"Fallen Is Babylon" December 29 Reading: Revelation 18-19

 

Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022

This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT. 

Bible Readings:  Revelation 18-19  

Background:   

Babylon is a powerful word throughout the Bible, representing not just the powerful nation that arose to seek to dominate the world, but symbolically standing for everything in this world that unites in opposition to God. There is, in Revelation 17-18, a religious aspect to Babylon, a united religion without loyalty to God or to his Son. There is political Babylon, the uniting of the nations around humanistic power not in obedience to God. And there is an economic Babylon, a world system united in materialism and greed, seeking all this world has, exploiting others, and oppressing them to get ahead.

And in a moment, God will bring it all crashing down. Boom! Make no mistake about it. God is in control. This world system is loyal to the enemy and opposes the rule of Christ, but it is doomed in that rebellion. You can oppose Christ but you cannot defeat him!

Few things are certain in life, but this is one. Babylon will fall.

It will be the most glorious moment in human history when the great battle of evil is going on here on earth and suddenly Jesus breaks out in glory with heaven's armies trailing him and he strikes down the rebellious hordes with the sword coming out of his mouth. Then, he judges the world, binds Satan, and sets up his millennial kingdom. After that comes the final judgment and Satan's doom, along with the terrible moment of the Great White Throne when sinners are judged and sent to the Lake of Fire.

It is God's ultimate victory over sin and it is also a moment of sadness as many are sent to the horrible place of torment prepared for the devil and his fallen angels. 

Daily Devotional:  Fallen Is Babylon

Find 20 commentaries on the book of Revelation and you might find 2 dozen different explanations for  the identity of "Babylon the Great." The Roman empire was a historical favorite and so was the Roman Catholic church (still is). Some point the finger at the revived Roman Empire of the Tribulation period. In my younger years, many tried to find a way to fit America into the prophecies of the end times and some managed to make Revelation 18 apply to the good ole USA. But perhaps the best thing to do in a short (well, for me anyway) devotional is to just let Babylon represent what it often represents in Scripture - the sinful world system that stands in rebellion against God. It is an economic system that values financial gain over the true wealth of God's glory. It is a political system that seeks to establish human power and authority instead of yielding to God's. It is a religious system that turns to human truth, human rules, human rituals, human endeavors, and human merit instead of relying on the grace of God and the righteousness of Christ. Babylon. Since the Tower was built so many years ago to reach to heaven man has been seeking his own way, doing his own thing and walking in opposition to the will and way of God.

And one day that will all come crashing down. "Fallen, fallen, is Babylon the Great." When the time is right, when Jesus is ready, he will bring this rebellious world system crashing to the ground so that he can establish his kingdom and authority over this earth.

I have strong views about Revelation, but I am afraid that we have missed the overall message, the great truths of Revelation because we've gotten so bogged down in the minutiae - arguing over the identity of the Antichrist, or the timing of the end. The ultimate truth is that God wins. This wicked world and all its evil men cannot and will not stand against the awesome power of the great God who created it all and sent his Son to redeem a people for himself. Jesus always has been Lord. He is Lord today. And one day the entire earth will know it. He rose from the dead and one day he will be physically and visibly enthroned on this earth.

This is the absurdity of our lives. If I saw a burning home, I would not gather all my valuables and run into that house and deposit my precious things. I would certainly not lead my family into that home. I'd get anything of value out! And yet that is exactly what we are doing in the spiritual realm. This world and the system that runs it is doomed to destruction. Babylon will fall. But so often I invest all of my time, energy, enthusiasm, and passion into the things that will burn. I sacrifice the eternal for the temporal.

It is hard to figure all the details out, but it appears that God works by his sovereign hand in the future to sow discord between the Antichrist and Babylon (whatever specifically that means). God brings down Babylon by creating hostility within itself.

Maybe that should be our prayer as one year ends and another year begins.

Father, as one day you will bring discord in Babylon, give us a heart that cares more about your kingdom than this world. Drive a wedge between us and this world. May we be so heavenly minded that we can be of some earthly good. 

Consider God's Word:

Are you investing your life in Babylon or in heaven?