Evil’s Persistence Ending II

1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.

2 With a mighty voice he shouted: “’Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’ She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.

3 For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”

Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgement

4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues;

5 for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.

6 Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own cup.

7 Give her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn.’

8 Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

Threefold Woe Over Babylon’s Fall

9 “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her.

10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: “Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!”

11 “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more–

12 cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble;

13 cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men.

14 “They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your riches and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’

15 The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn

16 and cry out: ” ‘Woe! Woe, O great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!

17 In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’

18 “Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’

19 They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: “Woe! Woe, O great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth! In one hour she has been brought to ruin!

20 Rejoice over her, O heaven! Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets! God has judged her for the way she treated you.”

The Finality of Babylon’s Doom

21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.

22 The music of harpists and musicians, flute players and trumpeters, will never be heard in you again. No workman of any trade will ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again.

23 The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again.

Your merchants were the world’s great men. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray.

24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints, and of all who have been killed on the earth.

How important it is to read Holy Scripture (2Tim 3:14-17).  The texts have been printed this is not simply a commentary; we need to read Holy Scripture so that the Holy Spirit can guide – especially in time of need.

Revelation Chapters 17-19:8 are now in context. The fall of Babylon is representing evil in John’s time and in every age evil continues.

18:2 (cf 9, 19) Fallen is Babylon she is no more and God will bring a pure and perfect city – the New Jerusalem (John 14:1-6).

18:3, 9 Pride in evil practice is seen simply in the corruption in business. The rich, greedy for more luxury – the poor – poorer and persecuted. Greed and moral decadence and rejection of the One True God are coming to an end. In our societies today this is happening.

People are rejecting the Christian civilisation and Christian heritage we have been given. Many church leaders are apostate. In Australia in trade and commerce many farmers are walking off the land – crops are being ploughed in because of the evils of the global economy. Food from overseas is poison.

18:4-8 John hears a voice from heaven. The saints are told to “come out” – not to “share in her sins”.

This is an encouragement to faithful and obedient Christians to ensure they remain separate from the evils of this world. An encouragement to witness for Jesus in an evil world.

The harvest is enormous and the labourers few (Matthew 9:37; Luke 10:2). Our prayer is that the saints will tell of Jesus’ victory – good news in this evil world (John 4:35). In another place above, the doctrine of effectual calling and grace emphasises the Lord’s calling of those chosen (Ephesians 1:3-14).

Those harvested – those who heard the word of truth (Romans 10:17). These verses were highlighted (John 5:24; 6:37, 39, 40, 44, 65; 17:1-9). How important the faithfulness of the saints is!

Through the church – even a persecuted church – “the manifold wisdom of God is made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms…” (Ephesians 3:10).

Paul continues, “I ask you not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory!” Wow!

Paul kneels before the Father and prays about the above. Remember, he was a prisoner in Rome when he wrote this letter (AD60) – suffering and persecuted and would be executed by Nero in a few years’ time (AD64).

Paul continues, “I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being so Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

And I pray that you being rooted and established in love you may have the power with all the saints (the elect) to grasp how wide, long, high and deep is the love of Christ and to know the love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled with the measure of the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:15-19. Also – Philippians 1:9-11; 4:4-7; and again John 14:1-6; 17:1-9).

So, reflecting on these great encouragements, even in the midst of persecution, Revelation 18:4-8 reminds us that “God remembers her crimes.” (v5) and “God judges her.” (v8)

18:11-13 The greatness of wealth of Rome – all kinds of goods and slaves – will be mourned by business. Again, this is the reality of the greed of the rich and ignorance toward the poor and the persecuted in every age until the rapture.

18:20-24 Crimes against the saints which have been mentioned are the same today, are punished – the city has been “thrown down”. Music, tradesmen working, businesses, day and night – by lamplight – not to be seen or heard. Evil is finished.

The city, as today, was responsible for the persecution and killing of the saints. The victory is in Jesus.