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34

God’s advice concerning rebellion, disloyalty and self-rule

Revelation 18: 1-8

  • Session: 34
  • Week: 5
  • Day: 6
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Introduction

In Chapter 18: 1-8, 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, that6is One world government and one world economy. The lovers of money will be judged by the righteous Judge. In Genesis 11: 1-9. The people became disloyal to the voice of God and his rule and decided to make a city with a tower that reaches heaven to make a name for themselves. God judged them by confusing their language and scattering them everywhere on earth.

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: 1-8

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 Gen 11: 1-9. What is self-rule without God? What is rebellion, what is disloyalty? Why do people want to rule themselves? Why do people reject the rule of God over their lives? How do people show that there is self-rule? How do God judge self-rule?
  • Read Rev 18: 1- 3. What did the angel from heaven reveal would happen after Babylon (self-rule) had fallen and failed after tribulation?
  • Rev 18: 4. What is God’s advice to his children concerning the spirit of self-rule without God?
  • Rev 18: 5-8. List at least 5 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)

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: 1-8

Revelation 18:1-8

  • Context:
    • Revelation 18, set in the tribulation after the rapture, details the fall of Babylon the Great, a counterfeit church and system of spiritual self-rule, judged by God to warn believers.
    • With the church raptured, this passage calls God’s people to reject Babylon’s unfaithfulness and align with Christ.
  • Fall of Babylon the Great (Revelation 18:1-8):
    • Babylon’s Nature (v. 1-2): An angel with great authority descends, illuminating the earth, proclaiming, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great!” She’s a dwelling for demons, full of impure spirits, unclean birds, and detestable animals, embodying spiritual confusion.
    • Her Influence (v. 3): Babylon’s maddening wine of adultery deceives nations, kings commit immorality with her, and merchants grow rich from her luxury, ruling masses, kings, and the beast for the first three and a half years of the tribulation (from ch. 17).
    • God’s Strategy (vv. 4-6, via ch. 17:16-17): At the tribulation’s midpoint, God orchestrates her downfall as the beast and ten kings turn against her, hating the prostitute, stripping her naked, eating her flesh, and burning her with fire, fulfilling God’s purpose.
    • Call to Believers (v. 4): A heavenly voice urges, “Come out of her, my people,” to avoid sharing in Babylon’s sins and plagues, calling believers to reject her unfaithful system.
    • Judgment Declared (vv. 5-8): Babylon’s sins pile up to heaven; God remembers her crimes, repaying her double for her deeds. Boasting as a queen, she faces plagues—death, mourning, famine—and fire in one day, judged by the mighty Lord.
    • God’s Mercy: By exposing and judging Babylon, God offers a chance to escape her sins through repentance, urging faithfulness to Christ before her destruction.
  • Application:
    • Come out of Babylon’s spiritual unfaithfulness, reject her counterfeit system, and stay true to Christ’s church, running to Jesus to avoid her judgment.
Close

How to use these studies

These lessons are designed as short, 25-minute studies based on Bible truths, and meant for self-learning or small group study. The study sets systematically cover different books of the Bible. 

Each lesson follows a simple structure:

  • Introduction (Including the outline and objectives)
  • Step 1: Connecting
  • Step 2: Comprehending
  • Step 3: Committing
  • Step 4: Communicating

These sections include questions to help you reflect on the bible passage and how it applies to your life. 

Use these lessons to disciple others by journeying together over time and allowing God’s word to penetrate your heart and bring transforming change to your life. As a leader, pray for wisdom in leading and for modelling the truths in your own life.

Sharing offline

  • Mobile Friendly PDF
  • Print Friendly PDF
  • Full Study PDF

Each lesson has three buttons allowing you to download a easily saveable and shareable PDF version of the study. You can choose either a Mobile-friendly PDF version, and Print-friendly PDF version, or a print version of the Full Study PDF (for example all the lessons in the current book of the Bible).

These are free and can be easily copied and shared from one person to another!

Gathering a Small Group

Start small to build a safe space for sharing and growth.

  • Pray first: Ask God to show you 3-6 people who need encouragement in faith, like family, neighbors, or fellow believers facing hardship.
  • Invite personally: Meet one-on-one, explain how the lessons are designed to help people grow in their faith and knowledge of God and his Word.
  • Keep it simple: Meet in a home or quiet spot; no need for fancy setup – just willing hearts.
  • Aim for consistency: Suggest weekly meetings, but be flexible for busy lives or safety concerns in persecuted areas.

Trust helps everyone open up, reflect, and apply truths without fear.

  • Start with sharing: In the first meeting, share simple stories of your own faith struggles to show vulnerability.
  • Set ground rules: Agree to listen without judging, keep stories private, and focus on encouraging each other.
  • Build bonds: Begin each session with a short prayer or song inviting God to be present with you.
  • Be patient: Trust grows over time – encourage quiet members gently, and celebrate small steps of honesty.

Good preparation makes the lesson flow and helps discipleship.

  • Read ahead: Study the lesson before; pray over the Bible passage and think how it fits your group’s challenges.
  • Adapt for the group: Use simple words; if literacy is low, read aloud slowly and explain questions or stories.
  • Gather basics: Have a Bible (in your language) and paper for notes.
  • Reflect personally: Ask yourself the study questions first – lead from your own growth and experience.
  • Pray: Pray for your group members.

Guide the group through the lesson structure to encourage discovery and commitment.

  • Step 1 – Connecting: Start the group meeting by praying together. Thank God for his Word and ask for open hearts to receive it. Read the Bible passage together (Read it aloud twice; ask someone to repeat in their words.)
  • Step 2: Comprehending: Use the provided questions to help you grapple with the truth of the Bible passage.
  • Step 3 – Committing: Consider how the passage might apply to your lives and what simple steps of obedience you can commit to. The goal of these studies if life-change! Not just knowledge!
  • Step 4 – Communicating:  Think of who you can share the truths you have learned with.
  • Close with Prayer: Let group members pray short prayers of thanks or commitment. Pray for one another.

For many of the lessons, there is a short summary teaching voice-note at the end of the lesson (together with a text summary). This is designed to be a recap and reminder of the key lessons you should have learned through the lesson. 

As a leader, you might like to use these summary teaching resources to help you in preparation for leading your group, though ideally not before you have spent time prayerfully reflecting on the passage.

This is an ongoing discipleship journey aiming to transform lives and help people to live victorious Christian lives. Focus on growth, not just finishing lessons.

  • Meet regularly: Join together at least once a week. Review past actions at each start to build accountability.
  • Encourage reflection: Between meetings, urge personal time with the lesson – read, pray, and try complete commitments made.
  • Support one another: If your group members are facing challenges, use lessons to pray together and share burdens; become “agents of change” by helping others in your community.
  • Multiply groups: As trust grows, encourage members to start their own small groups with family or friends.
  • Keep it short: Stick to 15 – 25 minutes per lesson to fit busy, challenging lives.
  • Handle challenges: If fear or hardship arise, encourage members by always pointing back to God’s love. 
  • Stay safe: In persecuted areas, meet discreetly; focus on heart change over big displays.
  • Celebrate progress: Note how people have grown in faith; allow time for sharing testimonies of what God has done. Take note of what you pray for, and give thanks when God answers prayer.

Final encouragement

Leading these lessons is serving like Jesus – humble, loving, and truthful. As you journey together, God will build growing faith into each person’s life. Pray often, and watch lives transform!

If you would like to share stories of faith from your own communities, please get in touch with us!