Here’s how the study works: Read the chapter mentioned in the heading several times during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for a chapter creates the opportunity to reread it several times and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
just to keep it straight in my head I guess the beast is the antichrist, the harlot is whatever cultural evil that persists on the earth that all participate in, and the city of Babylon is whichever powerful government rises and corrupts the people and kills or tortures the believers. (and attempts to destroy Israel?)
Is that close enough?
just to keep it straight in my head I guess the beast is the antichrist, the harlot is whatever cultural evil that persists on the earth that all participate in, and the city of Babylon is whichever powerful government rises and corrupts the people and kills or tortures the believers. (and attempts to destroy Israel?)
Is that close enough?
Probably!!
I'm trying to stick to an overall impression rather than figuring out all the individual players.
I find it interesting the kings of the earth cry, Woe! v.10 The merchants of the earth cry Woe! v.16 and the sea captain and the sailors cry Woe! v.19
Yet the people of God rejoice v.20 because God is just.
Probably!!
I'm trying to stick to an overall impression rather than figuring out all the individual players.
I find it interesting the kings of the earth cry, Woe! v.10 The merchants of the earth cry Woe! v.16 and the sea captain and the sailors cry Woe! v.19
Yet the people of God rejoice v.20 because God is just.
It seems that much more than Babylon has fallen, but rather everything that was evil for all time is destroyed.
It seems that much more than Babylon has fallen, but rather everything that was evil for all time is destroyed.
Two final thoughts:
v.8 Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her…
If this refers to the plagues in chapter 15 then it is going to be a very quick, traumatic succession of events. Of course 'one day' may not be a literal 24 hours but simply a short period of time.
v.4 Right up til the end God is calling his people – whether this means they became Christians after the rapture or whether the rapture has not yet taken place is unclear. Perhaps this is God's intention – Jesus said his coming again would be like a thief in the night and we would not know the hour.
Two final thoughts:
v.8 Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her…
If this refers to the plagues in chapter 15 then it is going to be a very quick, traumatic succession of events. Of course 'one day' may not be a literal 24 hours but simply a short period of time.
v.4 Right up til the end God is calling his people – whether this means they became Christians after the rapture or whether the rapture has not yet taken place is unclear. Perhaps this is God's intention – Jesus said his coming again would be like a thief in the night and we would not know the hour.
v.4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “‘Come out of her, my people,’ so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues”
This is similar to God calling Lot out of Sodom. God provides a way of protection for his people but we have to avail ourselves of it.
v.4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “‘Come out of her, my people,’ so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues”
This is similar to God calling Lot out of Sodom. God provides a way of protection for his people but we have to avail ourselves of it.
v.20 "For God has judged her with the judgment she imposed on you"
Again God makes the punishment fit the crime. See also 16:4-6
v.20 "For God has judged her with the judgment she imposed on you"
Again God makes the punishment fit the crime. See also 16:4-6
(From Constable Commentary) “It may be said that Babylon represents the total culture of the world apart from God, while the divine system is depicted by the New Jerusalem.”
(From Constable Commentary) “It may be said that Babylon represents the total culture of the world apart from God, while the divine system is depicted by the New Jerusalem.”