Final Judgment

Revelation 18:1 After this I saw another angel coming down from Heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 2 With a mighty voice he shouted: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird… 7 Give her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn.’ 8 Therefore, in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her. 9 When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her…17 They will say, ‘In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’ 19 They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: ‘Woe! Woe, O great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth! In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’ 20 Rejoice over her, O Heaven! Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets! God has judged her for the way she treated you.” 21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again...24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints, and of all who have been killed on the earth.”
 
A mighty angel illuminates the world with his splendor. This reminds us of the angels’ glory over Bethlehem. As the Bethlehem angels announced, “A savior has been born.” This angel announces in effect, “The Savior is coming in power.” The Lord is moving toward the end of his vision to John. He has spoken of sin’s rule over the earth, and he has declared it will end one day. Chapter 18, summarized in these verses, is an account of God’s judgment.
   “Babylon” is always the symbol of earthly rulers who oppose God. The world mourns Babylon’s destruction because the world worships material wealth. The woe is directed to lost trade and prosperity.
   Then another mighty angel appears to finalize Babylon’s eternal destruction. Satan is responsible for death. He has killed God’s own. The Lord brings an end to death by destroying Satan’s authority. Again, we can trust God’s Word to know he will surely judge the Oppressor and save his one true Church.
   Woe to the guilty. Joy to the innocent in Jesus Christ.
 
Prayer: Father in Heaven, strengthen us in our trials. Affirm us in our faith. Assure us in your eternal promise. Amen.