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…)
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