Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Rev 18:1 and following. Indeed, these visions can be compared to a series of slides projecting the same paintings or events from different perspectives and lighting. The collapse of Babylon is considered here to be accomplished directly by “the Lord God” (Rev. 18:14-21). But before that, a commandment sounded: “Come out of the midst of her, my people” (Jeremiah’s prophecy against historical Babylon: Jr 51:6-48). This call is already being heard today: “Come out of the midst of them and be separated,” says the Lord… (2 Cor 6:14-18). Every child of God is invited to separate himself entirely from the religious world of mixed principles presented to us here in his final state (Nb 16:23-34). Some will accuse us of lacking love, of being narrow and imbued with a spirit of superiority. But the main thing is to obey the Lord.
Thus, in this chapter we find, not the relationship of Babylon with the beast, but the description of the fall of the city, with the funeral songs of the different classes of men who lament because it has disappeared from the scene of this world. At the same time God warns his people of the ruin of Babylon and invites them to come out. “Come out of the midst of her, my people, that you may not share in her sins and receive from her wounds: for her sins have piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.”
Then we hear this word: “Give her as she has given you, and double her by double, according to her works; in the cup she mixed, pour her double. As much as she has glorified herself and been in delights, she may as much as give her torment and mourning. Because she said in her heart: I am seated as a queen, and I am not a widow, and I will not see mourning.” That is, Babylon is seen in this chapter, not so much in its mysterious and religious form, giving rise to every kind of confusion between truth and error, between good and evil, poisoning, seductive and corrupting, as all can see, by its fatal and pernicious religious influence; but it appears here in the most obvious way, as helping and pushing the world into all the luxury and delights and pride of life, – all that men call “civilization”. This is what is dealt with in great detail in our chapter, at the same time as we are presented with the regrets and complaints of those who weep about the fall of Babylon and the loss of their wealth and enjoyment.
It will come to despise all that is truly divine; it will use of the word of God only that which it can pervert in order to make it serve to increase its own importance, to obtain a greater ascendancy over consciences, and to enjoy more fully the luxury and pleasures in this world; it will do everything to erase all memories of heaven, and make this world a kind of paradise that it will embellish, not a pure and spotless religion, but by means of the human arts and idolatry of the world. This is what will shatter God’s indignation and judgment over the last phase of Babylon, so that all the blood shed on earth will be imputed to her and judged accordingly. It is obvious that this will in no way prevent each man from being judged for his own sin in the judgment of the dead. This truth remains: The Lord’s day for the world in no way nullifies His ways and action toward each soul individually. For according to this principle of God’s government, it is not only personal guilt that comes under judgment, but that which, through contempt for God, has thus morally accumulated from age to age, because of the very testimony of God and the wickedness in which men have indulged in spite of this witness.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
The Fall of Babylon:
- Resplendent Lives of Saints
Jb 11:17 Your days will have more brilliance than the sun at noon, Your darkness will be like the light of the morning, Ps 34:6 When one looks to him, one is radiant with joy, And the face is not covered with shame. Ec 8.1 Who is like the wise man, and who knows the explanation of things? The wisdom of a man makes his face shine, and the severity of his face is changed. Dn 12:3 Those who have been intelligent will shine like the splendor of heaven, and those who have taught righteousness to the multitude will shine like the stars, forever and in perpetuity. John 5:35 Was the lamp that burns and shines, and you wanted to rejoice for an hour in its light. Acts 6:15 All those who sat on the Sanhedrin having fixed their gaze on Stephen, his face seemed to them like that of an angel. 2 Cor 3:18 All of us who, with our faces uncovered, contemplate as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, we are transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, as by the Lord, the Spirit.
- Babylon the Great
Rev 14:8 And another, a second angel followed, saying: She fell, she fell, Babylon the great, who watered all the nations with wine with the fury of her immodesty! Rev 16:19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God, remembered Babylon the great, to give him the cup of wine of his ardent wrath. Rev 17:5 On his forehead was written a name, a mystery: Babylon the great, the mother of the shameless and abominations of the earth. Rev 18:2 He cried out in a loud voice, saying: She has fallen, she has fallen, Babylon the great! It has become a dwelling place of demons, a lair of every impure spirit, a lair of every impure and odious bird,
- Final judgment according to the works
Ps 62:13 To you too, Lord! goodness; For you give back to each according to his works. Jer 17:10 I, the Lord, feel the heart, I probe the kidneys, To give back to each according to his ways, According to the fruit of his works. Mt 16:27 For the Son of man must come in the glory of his Father, with his angels; and then he will give back to each according to his works. 2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, that each one may receive according to the good or evil he has done, being in his body. 1 Pet 1:17 And if you invoke as Father the one who judges according to the work of each one, without accepting persons, conduct yourselves with fear during the time of your pilgrimage, Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, who stood before the throne. Books were opened. And another book was opened, the one that is the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works, according to what was written in these books. Rev 22:12 Behold, I come soon, and my retribution is with me, to give back to each one according to what his work is.
- Millstones
Dt 24.6 The two wheels, nor the top millstone, are not taken as a pledge; for that would be to take as a pledge life itself. Jg 9:53 Then a woman threw a piece of millstone at Abimelech’s head, and broke his skull. Jer 25:10 I will put an end among them the cries of rejoicing and the cries of joy, the songs of the bridegroom and the songs of the bride, the sound of the millstone and the light of the lamp. Mt 18:6 But if anyone were to scandalize one of those little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him to hang a millstone from his neck and throw him to the bottom of the sea. Rev 18:21 Then a mighty angel took a stone like a great millstone, and threw it into the sea, saying: Thus, will be thrown with violence Babylon, the great city, and it will no longer be found.
From all the above, we note that there is a long list of “all that is in the world,” studied to satisfy the many lusts of men (1 John 2:15-17). It names in the lead what is most esteemed: gold, and ends with what has the lowest price in the eyes of this false Church… but who has so much value for God: the souls of men. The lamentations of the merchants remind us of the complaints of Demetrius and the craftsmen of Ephesus fearing that they would lose the “great profit” and “well-being” that idol worship gave them (Acts 19:23-40). Basically, what is the difference between the great “Diana of the Ephesians” and “Babylon the Great”, between pagan idolatry and the corruption of Christianity? It can only be successful, the religion that gives man all the fruits of his soul’s desire, that flatters the senses by putting conscience to sleep (Dn 3:4-7), that promotes trade and serves as a pretext for all kinds of rejoicing. It is enough to see during the end of the year how profane the birth of the Lord Jesus is celebrated by many. “In her was found the blood… of the saints. Already in the city of Cain, at the beginning of the Bible, there were many pleasant things… while Abel’s blood was screaming. Today the religious world rejoices while the true believer suffers and grieves. Tomorrow will resound the alas! down here; but the joy of heaven will answer it. May God give us to see already by faith all things as He sees them! Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow “Heaven rejoices in the ruin of Babylon. »
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.