Revelation 18:1-8 God’s people must come out of Babylon by repenting and aligning themselves with His purpose

Revelation 18:1-8

A

After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory. And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. 

B

For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality.”

C

I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her. To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ‘I SIT as A QUEEN AND I AM NOT A WIDOW, and will never see mourning.’ For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong.

Background

Babylon’s fall is depicted as divine justice for generations of sin, including oppression, greed, and exploitation, especially of indigenous peoples and weaker nations. Corrupt to its core, Babylon is described as spiritually polluted, driven by pride, violence, and selfishness. Nations that shared in its colonial pursuits and environmental destruction are doomed alongside it. God urges His people to separate from Babylon mentally, financially, and culturally to avoid its fate. Leaving Babylon means rejecting its values of greed and power, escaping its social and economic traps, and spiritually preparing for God’s judgment. Today’s devotion teaches us: God’s people must come out of Babylon by repenting and aligning themselves with His purpose.

Observation

A

After Babylon was destroyed, a prominent angel followed up with a declaration and commentary concerning her destruction. Apparently, Babylon’s fall is much anticipated and celebrated in heaven as a manifestation of justice. The cause of her fall is clear: “She has become a dwelling place of demons, and a prison of every unclean spirit…” Indeed, her citizens are constantly at each other’s throat. They are imprisoned by governmental dysfunction, poverty, hopelessness, distrust, violence, deception and various forms of hatred directed both internally and externally. The influence of evil spirits is deeply woven into the fabric of the nation’s culture and collective consciousness. This is merely a result of the sins committed by the people since the founding of their nation. They oppressed the weak, especially the indigenous people for their selfish gain. As they have neglected to repent for their transgressions, their descendants are fated to inherit this malignant spirit and perpetuate it for future generations. This is the spirit in which the powerful exploit the weak to accumulate greater wealth. The inevitable outcome is the total ruin of their existence.

B

Some nations formed alliances with Babylon to engaged in colonialism and the immoral quest for wealth and dominance. Their immoral deeds encompass extensive environmental degradation, illegal resource extraction, and unfair trade agreements that perpetuate the indebtedness of poorer countries. Numerous individuals in these nations have amassed wealth through these unethical practices. And they will eventually go into destruction with Babylon.

C

Another voice from heaven instructed the people to leave the city and have nothing to do with her. This directive is intended for today’s audience. Babylon’s sins are extremely serious, they include slavery, displacement of indigenous people, genocide and continual suppression of developing nations. Additionally, there is the persistent and indiscriminate devastation of the natural environment that fuels corporate greed. Hence, God is poised to recompense them with a level of destruction that far exceeds the devastation they have inflicted upon others.

The angel went further by characterizing Babylon as self-glorifying and sensuous. She desires to be seen as the wealthiest and most powerful nation of the world. Additionally, she is also sensuous in presenting herself as a queen even though she is as impoverished and destitute as a widow. Consequently, in a bid to be recognized as the supreme power, she suppresses other nations, hindering their progress. In response to this, God is ready to judge her with utmost severity.

Truth

God’s people must come out of Babylon by repenting and aligning themselves with His purpose.

“Come out of her! My people…”The Lord sends this message to the people who consider themselves followers of God inside and outside of Babylon. Indeed, those who do not heed this directive will be left to face various consequences. What does it entail to come out of her? 

Firstly, to come out of Babylon is to separate from the mentality of Babylon characterized by pride, greed, selfishness, and worldliness. Strive to comprehend God’s purpose for your life and intentionally create the space and environment necessary for your growth and fulfillment. The spirit of Babylon aims to draw you away from the church and the service of others. At the same time, it endeavours to enslave you to the corporate agenda, ultimately resulting in a lack of time for anything other than work.

Secondly, step outside the echo chamber created by Babylon’s social media. Do not merely listen to their words; instead, watch their actions and scrutinize their intentions. Babylon possesses a singular motive: to uphold her facade as a queen, while in reality, she is a impoverished widow. Do not trust what Babylon claims, for she will not fulfill it.

Thirdly, come out of Babylon’s financial system. Free yourself from investing in assets associated with Babylon and anything that is valued in their currency. Babylon will project herself as wealthy as a queen when she is as impoverished as a widow. And when the collapse occurs, it will happen suddenly resulting in the ruin of many.

Lastly, to come out of her is essentially to cease being a resident in Babylon. In so doing, you will avoid the plagues that God has determined to unleash upon Babylon. Remember the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, where righteous Lot found himself in peril while residing in the corrupt city. By coming out of Babylon, you remove yourself and your family from Babylon’s harmful culture. This culture is deeply rooted in the oppression of the indigenous people during Babylon’s formative years. It has never been renounced and continues to thrive in the current generation, leading to the exploitation of the weak for the advantage of the strong.

Application

Set aside time in your life for worship as a church, rest, and meaningful relationships, not just productivity. Pursue God’s purpose over personal gain. Align your time, resources, and career with your faith and service to others.

Be critical of the messages consumed on social media, entertainment, and news. Don’t accept narratives at face value. Judge leaders, influencers, and corporations by their fruits, not their image or promises.

Live simply by resisting materialism and status-seeking. Be content. Use money as a tool for kingdom purposes, support the poor, and fund missions.

“Coming out of Babylon” means a total realignment: mentally, socially, financially, and spiritually. It’s not just about leaving a place but abandoning a way of life that is incompatible with God’s kingdom.

Prayer

Dear Lord, deliver me from Babylon’s mindset. Free my heart from pride, greed, and deception. Align me with Your holy purpose. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.