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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 23, Day 3: Revelation 18:4-8

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of Revelation 18:4-8

John heard from heaven to tell the people to come away from sin/Babylon. Come away from sin who will be paid back twice for it. For Babylon will be consumed by fire.

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 23, Day 3: Revelation 18:4-8

6) “‘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 a warning for believers to run away from Babylon and sin.

7) God will exercise judgments and consequences for the sins of Babylon against His people, Israel.

8 ) Babylon will face double restitution for its evil ways. She will suffer torment and grief. Plagues will overtake her. Death, mourning, and famine will overtake her too. She will be consumed by fire.

9) God remembers His people. He does not let sin or evil doings go unpunished. God is good, caring, and compassionate to His people. He will exercise judgment in His timing.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 23, Day 3: Revelation 18:4-8

God does keep His word, and it’s comforting to know this in my heart.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 23, Day 3: Revelation 18:4-8

John is warning God’s people to flee from sin and temptations around them. Elsewhere in Scripture, we see God and prophets telling the people to flee from sin (Isaiah 52:11), (Jeremiah 51:45), (Jeremiah 50:8), (2 Corinthians 6:14), (Ephesians 5:11).

Their sins are many, including pride, selfishness, and material things over God.

God will give back to Babylon double restitution for its evil ways. In Biblical times, if you stole something, double restitution was the penalty (Exodus 22:4-9).

God remembering means he is about to act on a promise.

The punishment will be sudden.

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 23, Day 2: Revelation 18:1-3

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of Revelation 18:1-3

John saw an angel who shouted that Babylon had fallen. She had become a dwelling for evil.

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 23, Day 2: Revelation 18:1-3

3a) John saw an angel who shouted that Babylon had fallen. She had become a dwelling for evil.

b) He mentioned that Babylon had become a place for demons and everything impure, unclean, and sinful. She was about to be judged.

4a) The future for Babylon is destruction because of her sins.

b) God should be the top priority. The consequences of putting anything above God (including riches and luxuries) are that they can be taken away, you can live an empty, unfulfilled life, and you risk falling away from Jesus. The list of consequences truly is endless.

5) Our hearts and minds should be set on the things above us in heaven — God, Jesus, and His ways and light. Honestly, things of the world occupy my thoughts most of the time. I work every day to reverse this, but the challenges of life can be forceful. But, I pray and each day, I try to spend one extra minute with Jesus! That will add up eventually!

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 23, Day 2: Revelation 18:1-3

Question 5 was very convicting for me. I do need to spend more time contemplating God than things of the world.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 23, Day 2: Revelation 18:1-3

Do note that some Bible scholars see this Babylon as different from the Babylon in Revelation 17.

Most Bible scholars agree that Babylon here is symbolic and not referring to the actual city of Babylon in ancient times.

The angel glows because he was just in God’s presence.

Babylon was guilty of many sins, including idolatry, pride, greed, and the selfish pursuit of worldly things, such as wealth and luxuries.

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Friday’s Digest BSF Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN BSF REVELATION: THE HOPE LESSON 22

  • Every day is an opportunity to choose God’s will over your own
  • God limits the power of those who persecute us
  • Always remember we were chosen by God to be His
  • God empowers us to follow Him
  • Those against God will face destruction
  • God always prevails
  • The power of God within us is stronger than the evil around us

TAKE AWAY: God will use anything or anyone to accomplish His purposes.

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 5: Revelation 17:15-18

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of Revelation 17:15-18

The waters are nations, peoples, and armies. The beast will turn on the prostitute and kill her. The beast will be handed over to God until His purpose is fulfilled. The woman represents the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 5: Revelation 17:15-18

12) They are not united if they are turning on their own. God will pit enemy against enemy to serve His purposes.

13) God is in control. He will use whomever to accomplish His purposes. The Second Coming will come to pass in God’s time, not ours.

14) The Holy Spirit guides me through deception and allows me to give credit where it is due: Jesus Christ.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 5: Revelation 17:15-18

This is a good reminder that God will use anything and anyone to accomplish His will, even unbelievers. This is helpful when thinking about the wrongs others do.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 5: Revelation 17:15-18

The prostitute influences everyone.

The Antichrist works to destroy the prostitute when she no longer serves his purpose. Satan cannot tolerate others being worshiped, so he kills her. However, this is at God’s will.

The great city is Rome as they were the ruler of the world when John wrote this. However, Babylon represents the world system as a whole and Rome personifies Babylon.

Ultimately, in this day and age, the great city is in your heart, which is all you can control. Who do you worship?

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 4: Revelation 17:7-14

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of Revelation 17:7-14

The angel explains to John what he saw: The beast will be destroyed. Unbelievers will be astonished. There are 7 kings, 5 have fallen, 1 is ruling now, and the other will rule for a little while in the future. The beast is the 8th king who will be destroyed.

There will be 10 kings who have not yet received a kingdom. They will come to power for 1 hour and will give their power to the beast. They will fight the Lamb but will lose.

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 4: Revelation 17:7-14

9a) The angel will explain to John the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides.

b) They came from the Abyss to destroy the Lamb and God’s people.

c) The Lamb/Jesus/God will win!

d) Immense. I know that God will win in the end despite all human evil and sin. I’m encouraged that Jesus will be the ultimate judge and will vindicate all believers.

10) In Revelation 17:8, the beast is described as, “The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction.” In Revelation 1:4, God is described as “who is, and who was, and who is to come.” Revelation 1:8 say, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 4:8 says, “…who was, and is, and is to come.”

The Lord is, was, and is to come. The beast was, is not, and yet will come up.” The Lord is omnipresent, always existing. He is present. The beast is spoken of in the past tense. He was and now is not existing and yet will come up only to be destroyed. God will live; the beast will die.

11a) The angel is about to give John clues to the future, so one must be wise to understand them. The wisdom comes from God.

b) I gain wisdom by praying, reading the Bible, meditating on God’s Word, and listening for God’s voice in my head. When I do this, the results are always positive. I walk in God’s ways and do His will. I make fewer mistakes. I learn from my mistakes.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 4: Revelation 17:7-14

Great lesson on understanding that God is the Almighty who will be the last one standing at the End Times. Also, good to remember that wisdom is what we gain when we do seek God and His purpose for our lives.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 4: Revelation 17:7-14

The beast here is connected with the beast of Revelation 13.

The 7 mountains are associated with Rome’s famous 7 hills. But the Greek word means mountains, not hills. Mountains can stand for governments in the Bible (Daniel 2:35)

Here, many Bible scholars agree that the 7 heads represent the 7 kings and kingdoms we see in Revelation 17:10.

The 7 kings with the 5 who have past, 1 who is present, and 1 to come is historically one of the most difficult passages in Revelation to interpret. Some see this as 5 old world kingdoms (Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Medo-Persia, and Greece) that no longer exist. The existing one would be Rome. The one to come would be Rome 2.0.

It is agreed that the 8th king is the Antichrist.

The 10 kings to come in verse 12 is hard to interpret, too. Remember Daniel saw a beast with 10 horns, too. Some see this number as literal or as symbolic. Some see it as a confederation like in Daniel 2:24-45 It is clear that these kings will join the Antichrist/Satan in the final battle.

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 3: Revelation 17:3-6

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of Revelation 17:3-6

John next sees a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that is covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. The name written on her forehead was: Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes, and the abominations of the earth. The woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 3: Revelation 17:3-6

6) John next sees a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that is covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. The name written on her forehead was: Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes, and the abominations of the earth. The woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

7a) She’s a prostitute whose mission is to destroy God’s people. She does this by luring them into sin and getting them to turn from God.

b) 2 Chronicles 36:15-21 tells us about the Fall of Jerusalem and how God’s people were exiled to Babylon. Jeremiah 39:1-10 tells of how Nebuchadnezzar marched against Jerusalem and laid siege to it. Daniel 5 describes how Daniel interpreted the writing on the wall for King Belshazzar of Babylon. All of these tell of the evil of Babylon and how God used the country and kings as punishment for His disobedient people. The woman is the same.

8 ) The attractions of the world are simply shallow with no meaning and purpose behind them. They are fleeting and temporary; whereas, God and His glory are eternal. I’m attracted to God because you feel empty once you obtain the attractions of the world, but you always fill whole and satisfied with God.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 3: Revelation 17:3-6

Great lesson on not being deceived by looks, appearances, and the flashiness of this world but by holding fast to God.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 3: Revelation 17:3-6

We saw this beast in Revelation 13:1.

She is blasphemous, but she fools the earth’s people into appearing religious.

Remember that purple was the color of royalty in ancient times and Rome. Scarlet was an expensive dye only used by the rich as well.

Notice she only has abominations and filth aka sin. Abominations can be anything that’s detestable. It can also be idolatrous beliefs.

Many Roman prostitutes wore headbands with their names on them.

The prostitute is drunk/revels in her persecution of God’s people.

Remember, Babylon represents sin and rebellion against God. They want to destroy God’s people.

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 2: Revelation 17:1-2

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of Revelation 17:1-2

An angel tells John to come and see the punishment of the great prostitute who committed adultery with the kings of the earth.

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 2: Revelation 17:1-2

3a) The angel will show John the punishment of the great prostitute.

b) The woman influenced the kings and inhabitants of the earth (usually unbelievers).

4) The adultery is putting the woman before God and bowing down and worshiping her. Adultery here is synonymous with adultery.

5) Good question. I’d say no public figure. I’m just not influenced by them. I can be distracted by social media and other activities and hobbies rather than devotion to God mainly because I’m just lazy and it’s easy.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 2: Revelation 17:1-2

We must always be wary of putting things above God.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 2: Revelation 17:1-2

We’ve already seen Babylon’s fall. Now, in Revelation 17 and 18, we’ll see the fall of Babylon in detail.

Fun Fact: Babylon is mentioned in the Bible 287 times. This is more than any other city except Jerusalem. So, you can see it’s importance.

Babylon was one of the first ancient civilizations. It had one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which was supposed to be very beautiful. Babylon was used by God to punish Judah’s sins. They carried off God’s people into captivity.

Babylon is often used in the Bible as a symbol of idolatry, a lifestyle of sin, blasphemy, and an entity that persecutes God’s people.

The prostitute rules over many nations. The waters are most likely the Euphrates River, where Babylon sat. Her power can make kings and others drunk.

Marriage metaphors are popular in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, where God’s relationship with mankind is described as such.

The prostitute represents sin and the allure of sin.

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Friday’s Digest BSF Revelation: The Hope Lesson 21

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN BSF REVELATION: THE HOPE LESSON 21

  • Every sin is against God Himself
  • The fact that Jesus had to die to save us should tell you just how serious sin is to God
  • God always comes to our aid
  • Because God loves us so, He has to discipline us and respond to our sin
  • Everyone will face God as judge
  • Justice is deserved; grace is undeserved
  • God’s purposes always prevail
  • Jesus satisfied God’s justice with his merciful sacrifice, freeing us from sin
  • Our sins cause us to repent

TAKE AWAY: God is just and merciful because of His love for us.

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 21, Day 5: Romans 5:6-11; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-10

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of Romans 5:6-11; 6:23

Romans 5:6-11: Christ died for us sinners. We are now justified by Christ’s blood, reconciled to God, and saved from God’s wrath.

Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Summary of Ephesians 2:1-10

We were dead in our transgressions and sin, deserving of God’s wrath. In God’s love, grace, and mercy, He made us alive in Christ. By grace through faith in Jesus as a gift from God, we are made alive. God has prepared in advance the good works we are to do.

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 21, Day 5: Romans 5:6-11; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-10

10a) Grace, mercy, and salvation leading to eternal life through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, on the cross, if we believe. I have responded with faith that God has given me in Jesus Christ’s salvation and given my life to Him.

b) God sent Jesus to pay the penalty (justice) for our sins. This was the ultimate show of mercy on God’s part so that we can be reconciled to Him forever. All we have to do is believe in Christ’s sacrifice for us.

11) The right response to God’s mercy is utter humility, to offer ourselves to God’s will for our lives as a living sacrifice, and confess our sins and our need for a Savior. We are to walk in God’s ways. I try to show mercy to everyone who slightly angers me and walk in the light, reflecting God’s character as I interact with others.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 21, Day 5: Romans 5:6-11; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-10

Every gift is from God. If we just did our best to remember this at all times, we’d be closer to Him every day.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 21, Day 5: Romans 5:6-11; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-10

God’s love is so great for us that He made the ultimate sacrifice of His Son. This saves us from His just wrath against us.

We are alive in Christ through undeserved grace and mercy. Salvation is a gift from God that we should not boast in. We are God’s workmanship, His creation, with good works to do.

We were dead; now we are alive! All because of Christ and God’s plan for us!

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 21, Day 4: Exodus 32; 33:12-14; 34:4-7

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of Exodus 32; 33:12-14; 34:4-7

Exodus 32: When Moses did not return from the top of Mount Sinai, Aaron told the people to make a golden calf. God saw this and wanted to destroy the people and make Moses into a great nation. Moses pleaded for the people and God relented.

When Moses returned, he threw the 10 Commandments and they broke. He then destroyed the idols the people had made. He saved the faithful and murdered the rest. The people were punished with a plague from God.

Exodus 33:12-14: Moses pleads with God to teach him His ways. God promises his presence will be with him.

Exodus 34:4-7: Moses took 2 stone tablets and went up to Mount Sinai. The Lord came down in a cloud and passed before Moses. He declared He was full of love but punished the guilty.

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 21, Day 4: Exodus 32; 33:12-14; 34:4-7

8a) He brought upon just punishments for their sins, but when Moses pleaded for the people, he listened. He spared the people and lessened his punishment.

b) God relented when Moses pleaded for the people, reminding God that he had made a covenant promise with Isaac, Jacob, and Abraham to make the people great. He also argued that God’s enemies would say He had evil intent to rescue his people only to kill them. Moses interceded for the people like Jesus. He took the penalty for their sins per se with his arguments.

c) Yes. Those who still refused to turn back to God were killed. Others were struck with the plague. God cannot ignore sin without just punishment. He does not leave the guilty unpunished. “He punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

9) God’s judgment is just and appropriate. His mercy is unbounded. Often, it just takes asking, and He will relent. Such an amazing God!

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 21, Day 4: Exodus 32; 33:12-14; 34:4-7

Such a great lesson! It’s great to be reminded that we all deserve the ultimate punishment but God in His mercy relents out of his undying love for us. So great!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 21, Day 4: Exodus 32; 33:12-14; 34:4-7

Aaron, a leader, went along with the people’s will rather than confronting them and putting a stop to it. We must be careful of going along with the crowd, especially when it comes to sinful acts.

Moses interceded for the people and appealed to God’s character, using mercy, grace, goodness, and God’s glory. Moses grew too, showing his heart for the people. And, he prayed as if life depended on it, showing us how to pray, too.

The people still faced consequences for their sins. Those who refused to turn back to God were destroyed. Moses interceded again for those remaining, appealing to God’s mercy and grace. God, once again, relented.

God pleads for God’s presence to go with them to the Promised Land in Exodus 33:12-14.

God proclaims His character in Exodus 34:4-7, that He is merciful and full of grace but also just when it comes to punishment.

We all need to remember there are consequences for our sins, so the closer we are to God, the lesser our sins become (ideally) as we choose God over Satan more and more. But, when we sin, God forgives us in His mercy! So great!

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