Revelation 18:4-8 – 4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “‘Come out of her, my people,’ so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
5 for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes. 6 Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Pour her a double portion from her own cup. 7 Give her as much torment and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself.
In her heart she boasts, ‘I sit enthroned as queen. I am not a widow; 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.
“Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “‘Come out of her, my people,’ so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues.” God has always called His people to lives that are separated from the ways of the world. He called Abraham out of his country to a promised land (Genesis 12:1). Jeremiah 50:8, 51:6, 45 calls the Jews out of Babylon and to not be associated with her sin and so also with the judgement to fall upon her. Likewise Lot and his family were ushered out of Sodom to escape the imminent destruction to fall upon her so that Lot would not also suffer the judgment meant for Sodom (Genesis 19:15). In the New Testament we are likewise urged to live our lives separated from the ways of the world (Romans 16:17-18; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1). Family, it is very easy to lose our focus and become distracted by the world. And the distraction becomes an evil habit. Let us be diligent in our walk with God. To allow evil into our life is to have idols in our life.
“for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.” This is reminiscent of the original Babylon, the tower of Babel. They thought they would build a tower so high it would reach to heaven, making them have no further need for God. Yet, in one day, the Lord destroyed their plans and scattered them (Genesis 11:1-8). They did not build a tower that reached Heaven, but their evil plans did reach Heaven. God is neither unaware nor forgetful of the sins of man. Rather the sins of the unredeemed are known and remembered by God.
We must not attempt to serve God and the world lest we get trapped by the world and also suffer the punishment coming to the world (Ephesians 5:11-12).
“Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Pour her a double portion from her own cup.” Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” A man receives back the penalty for his sins. God has His timing, perfect timing for all things, including when times of judgment (2 Peter 3:9). The evil that the world does is first against God and also against His people. Babylon will receive punishment double for what she has done. She will receive a double portion of judgment. Very scary.
“Give her as much torment and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself.
In her heart she boasts, ‘I sit enthroned as queen. I am not a widow; I will never mourn.’” Babylon is steeped in pride. She is prideful and lives in luxury. She has the same mindset as many in the world, that they deserve their riches and sees no reason to help the less fortunate. She thinks she has because of she has earned, giving no credit to God. She wants no-one to say she is lacking anything and she thinks no-one, even God, will take her riches from her. Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
“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.” All who stand against God will suffer the same fate as the devil they follow. One day, judgement comes, and they will fall. Hosea 5:12 states that judgment came come slowly like a moth eating away of suddenly like a lion pouncing as in Hosea 5:14.
As Galatians 6:7 states, let no one deceive themselves. All who reject Jesus shall suffer for their sins. Yet not the believer. The sins of the believer are forgiven and forgotten (Psalm 103:10-13). Let us remember that judgment falling on the unredeemed is also evidence of the truthfulness of God’s Word and therefore also is proof that we will live with God forever! Let these things that are to happen not cause fear to the redeemed, but a time of glorifying God who always speaks the truth. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.