The Way - Day 228 (Revelation 18)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
Revelation 18:1-19:5 
Revelation 17 detailed the demise of Babylon, which will be the location where the Antichrist sets up his headquarters during the last days. He deceives the world leaders, as well as many people, into a unified kingdom and eventually takes control of everything. Of course, the Antichrist's central ambition will be to bring all people under one religious system in worship of him. He will bring world peace and offer false hope, but at the mid-point of the seven-year tribulation period the Antichrist will reveal his true colors and engage in attacks against God's people. When the Antichrist breaks the peace alliance made with Israel, "…he will bring an end to sacrifice and offering" (see Daniel 9:27). Whatever he does will be a disgrace to the Jews’ religious system of worship and will strip them of their religious identity.

Revelation 17 also reveals that the Antichrist and his evil system has thrown the entire world into chaos, bringing judgment from God (see Revelation 16:1-16); however, we previously learned that God allowed this to happen in order to accomplish His judgment upon the world (Revelation 17:17). The Antichrist has finally succeeded in deceiving many and causing them to reject Jesus Christ as their Savior. So, while Revelation 17 describes the leading up to the destruction and judgment of Babylon, Revelation 18 pictures its final destruction prior to the millennial reign of Christ on the earth. Babylon is destroyed and Jerusalem will become the place where Jesus will set up His earthly kingdom.
 
John writes that an angel comes down from heaven and cries with a loud voice.
"Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons...for all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication...." (Revelation 18:1-3)
Then God speaks from heaven and tells those who belong to Him to abandon Babylon unless they want to be a part of the coming destruction (18:4-8). After God speaks, John writes about the sorrow of those who loved Babylon and mourned its destruction (18:9-20). The kings of the earth, who made Babylon powerful, will mourn her being burned by fire (18:9-10). The merchants of the earth will also express their misery for Babylon because they are no longer able to buy, sell, and enjoy their wealth (18:11-19). Finally, the angel calls the apostles and prophets to rejoice because of Babylon's destruction (18:20) and another angel announces the final judgment upon Babylon (18:21-24). Those in heaven react to this capital city of the Antichrist being destroyed.

"…true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot [Babylon] who corrupted the earth with her fornication...." (Revelation 19:2)

This destruction of Babylon will usher in the millennial reign of Christ, where He will set up His righteous rule for 1,000 years.

Dear God, it is comforting to know that one day You will bring proper judgment upon all those who hate You and Your work. May the future destruction of Babylon serve as a reminder that You hate sin and will bring consequences on all those who follow after evil. Keep Your people from sin that they may be a testimony of Your grace.