Rejoice!

“Be glad over her, heaven, and you saints, and Apostles, and prophets; because she has been judged by God on your account.“ – Revelation 18:20 BBE

It is Christmas day. The day we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. It is a day of rejoicing. A day of joy and celebration. But there is another day coming when rejoicing will take place in heaven and on earth. It is the day recorded in Revelation 18 when Babylon falls. The city of Babylon represents all things evil and wrong with this world. It will be an actual city, the headquarters of the Antichrist himself, but it is also a symbol of mankind’s efforts to build a society that functions apart from the reign of God. From the tower of Babel until this point in the story recorded in Revelation, men have been trying to establish themselves as gods and set up their cities as heaven on earth. In his book, The Interpretation of St. John’s Revelation, R.C.H. Lenski says this: Mystical Babylon is the representative of religious degeneracy, not civic wickedness.” The great Babylon is more than just another great cosmopolitan city. It will be the home of the great religion of the day, where the Antichrist is worshiped. It will be a city of great power and wealth, where commerce is king and mankind’s worship of money is readily apparent. You can see this by the mourning that takes place in this chapter (Revelation 18:15). But it will also be a city where immorality is worshiped. This city’s destruction will bring a sense of loss to many, including the world’s leaders (Revelation 18:9). Babylon represents mankind’s attempt to do life without God. It is a picture of men who have determined to worship anything and everything but God Himself. “The wickedness of Babylon has been very great; for she had not only forsaken the true God herself, and set up idols,, but had with great art and industry drawn all sorts of men into the spiritual adultery, and by her wealth and luxury had retained them in her interest” (Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible).

But we are told that her destruction will be great and complete. God will destroy her. And while the world will mourn over their loss, heaven will rejoice, along with all the saints, apostles, and prophets (Revelation 18:20). Like the fall of the Tower of Babel, Babylon will fall, because man cannot compete with God. While He may allow us to play at being gods, the day is coming when He will put an end to the charade. He will bring the madness to a close. God will show just how powerless men are without Him and how futile it is to try and stand against Him. “So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer” (Revelation 18:21 NASB). There is only one kingdom that will stand in the end. There is only one city that will exist in the end. The city of God where Jesus Christ will reign in power and authority. The baby who was born in a manger will rule on a throne and He will be worshiped by more than a few lowly shepherds. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.

Father, You are all-powerful and nothing can stand against You. Thank You for reminding me of that this morning. Men at their best are no match for You. Our power, wealth, intelligence, and industry is nothing in comparison to You. We can worship what we have built, but You can destroy it all in an instance. And anything we worship in place of You will ultimately fail us. Because it can never replace You. Never let me forget that Father. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org