Revelation #57

Today we look at the destruction of Babylon(Rome):



Revelation 18:9-17a



9And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. 10 They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say,



"Alas! Alas! You great city,

you mighty city, Babylon!

For in a single hour your judgment has come."



11And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, 12cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, 13cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.

14"The fruit for which your soul longed

has gone from you,

and all your delicacies and your splendors

are lost to you,

never to be found again!"



15 The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,

16"Alas, alas, for the great city

that was clothed in fine linen,



in purple and scarlet,

adorned with gold,



with jewels, and with pearls!

17For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste."



Verse 9 tells us the Kings which are political leaders of the earth who indulged in the sexual immorality and luxury living with Babylon will weep and wail when they see her up in smoke! They will stand and watch far off and realize in a single hour judgement has come upon her as verse 10 tells us. Verse 11 tells us the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn for her because their profit will be gone! Listed is all the cargo that was sold but the most important is listed last...human souls! Slavery was a big trade. How many of these souls were lead astray to follow the anti-Christ by their owners???? Verse 14 says the fruit that the merchants souls longed for is gone and never to be found again...that fruit is money! In verse 15 we are told again the merchants are very upset about the destruction of Babylon because they gained their wealth from her. Verses 16-17 tell us this great city of Babylon who was on top of the world and describes her wealth has come down in a single hour.



When God's judgement comes it will be swift and complete. This is a warning for us to get right with HIM now!



Tom