Daily Scripture Reading Revelation 18:8-24
Today, the United States is wealthy and powerful. We dominate world politics and world trade. We are protected by oceans on either side. Thus, we think we are unbeatable.
Today’s passage describes a city that sounds a lot like Washington DC and the United States. It describes a city that will be so rich and powerful, it will think it is impregnable. However, it will fall in a short period of time. Regardless of whether or not this passage describes the USA, it is a warning to Americans that we are not impregnable because God is stronger than any nation on earth.
Revelation 17 describes a city that is wealthy, sexually immoral, powerful, dominant over the world, and so arrogant she thinks she is forever. However, God will remember her iniquities and bring judgement upon her.
Rev. 18:8 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.
Don’t miss the words “one day”. Her downfall will be swift. Look at the phrase “the Lord God who judges her is strong”. Her downfall will be swift because God is stronger.
Rev. 18:9 ¶ “And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived sensuously with her, will cry and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning,
Rev. 18:10 standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’
The kings of the earth who participated in her sins will mourn because her downfall will reduce their ability to indulge in pleasure.
Look at the phrase “standing at a distance”. Those who participated in her sins will not come to her aid because they will be afraid of receiving similar punishment.
Rev. 18:11 ¶ “And the merchants of the earth cry and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo anymore—
The downfall of the city will damage world trade.
Rev. 18:12 cargo of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from precious wood and bronze and iron and marble,
Rev. 18:13 and cinnamon and amomum and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargo of horses and carriages and human beings and human lives.
Many Christians believe the United States has no place in future events, and that may be true, but the downfall of the United States would cause the downfall of world trade as described in this passage. Most of the items listed in this passage flow into and out of the USA.
Rev. 18:14 And the fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were splendid and shining have passed away from you and men will no longer find them.
Rev. 18:15 The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, crying and mourning,
Here we see the phrase “stand at a distance”. The merchants who profited from her will stay away from her for fear of suffering a similar fate as her.
There are many companies in the world today whose business is based on buying from and selling to people in the USA.
Rev. 18:16 saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls;
Rev. 18:17 for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!’ And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood at a distance,
In this verse we see the phrase “stood at a distance”. All who make their living at sea will stay away from the city.
Much of the seafaring business that takes place on the oceans today is centered around moving goods to and from the United States.
Rev. 18:18 and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like the great city?’
Rev. 18:19 And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, crying and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who have ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!’
All who make their living at sea will be wealthy because of this one city. They will mourn because the source of their wealth will fall in a short period of time.
If the United States would fall, that would have a severe negative repercussion on those who make their living at sea.
Rev. 18:20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her.”
Don’t miss the words “for you”. The pronoun “you” refers to saints, apostles, and prophets. This city will be guilty of sinning against the saints, apostles, and prophets. In some ways this is not true of the USA because we have religious freedom and Christianity has flourished in America over the past several centuries. On the other hand, in recent decades, many people in power in the US have attacked God, truth, and Christians.
Rev. 18:21 ¶ Then a strong angel picked up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer.
This verse describes the speed and ease with which this powerful city will be destroyed.
Many Americans think the USA is unbeatable. It is true that our military is the best in the world, but God is more powerful. If He decides to destroy the US, He will do so with ease.
Rev. 18:22 And the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer; and no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer; and the sound of a mill will not be heard in you any longer;
Rev. 18:23 and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.
This city will be full of parties, pleasure, and light. All of that will go away in a short period of time.
Rev. 18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth.”
The city will be thrown down because of the shedding of blood.
Today, the United States is wealthy and powerful. We dominate world politics and world trade. We are protected by oceans on either side. Thus, we think we are unbeatable.
Today’s passage describes a city that sounds a lot like Washington DC and the United States. It describes a city that will be so rich and powerful, it will think it is impregnable. However, it will fall in a short period of time. Regardless of whether or not this passage describes the USA, it is a warning to Americans that we are not impregnable because God is stronger than any nation on earth.
To what extent, if any, is Washington DC guilty of shedding the blood of prophets, saints, and people all over the earth?
What are some vulnerabilities of the USA that God could use to cause our sudden downfall?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”