A Revelation Invitation

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”

And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” (Revelation 14:6-11 ESV)

At the junior high school where I once taught math, the class before lunch was not dismissed by the bell. Rather, each classroom was dismissed to the cafeteria on a staggered schedule. On consecutive days late in the school year I dismissed my class much too early before realizing that the wall clock in my room had been tampered with. On the third day as I monitored the hall before class, I kept an eye on the clock. Sure enough I spied the culprit making his adjustment. At the end of class when it was “time” to go, I feigned knowing the correct time and kept the whole class well-beyond their scheduled departure. Then I teasingly dismissed the class one row at a time until only the young man’s row remained. Then I dismissed that row one student at a time until only the guilty one remained. Then we had a serious, but good-natured talk about his actions. I was the teacher, I held the young man to account and the class schedule was put back on track.

In the passage above the angels call to account Rome which is here symbolized by the historical empire of Babylon. Aware of the parallels between ancient Babylon and contemporary Rome as highlighted by the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah, Christians adopted Babylon as a code name for their oppressor. One reason John believed Babylon to be an apt symbol for Rome was because of ancient Babylon’s divinely authored downfall. As God had contended with Babylon, he would engage Rome. Rome’s persecutions would be worth enduring because God as creator and ruler of heaven and earth would hold Rome to account. The time would come when neither Rome nor any other oppressor would ever again trouble God’s people. He will one day put the world back on track.

While God’s judgment awaited political and military Rome, God’s wrath also awaited those individuals who had pledged their devotion to Rome. Now Rome is long gone as an evil presence and seductive temptress. However, other Babylons have risen and fallen as cruel military and beguiling cultural empires throughout history into the present. Each one demands devotion from its citizenry even as it descends into decadence and corruption. Even now judgment awaits these empires and those who revel in them. While there are times when it seems that God’s enemies have won, they will eventually fall victim to their own pathologies and moral decay.

We tend not to think of judgment as good news, but that’s exactly what John calls it—an eternal gospel. His judgments are true and right and complete. They are also steps in sorting things out, putting the world back in order. As God’s good will triumphs over evil, we will be rescued. God truly is sovereign over the nations. His kingdom remains and continues to grows as every other nation and empire rises and falls. Even when Christians suffer at the hands of these institutions and individuals, God will indeed sort it all out. He is a God of justice, and his justice will prevail—always and forever. And we will prevail with him. We won’t be sucked into the destruction of those nations but will emerge victorious with our Savior. That is good news.

Lord Jesus, you drank the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger when you died on the cross so that I wouldn’t have to. Thank you. I am so undeserving. If I witness the collapse of this godless and depraved society, I know that it is evidence that you are working to set the world right. You will preserve me through the destruction so that in the end I will stand with you in triumph. Amen.