This document provides guidance for studying the Bible. It introduces three questions to ask when reading each chapter: 1) What does the chapter say? 2) What does that mean to me? 3) What am I going to do about it? It then summarizes sections of Chapter 4 in Revelation regarding Babylon's destruction and the scope and reasons for its judgment, emphasizing that all choices have consequences and believers must choose to follow God.

1. Welcome! We are glad you are here!
Don’t worry if you don’t know how to do this, we will
teach you as we go!

2. Three Easy Questions

3. Three Questions when you read the chapter you wish to study:
1. What does the chapter say?
2. What does that mean – specifically – to me?
3. What am I going to do about it?
Some add an optional memory verse as a part of the process to
help them retain what God has said to them.

5. KV 4: The choice of every person
1 - 3: Babylon the great is fallen...
4 - 8: Of choices and consequences...
9 - 20: Laid waste in an hour...
21 - 24: The scope and reasons for destruction...

7. Remember – at least four six(!) levels to understand!
1. To the believers at that time in that place (Historical context)
2. To all the churches (Ecclesiastic context):
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
3. To all believers (Homiletic context):
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
4. To world historical events (Prophetic context)
5. The Symbolism and interpretation thereof (Symbolic context)
6. Geopolitical context (won’t say much here)

8. Some principles of Bible study:
Take the text in context
Be sure of literal or symbolic interpretations
Don’t be afraid to ask the Author ;)
Cooper’s first rule of Interpretation:
If the plain sense of Scripture makes good sense, then seek no other
sense!

9. Babylon the great has fallen, fallen…
It becomes a place of residence for great evil. I do
not understand the implications of that, but I do know
I don’t want to be there.
Verse 3 gives the reason for her final judgement –
because she has mislead people and killed the
servants of God.
Just a note about the list of things that they bought
and sold – read verses 12 and 13.
We’ll say more about this in a bit.

10. Of choices and consequences…
Have you ever heard this expression? “You can lead a horse to
water, but you can’t make him drink.”
God calls each one of us out of the world in the same way, and it is
our choice whether we will obey or not.
It’s a simple equation:
Faith/Belief/Obedience
OR
Faithless/Unbelief/Disobedience
Those are our only options, and the choice is ours.

11. Laid waste in an hour…
This causes great distress for all
the world merchants and
governments.
One Hour – suggests a rapidity
to things that will be terrible and
amazing at the same time.
Laid Waste – suggests that the
devastation will be complete,
and the city will be
unrecoverable.
It will cause great joy in Heaven
that the false belief system is
finally dealt with for all time.

12. The scope and reasons for the
destruction of Babylon…
Let’s look at what Verses 21-24 say.
• Everything is taken away
• The Bridegroom and Bride will not
be there
• No music, craft, trade – ever
• No light in her – ever
WHY?
1. She deceived the nations with
“sorcery” (use of potions, drugs,
and spells)
2. She killed God’s servants and
people without thought or
remorse
So what does this say to us?

13. 1. God and His plan will not be mocked. If people do not choose
Him and His way, they are choosing an “alternate ending” that
will not work out well for them.
2. God’s people have a choice – to come out from among them –
then and there, as well as here and now. It is the very same
choice – because those who choose against God and His plan
will be participants in her sins and in her judgements.
3. God’s judgements are swift and terrible. No one can stand in
His presence without His mercy and grace. Choose to follow
Him.

14. All choices have consequences. When you make your choice, you
choose the consequences.
So choose:
“If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for
yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which
your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of
the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my
house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15 NASB)

15. Believers in Jesus have a UNIQUE, God-given right and ability to
follow Jesus and choose for Him. We, as His disciples NEED to
choose for Him. But how?
Acts 2:42 – “They were continually devoting themselves to the
apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to
prayer.”
We must cultivate this attitude with these activities daily.