Revelation Chapter18 Lesson. (One Way Assembly).

This lesson is a reading of a verse by verse study along with following a PowerPoint as well.
Babylon as a Foreshadow:
The Babylon of the past is a foreshadowing of the Babylon to come. The books of Jeremiah, Joel, Isaiah and Ezekiel have direct references to “Neo-Babylon’s” judgment but their ultimate fulfillment will be seen in the last days with the last Babylon.
For example, 3 Jewish boys, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in Daniel chapter 3 refuse to bow to the Image set up in the plain by Nebuchadnezzar; they are then thrown into a fiery furnace and rescued by one who is like unto, the “Son of Man”.
This is a foreshadowing of Israel’s future as the Antichrist sets up an image and demands Israel along with the rest of the world worship the Image. The world accepts Israel refuses and is put into a fiery trial only to be rescued by the “Son of God”.
Last Days of Babylon:
The Babylon in Revelation 18 should be understood in the context of a final kingdom on the Earth united against God and his people Israel. To this Babylonian kingdom is the judgment in Revelation 18 being addressed.
A dwelling place….
Since all of Satan’s angels are expelled from heaven along with Satan, they take up residence in man and rule with him in his satanic kingdom. The last Babylon becomes the demonic headquarters of this satanic undertaking.
All the nations…. Satan is called the god of this age, who has blinded the minds of those who do not believe. (2 Cor. 4:4) Satan tempted Jesus with the nations of the earth if he would just worship him. (Luke 4:5-7) Through the proxy of the Antichrist and his kingdom, all the nations of the earth will worship Satan in the flesh and will therefore face the wrath of this relationship.
The kings of the earth…The kings the personal representatives of the nations will be seduced by the demonic forces into union with the Beast.
The merchants…The 3rd class in this indictment by the angel, speaks to the movers and shakers of the world who were seduced by the great wealth offered by the beast.
Lastly, this chapter describes the judgment on the final form of Babylon, the Beast and his empire. The imagery of Babylon falling is taken from Isaiah 21:9, where the ancient city of Babylon was destroyed. Revelation (18:4-20) is a message from “another voice calling from heaven” (18:4).
The message begins with a call to separate from the city (18:4) and ends with a call to rejoice (18:20). The heavenly rejoicing forms a severe contrast with the world’s mourning (18:9-19). The prayer of the martyrs (6:10) is answered. The call to separate is to believers living in the Tribulation period who might be tempted to compromise their convictions and become associated with the Beast.
The world’s leaders give 3 laments over fallen Babylon (18:9-10, 11-19). Compare this with Ezekiel’s lamentation over Tyre (Ezekiel 27). Half the commodities mentioned in 18:11-13 are mentioned also in Ezekiel. Mariners, kings, and merchants are also mentioned in the Ezekiel lamentation.
The merchants mourn over the long list of commodities rather than their long list of sins. The judgment against Babylon is on behalf of heaven and the saints (18:20). lesson is a reading of a verse by verse study along with following a PowerPoint as well.
Chapter 18 is about the Commercial Babylon. Babylon the Great falls. The World Mourns Babylon’s Fall. The saints rejoice for the judgments of God upon her.