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6/16 Reading Portions: Deuteronomy 21; Psalms 108-109; Isaiah 48; Revelation 18
Revelation 18:2
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!”
BABYLON
While many of the Reformers and Puritans placed an emphasis on the Babylon of Revelation as symbolic of the apostate church’s false religious system; yet in the broadest and most basic way it really represents the cursed world system and the filthiness of corrupt flesh. The rest of the verse would indicate so: Babylon is the dwelling place for demons and the haunt (hold, cage, KJV) for every unclean spirit, unclean bird and every unclean and detestable beast (Rev 18:2b). As for the cursed world, Babylon is the home of
…the rulers, …the authorities, …the cosmic powers over this present darkness, [and] the spiritual forces of evil…. Ephesians 6:12
As it pertains to the corruptions of our mortal flesh, the apostle reminds us,
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. Romans 7:18
Yet the blessed Messenger, the Holy Spirit, brightens the earth with His glory and authority (Rev 18:1), since He’s been sent on that Pentecostal Day, with the news of Christ’s victory over the sin in the world, which permeates mortal flesh. Through Calvary’s cross, Babylon the great is fallen indeed! While her intoxicating influence and passionate immorality still remain on the earth (Rev 18:3), by Christ’s victory at Calvary, His resurrection from the dead, and His ascension into heaven, the Lord Jesus calls to us from His heavenly throne and says,
“Come out of her, My people, lest you take part in her sins.” Revelation 18:4
We are to go “out from Babylon,” declaring Christ’s victory “with a shout of joy” and a proclamation sent “out to the ends of the earth” (Isa 48:20). Babylon will one day be completely destroyed at the return of Christ. Until then, we are not to be conformed to Babylon and her worldliness (Rom 12:2), nor fulfill Babylon’s lusts (Rom 13:14); and the only way we may do so is by standing faithfully, by God’s grace, upon the truth of Christ, and Him crucified (1 Cor 2:2). Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Fallen, fallen, is Babylon,
Through Christ’s atoning death;
Reject her wine and put Christ on,
For clothed in Him, we’re bless’d.
