The Mourning

Rev. 18:24

And in her was found the blood of the prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.

 

Another angel will come down from heaven and with great authority will call out:

• Fallen is Babylon the Great! Dwelling place of demons, a haunt for unclean spirits, for unclean birds, for every unclean and detestable beast.
• The nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her immorality while the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living. [wealth, prosperity, possessions, immorality, willfulness shall rule the day]

Another voice from heaven speaks:

• Come out of her, my people lest you take part in her sins and share in her plagues.
• Her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God remembers them and will pay her back as she has paid others back.

Because of her words and her actions, her plagues will come in a single day, death, mourning, and famine. She will be burned up with fire for mighty is the Lord who judged her.

 

What is the response of those who hear these proclamations? Surely, they will mourn their sins, but no.

• The kings of the earth will weep and wail over her standing afar off and saying, Alas, You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.
• The merchants of the earth [on land and on sea]will weep and wail since no one buys their cargo whether jewels, spices, wood, metals, grains, animals or slaves, even human souls.
• They will throw dust on their heads mourning her death and their loss.They will speak to the heavens saying, Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!

Then a mighty angels will take a great millstone and throw it into the sea to show how Babylon will no longer be, and she was no more! With her destruction, her followers will possess no more music, craftsmen, mills, light, and marriage for they all were deceived by her sorcery and in her was found the blood of the prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.

 

The nations, kings, and merchants bought into this horrible world view; indeed worshiping the creature and his comforts more than the Creator. They lived like they actually ruled the universe and the lives of others totally ignoring the Creator. As if because they said He did not exist that He did not. What they say may be believed by others like themselves, but God will judge in His time, swiftly and completely.

 

Father,

As I look within my heart, do I see any roots of Babylon there? Am I loving her comforts, her possessions, or her world view? Convict me and show me how to value only You.

In Jesus name,

Amen