Lesson 55
Revelation - Study of Things to Come
Destruction
of
The Relationship of Rev
17-18 to Jer 50-51.
Believe at this point we need, on the basis of the
data to conclude that Rev 17-18 speaks of one
John used several OT passages within these 2
chapters to gain incite;
Background comes from: Isa 13-14; 46-47; Ezk 26-28.
Parallels between Rev
17-18 and Jer 50-51
The parallels fall into 3 main categories; the
description; the destruction and the response.
The
Description Jeremiah Revelation
Compared
to a "
golden cup
golden cup in the in
her hand a gold cup"
hand
of the Lord" (Rev 17:3-4;
cf. 18:6)
(Jer 51:7a)
Dwelling on "O you who dwell by "I shall show you the
many waters (l[;) many waters." judgment
of the great
(Jer 51:13) harlot who sits on many
waters" (Rev 17:1)
Involved with "The nations have "Those who dwell on the
the nations drunk of her wine; earth were made drunk
therefore
the nations with the wine of her
are
going mad"
immorality" Rev 17:2
(Jer
51:7b)
Named the "The word which the "
same Lord spoke concerning (Rev 17:5).
Chaldeans" (Jer 50:1)
(
Jeremiah was prophesying destruction of the literal city of
The Destruction Jeremiah Revelation
Destroyed Suddenly "Suddenly
has fallen and been
day her plagues will
broken" (Jer 51:8) come,
pestilence, and
mourning and famine.
(Rev 18:8)
Destroyed by fire "Their dwelling "And the ten horns...will
places are set on
burn her up with fire"
fire" (Jer 51:30) (
"And she will be burned
up with fire" (Rev 18:8)
Never to be "And it will never "Thus will
again be inhabited or
city, be thrown down with
dwelt in from gener- violence and will not be
ation to generation" found any longer"
(Jer 50:29)
(
Punished according "Repay her according "Pay her back even as she
to deeds to all that she has has paid,
and give back
done, so do to her" to her double according
(Jer 50:29) her deeds" (Rev 18:6)
Fall Illustrated "You will tie a stone "And a strong angel took
to it and throw it
up a stone like a great
into
the middle of millstone and
threw it
the
say, 'Just so shall
'Thus will
and not rise again" down with violence and
(Jer 51:63-64)
will not be found any
longer'" (
So what does all this say??
John and Jeremiah both have described a city that is destroyed
suddenly and completely.
This destruction, judgment, is meted out by God for
past deeds and is
pictured as a rock sinking in a body of water to rise no more.
The Response Jeremiah Revelation
God's people "Flee from the midst "And I heard another voice
to flee of
of you save his
life" out of her, my
people,
(Jer 51:6). that
you may not participate
"Come forth from
her in her sins and that you may
midst, My people,
not receive her
and each of you save
plagues" (Rev 18:4)
yourselves from
the
fierce anger of the
Lord" (Jer 51:45)
Heaven to "Then heaven and earth "Rejoice over her, O
Rejoice and all that is in heaven,
and you saints
them
will shout for and apostles and
prophets
joy
over
the
destroyers will nounced judgment for you
come
to her from the against her"
(
north,
declares the
Lord" (Jer 51:48)
Conclusion:
Both John and Jeremiah recorded the same response
to the judgment of the city in view.
The remnant who are in
that area are told to flee before the destruction comes.
In heaven there is a call to rejoice as a result of
God's victory.
The identification of
Was John describing the same event or simply using
"biblical language" to describe a different event? (i.e. this is like that type of thing)
Situation:
1. If Jer
50-51 has been fulfilled;
then John uses the imagery of this past destruction to describe a
different destruction that is yet future, but is similar to it.
2. If Jer
50-51 is not fulfilled, is still yet future, then it
would appear that John's prophecy is also viewing that same destruction, that
same judgment.
The
Fulfillment of Jeremiah 50 - 51
1.
- This is also noted in Isa
47:9,11
-
2.
- Note the evidence, the sequence that pervades the
whole section.
Jer 50:3; 50:13; 50:26;
50:39-40; 51:29
The fact remains that Jeremiah's words, 50:13, are
not yet fulfilled.
3. Building Materials never to be reused. Jer 51:26
* The point of the
prophecy of Jeremiah is to show the extent of the destruction, not even the
building materials would be reused; they would lie in waste forever.
4.
Believers are to flee the city.
5.
- Jeremiah is speaking of
a cause - effect relationship between the destruction of
These verses in Jeremiah have an eschatological
significance that can find fulfillment only in the ultimate restoration of
Summary
conclusions:
1. Jeremiah 50-51 is describing a still yet
future destruction of a literal city. It
was directed towards "
2. Several of the key elements of the prophecy
have not been fulfilled yet! (noted 5)
3. That there is a close relationship between
the prophecy of Jeremiah and of John in Rev 17-18. (its description,
its destruction and the response to it)
4. The parallels lead to a conclusion that they
are both describing the future destruction of the same city.
5. Therefore we must conclude that the Babylon of Rev 17-18 is a future city, that will attain a place of world influence only to be destroyed in the midst of the 7th bowl judgment being poured out.