Last week, we saw the prostitute, or religious Babylon, destroyed. This week deals with the ruin of commercial or economic Babylon. It is thought since the Beast hated the false, one-world church, centered in Rome, that this Babylon mentioned is likely to be the ancient city of Babylon rebuilt. It would be on the Euphrates River, yet in a new location, since the river has moved some 14 miles since those times. It would further make sense this would be a Middle East oil town- a commercial hub that controlled the world's economy.
The scripture describes this city as a home for demons and evil spirits. It also mentions the fact that all nations and kingdoms of the earth were connected to her. They had long benefitted by getting rich from her excessive luxuries. Right out of the gate, we see our first personal, practical application from this passage. "Come out of her, my people." We are not to be lovers of this world to the point where we are enslaved to its luxuries. We are to be separate, as lovers of Christ. The world will continue to glorify itself. We are to glorify God.
The kings and merchants mourned and lamented when they saw their precious lifestyles go up in smoke. They had rejected God, gone after idols, money, pride, and luxury. Their slaves are taken away. Who are these slaves? It very well could be any remaining Christians that haven't taken the mark of the Beast, since they wouldn't be able to buy or sell or hold a job otherwise. Remember, the 144,000 sealed Jews are still on earth, waiting for Jesus to return. Meanwhile, the rich become richer, the poor become poorer. Folks, we are seeing this worldly trend even today.
Men of earth have a history of not having the same viewpoint of people in heaven. In faith, we are called to set our hearts and minds on things of heaven, even while grinding away here on earth. We are to place our hope in God alone. We can't take any of these luxuries with us when we're gone. In fact, heaven rejoices when God avenges the blood of the saints. The casting of the millstone symbolizes the suddenness of God's judgment. All of the stuff that the people held as so precious is ruined in a day.
It's interesting, the amount of detail the Holy Spirit wrote in this section describing what exactly was destroyed. This is our heart check, within verses 11-13. It is a picture of their lifestyles, including their mindsets on what they deemed important: money, jewelry, lingerie, idols, furnishings, fine houses, perfume, beauty treatments, alcohol, fancy food, transportation, and slaves. It's a lifestyle of the rich and famous, just like Robin Leach used to say. How are we doing with all of this type of thing? What's our mindset and perspective on this stuff?
Man has always used business or busyness as his biggest excuse for not spending time with God. Today, this is even more challenging. Life has gotten busier. Something has to go. Usually, it's your relationship with God to go first. I challenge you to fight for this relationship. Fight hard for time with your Savior. Be tough and disciplined to think about Him and His truths throughout the day, wherever you go and in whatever hat you wear. Talk to Him. Realize His presence with you. Find like-minded friends to talk about Him and study His word. Walk in the Spirit. Be not of the world, but be separate. You are Christ's beloved child.
Can we use luxuries without allowing them to get into our hearts as idols? We are commanded to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, not just some or even most of our hearts. How would you feel if the luxuries were removed and you had to survive in hardship? Would you mourn and lament or would you put your trust in the Lord? Sometimes, we go through seasons of hardships, where certain luxuries are removed. I pray we can trust the Lord with all our hearts, as directed in Proverbs 3:5-6, and not lean on our own understanding. Let's not whine or fall into the trap of self-pity. Let's be strong in the Lord and trust Him, as the sole source and provider of our needs and satisfactions.
In 1788, Gibbon wrote a book call the Fall of the Roman Empire. The top five reasons for their fall are astounding.
1. Undermining the dignity and sanctity of the home and family.
2. Higher and higher taxes.
3. Mad craze for pleasure- including the admonishing of sports becoming more brutal.
4. Decay of individual responsibility.
5. Decay of religion with faith disappearing and losing touch with the purpose of life, as well as losing the power of influence to guide and direct subordinates.
Sounds familiar, doesn't it?
Chapter 18 ends the Great Tribulaton. The Holy Spirit has used the "Law of Recap" to fill in details repeatedly throughout Chapters 6-18. It's remarkable He chose to write that many chapters to cover the time of only seven years. Jesus is returning in Chapter 19 and the Millenial Kingdom begins in Chapter 20.
