Your merchants were the world’s great men. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray. In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints, and of all who have been killed on the earth. (Revelation 18:23b-24, NIV 1984).
My Musings – During the first half of the tribulation, as the anti-Christ rises to power, religious, political and economic Babylon will all work together in opposing the Lord and His people. It will seem to many that God does not care. But at the right time, in the fullness of time, the Lord will bring vindication to His people by destroying both “the harlot” and the great city. God may be patient with His enemies, but when He does begin to work, He acts suddenly and thoroughly. God is never acts prematurely nor too late. He is always right on time. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6, NIV 1984).
Three reasons for Babylon’s downfall are given as justification:
Greatness Measured by Wealth – “The merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”
Spiritual Apostasy – “By your magic spell all nations were led astray.”
Persecution of Those She Could Not Lead Astray – “In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints, and all those who have been killed on the earth.”
“In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints,” compares with what was said in with Revelation 17:6 (“I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus“), and Matthew 23:35 (“upon you [teachers of the law and Pharisees] will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah“). Satan has often used religion and business to persecute and slay the people of God.
Previews of Coming Attractions – Chapters 17 and 18 of Revelation provided additional insights and information concerning the earth’s major religious, economic and political movements during its final seven years. The stage is now set for the climax of the Book of Revelation—the second coming of Christ (Revelation 19). At this point, the religious, political and economic system of the beast has at long last been destroyed. All that remains are for Jesus Christ to come from heaven and personally meet and defeat the anti-Christ and his armies. This He will do. Then He will establish His righteous kingdom on earth.
My Advice – Until that day, the important question for all mankind is: Are we citizens of “Babylon” or citizens of Heaven? For the time we have left, we must live in the world, perhaps even in “Babylon,” but we need not be of the world or of “Babylon.” “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” (John 17:15–18, NIV 1984). The “them” that Jesus is referring to is His followers. Fellow citizens of His Kingdom. Living in the world, but not of the world.
If you are merely a citizen of this world, God is calling you to “come out of her” by accepting Jesus Christ’s offer of salvation from the coming judgments. If you are a citizen of His Kingdom, God has “sent [you] into the world.” It is a dangerous place. So, stay close to Him “that you [may be protected] from the evil one.“
Resources:
Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 616). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 595). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
Walvoord, John F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 973–974). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
The Brew Is A Musing 