June 17 Revelation 18, "The City Called Babylon"
The city of Babylon pictured in Revelation 18 - 19:3 is a city that has profound and interesting qualities.
The Fall of Babylon
18 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 2 With a mighty voice he shouted:
“Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!
She has become a home for demons
a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird.
3 For all the nations have drunk
the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,
and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
“Come out of her, my people,
so that you will not share in her sins,
so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
5 for her sins are piled up to heaven,
and God has remembered her crimes.
6 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.
7 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.’
8 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.
9 “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry:
”‘Woe! Woe, O great city,
O Babylon, city of power!
In one hour your doom has come!’
11 “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more— 12 cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; 13 cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men.
14 “They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your riches and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’ 15 The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn 16 and cry out:
”‘Woe! Woe, O great city,
dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,
and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!
17 In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’
“Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. 18 When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’ 19 They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out:
”‘Woe! Woe, O great city,
where all who had ships on the sea
became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!
20 Rejoice over her, O heaven!
Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets!
God has judged her for the way she treated you.’”
21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said:
“With such violence
the great city of Babylon will be thrown down,
never to be found again.
22 The music of harpists and musicians, flute players and trumpeters,
will never be heard in you again.
No workman of any trade
will ever be found in you again.
The sound of a millstone
will never be heard in you again.
23 The light of a lamp
will never shine in you again.
The voice of bridegroom and bride
will never be heard in you again.
Your merchants were the world’s great men.
By your magic spell all the nations were led astray.
24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints,
and of all who have been killed on the earth.”
Hallelujah!
19 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting:
“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2 for true and just are his judgments.
He has condemned the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
3 And again they shouted:
“Hallelujah!
The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.”
4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne.
What qualities does this city have? Does it remind you of some cities we are quite familiar with? This picture of the city is very negative. Can you think of themes or qualities of the city that are worthy of the eternal kingdom? What is the role of the cult or idols or religion in this city? Your input is invited, I will add as I research.
There is solid evidence that the city of Babel (Genesis 10, 11) and Babylon are the same city. The name of both means "the gate of god" (bab + el= Sumarian) and at the same time in Hebrew it means "confusion." What resonances do you notice in the Old Testament story of Babel and the Revelation story of Babylon do you read?
1 comment:
Dear Bill
I have really enjoyed the insights offered as you look to the New Jerusalem and as of to-day Babylon/Babel.
One observation and comment I would like to make is: "What is the implicit message we are making about the anticipated New Jersusalem?"
I do think we can see evidence already of what the New Jerusalem will be like in our world to-day. Christians, the church, are living in ways that show Christ is Lord.
Let's not give Babylon too much credit. It does exist, as you said so well to-day in your sermon; but the City of God also exists in the hearts and minds of many, and they are working hard as leaders and workers in the vineyard, to see that we reflect that new city-world that is a-coming."
I worry that we don't leave the impression that "Babylon dominates and we are powerless." WE can make a difference as leaders and followers, as you pointed out; but let's be sure that our work, creativity and relationships in this creation, that will carry on, that God loves deeply, is validated among us.
Creation, as viewed from the Hospitality perspective you gave last year, really brought that home so well last year.
JUst a thought. Perhaps I am still caught up in fighting the old Marxist "opiate of the Masses." critique.
Thanks for your insights, to God be the Glory.
Peter
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