MONDAY
Last week we saw John’s visions of Babylon in Revelation. Remember, we said that Babylon is a metaphor or a trope for any evil empire or governing system that is full of evil, idolatry, arrogance and oppression. This week we revisit the theme of God’s judgment. John circles back to the judgment of evil (yes, even after the 3x7 pictures of judgment from the seals, trumpets and bowls). Remember, God’s judgment is his righteous, just response to evil in his good creation. Also remember that John is writing to the seven churches in Asia Minor encouraging and imploring them to remain faithful to Jesus while under the threat of persecution from the Roman empire and social pressure to abandon Jesus. This judgment would remind them that Rome and evil will not hold this power forever. Therefore, they should not compromise and they should remain faithful to the end.
Revelation 18:1-3 (ESV)
The Fall of Babylon
1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. 2 And he called out with a mighty voice,
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast. 3 For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”
The first thing the angel says is the announcement of Babylon’s downfall. The beast that looked so menacing. The prostitute who looked so splendid has collapsed. The declaration of Babylon’s fall is a quote from Isaiah 21:9. The fall of Babylon is a common theme in the prophets (see also Jeremiah 50-51).
Babylon is described in rather horrific terms. It is a place full of demons. Remember, the dragon is the real enemy. Satan and his demons have infested the empire with their evil.
Then in verse 3 we begin to see some of the reasons for Babylon’s downfall. Rome has spread it’s immorality (immorality and idolatry) to all the peoples and nations it has conquered. We will talk about the merchants tomorrow.
Revelation 18:1-5 4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,
“Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; 5 for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
Now we get the imperative for the people of God. Come out of Babylon! This is another common Old Testament call to the people of God (Isa. 48:20; 52:11; Jer. 51:6; 50:8; 51:9; 51:45). This doesn’t mean literally leave Babylon. That would be next to impossible in the Roman Empire. And remember Babylon is a trope for any empire and governing authority. To leave Rome would be to only find Babylon in one’s new location. The call is to resist the lifestyle of Rome, including participation in the imperial cult. On this Schreiner writes:
“For John, leaving Babylon doesn’t mean a physical move; he calls believers not to align with Babylon’s priorities and values, with what Babylon grasps for and worships. It means not eating food offered to idols at trade guild meetings, refusing to worship the emperor, and declining to receive the mark of the beast.” - Thomas R. Schreiner, Revelation, 602.
John is calling them to a faithful, prophetic witness within the Roman Empire. To do that they must not take part in the sins of Babylon. They are called out of Babylon for two reasons. First, they are not to participate in her sins. The sins of Babylon are piled high to heaven (remember the tower of Babel). The people of God are to be distinct in the culture of Babylon. They are to be salt and light as Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount. Christians cannot do that if they have either left the culture entirely or if they have participated in the sins of the culture.
Second, God’s judgment is impending. God remembering her iniquities isn’t to be taken literally as if God had forgotten them. It is a dramatic way of saying God has been patient with the iniquities of Rome, giving people time to repent, but now his judgment is impending. It may feel like suffering for the Christians now, facing persecution and being ostracized, but that is nothing compared to the judgment that God will unleash on evil. This is idea is carried forward in the next verses.
Revelation 18:6 6 Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.
Babylon will get what she has coming to her. The evils of Rome will be revisited upon her as they were to Egypt in the Exodus. The doubling of Babylon’s punishment here is likely not a cry to go beyond justice, but a hyperbolic way of saying that the punishment on Babylon will be complete.
Revelation 18:7-8 7 As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.’ 8 For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”
Babylon is being judged for her arrogance. Rome believes itself to be “impregnable and infallible.” (Schreiner, p. 606) Rome boasts in its arrogance and pride. However, in this judgment, Rome will come up against the all-powerful God of the universe—God Almighty. He is the judge of all creation and Rome will fall before Him.
Additional Content
Reflection
Heed the call to come out of Babylon. As we have been saying over and over again in this campaign, commit yourself to being a citizen of Christ’s kingdom first, even if it leaves you homeless according to the tribal lines in our American culture.