Revelation 18
Babylon is destroyed. This is the second half of a two-part story.
Babylon
In the first 8 verses of this chapter Babylon is declared to be fallen. Death, mourning and famine are not far behind.
Notice that one big reason for Babylon’s successes is that so many people have gained power and riches from her. Remember how Paul put it in 1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” This is how the world system has worked throughout history. The promise of power and wealth is more than enough temptation for most people to sell their souls.
It is no wonder that the angel is so insistent. “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive her plagues…” (Verse 4, NASB) Now is the time to choose God. Now is the time to become his people. Don’t wait. Don’t play with fire. If you do, you will lose.
Notice how rapidly it all comes apart in Verse 8. Regardless of how you think about time prophecies in the Bible, one day is a very short period. Why is this possible? Because “mighty is the Lord God who judges her.”
Three Laments
Verses 9-20 are a fascinating commentary from the three groups most closely aligned with this world system – kings, merchants and ship captains. I interpret these as political power, economic power and those who profit from both. All three lament the speed of her collapse, which in their view takes but one hour. All three understand the finality of her collapse.
Verses 21-24 bring the focus back to the One True God. The issue is not Babylon’s overwhelming evil, although the angel’s message recounts it yet again. The issue is that the blood of the prophets, saints and all who have been killed on the earth is found in her. Babylon, Satan’s best attempt at a counterfeit of God’s love and grace, turns out to be an empty shell of murder and suffering – just like Satan himself.
Revelation for You
Do you understand that everything the world has to offer is a poor imitation of the reality found in Jesus?
How can Jesus’ reality be yours?
