Babylon the great had fallen. Although standing
afar, the kings that have participated in her sins and
corruption are now lamenting at what is happening. Their primary concern is not
so much for the dreadful suffering of Babylon, but rather their own diminishing
position and the similar threatening results that await them shortly. Suddenly
everything is gone. So also are the merchants of the earth who have followed
the sins and practices of Babylon. They now are lamenting the loss and ruin of
their businesses. Among the list of the goods they traded was human lives - slaves.
They have traded humans as if they’re on par with gold, silver, oil and all
sorts of commodities. They have profited without conscience from the lives of
human beings, whom they have torn from their loved ones and family. And John
must have been reminded of the God of the Exodus who expressly said, “I have
heard the cry of my people and I am come to set them free.”
Shortly all the grandeur is
gone, riches and all splendor just simply vanished and gone forever. John tells
us every ship owner, passenger and sailor also lament the fate of Babylon,
because they will also sink when the city and its merchandising are no longer
there. Those who have been living by Babylon’s godless, sinful principles now
anticipate similar judgement shortly. Then there will be rejoicing among the
saints, apostles and prophets. They rejoice not over the suffering of the
wicked, but that they now are vindicated. Justice has now been effected. The
righteous God levels the accounts in the judgment, in one swift hour!
The whole scene here ends
with a prophetic act, where a mighty angel with his great strength is seen
lifting a heavy millstone and threw it into the sea. Babylon will forever be banished,
never to rise again. It will never experience the sound of music either from the
harps, the flutes or the trumpets. It will also never see the lighting of lamps
or making of marriages. Yes, Babylon will be no more, gone forever, never to be
seen again! Its end is final and severe. The work of the deceiver has been
broken. The blood of the saints and those who suffered the oppression are vindicated.
Babylon was a city forged from
the blood of the martyrs and violence. It operates on a network of violence that
connects the world. All those on earth who had been routed had been routed on
Babylon’s behest. Exploitation, inhumane dealings, slavery and the like, John
had collectively put them together under the symbol of fornication. Though Babylon
is gone forever, we cannot ignore the rise of a modern Babylon. The lure of the
world, riches and luxury are all still there and we have to stay reverted to
the call of the Kingdom. To hear the echo of our Master, “Seek first the Kingdom
of God and His righteousness…”
It is imperative that we
heed the Master’s call!
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