Revelation #58

Today we finish Chapter 18...continuing to see the effects of Babylons(Rome) destruction from God.



Revelation 18:17b-23



17 And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off 18and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning,



"What city was like the great city?"

19And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out,



"Alas, alas, for the great city

where all who had ships at sea

grew rich by her wealth!

For in a single hour she has been laid waste. 20 Rejoice over her, O heaven,

and you saints and apostles and prophets,

for God has given judgment for you against her!" 21Then a mighty 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 be found no more;

22and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters,

will be heard in you no more,

and a craftsman of any craft

will be found in you no more,

and the sound of the mill

will be heard in you no more,

23and the light of a lamp

will shine in you no more,

and the voice of bridegroom and bride

will be heard in you no more,

for your merchants were the great ones of the earth,

and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.



In the second half of verse 17 we see that those who work in the seas also realize that their money making source is gone! Babylon is laid waste. In verse 18 we see them crying out as they see the smoke rising from the city. In verse 19 we see them in great mourning as they throw dust on their heads and we also see what their main concern is!!! "Grew rich by her wealth" ....they are upset their money making source is gone. Again we are reminded God brought Babylon down in a single hour!



In verse 20 we a celebration taking place in the heavens! Not because of damnation as God wants all to come to repentance but because God did as He warned for the killing of saints, apostles, and prophets the servants of God. Vengeance is Gods! In verse 21 we see a mighty angel taking a great stone and throwing it into the sea...and then he says Babylon will be thrown down in the same manner (violently) never again to be found! Then in verse 22 we are told no more music will be heard from her as there will be nothing to celebrate. We are also told no more craftsmans work and no more mill work as all manufacturing will come to a halt! In verse 23 we are told that "the light of the lamp will shine no more" which means family time and thinking in the evenings will be no more! No more marriages we are also told in this verse. They are then reminded that the merchants and nations were deceived by their sorcery (both religiously and economically). Then this chapter ends with another reminder of why this vengeance has come upon them...the shed blood of the prophets, saints and others. We also must remember the number one reason...rejection of Jesus!



Wow God's wrath is nothing to mess with!



Tom