Revelation 18
Bible Passage: Revelation 18
Who is looking forward to the destruction of this world?
For the people who are enjoying the pleasures of what the world can give, they definitely will not want their pleasures to end.
For those who feel there is still good in this world worth retaining, they might think it’s too cruel for the world to be destroyed.
For those who only have their hopes in this life, they will be fearful if what they know only is coming to an end.
Especially in the developed societies we live in, to all who can read this blog via the internet, it may be hard to imagine
We Christians don’t exactly look forward to our surroundings being destroyed, but from reading the revelation of God through the Bible we know the end of the world will happen. It is by our faith in God that we send forth the warning to those around us, regardless of how unpopular the message is.
This chapter speaks about how the merchants of the world will mourn at the fall of the great commercial city, in which they have grown rich by and had trusted in for their lives’ pursuits. It is like the bank you put all your money in has gone bankrupt, only this is worse since they invested their lives in it.
Whatever that are counted precious, just to list a few from the chapter – gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, cattle and sheep – all shall become nothing. I don’t know what is the meaning of listing the “bodies and souls of men” though.
So why should Babylon be made to fall?
Because it has deceived the nations, and is guilty of the blood of prophets and saints.
Its deception has led people of the world away from God, trusting in things that don’t matter in the end. Many people in this world put all their lives in their careers or their family so much so that they do not have time to seek God or the desire to seek Him.
Babylon is so strongly entrenched in people’s lives and this can be seen in materialistic Singapore.
Quite recently I read a Straits Times forum and there was a man who commented on the Certificate of Entitlement (COE). As most car owners or would be car owners know, the COE now is very expensive. However, this man in the forum spoke very arrogantly that the COE is entitled for those who are smart and those who put in a lot of ‘effort’ in earning money. These people shall own cars, while the ‘lesser beings’ who do not ‘strive’ as hard in earning money are not entitled to the COEs/ cars and he even said that those who cannot afford cars to ‘live with it’, that is life.
This statement of his sort of epitomize the materialistic desires of Singaporeans or people in general. These are the people who are very attached to Babylon and unfortunately, these are the people who will not be able to find God.
There is a truth seeker in church who I know and despite after 2 years of Bible studies (and completed it) and service attendances, is still very much entrenched in her career and worldly cares. Till now, I still have no solution on how to help her break free from this bondage to Babylon and can only pray for her.
As Elder James says that friendship with the world means enmity with God. Babylon represents the world. The question for us Christians is, are we friends with Babylon? Will we be one of those who will mourn the destruction of Babylon? Do we consider ourselves as sojourners of this city or as citizens of this city of sin?
Our Lord Jesus has left us these words for our reminder..
“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mt 16:26)
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Mt 6:19-20)
May we constantly remind ourselves of our spiritual status and may the Holy Spirit move us to love God more and more.