Commercial Babylon (Rev. 18:1)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 10/10/2005

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Commercial Babylon

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Revelation 18:1

 

            Message of the verse:  “1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendour.”

            The book of Revelation has the mention of angels in it many times and at the beginning of this chapter John writes about another angel who when he came to earth to deliver his message he would be illuminated by his splendour.  John Macarthur said in his commentary on this verse that because of the darkness of the fifth vial judgment this angel would be seen by many people on the earth because of his brightness.  When the women came to the grave of Jesus on resurrection morning they say an angel who was bright in appearance so this is not the first time this has been mentioned in the Scriptures.

            This verse also mentions that this angel has great authority, and I believe that the Scriptures mention that there are certain ranks within the realm of angels, and this one must have a high ranking.

            It is also good to remember that in the scope of all of these prophecies that are in this book that Babylon would have been destroyed already as seen in Revelation 14:8.  Again from John Macarthur’s commentary he states that “The Greek text views the results of this as if it had already taken place.”

            The Bible has a great deal to say about Babylon in both the Old Testament and also much is written about it in this book of the Revelation.  Just as Jerusalem is the city of God so Babylon is the city of the devil, for it was first written about in the 10^th and 11^th chapter of Genesis where it is described as man rebelling against God and the beginning of this false religion that has opposed God and still does.  This 18^th chapter will describe the commercial aspect of Babylon and this speaks of the world system that all true believers are supposed to avoid.  John wrote about this briefly in 1 John 2:15-7.  Both the religious and the commercial systems have been around for a very long time and both of them have opposed God and both are sinful and both of them will reach their zenith in this tribulation period with Satan and his Antichrist along with the false prophet and then God will destroy all of it forever.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I believe that it is much easier for me to get involved with the commercial aspect of this than the religious side of it, for this world system is tempting with all of it’s false riches and at times it is hard for me to understand how many things that I should have, but I think that God will give me direction on this if I ask Him and also if my possessions do not own me and I keep my devotion unto the Lord then things will work out well. 

 

The Word of God has brought conviction to my heart as I read and studied it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Continue to trust that the Lord will grow me to be more like Him as I go through all of the trials that He has me going through at this time.