November 10 Study | I Pledge Allegiance

Unit: Revelation (Part 3)

Theme: Victory Won

Lesson Text: Revelation 17:1-2, 6, 18: 18:1-10

Supplemental Texts: Numbers 16:1-33; Ezra 10:1-17; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Aim: Remove yourself from sinful associations.

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By Mark Scott

Tomorrow is Veteran’s Day. People who have served in the military pledge allegiance to the country and pledge to defend the constitution of the United States. It is no small thing. Allegiances matter, and some allegiances put us at odds with other allegiances. It is hard to be a Denver Broncos fan and cheer for the other teams in the AFC West Conference (the Chiefs, Raiders, and Chargers). 

God’s people should be crystal clear about their allegiance. They play to an audience of one. So they must be very careful of other allegiances. For the believers in the seven churches, that meant coming out from the pagan influences of the culture. The key verse in this lesson is Revelation 18:4, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins.” There is a time to stand and fight (Acts 14:3). But there is equally a time to run for the hills (Acts 14:6). Sometimes the greater part of valor is degrees of separation from the world. 

Allegiance to the Lamb Means No Intimacy with the World (17:1-2, 6, 18) 

The word adultery occurs four times in the lesson text. It is a betrayal of wedding vows. To be united with Christ means not being yoked with the world (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). The third member of the evil trinity occurs in this text. The ancient serpent used a trinity of evil (the beast out of the sea, the prophet from the earth, and the great prostitute—a rather consistent image in Old and New Testaments for pagan culture) to derail the saints. This adulterous woman sits on seven hills (17:9) and sits by many waters. Almost without question this must be a reference to Rome. 

The kings of the earth were mesmerized by this adulterous woman. In fact, they were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries. She ruled over the kings of the earth. Her power was especially seen in her martyring of God’s people (i.e. drunk with the blood of God’s holy people). 

Allegiance to the World Is Dark and Demonic (18:1-3) 

An angel came from Heaven to announce the ultimate demise of the city that is now identified as Babylon the Great. The angel announced why the city was so compromised: it was inhabited by demons. What was going on in Rome was not just humanism gone amuck. It was demonic from the pits of Hell. Unclean spirits, birds, and animals were part of the landscape. Their unfaithfulness was likened to maddening wine, and the merchants of the earth got rich in excessive luxuries.  

While the language of the text is sexual in nature, that may well be a metaphor for any excess, particularly regarding riches. One of the warnings for the seven churches of Revelation 2-3 cautioned them against putting their hope in the futility of riches (1 Timothy 6:17-19). 

Allegiance to the World Ends in Doom (18:4-10) 

There is no question that it will not end well for Christians who hitch their wagon to the world. In the words of the hymn Almost Persuaded, doom really does come at last. In one of the most convicting sections in the book of Revelation, another voice from Heaven announced Babylon’s demise. Several pronouncements are made against Babylon. Her sins were piled high. Her pay in retribution should be double what it was for what she did. Her supposed glory would become torment and grief. All her boasting would come to naught. Plagues would overtake her, and fire would consume her. 

But it is not just the voice from Heaven that announced this judgment. The kings of the earth joined in too. The very cultures, nations, and peoples that had been enticed to join Babylon ended up cursing her and rejoicing in her downfall. The three famous “woes” are announced. The first one is in the lesson text. The other nations might weep and mourn, but they will also be terrified and stand far off and cry out, Woe, woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon. In one hour your doom has come. The second woe is in 18:16, and the third one is in 18:19. Those two definitely deal with riches more than sexual immorality. 

The only way to escape Babylon’s doom is by coming out of her and pledging allegiance to the Lamb of God.