumpet judgment.
In the NIV Bible, this passage in Revelation 18 uses the term “woe” six times. John records the last two of the six “woes” against the unidentified great city and the final fall of Babylon.
In religious style for the demise of their false and idolatrous worship of their system of wealth, they’ll throw ashes upon themselves in lament for their witness of the falling of Babylon.
John records another reminder of how quickly (one hour) God will make handy work of the destruction of the false religious, financial, and government system of Babylon (One World Government & One World Religion).
“Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in their own sight.
22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine
and champions at mixing drinks,
23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe,
but deny justice to the innocent.” (Isaiah 5:20-23)
The Rejoicing of the Fall of Babylon
(Verse 20) Take notice how quickly John pivots away from the lamenting of the pagan followers of Babylon. He turns his attention from the monarchs, merchants and mariners to God’s people, prophets and apostles. Then he exclaims that it’s time for rejoicing.
God, the just Judge has spoken. “He has executed His wrath upon the godless and handed down the sentence. Vindication and retribution have finally come for those who waited patiently against a system that tempted and deceived them.”
It’s time for rejoicing. The fall of Babylon has come, Christ is returning to rule. What a glorious time it’ll be for all of God’s people.
The Finality of the Falling of Babylon
(Verses 21-23) A mighty angel uses a millstone to demonstrate upon the sea the violence in which the fall of Babylon will take place. It will not be an event that will go unnoticed.
Notice the mighty angel uses the term “never” five times. He pronounces the finality of Babylon and every aspect associated with her pagan existence.
This wrath that God has planned against Babylon will come with swiftness and it will be final.
(Verse 24) The pagan, God-opposing religious, economic, and governmental system—the spirit of Babylon carried throughout the ages—has carried the stain of the blood of prophets and God’s people.
The blood of prophets is a theme that is woven into the New Testament. It points to all of the prophets, apostles, saints and all God’s people who’ve died at the hands of Satan’s evil system.
Luke records this teaching by Christ.
“Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world,” (Luke 11:50)
God will not forget a single drop of innocent blood shed upon the earth going all the way back to the first murder by Cain against his brother Abel.
John reminds the reader of this in Revelation 16.
“for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.” (Revelation 16:6)
God cannot abide in sin. The earth has been cursed from the time Adam & Eve sinned. Because the earth carries the stains of innocent blood, this is likely one of God’s reasons for establishing a new earth and a new heaven. God will be reunited and live among His people.
It’s Time For Rejoicing!
Congratulations, you made it past the worse experience the earth will ever endure under the wrath of God. God completed what He promised against the ungodly.
There is still work to do. But it’s time for rejoicing. So let’s head over to the next Bible study guide for rejoicing. Then let’s take a look at what else God has planned. Christ is on the way and what an entrance it’s going to be.
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