Title [Rev 18:1-24] God's Love
This is what it says in verse 4. “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, and do not share in her sins, and do not receive from her plagues. It is the voice of love that God calls his people.
1. Babylon will be destroyed.
Revelation 18 first mentions the destruction of Babylon the Great. As I said last week, Babylon refers to the unbelieving forces that oppose God. Even if the city is large and strong, and its power extends over the whole earth, you must know that it will inevitably be defeated helplessly in the sight of God. Even now, there are many phenomena around us, such as evil gaining power and injustice triumphing. As a result, the saints who try to live a righteous and good life may feel alienated and foolish, and rather they are absorbed by the forces of injustice. But do not be deceived or deceived here. There will be God's righteous judgment. “The Lord God who judged him is strong” (8), and he said, “Your judgment has come in an hour, O great city, strong city Babylon” (10). What, then, was their transgression that caused Babylon to be woeful at once?
① It was because he was spiritually wicked. Verse 2 says, “Babylon the great is fallen, and has become a dwelling place for demons, a gathering place for every unclean spirit, and a gathering place for every unclean and detestable bird.” It shows that the fall of Babylon did not make the demons a dwelling place, but that they were already under the control of evil spirits (demons). The unbelieving and opposing force behind God is the devil. Our society is in a very wicked situation spiritually. It is said that at the end of the world, the devil is looking for someone to devour like a roaring lion, but specific phenomena are happening around us. We must be alert so that we do not be deceived by these evil spirits.
2. God calls his people (4).
This is God's love.
① I told you to get out of there. Come out of the evil crowd. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 6:17-18, “Come out from among them, and be separate and do not touch the unclean thing,” says the Lord Almighty. Hearing this voice of God, we must not turn away from it. Those who make a quick decision and come out will be saved. If you procrastinate, you may be at a loss. Such is the case with Lot's wife.
② He told me not to share in his sins. It means that they should not commit the same sin. We often imitate what others are doing. You shouldn't even follow the steps of committing a sin. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers” (Psalm 1:1).
③ I told him not to receive his calamity. In an instant, Babylon fell without a trace, so do not become the target of that calamity. God does not want or take pleasure in being destroyed. Even though we are sinners, He wants us to believe in Jesus and receive the grace of His redemption to receive eternal life. The cross is the proof of love. The saints who have already been saved should be thankful and never fall into that world again, and those who are still hesitating should come out quickly and escape from their sins and disasters. May the Holy Spirit help us to live this blessed life.