Sermon Study Guides

In Revelation chapter 16 God announced His judgments were DONE. In chapter 18 we are given a replay of those judgments, with a closer look at God’s wrath and judgment directed at those who have embraced the materialism of Babylon. Babylon is often used in Scripture as a symbol of wickedness, worldliness, and defiance and rebellion against God.

Chapter 18 is a description of the funeral of Babylon the Great. Babylon will become like a ghost town unfit for human habitation. In verse 1 a powerful angel cries, “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.”

Lust for profit and luxuries will seduce most people to worship earthly things rather than the Lord. Kings and political leaders will sacrifice their integrity in order to indulge in Babylon’s materialism. Merchants will stake everything they have on achieving more wealth. Human beings will be sold as slaves.

Therefore God will destroy Babylon. “Woe! Woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon! In one hour your doom has come” (v.10). In a matter of moments all those who thought they were successful and financially secure will suddenly find themselves bankrupt. In one hour all the treasure and pleasure that people worship in this world will be gone.

Everyone will feel regret. They will weep and mourn not in sorrow for Babylon but for their own loss of profit and possessions. Why? Because they had made materialism their God.

When you reject God, you believe this life is all there is and you adopt the mindset and materialism of Babylon, which results in (1) doing what makes you happy and (2) getting as much as you can for yourself. Money, possessions, power, fame and pleasure are all that matter.

Where do we encounter the mindset and materialism of Babylon today?

Pride. Babylon wants to receive all the attention and all the glory. She believes she is the center of her own universe rather than God and that her life and riches are so secure they will never end. Pride relies on its own strength and its own wisdom to solve a problem that only God can solve.
Materialism. Materialism believes that one’s value and security, success and happiness are found in money and things. It believes the promises of Babylon rather than the promises of God’s Word.

Signs of a materialistic heart attitude:“The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (I Timothy 6:10).

(1) anxiety over money. In Mattew 6: 23 Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.“

(2) covetousness. You want what others have. You’re not content with your situation.

(3) selfishness. You have no joy in giving.

(4) greediness. Wanting more and more for yourself.

(5) discontentedness. You are dissatisfied and do not appreciate what you have.

(6) unfaithfulness to God. Lack of interest and faithfulness in being with and serving Christ.

So how do we live in the world of Babylon and yet not be one with Babylon?

Realize that Jesus is in you, and you are in Him, and follow His lead.
Take time to reflect on what really matters in life.

3. Give someone permission to hold you accountable, to warn you when they notice you are headed in a dangerous direction.

IN - PURSUE RELATIONSHIP

If you were given a million dollars, how would it change your life?
Do you struggle with discontentment in any area of your life? Explain.

UP - PURSUE GOD

Read Revelation 18:9-19. Identify the groups that mourn Babylon’s fall and what was lost. Why do they "weep and mourn" over its destruction? What can we learn from their loss?
Read 1 Timothy 6:10 and 1 John 2:15-17. What are the reasons behind these warnings? Why are they important?

OUT - PURSUE MISSION

Pride and materialism characterize the Babylon mindset. How are these manifested in your life today with your use of time and money? Share ideas of how you can readjust your priorities and be accountable to one another.
Truth bomb: Jesus is in you, and you are in Him. How does knowing this affect your life choices? How can you grow and live in this truth?

Personal Reflection

Memorize and meditate on 1 John 2:15-17. Ask God where you may be loving the world. Repent and commit to trusting God.

The Word (NIV)

Revelation 18:9-19

⁹ “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. ¹⁰ Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,
you mighty city of Babylon!
In one hour your doom has come!’

¹¹ “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore— ¹² cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; ¹³ cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.

¹⁴ “They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’ ¹⁵ The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn ¹⁶ and cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,
dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,
and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!
¹⁷ In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’

“Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. ¹⁸ When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’ ¹⁹ They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,
where all who had ships on the sea
became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’

1 Timothy 6:10

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 John 2:15-17

¹⁵Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. ¹⁶For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. ¹⁷The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

This Week's Writers: Elsa Henderson, Gene and Karen Gibbs, Alfred Samson and Jorel Quemuel