Revelation 18:1-24
Please read your Bible text: Rev 18:1-24
‘… Babylon is fallen – that great city is fallen! … For her sins are piled as high as heaven, and God is ready to judge her for her evil deeds.’
Rev 18:2, 5
In Rev 17 – we have seen the harlot in scarlet as being the revived religious Rome – the counterfeit church that would be eventually persecuted even by Satan, himself. This is clear because even the false church is a reminder to him of the true church and he hates it enough to destroy her. But in Rev 18 – we are going to see the revived political Rome. The Bible calls it, “Babylon the great city”. It would be a city flourishing in trades and prosperity, a city of great wealth and civil authority (One-World Order).
Both the revived religious and political Rome begins at the very onset of the Tribulation Period, and for the next 42 months, there will be seemingly peace and prosperity under the deceptive manipulation of the antichrist’s reign. It is at this period that the revived political Rome (One-World Order) flourishes in wealth and prosperity to an incredible height. But toward the end of the next forty-two months, this counterfeit city, great as it is, will be filled with profanities and blasphemies toward God until it is overthrown by the Almighty God. It will be consumed in a single moment by fire from the Almighty God.
The World Weeps
Notice in vv.9-11 – the rulers of the world would mourn for the destruction of the antichrist and the wealth of the great city. Also, notice the description of such luxurious splendor in vv.12-14. And who are these who would mourn over the destruction of Great Babylon? The merchants who became wealthy, the ship-owners, the captains of the merchant ship, and the crews on board—they all will weep. In other words, all those who participated or collaborated with the antichrist would cry over the loss of such great wealth.
It is very sad that they can weep over the destruction of great wealth but cannot weep for the proliferation of great sins! Such are those who join hands and hearts with the antichrist. Their value systems are so warped and intoxicated with worldly riches—they would cry and put dust on their heads over materials loss but could not see the grief that is in God’s heart over the multitude of sins.
But Heaven rejoices
V.20 – But heaven rejoices over her fate. All of God’s people including the apostles and prophets are called to celebrate, for God has judged and had vindicated His people who were killed and martyred. Yes, as God’s children, we may grieve with God over the multitude of sins. But now, in heaven, we have reasons to rejoice. For God has avenged the blood of the martyrs, He has vindicated His people.
Here it is good to check our hearts.
To be wealthy and prosperous is a blessing from God and we should be thankful. But if our hearts are so attached to these riches, then we are no different from these merchants who collaborate with the antichrist and cry over the destruction of material riches. But if we put our hearts with God, then even when these riches are destroyed, we would still rejoice because our heart is not in the material riches. Jesus once said in the gospel: “Where your heart is, there will be your treasure”.
If you weep because wealth and riches are taken from you, then most likely you have misplaced your heart.
Think: Do not weep as the world does over the destruction of material riches but rejoice as heaven does over God’s unflinching justice.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, as you have said: “Where your treasure is – so also be your heart”. I pray by your enabling grace to find treasure in you and in the things of your Spirit.
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