God Remembered
Babylon’s Iniquities
– Revelation Eighteen –
We have already heard the message that "Babylon the Great" had
fallen. Now we will see the fall of that great and wicked nation. This rich
merchant-city is reduced to desolation. The destruction and desolation came as
a result of rebellion against the Creator. The picture of the fall of
Babylon was that of utter
destruction.
God called his
people out of
Rome so that they would
neither partake of the sins or the plagues of destruction.
Rome's plagues would come
upon her suddenly. This great desolation came upon
Rome because her crimes and
transgressions were piled up as high as heaven. God remembered her wickedness
and now called them up for settlement. The afflictions and calamities came upon
Rome in a single day because "mighty is the
Lord God Who judges her."
There was much
lamentation over the fall of
Babylon. The lamentation came,
not from God's people, but from those that had been corrupted by
Rome or that had benefited
from her. Those that wept were: (1) the rulers and leaders of the earth who had
joined in her immorality and luxury, (2) the businessmen wept over her because
no one would buy their goods any more, and (3) the ship captains, pilots, and
navigators wept because their means of being made rich was taken away. There
were no goods to transport.
While many lamented
the fall of Rome God called on others to rejoice. God's people were to
celebrate the fall of this wicked nation. The apostles and prophets were to
rejoice because God had avenged their blood upon her. The destruction of that
wicked nation was both great and final. "And never again shall the light
of a lamp shine in you, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall never be
heard in you again; for your businessmen were the great and prominent men of
the earth, and by your magic spells and poisonous charm all nations were led
astray (seduced and deluded)."
An
angel proclaiming the fall of
Babylon – Revelation 18:1-8: The appearance of the
angel shows that something great is about to happen. This angel possesses great
authority, radiance and splendor. His announcement is almost unbelievable.
Satan's strongest city is about to be destroyed. The angel shouted with a
mighty voice, "Mighty Babylon is fallen!"
Babylon became the dwelling
place for demons, and loathsome spirits. She became an abode for every filthy
and detestable bird. This wicked city will now pay for the sins of unchastity,
spiritual fornication and worldliness. Sadly,
Rome had led many others to
join in her sins and now they altogether feel the wrath of God!
There was another
voice from heaven that spoke to call God's people out of
Babylon. The righteous were
called out so that they would not share in her sins, nor participate in her
plagues. It is now "pay day" and
Rome must pay for her
transgressions. These transgressions were piled up as high as heaven. God has
always called upon His people to "get out of
Babylon."
Rome will be repaid for
what she has done to others.
One of the problems
of
Rome was "pride." She glorified herself
and reveled in her wantonness. She boasted "I am not a widow." She
said, "I sit as a queen on the throne."
Rome felt that she was so
great that she would never see suffering or experience sorrow.
Rome lived in luxury but
she will now suffer double punishment. In one day she will face the plagues of
pestilence, anguish, sorrow, and famine. The mighty God shall utterly consume
her.
A great lamentation
by kings and merchants – Revelation 18:9-16: The rulers and leaders
of the earth that had joined
Rome in her worldliness
wept and lamented. They wept because they had enjoyed the sinful things of
Rome. There were also tears
because if this could happen to "Great Babylon" it could certainly
happen to them. They are especially distributed by the sudden destruction of
this evil power. In one single hour
Rome's doom overtook her!
The businessmen of
the earth also grieve over
Rome. They can no longer
sell their goods. They had the finest of goods and nothing to do with them.
They dealt in fine cloths, jewelry, instruments of war, horses and cattle, the most expensive building material, all kinds of spices,
the most delicious food, slaves and even the souls of men for their horrible
pleasure. The dealers in these things were weeping and grieving because their
luxuries, dainties, and elegance were lost, never again to be recovered or
experienced! The lament was great for that "Great
City."
A
great lamentation by shipmasters and sailors – Revelation 18:17-19: In
a single hour the power of
Rome would be lost and all
her vast wealth wiped out. All ship captains, pilots, and navigators and all
that live by seafaring also lamented the downfall of
Rome. She had made them
rich, but now they mourn because they have no more cargo to deliver. As the
seafaring men watch what happened to
Rome they could only
lament, "What city could be compared to the great city!"
Their lamentation
was so great that they threw dust on their heads, wept, and grieved. In one
single hour God's wrath waxed hot against
Rome and she was destroyed.
Those that had been made rich through her extravagance grieved. Wealthy
Rome has been destroyed and
has become a desert! We again see that without Christ there is great loss.
Great
joy at the sight of
Babylon's ruin -- Revelation
18:20-24:
The righteous were affected very differently by the fall of
Rome. God's people were to
celebrate the fact that He had executed vengeance upon
Rome. The message from God
was "Babylon the great city will be
hurled down to destruction and shall never again be found." God told His
people, "Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets;
for God hath avenged you on her." (Revelation 18:20) Man must never take
personal vengeance. However, we can rest assured that God will avenge His
persecuted people.
"No more at
all" is the sad description given of
Rome. There would be no
more music. All joy was gone. Economic life would come to a standstill. The
millstone would not produce food. There would be no light, and no marriages.
What a sad overthrow of the nation that had led astray, seduced and deluded all
nations of the earth.
Rome's fall was great
because she had been filled with pride, had practiced sorcery and killed the
children of God. "And in her was found the blood of prophets and of
saints, and of all those who have been slain (slaughtered) on earth."
(Revelation 18:24)
The fact that the
end could come so quickly should motivate us to obey God now. To obey the
gospel one must hear God's truth (John
6:44-45), believe in Jesus
(Hebrews 11:6), repent of sins (II Peter 3:9), confess Jesus as Lord (Matthew
10:32), and be baptized to wash away sins. (Acts
22:16) After baptism one must serve God faithfully regardless of
circumstances. Under any condition, we are always better off to serve God
because the wrath of God will be poured out on the wicked.