April 23, 2017
Evening Service

The fall of Babylon began in Chapter 16 with an overview of its collapse.  Chapter 17 focused in on the fall of the spiritual institution of this evil empire, the false church.  John referred to it as the “Great Harlot.”  She was destroyed when 10 nations placed themselves under the authority of the beast to make war with the Lamb; only to unexpectantly turn on the harlot and destroy her. They turned on her because God used them to help fulfill His purpose.  They were only tools in God’s hands.  Chapter 18 now focuses in on the physical and economic destruction of the evil empire called Babylon.

 Revelation 18:1-3  And after these things I saw another angel come down from Heaven, having great authority. And the earth was lighted up from his glory.  (2)  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, “Babylon the great has fallen, has fallen! And it has become the dwelling-place of demons, and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a cage of every unclean bird which has been hated, (3) because of the wine of the anger of her fornication which all the nations have drunk. And the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her. And the merchants of the earth became rich from the power of her luxury.”

·         This evil empire used the many temptations from the flesh to gain power and become rich.  Greed, money, power, pride and sex are still today used in advertising to entice us into buying the one more thing that will make us happy.  It is very easy to see how they will continue to be used to make this evil empire extremely rich and powerful.

·         We as Christ followers are taught to embrace attitudes that are exact opposites of these.  We are taught to display such things as service, generosity, self- sacrifice, love and obedience as dominating attitudes of our lives.  Notice the warning given next:

 

Revelation 18:4-8  And I heard another voice from Heaven, saying, “Come out of her, My people, that you may not be partakers of her sins, and that you may not receive of her plagues.  (5)  For her sins joined together, even up to Heaven, and God has remembered her unjust deeds.  (6)  Reward her as she has rewarded you, and reward her double according to her works. In the cup which she mixed, mix double to her.  (7)  As much as she has glorified herself and has lived in luxury, so much torment and sorrow give her. For she says in her heart, “I sit as a queen, and I am not a widow; and I do not see mourning at all.”  (8)  Therefore her plagues will come in one day, death and mourning and famine. And she will be consumed with fire, for the Lord God who judges her is strong.”

·         We are warned to steer clear of living a life that is fueled by fulfilling all our desires and seeking only a life of luxury.  A false security and invulnerability emerges in our lives and quickly we become our own god.  Our thoughts are continually on what we want and desire.  A good example is the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12.

 

 

Revelation 18:9-19  And the kings of the earth who have committed fornication and lived in luxury with her will weep for her, and will wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning;  (10)  standing afar off for fear of her torment, saying, “Woe! Woe to the great city, Babylon, that strong city! For in one hour your judgment came.”  (11)  And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their cargo any more;  (12)  the cargo of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and every ivory vessel, and every vessel of very precious wood, and of bronze, and of iron, and of marble,  (13)  and cinnamon, and incenses, and ointment, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.  (14)  And the fruits of the lust of your soul have departed from you, and all the fat things and the bright things departed from you, and you will find them no more, not at all.  (15)  The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, will stand afar off because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning  (16)  and saying, “Woe! Woe to the great city which was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!  (17)  For in one hour such great riches was desolated. And every ship-pilot, and all the company on the ships, and sailors, and as many as work the sea, stood afar off.”  (18)  And they cried out, seeing the smoke of her burning, saying,” What is like the great city?”  (19)  And they threw dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, “Woe! Woe to the great city, by which all who had ships in the sea were rich out of her costliness! For in one hour she was ruined.”

·         All they had worked for, enjoyed and profited from was now gone in a very short time.  They had invested their riches and efforts  in the wrong place.  Jesus said this:

Matthew 6:19-21 Do not layup treasures on earth for yourselves, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.  (20)  But layup treasures in Heaven for yourselves, where neither moth nor rust corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.  (21)  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

·         We talked this morning how it is our heart that God wants and He wants us to seek Him and His ways first.  This paints us a very clear picture of those who have placed their hearts in the wrong place.  Think of the stories of those who killed themselves when the stock market crashed in the thirties.

·         We can lose all that we have on this earth and still be rich with hope of the life to come as Jesus prepares a place for us.  As the earth mourns the fall of Babylon the heavens rejoice.

 

Revelation 18:20-24  Rejoice over her, Heaven, and the holy apostles, and the prophets, since God judged your judgment on her.  (21)  And one strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, So on an impulse the great city, Babylon, will be thrown down and not at all will be found any more.  (22)  And the voice of harpers, and of musicians. and flutists, and of trumpeters will be heard no more at all in you. And every craftsman of any craft will not be found any more in you. And the sound of a mill will never more be heard at all in you.  (23)  And the light of a lamp will never more shine at all in you. And the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will never more be heard at all in you; for your merchants were the great men of the earth; for by your sorceries all nations were deceived.  (24)  And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all those who were slain on the earth.

 

Babylon has felt the full wrath of God and those who have been martyred by her have now been avenged.  God has brought judgement on the very people who mocked His last call to repentance and ignored the many warning of this day’s approach.  They were found guilty with the blood of the saints and prophets upon their hands.   Evil has received her just reward.

 

Hebrews 10:30 For we know Him who has said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord." And again, "The Lord shall judge His people."

 

The challenge for us is to not be caught sleeping and allow ourselves to become “conformed” to this world.  We are to stay focused, putting God first and be “transformed.”

 

Romans 12:2  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God.

 

Lord, keep us always aware of the world’s tactics to lure us into sin and keep our eyes and hearts focused on You.