Four overarching truths we discover in Revelation:

1. God’s undeniable revulsion of sin.

2. God’s love for all people as He graciously gives repeated opportunity to repent.

3. God calls believers to persevere and gives strength to do so.

4. God’s sovereign plan cannot be prevented or deterred in any way.

Revelation 21:1–4 (ESV) - Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

The lure of evil and sin is pervasive, seductive and powerful.

Genesis 3:6 (ESV) - So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Hebrews 11:25 (ESV) - choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

James 1:14 – …each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

“Our problem is not that we don’t have light, but that we love darkness.” – John Piper

The powerful, seductive and pervasive power of evil will be defeated completely!

Revelation 17:1-2 (ESV) - Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, 2with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.”

Revelation 17:3-4 (ESV) - And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. 4The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.

Revelation 17:5-6 (ESV) - And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” 6And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly.

Revelation 17:7 (ESV) - But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.

Revelation 17:8 (ESV) - The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.

Revelation 1:8 (ESV) - “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 17:9-13 (ESV) - This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 10they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. 11As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 12And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. 13These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast.

Revelation 17:14 (ESV) - They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

Revelation 17:15-18 (ESV) - And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, 17for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”

Revelation 18:1-2a (ESV) - After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. 2And he called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!

Revelation 18:8-10 (ESV) - For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.” 9And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. 10They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, “Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”

Revelation 18:14-15 (ESV) - “The fruit for which your soul longed has gone from you, and all your delicacies and your splendors are lost to you, never to be found again!” 15The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud…

If you put your hope and trust in anything other than God, it all goes away. It’s all gone.

Revelation 18:20-24 (ESV) - Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!” 21Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more; 22and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more, 23and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery. 24And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.”

So what? Marks of a faithful disciple living in a Babylon world:

1. Daily faithfulness.
Luke 9:23 (ESV) - And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Titus 2:11–14 (ESV) - For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

So what? Marks of a faithful disciple living in a Babylon world:

1. Daily faithfulness.

2. Biblical thinking.
Romans 8:5–6 (ESV) - For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

So what? Marks of a faithful disciple living in a Babylon world:

1. Daily faithfulness.

2. Biblical thinking.

3. Selfless living.
Mark 12:30–31 (ESV) - And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

John 13:34 (ESV) - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Philippians 2:3–4 (ESV) - Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

So what? Marks of a faithful disciple living in a Babylon world:

1. Daily faithfulness.

2. Biblical thinking.

3. Selfless living.

4. Hope-filled perspective.
Romans 15:13 (ESV) - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

The bottom line…
1 John 2:17 (ESV) - And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Discussion Questions

1. The symbolism of the Bible is meant to deepen our understanding of truth and help us “feel” the message. Discuss your reaction to evil portrayed as a prostitute in Revelation 17.

2. In Revelation 17:7-18, what are the explanation of the symbols given in 17:1-6? What does this reveal to us about this time of the end and what remains a mystery?

3. Read the first account of Babel (Babylon) in Genesis 11:1-9. What similarities are there to the spirit of the people in Revelation 18?

4. Discuss the four marks of a faithful disciple living in a Babylon world. In what way do marks 2-4 flow out of mark 1? Which verse listed with the marks would you like to memorize this week?