Revelation - Week 29

Day 1

Heaps of Rubble

READ

Revelation 16:19

19 The great city of Babylon split into three sections, and the cities of many nations fell into heaps of rubble. So God remembered all of Babylon’s sins, and he made her drink the cup that was filled with the wine of his fierce wrath.

Some may sin and think God does not know it, but this passage reveals He not only knows it but also remembers the sins. Notice also that “the cities of many nations fell into heaps of rubble.” This was the result of the earthquake that was greater than anytime people had been on earth. Although God is a God of love, He hates sin and will pour out judgment on the sins of Babylon. Some view a rebuilt Babylon on the Euphrates as the center of world government in the Tribulation.

REFLECT

Believers in Jesus can rejoice that God has bought them out of the market place of sin where Satan was their master. Jesus was the sacrifice that made this possible.

RESPOND

With another Christ-follower, read Romans 6:5-11 to see what Jesus has done for believers. Be thankful that you are no longer a slave to sin.

Day 2

A Hailstorm

READ

Revelation 16:20-21

20 And every island disappeared, and all the mountains were leveled. 21 There was a terrible hailstorm, and hailstones weighing as much as seventy-five pounds fell from the sky onto the people below. They cursed God because of the terrible plague of the hailstorm.

This records more results of the earthquake greater than anything seen in world history. Think of the islands disappearing and all mountains being leveled. Think also of the devastation and death the hailstones would cause. One would think in the midst of this that people would begin crying out to God for mercy. Instead, they curse God because of the hailstorm. They seem to have an understanding that God could have stopped it.

REFLECT

Do you realize God is in ultimate control? It seems the unbelievers in the Tribulation will understand that.

RESPOND

Read Exodus 9:13-26 to read about the greatest hailstorm to ever hit Egypt. What is recorded in Revelation 16 has an effect on the entire world.

Day 3

The Wine of Immorality

READ

Revelation 17:1-2

1 One of the seven angels who had poured out the seven bowls came over and spoke to me. “Come with me,” he said, “and I will show you the judgment that is going to come on the great prostitute, who rules over many waters. 2 The kings of the world have committed adultery with her, and the people who belong to this world have been made drunk by the wine of her immorality.”

Revelation 17 seems to refer to the judgment on religious Babylon and Revelation 18 on commercial Babylon. A spiritual prostitute is one who had gone to false gods instead of to the true and only God. It seems that immorality is what accompanies the worship of false gods. Here the “kings of the world have committed adultery with her.” This reveals a political marriage with an apostate religious system.

REFLECT

Always be on guard when you see a political government becoming involved with religious life. The end result is usually not good.

RESPOND

Both Egypt with its pharaohs and Rome with its emperors confused political leaders with religious leaders. Even the plagues of Egypt were directed against what was thought divine in the land, such as the pharaohs and the river Nile. God revealed He was greater than any god the Egyptians worshiped.

Day 4

The Woman on a Scarlet Beast

READ

Revelation 17:3-4

3 So the angel took me in the Spirit into the wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that had seven heads and ten horns, and blasphemies against God were written all over it. 4 The woman wore purple and scarlet clothing and beautiful jewelry made of gold and precious gems and pearls. In her hand she held a gold goblet full of obscenities and the impurities of her immorality.

These verses seem to indicate a dominance of the apostate religious system over the beast (the Antichrist) at this time. Likely this refers to the first half of the seven-year Tribulation. The woman is seen in beautiful dress and ornaments but as being full of “obscenities and the impurities of her immorality.”

REFLECT

Think how often the world tries to cover up its sinful acts with outward allurements.

RESPOND

Read Galatians 5:19-21 to see what occurs when people follow the desires of their sinful nature. Make it your desire to honor Jesus Christ in your life.

Day 5

A Mysterious Name

READ

Revelation 17:5-6

5 A mysterious name was written on her forehead: “Babylon the Great, Mother of All Prostitutes and Obscenities in the World.” 6 I could see that she was drunk—drunk with the blood of God’s holy people who were witnesses for Jesus. I stared at her in complete amazement.

In his vision the apostle John saw a name on the forehead of the woman: “Babylon the Great, Mother of All Prostitutes and Obscenities in the World.” What a horrible descriptive name. John also saw that she was drunk with “the blood of God’s holy people who were witnesses for Jesus.” This reveals that the apostate religious system will consider believers in Jesus to be a chief enemy. Although the false system cannot destroy God, it will seek to destroy His followers.

REFLECT

This name is what the woman was known as. How would you like to be known by others?

RESPOND

With another Christ-follower read 2 Timothy 1:1-5 that tells how Paul remembered Timothy. Live in such a way that others can say similar things about you.