April 10, 2007
The Destruction of Babylon
To receive the greatest possible blessing from this Bible study, please take a moment to read the passage.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I am so glad that unexpected events in my life are not unexpected to You. At times, it is difficult to understand and to trust; but I know You are in control of all things. Therefore, I praise You, Sovereign God. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Introduction:
A funny thing happened to me when I went for routine blood work last week. Okay, so it wasn’t very funny. It turned out to be more than I bargained for.
I mentioned to the nurse that I was experiencing mild chest discomfort. Next thing I knew, I was sitting in the exam room with enough wires stuck to me to send me to the moon. Guess what! The EKG machine refused to do its job. A nurse stuffed oxygen tubes up my nose and a clamp on my finger. Then, someone else came in and announced the ambulance was on the way.
Before you gasp, swallow your gum, choke, and win your own free ticket for an ambulance ride, I’m fine. It wasn’t a heart-attack. I don’t know what it was, but nothing showed up on the tests.
On the way to the hospital, the EMT, with as much care as humanly possible, gently pushed an IV needle through the skin on my hand (a standard procedure in case life-giving fluids are needed). As the needle pierced my hand, I flinched at the pain. Off and on all day, my hand throbbed. When the nurse at the hospital removed it, my hand hurt equally as much. To think, a small needle, which left a barely visible hole, caused all that discomfort and a huge bruise on the top of my hand. How seemingly worthless the entire procedure turned out to be! They never used the IV. I thought it was some kind of cruel and unusual punishment.
The next day, Black Friday, I rubbed my bruised hand. Umm. . . cruel and unusual punishment. The Roman soldier, who hammered rusty old spikes through our Lord’s hands and feet, couldn’t have cared less how much pain he caused Jesus.
The Son of God endured that truly cruel and unusual punishment not for His own well-being, but for ours. Like an IV, Jesus’ wounds remain ineffectual in saving lives unless the reality of our sinfulness punctures our hearts and His righteousness flows into our souls. As we accept His plan of salvation, we are the ones who receive the Life-giving benefits, which flow through the cross.
The Lesson:
As we listen to the heartbeat of the world, it is not difficult to detect a fatal murmur. John’s description of Babylon in chapters 17 and 18 expose the global situation of our times like an x-ray.
Verses 1-3: Not that God is obligated to explain His judgments; it pleases Him to do so. God sends an angel to proclaim the fall of Babylon and to accomplish the task. In biblical times, people believed that houses and even cities that lay in ruins became the habitat for unclean spirits, devils, and hateful birds. This indicates that not only is her sin of entertaining idols Babylon’s downfall, it is her source of punishment as well. Babylon’s wickedness is so great before God because she not only forsakes Almighty God and sets up idols; she lures all nations into spiritual adultery with her wealth and luxury.
Verses 4-6: Obviously, God has some people in Babylon whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life since He commands, Come out of her my people. This warning speaks to all of us as does Paul’s reminder to Titus . . . denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (Titus 2:12-13 NKJV). We cannot participate in the sins of the world and not expect to receive the same punishment. We should not only be willing to live differently; but we should be willing to fight against the evil infiltrating our society.
Verses 7-8: Because of her pride, Babylon will be given a double portion of the torment and sorrow she inflicted on others.
Verses 9-19: Babylon will be the financial center of the world. At her fall, all nations will mourn because they will have invested their wealth, joined her in her sensual pleasures, and prospered in her merchandise. Although they will eagerly become intimate with her in her prosperity, they will mourn from afar reluctant to share in her calamities and sorrow. The nations will not lament because of their remorse, but because of their loss of wealth and power. They are not sorry because they have trespassed against the Laws of God, but because of the loss of their luxurious live-style.
If the United States is not in this prophecy, we definitely foreshadow what is to come. After the events of September 11, 2001, how many times did we hear people say, “Look at how the people lament and have turned to God?” Although many wept, few took the horrific incidents as a warning to repent. Why did we weep, America? Wasn’t it mostly because we feared losing our wealth, our privileges, and our life-style?
Verses 20-24: This portion of Scripture says that no goods will be found in her any more and she will be desolate. Our great and mighty nation is not desolate, yet. How long will it take until there are no industries left in America? An hour in God’s time, perhaps?
Conclusion and Challenge:
Although nothing showed up on my tests, the doctor said, “Never ignore chest pains. It could be your body telling you something serious is going on.”
We have had many “chest pains” in America; but we seem to ignore the seriousness of the heart problem. The bombing of the Trade Towers in 2001 was a time that many people appeared to heed the warnings and to turn to the Great Physician for the needed remedy. Unfortunately six years later, we are in worse condition than ever before. Like a healthy body, a healthy nation thrives on following the advice of the One who offers the cure.
We can change the health of our great-but-fatally-diseased nation one person at a time.
First, we must examine ourselves. Are we spiritually vital—daily injecting our souls with the Word of God and receiving life-support through prayer?
Second, we must render first-aide to the wounded Christians we encounter in our community. It may be necessary to push the “IV” needle of Godly discipline carefully and lovingly into their tender veins.
Third, we must rescue the lost and dying sinners. We cannot force them to receive the blood of Jesus Christ; but we can tell them about their sinful-nature, about His plan of salvation, and about the newness of life we received.
It’s not an easy task. No one likes being reminded that they are less than perfect. (I know I sure didn’t.) However, we are God’s EMTs riding on an ambulance we call earth. He expects us to do whatever it takes according to His Word to save the lives of those He places in our care.
Prayer Requests:
Gene, Chris, Nora, Jacob, Rachel, Nancy, Gloria, Amber, Shirley & Ryan, Melinda & Barry and family, Phyllis and husband, Don & Pat, John, Elizabeth, Mary, Irene, the Adams’ family, the Boyer family, salvation for unsaved, April, Thelma, Ann, Pauline, revival—In our hearts, in our churches, and in our communities, cancer victims, our Bible Study, special unspoken needs, and remember me, Brenda Hendricks.
Praise Report:
Veronica Kate arrived April 10 at 6:15 am to the delight of Wayne and April. Daughter and Mommy are doing wonderful.
Bruce received a favorable report and is doing much better.
Elizabeth is doing well and doesn’t have to see the doctor for four months.
WOO HOO! God is so good—always, all ways.
We are looking forward to your praise reports. Please keep us informed so we can share the wonderful grace of Jesus.
Next Weeks Study:
Our next Bible Study is April 3, 2007. Read Chapter 19, You are cordially invited to Lamb’s Marriage.
Invitation:
Although we have not chosen to be, we are all born into sin because of the fall of man. It sounds hopeless and unfair. Nevertheless, in His infinite wisdom and abundant love, God has provided a choice for us. We can choose to repent of our sinful nature and believe in Jesus Christ. He is faithful and will cleanse us from sin and give us His Holy Spirit to equip us to live for Him. If you’ve made your choice to repent and believe in Jesus, we’d like to hear about it.
If you are free in Christ Jesus, pray for those who remain captive. Tell others, Christians as well as non-believers, what Jesus has done for you. Your testimony will benefit them and help you to strengthen your confidence in Christ’s work in your life and in the future.
If you’d like to participate in our Bible Study, please contact us with your comments, questions, and prayer requests at twosmallfish@verizon.net Be sure to put today’s Bible study in the subject line or I may delete it unopened.
To view the previous chapters of our study on the book of Revelation, follow this link: http://www.twosmallfish.org/revelation_bible_study.htm
To view our previous Bible studies and devotions, follow this link: http://www.twosmallfish.org/Archives/index.html
May God grant you safety, reassurance of His love, and the revelation of Jesus Christ,
See you in a twinkling,
Brenda Hendricks.
You turned my mourning into
dancing
You stripped me of my sorrow and clothed me with your joy
I cannot be silent, I will sing Your praises forever. Psalms 30:11&12
(paraphrased by me)
