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God’s advice concerning rebellion, disloyalty, and self-rule
Introduction
In Chapter 18: 9-24, we understand the fall of Babylon, which represent self-rule of men without God, making the name for themselves ( This is called secularism, open rebellion and disloyalty) It also represent the economic and political oppression to the people of God., This is the trade and commerce of men without God, this is New world order, that is One world government and one world economy. The lovers of money will be judged by the righteous Judge. In Numbers 16: 24-35, we learn how the people of God are expected to move away from this evil city as God begins to judge them
Objectives
By the end of this session, the learner will have:
- Understood the judgment of the one world government and one world economy (rule without God, secularism) by comparing Rev 18 and Gen 11: 1-9
- Reflected on reasons to avoid self-rule without God.
- Been warned to keep off from the tents of secularism by comparing how God judged the tents of Korah in Numbers 16: 24-35 and how he confused the builders of the evil city of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9
Outline
- False religion, self-rule
- The fall of Babylon,
- New world order
- Avoid disloyalty
Group Study Time
Revelation 18: 9-24
Connecting
- Gather with two or more people for a community discovery bible study session.
- Start with a heartfelt prayer, inviting God to guide and bless your understanding.
- Explore the passage by reading it at least twice, using different Bible versions if available, then retell the story together as a group.
- Reflect and share the challenges and blessings you experienced from the previous study.
Comprehending
- Read Rev 18: 9-10, 11-14, 15-17a, 17 b- 19a, 19b- 20. List some of Babylon’s partners and how they responded after Babylon was judged by God.
- List at least 3 reasons why God’s people should avoid Babylon’s self-rule. (See her future life, see the future of her business partners, see how heaven responds to the fall of Babylon)
- Read Rev 18: 20-24. How would heaven, believers, and other people in the city be expected to respond? What is expected to stop in the city of Babylon?
- Read Numbers 16:24-35. What is revealed about moving away from the tents of people with self-rule without God?
Committing
- Engage with the Bible—read, study, memorize, meditate, pray, listen, and live it out.
- List three lessons you have learnt as an agent of change that you would like to put into practice and teach others about.
- Take time and worship Jesus with the attributes revealed about Christ.
- Use the SPACEPETS model, to assist you in putting God’s word into practice. Look for:
- Sin to confess
- Promise to claim
- Attitude to change
- Command to keep
- Error to change
- Prayer to make
- Example to copy
- Truth to obey and
- Something praiseworthy
Communicating
- Identify one person you can connect with and share the valuable insights and lessons you gained from this session.
- Reach out to a new believer—either in person or by phone—and pray with them to support them through their challenges, including any concerns about attending church.
- Create a new group and guide others through this study to help them grow in their understanding.
Post Lesson Teaching Summary
Great job completing the study! Take a moment to listen to this summary to reinforce your group’s understanding of the text and ensure you’re all on the same page. We’re here to support your learning journey!
God’s advice concerning rebellion, disloyalty, and self-rule
Revelation 18: 9-24
Audio Summary
Revelation 18:9-24
- Context:
- Revelation 18, during the tribulation after the rapture, continues describing Babylon’s fall, a deceptive religious system mimicking Christ’s church, judged by God to free His people.
- With the church raptured, this passage contrasts worldly mourning with heavenly rejoicing, urging believers to separate from Babylon’s evil.
- Lament and Rejoicing Over Babylon’s Fall (Revelation 18:9-24):
- Kings’ Mourning (v. 9-10): Kings who committed adultery with Babylon and shared her luxury weep and mourn, seeing her burning, crying, “Woe, woe, great city of Babylon! In one hour your doom has come!”
- Merchants’ Grief (vv. 11-17a): Merchants mourn as no one buys their cargoes—gold, silver, precious stones, fine linen, spices, wine, livestock, even slaves—since Babylon’s fall ends their wealth. They cry, “Woe, woe, great city, dressed in fine linen and glittering with gold! In one hour such wealth is ruined!”
- Sea Captains’ Lament (vv. 17b-19): Sea captains, sailors, and traders, enriched by Babylon’s commerce, stand far off, seeing her smoke, exclaiming, “Was there ever a city like this great city?” They throw dust on their heads, weeping, “Woe, woe, great city! In one hour she is ruined!”
- Heaven’s Rejoicing (v. 20): Heaven, apostles, prophets, and God’s people are called to rejoice, for God has judged Babylon for her persecution, avenging the blood of His saints.
- Final Destruction (vv. 21-24): A mighty angel hurls a millstone into the sea, declaring Babylon’s violent end, never to rise again. Her music, crafts, millstones, lamps, and weddings cease; her merchants, who led nations astray with magic, are gone. Babylon, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, is exposed for shedding prophets’ and saints’ blood.
- God’s Mercy: God’s call to “come out” and His judgment on Babylon offer salvation, urging repentance to escape her deceptive, demonic system.
- Application:
- Reject Babylon’s alluring but false system, rejoice in her judgment, and come out to follow Christ faithfully, trusting God’s victory over her deception.