The Destruction of Economic Babylon
(Rev. 18:1–24)


I. The Reason for God’s Judgment (v.1–8)

A. Spiritual idolatry and immorality (v. 1-3)
a. Judgment is announced by an angel.
b. The whole world is guilty of rebellion and sin, spearheaded by Babylon.
c. Even in the midst of the Great Tribulation, men will still try to make money.
B. Sovereign Purposes (v.4-8)
a. Passover the Saints (4-5)
b. Punish the Sinners (6-8)
1. Double payback for one’s sins is just, fair, and biblical. (Ex. 22:3-4, 7; Is. 40:2; Jer. 16:17-18)
2. Some of the O.T. Prophets told of Babylon’s Destruction (Is. 13:6-13; Jer. 50:38-40)

II. The Recompense of God’s Judgment (v. 9–20)

A. People will weep over Babylon’s destruction. (9-19)
a. Kings (v.9-10)
b. Merchants (v. 11-19)
B. Only Saints rejoice over Babylon’s destruction. (20)

III. The Results of God’s Judgment (v. 21–24)

A. Babylon’s destruction is complete. (v21-23a)
a. Babylon is destroyed by heaven’s angel (Rev. 16:17-19)
b. Babylon is also destroyed by human armies (Jer. 50:9, 41-42)
B. Babylon’s destruction is consistent. (v23b-24)
a. Because of their sin. God’s judgment against them then is right, just, and good.


Points to Ponder:
1. Stay Confident – Though wickedness seems to prevail at the present time, there is coming a Day of Judgment and reckoning. As such Christians can take great comfort in knowing that God will make all things right in the end.

2. Stay Committed – Don’t be unwise in your Christian walk and be swept away by the influences of the world. Stick to it because we do not know when we will give an account before God. (Mt. 16:24-27; Lk 12:16-21; 2 Cor. 5:10)



John F. MacArthur Jr., Revelation 12–22, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 2000), 179.
Henry M. Morris, The Revelation Record: A Scientific and Devotional Commentary on the Prophetic Book of the End Times (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale, 1983), 356.
MacArthur, MNTC, 182–83.
J. Hampton Keathley III, “Destruction of Commercial Babylon (Rev 18:1-24) ,” Online. Accessed Nov. 3, 2021. https://bible.org/seriespage/25-destruction-commercial-babylon-rev-181-24.
MacArthur, MNTC, 187.
Ibid., 189-90.
Ron Rhodes, The End Times in Chronological Order: A Complete Overview to Understanding Bible Prophecy (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2012).