11-3-2019 Haunted House Revelation 18:1-8
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Introduction:
Previously weeks back, we had seen the destruction of this harlot woman. She convinced the world to be a part of her sin, and she rode on the very agent of her destruction.
- We’ve also watched humanity be stricken with horrible diseases and plagues as the religious system of the beast has been revealed
-- Those upon the Earth, even knowing this, continue to the end blaspheming YHWH, with the result of the hardening of their hearts against the Gospel (good news)
Chapter 18 now attempts to set ourselves up for the coming battle of our Lord and Savior
Transition:
The destruction of Babylon the Great that started a chapter ago continues to chapter 19:5. The angel’s promise to John to reveal the punishment of the prostitute in chapter 17 is expanded here in our chapter this morning, chapter 18, especially as it relates to her economic downfall. The scene of Babylon is somewhat fitting for this time of year: it turns into a horror scene for the inhabitants of this once great city:
Scripture Reading:
Revelation 18:1-8
1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory.
2 And he called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
3 For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues;
5 for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
6 Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.
7 As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.’
8 For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”
Babylon’s coming judgment means that the remaining believers must leave the city lest they share in the punishment she will soon receive. Then a funeral-like atmosphere takes focus in the center of this chapter— vv. 9–19, where we hear laments from three groups: kings, merchants, and sailors. Finally, in 18:20–19:5, Babylon’s doom is complete, and in contrast to the mourners, God’s people are called to rejoice that he has brought justice and vindicated his people. Today’s passage uses a poetic repetition, especially in sets of threes (18:3, 6, 8), and various other literary forms to heighten the drama of Babylon’s demise. And through it all, the words and imagery of Jeremiah loom large (esp. chapters 50–51).
Transition:
There are things that set up this horror scene
I. A Creature Scare (vv.1-2)
I. A Creature Scare (vv.1-2)
John first sees what Babylon will be like just after the destruction:
After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory.
An angel with authority and reflecting God’s glory announces in a loud voice the fall of Babylon (somewhat similar to the announcement of Babylon Isa. 21:9).
And he called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
This is a post-apocalyptic scene!
“Fallen, Fallen”
The use of the aorist tense (i.e., “Fallen!”) and the repeat emphasizes the certainty of the coming judgment. The absolute devastation of Babylon leaves her a fitting dwelling place or home for demonic spirits, unclean birds, and detestable animals (Isa. 13:21–22; 34:11–14; Jer. 50:39; 51:37).
and Babylon shall become a heap of ruins, the haunt of jackals, a horror and a hissing, without inhabitant.
Rather than the honorable garden city that God envisions, Babylon has become the exact opposite: a desolate, demonic wasteland, completely devoid of image bearers-of-God life.
And he called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
“A Haunt”
φυλακή - this is translated differently in different versions - “prison” [NASB, GW] or “cage” [KJV]. Other occurrences of this word translate as a lair, a house, or even a dwelling place; however, it is a different word being used than the “dwelling place” for the demons— I really think haunt is a good translation here. How odd it is that we find ourselves here in this passage at this time of year!
Babylon has become a haunted house
Transition:
As scary as a town full of demons are, there is still more to terrify these residents with:
II. An Economic Fright (vv.3-4)
II. An Economic Fright (vv.3-4)
Probably the biggest scare here is the false security in wealth that lures us into hedonism and fails in an instant
For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”
The reason for her coming judgment lies in her seduction of the nations, kings, and merchants of the world.
In the first century, the surrounding powers became intoxicated with the prosperity and economic security afforded by the Roman Empire, so much so that they willingly participated in the idolatry and immorality necessary to maintain that security. It was easier and "safer” to just go with the crowd.
They had a phobia that money could hide—they had a passion that money could fulfil. A “Me first” financial attitude.
Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues;
“Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins”
Another heavenly voice now commands God’s people to “come out of” Babylon, an exhortation echoed centuries earlier by the prophets Jer. 51:45:
“Go out of the midst of her, my people! Let every one save his life from the fierce anger of the Lord!
Wait?!? God’s people?
It’s Deception πλανάω
The verb πλανάω (“deceive”) plays a significant role in the New Testament and especially in Revelation, where it is translated in various ways:
“deceive”,
“lead astray”
“delude” and
“mislead”
When it comes to materialism, evangelicalism has had blind spots
In the evangelical world, we have sometimes been comfortable “using the language of culture” to communicate the gospel. We frequently talk about taking the timeless message of the gospel and “packaging” it in ways people can understand. But if we are not careful, we can move from “using language” to baptizing idolatry. One extreme example played out on Easter 2010. As a means of “reaching out” to the community, a Texas megachurch Bay Area Fellowship, the largest church in Corpus Christi gave away sixteen cars, fifteen flat-screen televisions, furniture, and other prizes. One article mentions that the church service was more like the tv game show: The Price Is Right. This kind of “get them in the building at any cost” approach seems to blur the lines between faithfully witnessing and indulging in gross materialism all in the name of evangelism.
Jesus repeatedly warns his followers not to be deceived by false prophets and false teaching.
Peter, James, and Paul also warn against the dangers of deception.
In his first letter, John cautions against the power of deception. In Revelation, the deceivers include Satan (12:9; 20:3, 8, 10), the false prophet (13:14; 19:20), Babylon (18:23), and Jezebel (2:20).
Those who are deceived include the inhabitants of the earth (13:14), the nations, the whole world (12:9), those who received the mark of the beast (19:20), and, on one occasion, those who claim to be believers (2:20).
Perhaps the most important contrast between the forces of evil and the army of the Lamb is the severe contrast between deceit and truth.
Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues;
Although this may involve physical separation, spiritual separation is more likely since believers are called to remain in the world as Jesus’s faithful witnesses, even in the face of suffering. In essence, this is a clarion call to holiness, a separation from the wicked ways of the world and a separation unto loyalty and obedience to God.
Why, then, must believers separate in order not to receive judgment when they have already been assured of divine protection?
Perhaps it’s because God often protects his people specifically through his exhortations and warnings.
Believers are to separate for two reasons:
so as not to share in Babylon’s sins, and
so as not to receive any of her plagues.
-- It is God calling out to the faithful so they can escape
- God’s mercy continues even to the end: 2 Peter 3:9 promise: none should perish
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Transition:
Even with not wishing that any should parish, this haunted house has even more severe punishment to come:
III. A Punishment Panic (vv.5-7)
III. A Punishment Panic (vv.5-7)
If panic has not ensued up to this point, it will now.
for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
Babylon’s sins, in the same words of Jeremiah, have piled up to heaven— It is interesting to note that at the beginning of Babylon’s history, they tried to reach heaven with the Tower of Babel and now something of theirs has made it to heaven
- (v6-8) this is the reason for God’s judgment: PRIDE!
-- Babylon’s love of self and money will be answered with death
-- Why? Because they will not repent and seek the Lord!
Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.
To pay her back “double” or full recompense. Yet the “torment and grief” she will receive is measured in terms of her treatment of God’s people and her own self-deification, which were much larger (v. 18). In this sense the principle of lex talionis holds true-- the law of retaliation, where the punishment resembles the offense committed in kind and degree. Just as Babylon made the nations drink her wicked cup, so now she will be forced to drink the cup of the wrath of God. Eye for an eye
As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.’
Babylon’s sins consist of self-glorification, sensuous luxury, and prideful arrogance, the very opposite of humble dependence upon the Lord and sacrificial love within a community. Her threefold claim echoes Isaiah 47:7–8, where Babylon boasts, “I am forever—the eternal queen!… I am, and there is none besides me. I will never be a widow or suffer the loss of children.”
Transition:
So What? (v.8)
So What? (v.8)
God alone deserves glory. Throughout this passage we see Babylon clamoring for the honor and glory that rightfully belong only to God. Arrogant self-sufficiency is condemned throughout the Bible, whether it be the pride of nations, kingdoms, churches, or individuals. Earlier in the book of Revelation, the risen Christ rebuked the church at Laodicea for this very attitude: “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing’ ” (3:17). Pride not only comes before a fall; it comes before judgment. Every power cluster that does not honor and glorify God, be it religious, economic, political, social, or military in nature, represents a quest for self-deification and can expect to experience God’s wrath.
For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”
city will be burned as her punishment (similar to Sodom and Gomorrah)
-- The judgment of Babylon will be the signal to this world that the end is coming
-- This also signifies that Christ will soon descend on this world
-- APP: Preparation leads to Obedience because the Bridegroom returns!!
She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her. Just as the language of boastful arrogance is taken from Isaiah 47:7–8, so the language of judgment comes from Isaiah 47:9:
These two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day; the loss of children and widowhood shall come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the great power of your enchantments.
While feeling invincible, Babylon fails to remember that God alone is truly “mighty” and His judgment falls suddenly!
This passage offers two primary teaching points for believers, one negative and the other positive, but both related to how we understand and live out authentic holiness.
1. Holiness means being separated to God.
1. Holiness means being separated to God.
The exhortation in verse 4 is direct and hard to miss: “Come out of her, my people.” It’s easy to hear the command and miss the identification: “my people.” Holiness is as much about belonging to God as it is about running away from wickedness. Since the time God chose a people, he wanted them to imitate him precisely because they belong to him: “You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own” (Lev. 20:26; cf. Deut. 7:6; Exod. 19:5–6). Holiness certainly means separation from the world, but wholehearted devotion to the Lord lies at the heart of holiness. This passage reminds us of who we are in Christ and reminds churches of who they are as the people of God. The biblical theme of separation unto God finds its ultimate fulfillment at the close of Revelation when we see the Lord face-to-face (see 21:3, 7; 22:3–4). Until that time, our call to be God’s people in this world remains a defining characteristic of authentic holiness. Knowing holiness as separation unto God can motivate us like nothing else to do kingdom work in this world. This is just one application that flows out of an understanding of holiness as separation unto God in this world.
2. Holiness means being separated from the world.
2. Holiness means being separated from the world.
Of course, the first part of 18:4 is “come out of her,” a call to refuse to embrace Babylon-like attitudes, such as arrogance, self-sufficiency, sensuous idolatry, and aggressive materialism. Leaving the city for us today is a metaphor for spiritual transformation rather than an actual geographical relocation. As the context indicates, such change is needed especially in the area of economic stewardship. Rome, the first-century manifestation of Babylon, conquered and controlled the world not only through its military but also through its economic machinery (i.e., taxes, merchants, shipping industry, etc.). The selfish, God-denying greed of this consumer city is alive and well today (e.g., notice how much money our society pays sports and entertainment celebrities compared to our public servants). The pursuit of prosperity remains one of the most powerful temptations faced by us in America today. This passage, along with the rest of chapter 18, offers a guide in how to steward material possessions in a way that pleases the Lord, an area often ignored or neglected by most Americans. One good test of our materialism is to read the list of luxury items in 18:12–13 and then ask ourselves how many of those (or their modern parallels) we have in our own homes and to the neglect of giving nothing to the local church. What is subtle for us is not so subtle to God, who promises to bring sudden and decisive judgment on those who go down this hedonistic and idolatrous path that leads to oppressing and exploiting others financially.
God said that His people were actually robbing Him when they failed to bring their firstfruits, the entire amount of their tithes and offerings to Him. We obviously don’t have time to examine the topic of tithing here this morning, but let me just say this. If you’re using all your resources for the things that you want and then just running out of money to give to God, then there is just no way that you are truly longing for Jesus. In fact, you’re actually engaging in the very same lifestyle of those who live by greed and indulgence and who will one day weep and mourn when all that you have is destroyed.
What or who are you longing for this morning?
IN Conclusion:
Babylon, the mother of all wicked centers of power, is guilty of moral degradation, prideful arrogance, self-indulgence, economic oppression, and the persecution of God’s people.
God’s coming judgment of Babylon is certain.
God calls his people to separate from Babylon or risk incurring the judgment she will receive.