The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Revelation 18:9-10,
"When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her [Babylon the Great] and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: 'Woe! Woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon! In one hour your doom has come!'"
I realize there are those who teach that these verses about "Babylon the Great" are about Rome and its empire back in the day, "Babylon" being used as a reference to Rome. This would place this horrific judgment in the past. Others identify "Babylon" as the Roman Catholic church with its excesses, placing this horrific judgment as yet to come. For others who see this judgment as yet to come, the United States is seen as a possible identification as this "Babylon" due to the great economic stature and standing in the world Babylon here is described by. This "Babylon" has to be a world superpower to fit the description provided in chapter 18.
What captures my thoughts this morning, however, is the nature of the judgment. It is not simply some "economic downturn" or some minor challenge to its status on the world stage. It is a wholesale, sudden and total destruction that leaves those who where economically tied to her "terrified at her torment." Verse 15. When the smoke of her burning is seen, those who traded with her "will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: 'Woe! Woe to you, great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth! In one hour she has been brought to ruin!'"
"When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her [Babylon the Great] and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: 'Woe! Woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon! In one hour your doom has come!'"
I realize there are those who teach that these verses about "Babylon the Great" are about Rome and its empire back in the day, "Babylon" being used as a reference to Rome. This would place this horrific judgment in the past. Others identify "Babylon" as the Roman Catholic church with its excesses, placing this horrific judgment as yet to come. For others who see this judgment as yet to come, the United States is seen as a possible identification as this "Babylon" due to the great economic stature and standing in the world Babylon here is described by. This "Babylon" has to be a world superpower to fit the description provided in chapter 18.
What captures my thoughts this morning, however, is the nature of the judgment. It is not simply some "economic downturn" or some minor challenge to its status on the world stage. It is a wholesale, sudden and total destruction that leaves those who where economically tied to her "terrified at her torment." Verse 15. When the smoke of her burning is seen, those who traded with her "will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: 'Woe! Woe to you, great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth! In one hour she has been brought to ruin!'"
I am reminded that when the Lord loves, he loves like no other, and when he brings his judgment, it is like none other. "Horrific", "terrifying", "appalling", "frightful", "horrendous" and "shocking" are all words that may fail to bring justice to its description.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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