REVELATION LESSON 37

    We will begin this lesson in Revelation 18:14 "And the fruits that
thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which
were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find
them no more at all."

    We see here, as in the last few verses in the last lesson, that
the things that were part of lustful living are no longer. As I said
before, I think we see here a time when it will be next to impossible
to even find enough to feed your family. Even if you did find enough
for them to eat, it would probably take all you could possibly make
just to have even bread for your family. This is probably the time
when a loaf of bread would cost a whole day's wages.  There will be no
money at all left for niceties.  Even if you have a tremendous amount
of money, there will be great shortages of real items necessary to
live on.

    Revelation 18:15 "The merchants of these things, which were made
rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping
and wailing,"

    Here, we see such great fear from these merchants who used to sell
to this great city. They were made rich by selling to her. When this
horrible punishment came on this great city, it put the fear of God on
those looking on. It is about time that someone begins to fear.

    Revelation 18:16 "And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that
was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with
gold, and precious stones, and pearls!"

    Any city, we would come up with; would be pure speculation, but
this would be very difficult not to associate with the Vatican. The
"...fine linen..." has to do with the church world. All of this
describes the finery in these big churches. "...purple, and
scarlet..." are Godly colours. If you have ever been and seen these
great Catholic churches, you know that they are decked in "...gold and
jewels...". As in the lesson before this, we have to realize this
"...Babylon..." is a city and, also, is the apostate church. These
plagues jump back and forth from the city to the church.

    Revelation 18:17 "For in one hour so great riches is come to
nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and
sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,"

    Here again, this has to be the Vatican. This is some of the
greatest riches in the world today, but with God, even this does not
impress Him. Whatever happened was sudden in nature, like a thief in
the night.  This shipping was stopped.

    Revelation 18:18 "And cried when they saw the smoke of her
burning, saying, What [city is] like unto this great city!"

    Here again this description could fit hundreds of different
cities. Iraq is physical Babyllon and could be the city.

    Revelation 18:19 "And they cast dust on their heads, and cried,
weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were
made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness!
for in one hour is she made desolate."

    Hebrews, throughout the ages, put on sackcloth and tossed ashes on
their head when they were very grieved. This is a spiritual way of
repentance, and, I believe, this has to do with some sort of grief
shown to God. If the church were to fall, as we have been saying in
the last few lessons, you might even see this type of grief by the
members, when they realize the wrath of God has fallen. Even a
lukewarm church would certainly be aware of what other believers
thought the Bible teaches about the wrath of God. When they realize
they have missed the rapture of the Church, there would be grief
beyond comprehension. This was a sudden destruction that no one could
deny was a punishment from God.

    Revelation 18:20 "Rejoice over her, [thou] heaven, and [ye] holy
apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her."

    God has taken vengeance on the ones who killed his prophets and
apostles and even his blessed Son.  Finally, all of those martyred by
these have been avenged.

    Revelation 18:21 "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great
millstone, and cast [it] into the sea, saying, Thus with violence
shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no
more at all."

    This speaks of total destruction, whether of a real city or of the
apostate church or perhaps both. The two could be easily associated.
This millstone here is similar to the one spoken of as being around a
neck and thrown into the sea.

    Luke 17:2 "It were better for him that a millstone were hanged
about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend
one of these little ones."

    In the light of this Scripture, this is a really bad punishment. I
believe this illustration is to show the finality of this judgement of
God. We must remember, Babylon is destroyed by God Himself, not by the
devil.

    "...sea..." sometimes means masses of people. I do not believe
that is the meaning here.

    Revelation 18:22 "And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of
pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no
craftsman, of whatsoever craft [he be], shall be found any more in
thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in
thee;"

    These first few sounds could be in a church, but the millstone
would be in a city. Here, then, we are speaking of a city that has
been totally destroyed as was Sodom and Gomorrah. This city is not
only totally destroyed, but will never be rebuilt.

    Revelation 18:23 "And the light of a candle shall shine no more at
all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be
heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of
the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived."

     We know that "...sorceries..." have to do with drugs. It seems
this city was dealing in drugs. Of course nearly every major city in
the world is, also. This is really no help in determining which city.
It just helps us establish the extent of the evil. I still believe
this city has world wide connections to a branch of the church. I
truly believe the deception they brought to the world was spiritual in
nature. Here again, the things mentioned, that have stopped, are
normal things that happen in all large cities. I believe V-24
identifies the city as Rome.

    Revelation 18:24 "And in her was found the blood of prophets, and
of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth."

    This is the city Babylon and the faithless church as well. True,
faithful Christians are many times neglected and even oppressed by the
church. We see youth lost because of the shallow teachings of this
apostate church. Every time I see strong Christians ridiculed by
lukewarm Christians, I am more convinced, more people are lost going
to a watered-down church than by not going to church at all. At least
those who do not go at all are not fooled into a false sense of
security. They know they are lost.  It is much easier to reach someone
who never went to church, because they know they need a Savior. The
ones who go once or twice a year believe they are already saved and
don't need the Savior. It is such a shame that the Shepherds do not
teach their people to study the Bible for themselves. Through the Word
is where true commitment begins.

    Extra scriptures to study: Ezekiel 27, Acts 27, Jeremiah 51:61-64,
Isaiah 24:8, and Jeremiah 25:10.

    Memorize St. Luke 17:2 and St. John 1:5.













                      Revelation Questions 37


1.  In V-14, what thing had departed from them?
2.  What kind of a time is this describing?
3.  How much will a loaf of bread cost?
4.  Even if you had a great amount of money, what problem would you
    run into?
5.  Why did the merchants stand afar off?
6.  What two words were the merchants saying?
7.  How was this great city clothed?
8.  Does this mean just a city?
9.  What place does the author associate this with?
10. What do you associate fine linen with ?
11. What two things is Babylon?
12. What period of time did the destruction come on?
13. What happened to the ships bringing goods to her?
14. The shipmasters cried when they saw what?
15. What was a sign of terrible grief?
16. Even a lukewarm church would be aware of what?
17. Who was to rejoice over her ?
18. Why?
19. Who did God take vengeance on?
20. What did the angel cast into the sea?
21. How will Babylon be thrown down?
22. What does this indicate?
23. Who destroys Babylon?
24. What sounds will not be heard anymore?
25. In V-23, name three things that indicate this is a city.
26. What does sorceries tell us?
27. What do I believe about the deception they brought into the world?
28. Which verse indicates heavily that this is Rome?
29. Why?
30. Where does true commitment begin?
31. Write St. Luke 17:2.
32. Write St. John 1:5.
33. What message have you received personally from this lesson.