In The Word
Read: Revelation 18:1-20
18 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated from his glory. 2 And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all the nations have fallen because of the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich from the excessive wealth of her luxury.”
4 I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive anyof her plagues; 5 for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her offenses. 6 Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her. 7 To the extent that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, to the same extent give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.’8 For this reason in one day her plagues will come, plague and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong.
Grief over Babylon
9 “And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of sexual immorality and lived luxuriously with her, will weep and mourn over her when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’
11 “And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo any more— 12 cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; every kind of citron wood, every article of ivory, and every article made from very valuable wood, bronze, iron, and marble;13 cinnamon, spice, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, and cargo of horses, carriages, slaves, and human lives. 14 The fruit you long for has left you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and people will no longer find them. 15 The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, 16 saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls;17 for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!’ And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and all who make their living by the sea, stood at a distance, 18 and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What city is like the great city?’ 19 And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich from her prosperity, for in one hour she has been laid waste!’ 20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her.”
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
An angel will declare the destruction of the nation God entitled “Babylon” because of its wicked culture that lured many into immorality, overindulgence, and perversion. God will punish Babylon with plagues, pestilence, mourning, famine, and fire. Many will weep because they will no longer have the place to satisfy their sinful, fleshly cravings. There will be heartache and financial loss for those cities, nations, and enterprises that do business with Babylon and depend on it for supplies and wealth through trade.
When we focus on the world’s culture, entertainment, and riches, we will never be satisfied. We are not meant to be consumed with anything of this world, but only with Yeshua and His holy ways. Scripture says, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world” (1 John 2:15). Yeshua said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven … for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). Many people quote the saying, “You cannot take it with you,” but they build up earthly treasures as if their possessions will go into eternity. There is nothing wrong with making sure you have financial stability and a plan for the future; in fact, it is wise. But many people go beyond good financial stewardship and get consumed with possessions and riches. What do your time, money, and relationships reveal you are consumed with?