Week of February 1, 2026
“Fallen, Fallen is Babylon the Great”: God’s Righteous Judgment
The Book of Revelation provides a vivid overview of “God’s grand plan to defeat evil, rescue his people, and transform his creation.” Of all themes related to salvation, the most frequent involves judgment upon and destruction of evil. In Revelation, God brings to an end the reign of Satan and the power of Rome and all human empires. This week, we are going to especially focus on the image of Rome as “Babylon”: a symbol of Rome’s false worship, economic power, decadence, and exploitation of its empire.
Monday | Isaiah 13
In the most complete way, this prophecy regarding Babylon was fulfilled by the capture of the city by Alexander the Great and the movement of many of its citizens to a new capital by his successors in 275 AD, 450 years after Isaiah. Ultimately, it speaks to the fact that every empire and people will need to answer to the Lord. Babylon also becomes a symbol of the “Day of the Lord” (v.9) … the final judgment. What’s your emotional response to this prophecy? Is there any good news in this chapter? Where do we find freedom from such judgment?
Tuesday | Revelation 17
Revelation picks up the image of Babylon to point to another empire: Rome. We know that from verse 9, when it speaks of the woman sitting on seven hills, the seven hills being a well-known description of Rome. Why do you think that Rome would be likened to ancient Babylon? Why could it be called “the mother of prostitutes?” How did the Empire practice a kind of spiritual prostitution? What are the gods of America that lead us into spiritual prostitution?
Wednesday | Revelation 18
“Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!” What is the fate of any human empire? How are Christians to “come out” of an empire, such as the United States? (v.4) From the chapter, what seem to be the sins of the Roman Empire? How did other rulers commit adultery with Rome? God’s judgment even involves the Roman economy. How did Rome sin economically? What are such sins in America?
Thursday | Revelation 19:1-4, 11-16
Why would the saints in heaven have celebrated the fall of Rome (and similar empires)? In what ways is the destruction of evil troubling for God’s people? In what ways is it a reason for joy? How is Jesus pictured in these verses? What destruction of evil in America was celebrated in the words of v. 15? (email marks@mypeacechurch.com, first right answer on Thursday gets a prize) What evils are you praying for God to end in our world today?
Friday | Romans 2:5-11
What does the Apostle Paul say is the destiny of those who do evil? How do we reconcile the judgment of God with the love of God? If we are saved by what we have done (v.6), what does Paul later tell us is the key thing to do? (see 3:22) Why is the harsh judgment of God totally just? How does it impact us to know that we, too, deserve such judgment? Where will it lead us?
