Babylon Is Fallen

1 After all this I saw another angel come down from heaven with great authority, and the earth grew bright with his splendor. 2 He gave a mighty shout: “Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen! She has become a home for demons. She is a hideout for every foul spirit, a hideout for every foul vulture and every foul and dreadful animal. 3 For all the nations have fallen because of the wine of her passionate immorality. The kings of the world have committed adultery with her. Because of her desires for extravagant luxury, the merchants of the world have grown rich.” (Revelation 18:1-3 NLT)

Observation and Application:

Babylon is fallen! There are three things referred to in the Bible as Babylon. First, the city of Babylon, in present day Iraq, made powerful as the capital of Nebuchadnezzar’s empire. Second, the city of Rome, center of Roman power is referred to as Babylon. The world political and economic system is also called Babylon.

John says Babylon is passionately immoral, faithlessly adulterous, and that her appetites fuel the economy of the world. It doesn’t take much to disrupt Babylon’s flow of cash and credit, of consumption and production.

God’s people, the faithful, are warned to get out of Babylon before she collapses. To me that means that we should:

· Place our trust in God as our source of supply and provision.

· Adjust our values to align with Kingdom of God values.

· Curb our appetites for consumption.

· Disentangle ourselves from the credit system.

· Be willing to adjust our luxury level.

· Learn to give, share, and live more simply.

But that’s just me and it isn’t as easy as it sounds.

Prayer:

Father, help me to be willing to make the adjustments that allow me to live like a Kingdom of God citizen more than a Babylonian. Amen.