Reading: Revelation 18:1-24

The main point of this chapter is that Babylon (a symbol for ungodly culture) will fall, and you don’t want to be there when it does. Ultimately, it’s a call to escape and wage war against “the world” (verse 4). Now. I know it’s much easier to live life without confrontation, but one of the themes within all of Scripture is: the only way the world will not be at war with you, is if you look like it. The way Revelation describes it is: if you accept the mark of the beast. That is: if we, the bride of Christ, cheat on our proverbial Husband.

So. Make no mistake, the world doesn’t love you. Matter of fact, it’s promising you something it can’t deliver. It’s why over and over John is repeatedly calling for endurance. It’s why he’s giving you the end of the story—sure it looks like the government is strong. Yeah, it looks like culture is winning—but it’s an illusion. Which. Here’s my exhortation: the only way to not get distracted by the world, is to cling to the truth at all costs. This is not a game. This is not a trivial existence. This is a war (that Jesus wins) and it’s a battle for your future.

A pastor named Charles Spurgeon said it like this, “If the Lord does not speedily appear, there will come another generation and another and all these generations will be tainted and injured if we are not faithful to God and to His truth today. We have come to a turning point in the road. If we turn to the right, may half our children and children’s children will go that way. If we turn to the left, generations yet unborn will curse our names for having been unfaithful to God and to His Word. I charge you, not only by your ancestry but by your posterity that you seek to win the commendation of your Master. That though you dwell where Satan’s seat is, you yet hold fast His name and do not deny His faith. God grant us faithfulness for the sake of the souls around us. How is the world to be saved if the church is false to her Lord? Stand fast, my beloved, in the name of God.”

The question, then, is: how do we escape? How do we stand fast? Well. We must examine our heart. If you are trying to find love and joy and peace in anything but God, you’re looking in the wrong place. Additionally. If you think you’ve found it away from God, that’s actually God’s wrath. God’s wrath, according to Romans 1 is, when you say, “I want that. That will make me happy.” And God says, “Then there you go.” This is actually why I like the practice of fasting. Sometimes it’s worth giving something up just to realize it’s not where ultimate joy is found.

Now. The flip side of that is also true. You can enjoy all kinds of things as good gifts from God. Just look at all the stuff John describes: music, and clothes, and food, and work—like, you can have those things and still worship God. Because that’s really what all this is about. Satan wants your worship for something he never did.

The best way I’ve heard it described is: when trying to discern if we should participate in something from the world (or not)—we need to ask: is this something we REJECT? Is it outright sinful? Is this something we can REDEEM? Like—what you intended for evil, can I use this for good? Or is this something we RECEIVE? Is this a good gift from God? And sometimes what can be redeemed by us, might need to be rejected by others. That's what 1 Corinthians 8:9-13 is all about. 

So. How's your "war" working?

With Gratitude,

pLJ