Fallen, Fallen is Babylon the Great!
As we make our way towards the end of Revelation, similar themes keep repeating themselves. One such theme is God’s end-time judgment on the world. We’ve seen glimpses of this final judgment in each of the final seal, bowl, and trumpet judgments. We also encountered it after the two witnesses resurrected and God sent a great earthquake onto the earth. In future posts, we will see the dragon, beast, and false prophet’s end-time judgments as God casts them into the pit of hell forever (Rev. 20:10).
In the meantime, Revelation 17-19 describes God’s end-time judgment on Babylon, also known as the great prostitute.
Babylon is The Great Prostitute
As chapter 16 came to a close, the seventh and final bowl judgment describes God’s end-time judgment on the wicked. Chapters 17-19 also describes this final judgment, though they do so from slightly different angles.
In these chapters, Revelation describes the kingdom of the world in opposition to God’s people as both Babylon and the great prostitute. Babylon, of course, was the great enemy of God’s people in OT times. They sacked Jerusalem and the temple, and forced the Israelites into exile. Furthermore, Babylon receives the appropriate label of prostitute because of her spiritual adultery and idol worship (Jer. 2:20).
It’s in this vain of thinking that John can say that the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with the prostitute. They have willingly participated in her schemes (Isa. 23:17). Later in the chapter, we read that the prostitute sits on many waters which represents peoples, crowds, nations, and languages. That is to say, the prostitute’s influence reaches far and wide.
The prostitute also sits on “seven mountains” which most take to mean Rome. After all, traditionally Romulus and Remus founded the city on seven hills. First-century Rome, therefore, appears to be a certain subset of Babylon, much like it was a subset of the Beast. Or to put it another way, even though Rome is no longer, the spirit of Babylon continues to this day.
The prostitute’s time, however, is limited. Because she is “drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus,” God will bring swift judgment. In fact, the kingdoms of the prostitute will “make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is the Lord of lords and King of kings.”
The Fall of Babylon
Chapter 18 portrays Babylon’s destruction from a slightly different angle. We read, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!” which echoes the words from Isaiah 21:9. Similar images describe the world’s commitment to Babylon. We read that “all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.” Again, alluding to the fact that instead of being faithful to God, the kingdoms of the world have gotten into bed with the great prostitute Babylon. The prophets use this same imagery of Babylon as well (Isa. 13-14; Jer. 50-51).
And then verse 4 offers a profound warning: “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues.” This warning is yet another reminder that temptations haven’t changed much in two thousand years. The church was tempted to assimilate into Babylon. They wanted to participate in Babylonian activities and worship the Babylonian gods. Yet, if they hope to avoid judgment, they must separate from her immediately.
This is a warning that all Christians must heed. We can’t keep flirting with the world and think everything will work out for us. It won’t. Christians who try to fit in with the world will end up receiving the same judgment of the world unless they repent. Verse 8 indicates that the plagues will come for Babylon because the Lord is a just God.
The world grieves over this judgment, but not because they sinned. They grieve because they face severe consequences. The kings of the world, the merchants, and seafarers will all grieve at the fall of Babylon the Great because it means their downfall as well.
The end of the chapter reminds us, once again, why Babylon’s judgment is just. They have slain the prophets and the saints.
God’s People Rejoice over Babylon’s Fall
Chapter 20 opens with a Hallelujahs from the great multitude in heaven. Why? Because Christ has defeated the terrible monster. God has vindicated his people, and avenged their flood.
The fact that they rejoice over Babylon’s judgment demonstrates that God’s justice is a praise-worthy attribute. Many Christians today are embarrassed at the idea that God judges the wicked. They avoid all conversations about hell. But here in Revelation 19, we read that God’s people and angels worship and praise him because he pours out his judgment on the wicked and vindicates the saints.
