Small Group Discussion Guide

Revelation 17–19 | "Unmasking Evil: The City of Man and the City of God"

A Note to Facilitators: This guide is designed for 60–90 minutes. You know your group best — feel free to skip questions, linger where conversation is rich, or swap in the "Optional Deep Dive" questions if your group is ready to go further. The goal is genuine conversation and real-life application, not covering every question. Pray before you meet, and trust the Holy Spirit to guide the discussion.

OVERVIEW

In this sermon from Revelation 17–19, Pastor Brian walked us through one of the most vivid and challenging passages in all of Scripture. The central message: before God judges evil, he unmasks it — and when the mask comes off, evil looks surprisingly familiar. At its core, the "city of man" (represented by Babylon) is driven by greed, indulgence, and the love of money. The sermon calls us to honest self-examination, inviting us to resist the seduction of a consumer culture and instead embrace the identity of the faithful bride — God's people who are being made ready for their King.

ICEBREAKER

(5–10 minutes)

Choose one of the following to open your time together:

Option A (Lighter): Think of a movie, TV show, or story where a villain's mask was literally or figuratively ripped off — their true identity was finally revealed. What made that moment so powerful or satisfying?

Option B (More Personal): Have you ever been fooled by something that looked really good on the outside but turned out to be very different than it appeared? What was that experience like?

[Leader Tip]: Don't overthink the icebreaker — its job is simply to get people talking and laughing before you move into deeper content. Either option works well; choose based on the feel of your group tonight.

SCRIPTURE READING

(5 minutes)

Have one or two group members read the following passages aloud. You don't need to read the entire sermon text — these excerpts capture the key movements of the passage.

Revelation 17:1–6 (The Harlot and the Beast — Evil Unveiled)

"Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, 'Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.' And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: 'Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations.' And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus."

Revelation 18:2–5, 11–13 (The Fall of Babylon — Evil Judged)

"And he called out with a mighty voice, 'Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast. For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.' Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, 'Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities... And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls."

Revelation 19:1–2, 6–8 (The Hallelujah Chorus — God's People Respond)

"After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, 'Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.'... Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, 'Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure' — for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints."

Brief Context for Facilitators to Share: Revelation was written to real Christians living in the Roman Empire (in what is now modern-day Turkey) who were facing pressure, persecution, and the daily temptation to compromise their faith in order to get ahead. "Babylon" in this passage is a symbolic name for the system of imperial and religious power that oppressed God's people — centered on Rome, but representing any human system built on power, wealth, and exploitation. The vision isn't just history; it's an X-ray of how evil works in every age.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(30–45 minutes)

Work through as many of these as time allows. Questions are arranged from lighter/observational to deeper/personal. Feel free to skip or reorder based on your group's conversation.

SECTION 1: Seeing Evil Clearly

(Observational & Interpretive — 10–12 minutes)

1. What was the most striking or surprising thing to you from Sunday's sermon — either from the passage itself or from something Pastor Brian said?

[Leader Tip]: This is a great first question because it invites everyone in at their own level. There are no wrong answers. If the group is quiet, share your own honest reaction first to model openness.

2. Pastor Brian said that "evil always masks itself" — it dresses up and hides its true face. In Revelation 17–18, the mask comes off and evil is revealed as being rooted in greed and indulgence. Why do you think evil rarely presents itself as obviously evil? What makes the disguise so effective?

3. The sermon described how the merchants and kings in Revelation 18 react to Babylon's fall — they don't repent, they just grieve what they've lost. What does that reaction tell us about what they really valued? What does genuine repentance look like compared to just being sad about consequences?

[Leader Tip]: This question touches on a meaningful theological distinction — grief over consequences vs. true repentance. If helpful, you can reference 2 Corinthians 7:10: "Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death."

SECTION 2: Following the Money

(Interpretive & Personal — 12–15 minutes)

4. Pastor Brian made a bold claim: "If you want to understand evil, follow the money." He pointed to 1 Timothy 6:10 — "The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil" — and to Jesus' words in Matthew 6:24 — "You cannot serve both God and money." How does this reframe the way you think about evil in the world? Does it feel uncomfortable or clarifying — or both?

5. The sermon suggested that the "final revelation" of evil in Revelation 18 looks less like a foreign ideology and more like our own consumer culture — Amazon, indulgence, the accumulation of stuff. Pastor Brian said, "I worry that God's good gifts to this nation have been for many of us a snare." How do you respond to that? Where do you see that tension in your own life or in our culture?

[Leader Tip]: This question can feel convicting or even threatening, so create safety by acknowledging the tension yourself. Remind the group that the goal isn't guilt — it's honest self-examination. If conversation stalls, try this follow-up: "Can you think of a time when wanting something 'good' — comfort, security, success — quietly pulled your heart away from God?"

6. Jesus said in Matthew 6:21, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Pastor Brian called this one of the most "severe" lines Jesus ever said — because it means our spending habits are one of the clearest indicators of our true spiritual priorities. Without getting into specific numbers, how does that statement land for you personally? What does your spending reveal about what you actually value?

SECTION 3: The Bride vs. The Harlot

(Interpretive & Reflective — 8–10 minutes)

7. In Revelation 19, the same event — the fall of Babylon — causes the merchants and kings to weep, but causes God's people to cry out "Hallelujah!" Pastor Brian asked: "If the destruction of evil came at a financial cost to you, would you still celebrate it?" How would you honestly answer that question?

8. The sermon described two contrasting women in Revelation — the Harlot (Babylon), who is seductive, adorned with jewels, and drunk on power; and the Bride (the Church), who is clothed in "fine linen, bright and pure," which represents "the righteous deeds of the saints." What do you think it looks like practically to be part of the "faithful bride" in today's world? What habits, choices, or postures define that kind of life?

[Leader Tip]: This is a great question to let breathe. Encourage specific, concrete answers rather than abstract ones. If needed, prompt with: "Think about your daily rhythms — your money, your time, your attention. What would it look like to be 'making yourself ready' in those areas?"

PERSONAL APPLICATION

(10–15 minutes)

These questions are designed for honest, personal reflection. Encourage people to share only what they're comfortable with. Remind the group that this is a safe space.

1. Pastor Brian said every generation has its blind spots — and that ours likely has something to do with wealth, consumerism, and the love of things. If a Christian from another era or another part of the world were to look at your life, what do you think they might gently challenge you about?

2. The voice from heaven in Revelation 18:4 says, "Come out of her, my people." This is a call to intentional separation from the values and patterns of the world's system. What is one specific area of your life where you sense God might be calling you to "come out" — to loosen your grip, simplify, or reorient?

3. The sermon closed with this beautiful promise: the righteous deeds of the saints are remembered by God — they're woven into the garment of the Bride. Every act of generosity, self-denial, faithfulness, and love matters and is seen. How does that promise change the way you think about the small, unseen choices you make every day?

4. Pastor Brian noted that Augustine famously wrestled with this tension — how to live in the "city of man" while belonging to the "city of God." Where do you feel that tension most acutely in your own life right now?

✅ This Week's Challenge

Choose one (or more) of the following to put into practice before your group meets again:

• Audit your week: For the next 7 days, pay attention to where your time and money actually go — not where you think they go. What does the pattern reveal?
• Practice gratitude over acquisition: When you feel the pull to buy something or scroll for more, pause and name three things you're grateful for that money can't buy.
• An act of generosity: Do one intentionally generous thing this week — give money, time, or resources in a way that costs you something real.
• Read the passage: Spend 20 minutes reading Revelation 17–19 on your own. Let the images sit with you and ask God: "What are you showing me?"
• Have a money conversation: If you're married or in a close relationship, have an honest conversation about how your household's financial habits reflect your values. What might need to change?

PRAYER FOCUS

(5–10 minutes)

Close your time together in prayer. You can pray as a group, in pairs, or have one person lead. Here are suggested themes to guide your prayer:

• Confession: Honestly acknowledge before God the ways we have been seduced by the values of the "city of man" — the love of comfort, wealth, and indulgence.
• Clarity: Ask God for eyes to see clearly — to recognize the masks that evil wears in our culture and in our own hearts.
• Courage: Pray for the courage to "come out" — to make countercultural choices that reflect the values of God's kingdom, even when it costs us something.
• Global Church: Following the church's fast this week, pray for brothers and sisters around the world who are suffering for their faith — those who face persecution, poverty, and hardship as faithful witnesses.
• Gratitude: Thank God for the promise of the "city of God" — that everything Babylon promises, God will infinitely surpass. Thank him that our good deeds are seen, remembered, and matter.

Optional closing prayer prompt: Have each person finish this sentence silently or aloud: "Lord, the area where I most need to trust you over my own comfort right now is ___________."

OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE

For groups that want to go further — or for a second week of discussion on this passage

1. Pastor Brian drew a connection between Revelation 18 and Acts 19, where a silversmith named Demetrius starts a riot in Ephesus because Paul's preaching is threatening his idol-making business. Read Acts 19:23–28 together. How does this real-life story illuminate what Revelation 18 is describing? Where do you see similar dynamics playing out in our world today — where economic interests drive opposition to the gospel?

Acts 19:23–28:

"About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, 'Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.' When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, 'Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!'"

2. The sermon mentioned that Handel's famous "Hallelujah Chorus" — which we often associate with Christmas and Easter — is actually drawn directly from Revelation 19, a passage about economic injustice and evil being overthrown. How does knowing that context change the way you hear that piece of music? More broadly, how does understanding the full biblical story change the way we worship?

3. Pastor Brian referenced Augustine's City of God — the idea that Christians are always pilgrims passing through the "city of man" on their way to the "city of God." Read Hebrews 11:13–16 together. How did the heroes of faith in the Old Testament live with this same pilgrim identity? What can we learn from their example about holding the things of this world loosely?

Hebrews 11:13–16:

"These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city."

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

For personal study or follow-up reading during the week:

This guide was prepared for One Harbor Church small groups. For questions about the sermon series or small group resources, contact your group leader or the church office.

Next week in the series: One more look at the final showdown — how Jesus ultimately destroys evil. Begin reading Revelation 19:11–21 to prepare.