Tuesday, April 15, 2014

GOD’S PEOPLE WARNED TO GET OUT OF BABYLON


This chapter opened with a declaration of the fall of Babylon, the place from which all false religions were founded.  I can’t help but wonder if this declaration is the same as that recorded in chapter 14.

Revelation 14:8 “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

I think this section describes in detail the resulting destruction announced by that angel.  John hears yet another voice from heaven which according to the context of the message has to be that of God.  He is calling for His people to get out of Babylon. 

Revelation 18:4–5 “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.”

God is always faithful to warn His people of judgment to come.  There will be those who come to saving faith in the tribulation years, and some of these people will live in Babylon.  Again I am reminded of the words of Jeremiah.
 
Jeremiah 51:6--Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD’S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence. 

Jeremiah 51:45-- My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD. 

When you are surrounded with that which is wicked, you are going to be tempted to partake.  Those who choose to stay in Babylon will also partake of her judgment.  God is not going to separate out His own (like He did with Israel in the land of Goshen during the time of the plagues in Egypt) when He judges Babylon.  It’s going to be like Sodom and Gomorrah; if you don’t get out, you will experience her judgment.  As with Sodom, the sins of Babylon are well known in heaven, and God has decided that now is the time to exercise judgment in accordance with her sins.

Revelation 18:6–7 “Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.”

Babylon is deserving of great punishment.  She is deserving of more than just an “eye for an eye.”  She is deserving of at least double (or is it quadruple) retribution for what she has herself inflicted on others.  The cup is a direct reference to Revelation 17:4.

Revelation 17:4 “And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication….”

Verse 7 continues the thought of determining how much judgment to impose upon her.  She has lived in haughtiness and pride and in great luxury.  In direct proportion to that lifestyle she should experience torment and sorrow.  She has positioned herself as a queen and not as a widow.  The Greek for the word widow implies the idea of deficiency or lacking.  Babylon thinks she lacks nothing and is immune to judgment.  This parallels the description of the church at Laodicea as described in the Lord’s letter to that church in chapter 3.

Revelation 3:17 “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked….”

There is also a parallel verse in Isaiah.

Isaiah 47:8-9 Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children.  But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.

Isaiah also points out that the lifestyle predominant in Babylon is based on sorcery, magic and wickedness—all prominent methods of deception employed by Satan and his forces.  

Revelation 18:8 “Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.”

As I looked again at the root words in the original language, it occurred to me that the reference to “famine” is probably that of spiritual destitution.  This would seem to fit the context better in reference to destruction “in a moment in one day” and the fact that she is prosperous until she is destroyed by fire.  In fact, Revelation narrows it to one hour.

Revelation 18:10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

Why/How will this happen to one who seems so strong?  Because mightier, stronger, and more powerful is the Lord God who condemns and judges her.

(to be continued…)

No comments: