Revelation 18 reminds me of a quote by late financial counsellor Larry Burkett, who said: “Show me your checkbook, and I’ll show you what you care about the most.” As nations, companies, and individuals gather more wealth, their spending priorities shift away from basic survival to self-indulgence. Today’s lesson is about prioritizing passions. John continues describing his Last Days vision: “I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.” He shouted: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a dwelling for demons.” This reference is from Isaiah 21“>Isaiah 21 describing the terror of war. It is not a victory cry; it is a horrific report of annihilation. The nations, and their kings and “the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.” There is a sense that this judgement included the super wealthy lost in the arrogance of their own wisdom. When money becomes your god, right and wrong are often perverted. John hears another voice from heaven saying: “Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues.” This quote from Jeremiah 51“>Jeremiah 51 is a final warning to all of God’s people to flee the corrupt city because “God has remembered her crimes” and will “pay her back double for what she has done.” Those that look the other way, allowing evil to spread, will receive the same judgement as the lawbreakers: “She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.”
In the prior chapter, the corrupt religious system was judged first, perhaps because God holds teachers to a higher standard. Next, we see the financial collapse. These financial leaders weep and mourn over the destruction of this city: “Terrified at her torment”. They cry: “In one hour your doom has come!” Their real sorrow is that when “no one buys their cargoes anymore”, they lose all their power, control, and authority. Today, there is a lot of nonsense being pedaled by corrupt merchants of influence. It is more important than ever to analyze what you are consuming. The mighty angel proclaims: “All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.” After the commerce is gone, the city will crumble.
The chapter closes with the realization by the traffickers that everything they accumulated is gone. They observe from a distance: “The merchants who… gained their wealth from her will stand far off… In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!” The cargo ship captains join the lament: “Was there ever a city like this great city?” John sees a final crushing judgement: “Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea” saying: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.” We are reminded of Matthew18:6; Jesus instructed His disciples: “Anyone that causes one of these little ones… to stumble, it would be better to have a heavy millstone around their neck and be thrown into the sea“. The corruption of innocent children brings similar righteous anger. There are two final charges issued against this corrupt city. First: “By your magic spell all the nations were led astray.” Interestingly, the word used here is “Pharmakeia”, which relates to “the administration of drugs”. Perhaps we need to be wary of the merchants of meds. The second charge is: “In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people, of all who have been slaughtered.” This city has merchants of death as well. Anyone who boldly speaks God’s Word in truth can be a prophet. In John chapter 16, Jesus told His disciples: “The time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. ” Will you remain steadfast? My friend, I pray that you are a merchant of hope in your home, work, and city.