15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.

— 1 John 2:15-16

1 Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.

2 The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”

16 And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

— Revelation 17:1-2; 16

Look, here come the riders, horsemen in pairs. And one answered, saying: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon! All the images of her gods lie shattered on the ground!”

— Isaiah 21:9

Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been shattered. Wail for her; get her balm for her pain; perhaps she can be healed.

— Isaiah 51:8

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and salvation from Christ to you.

John in Revelation 18 records a vision with a graphic description of God’s judgment on Babylon, the world’s “great prostitute.” She represents everything that lures people to crave wealth and pursue a value system of self-pleasure rather than loving and enjoying God. Babylon’s philosophy of self-indulgence surfaces in false spirituality that promotes self above God. The philosophy appeals to human pride but abandon God as the source and ultimate focus of human life. Christians must guard against the seductive nature of Babylon’s lies.

The most powerful “Babylon” will rise in earth’s final days. Whether a future city or a powerful organization, like everything that opposes God, Babylon will fall. A proud and ambitious entity, John calls it the beast in Revelation 17, with political or military power, will turn against the prostitute Babylon and tear her apart. Babylon, in history and typology, a magnificent city once know for luxurious homes and pleasant streets, will become unfit for human habitation. Its facade of beauty crumbles into ruin and fails to deliver what is promised. While we cannot be sure when or how this will happen, God’s judgment certainly will fall as one evil institution turns on the other. Let’s take heed of God’s Word and warning here and come out of Babylon.