Revelation 18 (NIV)

Summary:

The Fall of Babylon
Verses 1-24

John saw another angel descend from heaven.  He had great authority and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.  In a mighty voice, he shouted that Babylon the Great had fallen.  She had become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, every unclean and detestable bird.  All nations drank of the maddening wine of her adulteries.  The kings of the earth committed adultery with her.  The merchants became rich from her excessive luxuries.

John heard another voice from heaven say: Let my people come out of her, so they will not share in her sins or receive her plagues.  Her sins are piled up to heaven.  God has remembered her crimes.  Repay her for what she has done.  Give her a double portion of her own cup.  As much glory and luxury that she gave herself, give her as much torture and grief.  She boasts in her heart, saying that she is a queen and not a widow.  She says she will never mourn.  Therefore, in one day, her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning, and famine.  She is consumed by famine because mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

The kings of the earth who share in her luxury and adultery will see the smoke of her burning.  They will weep and mourn for her.  They will be terrified of her torment.  They will stand far off and cry: woe, great city of Babylon!  In one hour, her doom has come!

The merchants will weep and mourn because no one buys their cargo anymore.  Their cargo consisted of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet cloth; every kind of citron wood; articles of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron, and marble; cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; cattle, sheep, horses, and carriages; bodies and souls of men.  They will say that the fruit she longed for is gone.  All her riches and splendor have vanished forever.  They will stand far off, terrified of her torment.  They will weep, mourn, and cry out: woe to the great city, lavishly adorned!  In one hour, she has been brought to ruin!

Every sea captain and sea merchant will stand far off.  They will see the smoke of her burning.  They will ask if there was ever a city as great as her.  They will throw dust on their heads.  They will weep, mourn, and cry out: woe to the great city, where all ships became rich through her wealth!  She has been brought to ruin in one hour!  Rejoice heaven, the saints, apostles, and prophets, because God has judged her for her treatment of you.

A mighty angel picked up a boulder as large as a millstone and threw it into the sea.  He said that, with such violence, Babylon would be thrown down, never to be found again.  The music of harpists, musicians, flute players, and trumpeters will never again be heard in her.  No workman of any trade, nor sound of millstone, nor light of a lamp, nor voice of a bridegroom or bride will be found in her again.  Her merchants were the world's greatest men.  Her magic spell led the nations astray.  In her was found the blood of prophets, saints, and all those killed on earth.

Lori's Thoughts:

Riches and splendor from without.  At what cost?  Bloodshed, adultery, and idolatry.  Her punishment will be brought upon her own head.

God gently, but persistently, calls us.  Those who hear His voice and seek it out will escape the jaws of the great deceiver.  The most precious and lavish thing any of us can ever obtain is the love of God.  "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!"  (I John 3:1)

Those who benefitted from Babylon will abandon her when they see her ruined.  There is no loyalty there, only greed.  They will mourn only because their riches are gone.  Those that received the mark of the beast in order to trade and make money will have sold their souls.  I'm sure this is the fine print of such a transaction.

Your soul is worth more than all the riches this world will ever have to offer.  Your soul is worth the life of God.  He bought you.  It is your choice whether you want to live in ephemeral splendor now or deny your human desires to build up your spirit and gain the eternal riches of love and of heaven.