After the angel explained to John
the mystery behind the scarlet beast and Babylon, another angel come down from heaven. This angel had great authority, and his presence made the earth grow bright under his glory. This glorious angel gave a mighty shout: “Babylon is fallen - that great city is fallen!” The angel went on to say, “She has become a home for demons. She is a hideout for every foul spirit, a hideout for every foul vulture and every foul and dreadful animal. For all the nations have fallen because of the wine of her passionate immorality. The kings of the world have committed adultery with her. Because of her desires for extravagant luxury, the merchants of the world have grown rich.” After the angel shouted that out, John heard another voice call down from heaven, “Come away from her, my people. Do not take part in her sins, or you will be punished with her. For her sins are piled as high as heaven, and God remembers her evil deeds. Do to her as she has done to others. Double her penalty for all her evil deeds. She brewed a cup of terror for others, so brew twice as much for her. She glorified herself and lived in luxury, so match it now with torment and sorrow. She boasted in her heart, ‘I am queen on my throne. I am no helpless widow, and I have no reason to mourn.’” The voice continued to say, “Therefore, these plagues will overtake her in a single day - death and mourning and famine. She will be completely consumed by fire, for the Lord God who judges her is mighty. And the kings of the world who committed adultery with her and enjoyed her great luxury will mourn for her as they see the smoke rising from her charred remains. They will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will cry out, “How terrible, how terrible for you, O Babylon, you great city! In a single moment God’s judgment came on you.” Revelation 18:1-10 Verses 11-20 repeat the same distaste and the same destruction. The voice from heaven continues to declare the wrongs that have been done by Babylon. Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a huge millstone. He threw it into the ocean and shouted, “Just like this, the great city Babylon will be thrown down with violence and will never be found again.” The voice then said, “The sound of harps, singers, flutes, and trumpets will never be heard in you again. No craftsmen and no trades will ever be found in you again. The sound of the mill will never be heard in you again. The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The happy voices of brides and grooms will never be heard in you again. For your merchants were the greatest in the world, and you deceived the nations with your sorceries. In your streets flowed the blood of the prophets and of God’s holy people and the blood of people slaughtered all over the world.” Revelation 18:21-24 Chapter 18 captures the Declaration of God - the Day the Lord speaks his judgement against Babylon, and to all on the earth who extend from her, and do her will. I must say, these have been some difficult chapters to read. They have left a bitter feeling in my gut, a sad feeling in my heart, and a remorseful spirit. And yet, there is truth. There is the truth that I have been redeemed. There is the truth that I must never quit giving testimony to Jesus. Tomorrow I be introduced to the Rider who comes on the white horse. I can not wait!
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