Saturday, May 29, 2021
Psalm 73 The 4 Spiritual Flaws
Psalm 73
1 Truly God is good to Israel,
To such as are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
My steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the boastful,
When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no pangs in their death,
But their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men,
Nor are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride serves as their necklace;
Violence covers them like a garment.
7 Their eyes bulge with abundance;
They have more than heart could wish.
8 They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;
They speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens,
And their tongue walks through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return here,
And waters of a full cup are drained by them.
11 And they say, "How does God know?
And is there knowledge in the Most High?"
12 Behold, these are the ungodly,
Who are always at ease;
They increase in riches.
13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,
And washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all day long I have been plagued,
And chastened every morning.
15 If I had said, "I will speak thus,"
Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.
16 When I thought how to understand this,
It was too painful for me ---
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
Then I understood their end.
18 Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!
They are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awakes,
So, Lord, when You awake,
You shall despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved,
And I was vexed in my mind.
22 I was so foolish and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
24 You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
26 My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
That I may declare all Your works.
Should have gone to Specsavers!
Discovery and recovery and the way to victory.
When we are burdened and bothered by what we see in this world, we need to read this psalm. It starts with a wonderful affirmation of faith. "Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart" (v. 1). Asaph believes in the God of Israel, and he believes that God honors and rewards those who keep their lives clean. But in verse 2 he turns his eyes off of God, and he starts looking around at other people. "But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked" (vv. 2,3).
Let's look at his Four Spiritual Flaws.
Flaw #1 He Looked At The Wrong People
Something is wrong with his vision. He is looking at the wicked people around him. Who are these people? He describes them in verses 4-9. "For there are no pangs in their death, but their strength is firm" (v. 4). They don't get sick; they don't have the bills others have. They're not troubled. They are proud and violent. "Their eyes bulge with abundance; they have more than heart could wish" (v. 7), yet they are corrupt. They set their mouth against God. In verse 10 he says, "Waters of a full cup are drained by them." Asaph was drinking a bitter cup. His vision was distorted. This is what happens when we walk by sight instead of by faith.
He Saw The Ungodly in Their Prosperity 4
He Saw The Ungodly in Their Power 5
He Saw The Ungodly in Their Pride 6,7
He Saw The Ungodly in Their Popularity 9-12
He Saw The Ungodly in Their Pleasures.
Flaw #2 He Questioned God's Justice.
13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,
And washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all day long I have been plagued,
And chastened every morning.
15 If I had said, "I will speak thus,"
Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.
16 When I thought how to understand this,
It was too painful for me ---
Flaw #3 He Forgot God's Promises
21 Thus my heart was grieved,
And I was vexed in my mind.
22 I was so foolish and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.
We have been guilty of saying:
1. God doesn't care! - He says - 1 Peter 5:7
2. God doesn't hear! - He says - Jer. 33:3
3. God isn't even there! - He says - Heb. 13:5
Flaw #4 He Neglected God's Word
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
That I may declare all Your works.
The Recovery
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
Then I understood their end.
18 Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!
They are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awakes,
So, Lord, when You awake,
You shall despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved,
And I was vexed in my mind.
22 I was so foolish and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.
You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory" (v. 24). Asaph wrote this verse after he had gone through a period of doubt, and it was a wonderful conclusion to his severe depression. He came out of his experience with several certainties.
First, God holds us.
"Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand" (v. 23). The wicked may have violence, bounty, prosperity and a full cup of apparent blessing. But we have God, and He holds us.
The Grasp of His Hand Personally
The Grasp of His Hand Powerfully
The Grasp of His Hand Pierced Hand.
Second, God Guides Us.
"You will guide me with Your counsel" (v. 24).
Third God Glorifies Us. 24 "and afterward receive me to glory"
That's the important thing--the afterward. What is going to happen afterward? We can be sure that we will be with Him forever. It makes little difference what happens to us materially and physically in this life as long as we have riches in the next life. Some who are rich in this world will be poor in the next world. But many who are poor in this world will be rich in the next world.
Third, God Guarantees To Strengthens Us. "My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart (v. 26).
Fourth God Is Good To Us "and my portion forever" 26
He is our portion forever.
He is an ever-present portion—[We may possess many things, yet not have them with us in the time of necessity; yea, we may be utterly deprived of them by fraud or violence; but God is every where present to afford us help: though we be immured in a dungeon, he can visit us; nor can any human power intercept his gracious communications. This was a reflection peculiarly grateful to the Psalmist [Note: Psalms 139:7-10.], and, doubtless, was an important ground on which he fixed his choice [Note: Psalms 139:17-18.].]
He is an all-sufficient portion—[A man may enjoy all which this world can bestow, but what can it avail him while racked with excruciating pains? What relief can it afford him under the agonies of a guilty conscience? Or what can it do to appease the fears of death? But there is no situation wherein God is not a suitable portion. In the possession of earthly blessings, his presence will greatly enhance our enjoyment of them. In the absence of all temporal comforts, with him we can feel no want [Note: 1Co 3:21-23 and 2 Corinthians 6:10.]. A view of him as our friend will allay every fear, and assuage every pain; nor, having him, can we want any other thing that is good [Note: Psalms 34:9-10.].]
He is an eternal portion— [However long we retain earthly things, we must part with them at last. Death will reduce us to a level with the poorest of mankind, nor can we carry any thing along with us into the invisible world [Note: Psalms 49:17.]. But, if God be ours, we shall possess him for ever. We are not left without many rich communications from him now; yea, sometimes, even in this vale of tears, our joy in him is unspeakable [Note: 1 Peter 1:8.]. But it is not till after death that we shall have the full enjoyment of him. Now we taste of the streams; then we shall drink at the fountain-head. Now our capacity to enjoy him is but small; then all our faculties will be wonderfully enlarged. Now our delight in him is transient; then, without intermission or end [Note: Psalms 16:11.]. Hence the Psalmist looked forward to that period for his full satisfaction [Note: Psalms 17:15.].]
Fifth God avenges His People
27 For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
The Victory.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
That I may declare all Your works.
Draw Near to God
Put Your Trust In The Lord
God helps us in every stage of life. "But it is good for me to draw near to God" (v. 28). Wherever we are, whatever we're going through, we must draw near to God. "I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works" (v. 28).
What is meant by drawing near to God—
We must not suppose that any bodily motion is necessary in order to the drawing nigh to God; since he filleth all space, and is "never far from any one of us [Note: Acts 17:27.]." The expression in the text imports a drawing nigh to him,
With the mind— Though "God is a Spirit," and therefore not to be apprehended with bodily eyes, yet man is able, by the exercise of faith, to place him as it were before the eyes of his mind, and thereby to "see Him that is invisible [Note: Hebrews 11:27.]." Nothing can be more absurd or delusive, than to draw a picture of him, as it were, in our imagination, and to present him before us in a way of vision. Whatever visions were granted to men in former times, it is rather a sense and consciousness of his presence, than a sight of him as present, which we are to expect. We must not look for such a luminous appearance as Moses saw; but it is our privilege to say with David, "I have set the Lord always before me [Note: Psalms 16:8.]." When, we set God before us, we also set ourselves before him: we summon ourselves into his presence; and endeavour to impress our minds with the conviction that he discerns our inmost thoughts. In this way we may properly be said to draw near to him; because, though in fact we are no nearer to him than before, yet we are much nearer in our own apprehension; and the effect upon our own minds is precisely the same as if the approximation were real.]
With the heart— [The drawing nigh to God is not a work of the understanding only, but also of the heart [Note: 1 Corinthians 14:15.]: and the exercises of the one are as necessary as those of the other. Indeed the idea of approaching God without suitable affections, is vain; since man cannot remain unaffected in the Divine presence; nor would he be approved of God if he did. It is obvious therefore that an acceptable approach to God must be attended with such emotions, as become a sinner in the presence of his Judge, and a redeemed sinner in the presence of his Lord and Saviour. It must be accompanied with a fear of God's majesty, an admiration of his goodnesss, an affiance in his mercy, a love to his name, a submission to his will, a zeal for his glory. Those various feelings must be expressed in such petitions and acknowledgments as the occasion requires. In short, our drawing nigh to God must somewhat resemble Esther's approach to Ahasuerus. She knew that none but the king could help her; and that she must perish if she did not obtain favour in his sight: and therefore, with much preparation of mind, she humbly presented herself before him, and then offered her petition in the manner she thought most likely to prevail [Note: Esther 5:1-4. This whole head might be changed; and, in stead of it, one might show, How we are to draw nigh to God. This would be more in the common-place way; but it would be easier, and perhaps more profitable to the lower class of hearers.].]
The benefit arising from it— There is no other thing under heaven so "good for" the soul, as this [Note: Lamentations 3:25.]:
There is nothing so pleasant— We will grant, for argument sake, that the things which this world afford are capable of imparting as much happiness as the votaries of pleasure expect: still the happiness of drawing near to God is incomparably greater. We appear indeed to "speak parables [Note: Ezekiel 20:49.]" when we descant on such a subject as this, because the things we affirm can be known only from Scripture and experience: and people have an easy way of setting both these aside. The words of Scripture are represented as high eastern metaphors: and the experience of the primitive saints is supposed to be confined to the earlier ages of the Church. And with respect to the experience of living saints, that is derided as enthusiasm. But there is a blessedness in communion with God, whether man will admit it or not. To the ungodly it is an irksome task to approach God; but to the godly it is their chief joy. The Psalmist justly says, "Blessed is the man, O Lord, whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee [Note: Psalms 64:5.]." But how shall we describe this blessedness? How shall we paint the lowly self-abasing thoughts which lead a man to prostrate himself in the very dust before God? How shall we express the wonder and admiration with which he is filled, when he contemplates the goodness of God towards him? How shall we declare the ardour of his feelings when he is adoring that Saviour who bought him with his blood? We do not say, that any man feels at all times the same rapturous and exalted joys; but we do say, that the joys of those who live nigh to God are at some seasons "unspeakable and full of glory [Note: 1 Peter 1:5.]," an earnest and foretaste of heaven itself.]
There is nothing so profitable— [Not to mention the pardon and acceptance which flow from communion with God, it is certain that it will restrain from sin. The presence of a fellow-creature, yea, even of a child, will restrain men from the commission of crimes, which in secret they would perpetrate without remorse. How much more then would a consciousness of God's presence awe us, if we felt it as we ought [Note: Psalms 4:4.]! The falls and apostasies of those who profess religion always originate from, or are preceded by, a secret departure of the heart from God.
It will also console us in trouble. David, both on this and many other occasions, found prayer the best means of composing his spirit when it was harassed by temptations or persecutions [Note: ver. 3, 13, 17. See also Psalms 69:17-18; Psalms 116:3-5.]. And did any one ever apply this remedy in vain? When we have complained to man only, we have felt the pressure of our burthens still, and groaned under them as much as ever: but when we have carried our complaints to God, we have almost invariably had our murmurs silenced, our agitations tranquillized, our spirits comforted. God has fulfilled to us his promise, "Call upon me in the time of trouble, and I will hear thee, and thou shalt glorify me [Note: Psalms 50:15.]."
It will moreover strengthen us for duty. We should not so often faint in the way of duty, if we waited more constantly upon our God. He "would renew our strength as the eagle's [Note: Isaiah 40:31.]:" he would "give us more grace [Note: James 4:6.]," even "grace sufficient for us." However weak we are in ourselves, we should be "able to do all things through the strength which he would impart unto us [Note: Philippians 4:13.]." By drawing nigh to God, our humility is increased, our faith invigorated, our hope quickened, our love inflamed, and the whole work of grace advanced in our souls.
Lastly, it will prepare us for glory. Nothing transforms us into the Divine image so much as communion with God. When Moses continued with God for a season upon the holy mount, his face contracted a radiance which was visible to all who beheld him. And, though no bright effulgence will now adorn the countenances of those who live nigh to God, yet a glory will shine around their paths, a lustre which will compel others to "take notice of them, that they have been with Jesus [Note: Acts 4:13.]." By "beholding his glory they will be changed into the same image [Note: 2 Corinthians 3:18.]," and be progressively fitted to "see him as he is [Note: 1 John 3:2.]."]
God assures you, that "all who are far from him shall perish [Note: ver. 27.]." O that you might tremble at the denunciations of his wrath, and not bring upon yourselves the bitter experience of it in the eternal world!]
t is to no purpose to "draw nigh to him with your lips, while your hearts are far from him [Note: Matthew 15:8-9 you must have "the power of godliness as well as the form [Note: 2 Timothy 3:5.]." "God is a Spirit: and, if you do not worship him in spirit and in truth [Note: John 4:24.]," your service is a mockery, and your hope a delusion. Be in earnest therefore in your walk with God: for as your formal duties, whether in the Church or closet, bring with them neither pleasure nor profit, so will they ultimately deceive you to your ruin. On the contrary, if you really draw nigh to God, and "stir up yourselves to lay hold of him," he will draw nigh to you, and load you with his richest benefits [Note: James 4:8.]."]
Those who find their happiness in communion with God—
[This is the character of all the saints: "they are a people nigh unto God [Note: Psalms 148:14.]:" "truly their fellowship is with God, and with his Son Jesus Christ [Note: 1 John 1:3.]." It is true, that there is no merit in this; and it arises only from the grace of God, which effectually worketh in them: nevertheless God admires and applauds their conduct: viewing them with a kind of rapture and surprise, he says, "Who is this that hath engaged his heart to approach unto me [Note: Jeremiah 30:21.]?" Happy, happy are the people who can say, "Lord, it is I," "Lord, it is I." Continue then and increase your diligence in walking with God. Then you shall not only say now, "It is good for me to draw nigh to God;" but you shall one day add with ten-fold emphasis, "It is good for me to have drawn nigh to God:" yes; if now you can look back upon your seasons of communion with God as the best and happiest hours of your life, much more shall you, when your intercourse with him shall be more immediate, and you are dwelling in the very bosom of your God.]
1. By Prayer
2. By the Bible
3. By Grace
4. By Faith
Revelation 18: Babylon Is Fallen!
Revelation 18
1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory.2 And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird.3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality."
4 I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues;5 for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.6 Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her.7 To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, 'I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.'8 For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong.
9 "And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning,10 standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.'
11 "And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more--12 cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble,13 and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives.14 The fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and men will no longer find them.15 The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning,16 saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls;17 for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!' And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood at a distance,18 and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What city is like the great city?'19 And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!'20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her."
21 Then a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer.22 And the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer; and no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer; and the sound of a mill will not be heard in you any longer;23 and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth."
Questions (from Akin).
- What examples can you give of people looking to Babylon to provide satisfaction, joy, and meaning?
- This chapter shows the inability of sin to provide lasting pleasure. How have you seen the deceptiveness of sin in its failure to provide lasting joy and security?
- Consider the grounds for Babylon's judgment in 18:1-8. Which of these is most likely something that marks your life?
- How do Christians heed the warning of 18:4 without separating entirely from non-Christians?
- Judgment in this passage is all the more severe because of the prostitute's pride. Why is God so opposed to arrogance and pride?
- How is our heart revealed by what we weep over? What causes you to weep?
- Why does love for this world lead to destruction with the world?
- How does the worship of God make us more like God, and the worship of idols and Satan make us more like them? Have you found yourself molding to a person or thing you care most about? What is it?
- Discuss how the dark description of Babylon's judgment makes you feel. Is there rejoicing? Sadness?
- This passage provides a strong warning against falling in love with this world.
Sources:
Patterson: Revelation
Hamilton: Revelation
Rogers: Revelation
Jeremiah: Revelation
Criswell: Revelation
Wiersbe: NT Commentary
Akin: Christ Centred expositions of Revelation
Zoom Online Bible Study Meeting Tuesday evening at 7:30 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2402286476
Revelation Studies Video Channel https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCNs0iOkWo_sL2u7vLPOCQ2Q
Ancient Babylon was one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World, and there is coming a time in the future when the world, once again, will wonder at Babylon.
In the Bible, cities are sometimes renamed symbolically.
Babylon is mentioned more than any other city in the Bible, except for Jerusalem.
Now, do you notice the reference it is to be judged by God? As you look at Chapter 17 and Chapter 18, there is a colossal, vast difference between the judgment that falls upon the great scarlet whore and the judgment that falls upon the social, commercial, political, cultural life of this earth in this great city of Babylon. It is the hands of man that destroy the whore. It is the political power and governments of the world that hate her, that destroy her flesh, that burn her with fire and make her naked, that confiscate all of her wealth and her property. That is done by man. That is, that is what God says will happen to this great ecclesiastical system who has the golden cup in her hand. The kings of the earth (the 17th Chapter of the book of the Revelation), the kings of the earth, the governments of the earth will become weary of her pretenses, of her superstition, of her arrogance, of her parading and gold and scarlet and purple. They will become weary of her financial burden, of supporting her endless institutions. Finally the people of the earth, the governments and political leaders of the earth finally grow weary of her and they destroy her.
The destruction of the city of Babylon is in an altogether different world. It is God that destroys Babylon. The Beast isn't mentioned, the ten kings are not mentioned, the government of this earth in its destruction is not mentioned. This is an intervention of God. This is something that God does. And when Babylon is destroyed there is lamentation over this earth. The kings of the earth lament, the merchants of the earth lament, the seamen of the merchant marines lament.
It is possible that Revelation 18 speaks of literal Babylon.
Revelation 17 refers to the symbolic, ecclesiastical or religious Babylon.
Revelation 18 speaks of commercial Babylon.
Revelation 18:2 speaks of a double fall.
There is the fall of ecclesiastical Babylon that we see in Revelation 17.
In Revelation 18, we see the fall of political and commercial Babylon.
In Revelation 17, the kings of the Earth turned on ecclesiastical Babylon, destroyed her and judged her.
In Revelation 18, it is God who will judge the kings.
We learn in Revelation 18 at least four things about the Babylon to come, when we say goodbye to Babylon.
There are many scholars who believe this Babylon refers to a re-built city of Babylon in Iran. Then, there are other scholars who believe that this Babylon represents a system of life and of culture, whose basic essential principle is alienation from God, and that it is epitomized, it is symbolized by this great world city. It could be a great world city in America, a great world city in England, a great world city in Europe, like Rome. Then there are those who believe that this Babylon represents that social, cultural, political, commercial life of the end times, that it is symbolized, it is summarized, epitomized in one great world city called Babylon. All three of them can be true, and maybe all three of them are true.
THE FAILURE OF ECONOMIC BABYLON
What we see in chapter 18 is not the fall of religious Babylon; it is the failure of economic Babylon. "Babylon" is a godless world system led by the Antichrist. There have been some financial scares in the past, such as October 24, 1929, when the New York Stock Exchange crashed and in one day lost 12.8% of its value. That led into the Great Depression. Many lost their jobs and even committed suicide because of that economic collapse.
And then there was the GFC; The Global Financial Crisis.
Australia was relatively well protected of all the nations on earth. We had been exporting coal to China and had tied our economy sadly to the Rising Tiger of the East! That granted us some relief from the GFC. In the USA it virtually sent everyone broke. One guy fiddling with stocks and shares in Singapore destroyed the economies of most countries world-wide!
That lets you know our economic system is rather fragile. And the world ain't seen nothin' yet!
Because chapter 18 of Revelation describes a future time when the whole world system is going to fall apart economically. There are four sections to chapter 18. We're going to look at them one at a time.
Each section is set out by someone crying out!
In the first section An Angel Cries Out.
Revelation 18:1-3. "1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory.2 And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!' "
In the second section A Voice from heaven cries out:
4 I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues;5 for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
In the third section The voices of the Mourners Cry Out.
9 "And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning,10 standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.'
11 "And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her.. And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood at a distance,18 and were crying out..
They all cry out Woe Woe!
And in the fourth Section Believers Cry Out in Rejoicing!
1. The Cry Of Destruction
The first thing we see is the cause of the destruction. Why is this future commerce system going to fall?
This looks forward to the end times a time when under the economic leadership of the Antichrist, people will not be able to buy or sell anywhere on earth without the mark of the beast.
1. It is demonic
Number one, this economic system is basically demonic. Look at verse 2 it says, "She" that is this economic system "has become a home for demons. A haunt for every evil spirit." Earlier in the book of Revelation, the time is going to come when the bottomless pit of Hell is going to be opened and hundreds of thousands of additional demons are going to pour out and be a part of earth. You think it is bad now. It's going to be much, much worse during that time. Verse 2 says, "every unclean and detestable bird." When you read the parables of Jesus he talks about how many times bird symbolizes the work of Satan. When Jesus talked about the parable of the sower who sowed the seed and how birds came down and took away the seed. When Jesus interpreted that parable, he said, "The birds that take away the seed are Satan who comes and robs the word from the hearts of those who hear it." Elsewhere he talks about birds nesting and stealing seed in other places so it could be that this is a reference to that, the tremendous demonic influence during this time.
2. It is intoxicating
Another reason it's going to is because of its intoxicating nature. In other words, it was such a wonderful system; everybody who bought into it said it was so great they became drunk on it. It says in verse 3, "All the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries." An inebriated man loses his sense of judgment. It's hard for a drunken man to say, "This is right and this is wrong." It is hard for him to make discriminating decisions. John is saying the whole world has become drunk on this one-world system during this time. It is demonic in nature. It's intoxicating in nature.
3. It is immoral
Number three he says, "it's immoral in nature" because, "the kings of the earth committed adultery with her and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries." It means there was one class of people who became incredibly wealthy as a part of this economic system. Now don't think this economic system is a fair system. It never says it's fair–it just says it's effective. What's happening to the middle class in our world, especially in third world countries? In Mexico, Central America and South America, you find basically two classes of people: the very wealthy and those living in poverty. There are those who are saying this is going to happen in America and Europe eventually. This economic system will not create not several classes; it creates two classes. There are the incredibly rich and those living in poverty who are enslaved by it. So the system itself is immoral. The angel comes out and says, "It's going to fall! It's going to fall!" and this is why it's going to fall. This is the cause of this destruction. Verse 4-8. "Then I heard another voice from heaven say: 'Come out of her, (meaning the system) my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes. Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own cup. Give her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, 'I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn. Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her; death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.'
In the second section A Voice from heaven Cries Out: the call for separation
4 I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues;5 for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.6 Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her.7 To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, 'I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.'8 For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong.
"come out from among her and be different be separate!"
That is good advice then and it is good advice today.
Look at 2 Corinthians 6:14 14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: " I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." 17 Therefore " Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." 18 " I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty."
What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? He keeps asking these questions. He says as a Christian you ought to live differently. You ought to be different and come out from among them and be separate to be different.
As a Christian, is there any difference between your lifestyle and the lifestyle of a nice, honest, lost man? There ought to be. Being different is an admonition to us even today.
Be Separate!
Be Shocked!
The word "Babylon" comes from the Old Testament. They tried to build a tower that would reach up to God. Archeologists believe it might have been up to 600 feet high.
The Book of Genesis does not mention how tall the tower was. The phrase used to describe the tower, "its top in the sky" (v.4), was an idiom for impressive height; rather than implying arrogance, this was simply a cliché for height.[12]:37
The Book of Jubilees mentions the tower's height as being 5,433 cubits and 2 palms, or 2,484 m (8,150 ft), roughly 1.6 miles high. The Third Apocalypse of Baruch mentions that the 'tower of strife' reached a height of 463 cubits, or 211.8 m (695 ft), taller than any structure built in human history until the construction of the Eiffel Tower in 1889, which is 324 m (1,063 ft) in height.
Gregory of Tours writing c. 594, quotes the earlier historian Orosius (c. 417) as saying the tower was "laid out foursquare on a very level plain. Its wall, made of baked brick cemented with pitch, is fifty cubits wide, two hundred high, and four hundred and seventy stades in circumference. A stade was an ancient Greek unit of length, based on the circumference of a typical sports stadium of the time which was about 176 metres (577 ft). Twenty-five gates are situated on each side, which make in all one hundred. The doors of these gates, which are of wonderful size, are cast in bronze. The same historian tells many other tales of this city, and says: 'Although such was the glory of its building still it was conquered and destroyed.'"
Something does pile up from Babel to reach heaven, but it's not the building–it's their sins. "Your sins have piled up to heaven," We learn something here about the nature of God. The Bible says God will forgive your sins and remember them no more. God is a perfect forgiver when it comes to forgetting your sins you placed on the blood of Jesus. He has taken those sins and put them as far as the East is from the West. The Bible says he has put them behind his back: He remembers them no more. The Bible says God has taken your sins and buried them in the depths of the sea BUT the same God who is perfect at forgetting forgiven sin says he always remembers unforgiven sin. All the unforgiven sins of this world system pile up to heaven. That is why God says, "Come out from among her and be different." In verses 7-8, it says that day is going to come, although this system is boasting and saying, "We'll never fail! We'll never fall! This is the perfect economic system!" He says it's going to fall apart in one day!
But Babylon Is Judged Because of Her Sorceries
Revelation 18: Verse 23 because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.
ὅτι ἐν τῇ φαρμακίᾳ σοῦ ἐπλανήθησαν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη.
φαρμακια, old word (from φαρμακευω, to prepare drugs, from φαρμακον, sorcery, Re 9:21), in N.T. only here and Ga 5:20 for sorcery and magical arts. If one is puzzled over the connection between medicine and sorcery as illustrated by this word (our pharmacy), he has only to recall quackery today in medicine (patent medicines and cure-alls), witch-doctors, professional faith-healers, medicine-men in Africa. True medical science has had a hard fight to shake off chicanery and charlatanry.
But more relevant to our day is the reality of the use of drugs like ice. Manufactured drugs that dominate so many in our world today. Alcohol is a poison that kills Almost 6,000 Australians died from alcohol-attributable disease in a single year, about one every 90 minutes. Australia has one of the world's highest rates of methamphetamine usage. The Australian crime commission said in March that as many as 1.3m Australians had tried ice or speed, with nearly 400,000 using in the last 12 months.
But Babylon Is Judged Because of Her Seductions
Revelation 18: 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality."
But Babylon Is Judged Because of Her Sins
Revelation 18: 5 for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities
But Babylon Is Judged Because of Her Self-Glorification
Revelation 18:7 To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, 'I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.
"I am immortal and invincible," and in her arrogance and self-conceit and empty glorification, she thought of her atheism and of her blasphemy and of her infidelity and of her Christ-rejection. To her there is not any God, there is not any Christ, there's not any Holy Spirit. And she proposes for herself a dominance of the history of the future that shall last forever, for there's no God to judge her. "I sit as a queen and I have glorified myself." We will bury these people who believe in God, and who worship the Lord, and who have churches and religion. The false, vain self-glorification and the empty boasting of Babylon to defy God is typical of the hard Secularism of our age. It also sees its goals as "wealth creation."
But Babylon Is Judged Because of Her Slavery
Revelation 18:12 cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble,13 and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives.
But Babylon Is Judged Because of Her Sacrifices
Revelation 18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth."
3. The cry of mourning
9 "And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning,10 standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.'
11 "And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more--12 cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble,13 and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives.14 The fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and men will no longer find them.15 The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning,16 saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls;17 for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!' And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood at a distance,18 and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What city is like the great city?'19 And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!
The third section talks about the cry of mourning, because so many will be saddened by the
collapse of this economic system. Basically, it is all the wealthy people, the merchants.
The Monarchs of the Earth Will Mourn, The Merchants of the Earth Will Mourn, The Mariners of the Earth Will Mourn.
It is as true today even as it was during John's time, that most of the world's cargo is shipped by sea. That will probably always be true, because it is the cheapest way to carry large amounts and weights of cargo. Notice what happens. It says all these goods are going to be spoiled. Then in verses 11-13 it starts mentioning them. And it finishes with the souls of men! Slaves and human lives.. καὶ σωμάτων, καὶ ψυχὰς ἀνθρώπων. This addition is an explanation of the use of σωματα for slaves, "human live stock" (Swete), but slaves all the same. Perhaps κα here should be rendered "even," not "and": "bodies even souls of men." The slave merchant was called σωματεμπορος (body merchant). Soul destroyers! RWP.
22 And the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer; and no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer; and the sound of a mill will not be heard in you any longer;23 and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer;
There will be no more music, no more merchandising, no more manufacturing, no more marriage.
Vs 8 In one day
15,17 for in one hour she has been laid waste!
It is going to happen fast.
4. The Chorus of Rejoicing
20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her."
21 Then a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer.22 And the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer; and no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer; and the sound of a mill will not be heard in you any longer;23 and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth."
Verse 20: Rejoice!
This final section talks about the chorus of rejoicing. Verses 9-19 were about the cry of mourning, but verses 20-24 speak of the chorus of rejoicing, because when the economic system fails, the merchants and the mariners are going to weep and mourn but those who are in heaven– and that includes us at this time and all the Tribulation saints–the Bible says we are going to rejoice because finally God is going to pour out his righteous judgement on these.
Patterson writes: "One final highly symbolic action is reported by John in the eighteenth chapter. A mighty angel picks up a boulder the size of a large millstone and throws it into the sea. Millstones came in various sizes. Some were small enough for a woman to grind meal for her family. Others were of enormous size and had to be turned by donkeys or oxen. Such a millstone would weigh thousands of pounds. This latter millstone is in view here. The angel who is able to hoist such a stone is said to be a mighty angel. The emphasis on the size and the weight of the stone seems to have two noticeable traits. The first is that when the millstone hits the water a noticeable splash would surely occur. Second, because of its weight and density and total lack of buoyancy, such a millstone would promptly sink to the bottom, disappearing from view. So, Babylon, with considerable fanfare and noticeable action falls like the millstone and disappears from view. In fact, v. 21 mentions that with this kind of violence the great city of Babylon is thrown down and the condition is permanent."
Babylon is going to be a literal city, but we don't know which city it's going to be. Some say it will be Rome, some say it could be the ancient city of Babylon revived, which would be Baghdad in Iraq. Some say it could be New York City, because it is one of the leading economic centers of the world. It could be Tokyo. We simply do not know but all it says is there is this one city and suddenly it is going to disappear in its prominence the same way as when a 500 pound stone is thrown into the water and sinks out of sight. This city's prominence, its music, its beauty, its wealth is going to absolutely disappear. Then look what it says in verse 20 again: "We are to rejoice." It says in verse 20 that God has judged her for the way they treated the Tribulation saints those of us who were alive during any time of Christian persecution. Then it gives the reason in verse 24, "in her she was responsible for the blood of the prophets and the saints and all those who have been killed on the earth."
In verse 1 of chapter 19 there is really no break and I want to lead you into it, because it says,
"After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting:
The word hallelujah means "praise the Lord." This is a time of rejoicing, because God's final plan is going to be put into motion.
This passage asks some questions of our attitude towards God.
Patterson reflects on the nature of idolatry in the human soul. It is not the shopping list of material things that are wrong here. "The problem arises whenever the accumulation of these commodities becomes an obsession. The crass materialism of most of the world constitutes a form of idolatry. Wealth, its accumulation, and the means by which it is garnered becomes the end game. Like the Sabbath, wealth was created for men and not man for wealth. Since the supreme object of one's devotion can become the god of his life, Babylon represents the enthronement of materialism as the condition prevalent in the world at the consummation of the age. An appropriate perspective regarding all things material can be contrasted with the conditions pictured in terminal Babylon.
Second, Babylon represents not merely materialism out of control but also the corruption of faith by the idolatry of materialism, including as rampant materialism always does, its willingness to barter in the "souls of men." The purpose of life is to establish and to maintain a relationship to the Creator/Redeemer God."
Hamilton writes "Will it make you sad when all the ways that people take pride in themselves are shown to be bankrupt? Will you lament with the kings, merchants, and men of the sea? Or are you going to rejoice when God finally brings justice, when he shows his power, and when he vindicates his servants? This is really a question about where your heart is and what you really enjoy. Do you enjoy the world, or do you enjoy God? Do you long to be with God, or would you really rather go to a nice restaurant, the mall, or maybe a football game and enjoy yourself? Let me ask it another way: do you live for what you were made to live for—God? Or do you live for what you were not made to live for and what will never satisfy you—yourself?"
Do you live for this world? Or for the next?
What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his own soul? Mark 8:32
You're not going to escape death. Don't you think you will! You're not going to escape the judgment of God, don't you think you will! We have a confrontation, we have an appearance to make, a rendezvous before God some day. And oh, Lord, what of my sins? And what of the depravities of my life? Of what? I need God. I need a Saviour, I need an advocate. I need a pleader. I need somebody, oh, Lord, I need Jesus. You are not equal for these things. You need the Lord Jesus Christ to be your Saviour now and for eternity. You are not ready for death, you are not ready for the judgment of God without the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour. Please take Him today.
