Aug 17, 2014
I need to correct something I taught in our previous study. The
outline of the book of Revelation is such that from Revelation 6
through 19 the chronological sequence of Tribulation events is
"interrupted" by interludes or explanatory breaks in the action
(e.g. Rev. 7:1-17, 10:1-11:14, 12:1-15:4, 17:1-18). The phrase
after these things (meta; tau:ta) is the signal in the Greek text
that the sequence of events is resuming.
In our previous study I stated that chapters 17 & 18 were an
interlude following the chronological sequence of the 7 Bowl
Judgments revealed in chapter 16. That is incorrect. Chapter 18
begins with the phrase after these things (meta; tau:ta) indicating
that the sequence of events is resumed in chapter 18
(Unfortunately, the ESV mistranslates this phrase as "After
this."
Chapters 17 & 18 both deal with the destruction of Babylon; chapter
17 with the destruction of ecclesiastical Babylon (the one-world
church) and chapter 18 the destruction of commercial Babylon (the
economic system of the Antichrist). Careful observation of the text
makes clear that these are separate and distinct events. Here are
two significant ways in which these events differ: Ecclesiastical
Babylon will be destroyed by the Antichrist and 10 king coalition
(17:16), but commercial Babylon will be destroyed by God
(18:4-8).