Morning Sermon

March 30, 2008

Alas, Babylon

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We're almost there. I'm not referring yet to the end of the book of Revelation, but to the end of this long section describing the judgments of God. We're almost to the glorious and refreshing "Alleluia" we find at the beginning of chapter 19.

Rev. 19:1 "After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! 2 "For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her." 3 Again they said, "Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!" 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen! Alleluia!" 5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!" 6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!"

That's where we are going, but not until next week. Today we finish the judgments. They all began with the seven seals of chapters 4-7, then the seven trumpets of chapters 8-14, and finally the seven bowls of chapters 15-18. God's judgments described in three cycles, judgments focused first and foremost, I believe, upon the nation of Israel in her rejection of and rebellion against Jesus the Messiah. Thus the nation of Israel was cut off. Destroyed. The nation of God's people would no longer be tied to that one Old Covenant nation, but that great nation of God would become the new covenant church of Jesus Christ. That new nation, that holy nation, will be made explicitly clear in,

Rev. 21:2 "Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

But we're not quite there yet, but in the anticipation of getting there I want to cover this whole chapter today, the whole of chapter 18. What we have is a bit of a review and summary of all that has transpired so far. The symbolic descriptions of the judgment of God have become clearer, and here in chapter 18 they become explicit. It's not a pretty site.

As I have said before, I believe Babylon here represents the unbelieving nation of Israel. Specifically, the previously holy city of Jerusalem, but I don't want to dwell upon that this morning. Rather, I would wish to see this destruction upon Jerusalem itself as a picture and symbol of the greater judgment that will come upon the whole world at the end of the age. The view that I have taken with regard to this whole book is that the described judgment has already been inflicted upon Jerusalem, but that that judgment does become a representation of what is yet to come. At some point, and I really can't tell you exactly where, the focus of the book actually shifts to the future, as I just read from chapter 21. So today I'll focus our study of this summary of God's judgment upon the judgment that is still yet to come, beginning with,

I. THE DESCRIPTION OF JUDGMENT. The theme is announced with a declaration of authority. The reference is, very likely, to Jesus himself. v.1

The image is very similar to, Rev. 10:1 "I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2 He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land 3 and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices."

The image is so very similar to what the prophet Ezekiel saw, Ezek. 43:1 "Afterward he brought me to the gate, the gate that faces toward the east. 2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory."

So here is the glory of Jesus made evident and clear. In his judgment upon the rebellious and unfaithful.

v.2a And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen."

Her doom is certain. And this is nothing new.

Rev. 14:6 "Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth--to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people-- 7 saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water." 8 And another angel followed, saying, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication."

So what is the judgment? What will become of those who reject Jesus? v.2b-3 "Babylon...has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!"

The judgment pronounced is that of the judgment upon the literal Old Testament nation of Babylon, and rather than be the dwelling place of God, she becomes,

A. The dwelling place of demons. What a terrible curse! The identity as the dwelling place of God was the greatest glory of Israel.

Ex. 15:17 "You will bring them in and plant them In the mountain of Your inheritance, In the place, O LORD, which You have made For Your own dwelling, The sanctuary, O LORD, which Your hands have established."

The sanctuary of God becomes the house of demons. No greater fall from glory is possible. Derek Thomas puts it this way: "Where once her beauties allured and dazzled, her streets will be empty and her fine buildings ruined. She will be fit only for the demonic."

And rightly so, for consider the extent of the wickedness, extending an invitation to the nations and merchants of the whole world to join her. v.3

John is mixing together so many images of sin, particularly drunkenness and fornication, or sexual immorality. "For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." Almost in priestly form, she has brought others to her altars of immorality. And they shall all be cut off from the Lord forever. Just consider the contrast which we will see in the New Jerusalem, the heavenly Jerusalem,

Rev. 21:25 "Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life."

So here in chapter 18, under the judgment of God, those wicked nations are cut off. And justly so. It is a,

B. Just retribution. v.4-8

So much is in there. Let me begin with the principles of justice. Nothing that God does here can be used to accuse him of unrighteousness. He is but responding to the sin of the nation. And God sees them. v.5

Sadly, it is the sweet-smelling aroma of our sacrifices that should ascend up to heaven, and instead here it is sin, sin piled up so high that it reaches heaven. Just as Jesus rebuked Israel while he was on earth,

Mat. 23:32 "Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' guilt. 33 "Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?"

Sin piled high will be repaid in the judgment. That's divine justice. v.6

The double measure corresponded to God's own revealed will given in the law, Ex. 22:4 "If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double."

The judgment would correspond to her sins, as well. v.7

But sorrow she will! This condemnation was first announced by Isaiah to Babylon in,

Is. 47:6 "You showed [my people] no mercy; On the elderly you laid your yoke very heavily. 7 And you said, 'I shall be a lady forever,' So that you did not take these things to heart, Nor remember the latter end of them. 8 "Therefore hear this now, you who are given to pleasures, Who dwell securely, Who say in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow, Nor shall I know the loss of children'; 9 But these two things shall come to you In a moment, in one day: The loss of children, and widowhood. They shall come upon you in their fullness Because of the multitude of your sorceries, For the great abundance of your enchantments. 10 "For you have trusted in your wickedness; You have said, 'No one sees me'; Your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; And you have said in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one else besides me.' 11 Therefore evil shall come upon you; You shall not know from where it arises. And trouble shall fall upon you; You will not be able to put it off. And desolation shall come upon you suddenly, Which you shall not know."

Such will be the future for all those who trust in their own wickedness! The justice of God shall correspond to it, and those who exalt themselves in their own power and security shall be utterly cast down and cut off. "Desolation shall come upon you suddenly."

Such an appropriate warning, to be sure, even for our day. And God will receive the glory. v.8

Such is the warning to unbelievers, but let me go back to verse 4 for the application addressed to believers, to the church.

v.4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues."

The church is addressed, the true church. And it is the call of separation. In the Old Covenant, that separation from the world was ceremonial-the dietary laws, the sacrificial laws. Eat only certain animals. Offer specific animal sacrifices. Show yourselves to be holy, to be separate, from the nations. That was God's calling upon Israel.

And that is his calling upon us today, the New Covenant people of God. It is the same calling. "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues."

2 Cor. 6:14 "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." 17 Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." 18 "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty."

Beloved, that is our calling today, and in the context of the impending judgment of the world, that calling is all the more intensified. We are to be holy, separate and distinct from the world. In the world, to be sure, as a light and witness, but not of the world. Distinct from the world by separating ourselves from the sins of the world.

That is your calling today as a Christian, as well. In 1 Corinthians Paul makes such a desperate reference to our physical and moral and sexual purity,

1 Cor. 6:18 "Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."

Likewise, 1 Thes. 4:3 "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness."

God called us to be holy, to be separate, in the matters of moral purity and holiness. And the context for that call is so painfully clear here in our text this morning. "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues."

How, then, should we respond to this judgment? Or maybe I should ask, how will those who are judged respond? Two very different answers, and one might surprise you. You see, there will be both,

II. REJOICING AND WEEPING IN JUDGMENT. Weeping by those under judgment, but rejoicing nonetheless by those whom God has redeemed. Let's begin with the obvious,

A. Weeping by those afflicted by God's judgment. v.9-10

The kings mourn. The nations of the world mourn as they see the smoke of her burning, surely a fearful sign to them to God's rigorous and inexorable judgment. "Alas, Babylon." That's a declaration of grief. Alas might be translated "woe."

I remember reading a book in high school with this title, "Alas, Babylon," a book that described the fictional effects of a nuclear devastation upon the earth. It was written in 1959, at the height of the cold war nuclear threat with Russia. And yet for all the devastation portrayed, for all the catastrophic destruction brought upon the earth according to the descriptions of that book, there is no possible way that mankind will bring about this judgment of God. This will be far worse than anything we could do to ourselves, all the worst possibilities of nuclear warfare notwithstanding.

John is not describing a nuclear catastrophe, but the judgment of God. "Alas, Babylon. For in one hour your judgment has come."

The merchants of the earth will also mourn, and similarly this does not refer to some catastrophic worldwide economic meltdown, but also the judgment of God upon even the commercial idolatry of the world. v.11-18

It's all gone. All the riches and wealth of the world. Vanished, under the hand of God's sovereign judgment.

And so we read, v.19

But that's not all. That's not the only reaction to this declaration of God's judgment. Look at verse 20. It almost seems out of place, doesn't it? v.20

Rejoicing.

B. Rejoicing by those benefiting from God's judgment. The people of God are to rejoice in the revelation of the glory of God in the exercise of his righteous judgment. Now, that takes some time to consider, for we are not glad that anyone will be condemned to hell. But we are glad, we do rejoice, that God's honor is vindicated and God's glory is exalted.

Thus of the final judgment as well we would rejoice, with the holy apostles and prophets. "God has avenged you on her!"

That ought to be our apprehension of judgment of God upon the wicked. "Rejoice over her, O heaven." Rejoice over her, not in the exercise of personal vengeance, but as the people of God are vindicated by that judgment so even greater is God himself vindicated. For on that day, the saying shall be true, that,

Phil. 2:9 "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

One final thought to this judgment. It's permanence.

III. THE FINALITY OF JUDGMENT. v.21 There we see such,

A. Irrevocable violence. An image of unchangeable judgment. "Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore." That judgment will be demonstrated in a most sad and grievous way, by the cessation of all music. Music is the language of worship, the language used of our praise to God, and under the judgment of God, music shall cease.

v.22 "The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore."

As well, the verse continues, v.22 "No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore."

Even further, v.23 "The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived."

Gone. Forever. Finally and completely. No joy. No beauty. And no life remains. Such is the judgment upon those who brought death. v.24

The church shall triumph, for she is redeemed. And the wicked shall be judged, utterly and completely. And notice one final thing with regard to that judgment. It corresponds to the removal of God's blessings. That what judgment is, a curse. The opposite of a blessing. So here we see,

B. Curses made permanent. The removal of music is a curse, for they are utterly and finally separated from the God who would receive praise by that music.

The blessing of the productivity of the land is removed, too, as a curse. There will be no workman. No craftsmen.

No sound of the mill, either. No work. No productive labor.

No joy of marriage as well. "The voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore."

And worst of all, if I could put it that way, most grievous of all, no light. v.23 "The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore."

Nothing but utter, eternal, and unchangeable darkness. Such is the judgment of God.

Now, let me introduce what follows! Not only in the book of Revelation, but what will follow in history. What will follow this devastating judgment. There shall be no light in hell, and no joy of any kind. But look ahead at,

Rev. 21:1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

Not only that, consider this, Rev. 22:1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever."

And so we sing! Rev. 19:1 "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!"

When we study this judgment of God, as we have done for weeks and weeks now, this is conclusion we reach. This is our song and our declaration,

Rev. 19:2 "For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her." 3 Again they said, "Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!" 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen! Alleluia!" 5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!" 6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!"

This is the ultimate question and the ultimate division among all men. For this we know, that the day of judgment will come.

John 5:25 "Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 "For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 "and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 "and come forth--those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation."

The finality of God's judgment is real, and true. For those who live and die without Jesus, the judgments we have studied in Revelation 4-18 await. The condemnation of God. And for those who live and die in Jesus, there shall be a resurrection of life.

And so I declare to you, 1 John 5:10 "He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written [John writes] to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God."

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