Scripture reading: Revelation 18:1-10.

Sermon text: Revelation 18:11-24.

Last week, we read about the angel’s identification of Babylon and the promise that Babylon would meet a sudden end. Satan has always maintained a promoted a false religion in competition to true, spiritual worship of God.

In chapter 18, we read of heaven’s praise at Babylon’s destruction. The false religion and the corrupt world system that supports it have oppressed humanity for nearly our entire existence, sowing death and misery in their wake. If we see nothing else in this chapter we cannot miss a joyful fact: God’s keeping a record. God will repay Babylon above what she has earned for her sins. People of God, Babylon will fall, to the lament of those who joined with her and to the celebration of the saints who suffered at her hands.

Following the vision of chapter 17, St. John saw a “mighty angel” sweep over the earth. Again, as in chapter 14, Satan will find himself impotent to stop a messenger from heaven from declaring God’s victory in his kingdom.

The angel told the world that Babylon had fallen, and then told why: “She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.” Babylon had descended from the pinnacle of opposition to God to the dwelling for demons themselves.

Secondly, the angel told the world that “all nations” had joined Babylon in oppressing humanity. Contrary to popular belief, the world has never seen a truly righteous secular government. Not even Israel herself, under righteous kings such as David and Josiah, enjoyed a purely righteous government with no corrupt officials. Every government has succumbed to the temptations of greed and violence. Just as badly, greed has driven businesses and merchants to cheat their customers and creditors for millennia. Pride and greed, Babylon’s two greatest weapons, have also been known as two of the traditional deadly sins. These sins will eventually lead to the ruin of the world system they spawned and support.

We may think that true believers will always recognize the false system and oppose it. However, St. John then heard a warning that may have surprised him as it surprises us: “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues....” Anyone who has ever participated in commerce knows the temptation to do as their competitors do, even if it’s immoral. We must remember that we live according to a higher standard at all times. For us, the question isn’t whether a practice is legal, but whether it reflects God’s standard. Every decision we make must reflect the standard of God’s righteousness.

This voice continued by warning believers that Babylon will receive “double for her deeds.” When we consider the wickedness of Satan’s reign at the end of history, we should tremble to think that the world will receive double what she has earned.

Satan’s kingdom will seem invincible; we read in chapter 13 that his kingdom will even overcome the saints. However, in this chapter we read that his kingdom, represented by Babylon, will face cataclysmic destruction “in a single hour.” Satan’s greatest efforts will fail miserably before God’s omnipotent righteous judgment.

Again, we read that the “merchants of the earth” will mourn Babylon’s fall. I remember a line from a movie called “Wall Street:” “Greed is good.” We all recognize the necessity of profit in our capitalistic system, but we must never confuse legitimate profit with greed for immoral gain. All those who had profited from Satan’s reign would mourn the fall of his system.

Not everyone will mourn this destruction. Beginning in verse 20, we find a celebration in heaven and the reason for that celebration: Babylon’s consistent persecution of the people of God.

God’s prophets railed against greed and oppression in the Old Testament. Read the books of Hosea, Amos, and Micah for examples of God’s anger when society tramples on the defenseless. The Church actually prohibited lending at interest for centuries, trying to remove the temptation lenders faced to oppress debtors for their own greed. However, pride and greed have, thus far, always won, even in societies and systems that supposedly prohibited profit. (Anyone who studies the socialist society of the former Soviet Union will find plenty of examples.) God’s people must always stand for justice and protection for those who can least afford it.

Do we see any lessons for us today?

First, we see that pride and greed will always bring judgment. Babylon’s great sin in Genesis chapter 11 rested in the pride of humanity to think they could both defy God’s command to spread across the earth and to attempt to build a tower to heaven. Any system that defies God’s righteousness will always suffer judgment. This includes, in the end, any society that oppresses the defenseless.

Secondly, we must not fall into the temptation of participating actively in this system. We must live to a higher standard, a standard that reflects God’s priorities in society. While some may believe that living according to God’s standard puts us at a disadvantage, we must remember that God will care for His people and will one day reward those who remain faithful to His standards.

It may seem, at times, that Babylon towers invincible over the world. At the end of history, it will seem as if Babylon will ultimately conquer the people of God and remove all mercy from the world. However, Babylon’s fall began with sin’s defeat at Calvary. Jesus Christ, the rightful King of earth, will destroy unrighteous Babylon and establish His righteous reign.

Are you ready for this victory? Have you confessed Jesus as Lord of your life and are now living according to His standard? Jesus is coming again. If you’re ready for this return, and the victory He will bring, read chapter 19. Next week, we’ll celebrate the return of the true King of Creation.