“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons... For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.” [1]
She fanned the flames of immoral passions and selfish living. She united the nations to exalt hedonistic lifestyles and to hate those who sought to keep themselves pure for the Lord.
“Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, My people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.’” [2]
Be in the world, but don’t be of the world. Don’t join in Babylon’s culture. Pray, the rather, that the Lord will take whatever part of Babylon might be in you from you. And pray for others who are enslaved to her ways.
“In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.” [3]
Though you do not delight in the demise of anyone, realize that the Babylonian culture has slain many of God’s servants. She delighted in humiliating and destroying the followers of Christ.
“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!” [4]
The day of divine correction has arrived. God is so slow to judge. He is full of compassion. He doesn’t want anyone to perish eternally, but justice demands that Babylon be brought low and that God’s saints, apostles and prophets be vindicated. God’s messengers spoke the truth at the cost of their very lives. They loved those who hated them. They faithfully pointed people to the Savior from sin: Jesus Christ. Babylon is brought low. God’s messengers are raised up.
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” [5]
[1] Revelation 18:2-3
[2] Revelation 18:4-5
[3] Revelation 18:24
[4] Revelation 18:20
[5] Revelation 22:20
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