Run for Your Life

The first entry in this series can be found here.
The previous entry can be found here.

I talk a lot about Star Wars on this blog, but if I had to choose my favorite fandom, it would have to be Lord of the Rings. The best movie trilogy of all time is Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings.

There are many iconic scenes in this film, but one of the greatest has to be toward the end of the first movie: Fellowship of the Ring. In this film, the quest begins, the friendships are forged, and the stakes are set. After running into a blizzard in the Misty Mountains, Gimli the dwarf offers an alternative path through the Mines of Moria. Gandalf the wizard had tried avoiding this path, knowing the dangers that awaited them in the mines, but he decides it will be wiser to risk those dangers than to certainly perish in the ice and snow.

But the dwarves were no longer mining in the mines. The dwarves had been killed or forced into exile by orcs and trolls. And if the orcs and trolls weren’t bad enough, they were themselves afraid of something else that had been awoken deep beneath the Misty Mountains–the Balrog, a fire demon.

A showdown ensues, between the Fellowship and the Balrog, but in the end, Gandalf helps the rest of the party get safely across a bridge before remaining behind to keep the Balrog occupied. Gandalf’s last words, right before he slips into the chasm after the fallen Balrog, are “Fly you fools!” Just because the Balrog had fallen, did not mean the danger had passed.

Last time (it has been far too long), we looked at the whore of Babylon–the demonically-influenced world system that seeks to seduce–and we saw that her end is certain. Today, John picks up where he left off, declaring:

After this I saw another angel with great authority coming down from heaven, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. He cried in a mighty voice:

It has fallen,
Babylon the Great has fallen!
She has become a dwelling for demons,
a haunt for every unclean spirit,
a haunt for every unclean bird,
and a haunt for every unclean and despicable beast.
For all the nations have drunk
the wine of her sexual immorality,
which brings wrath.
The kings of the earth
have committed sexual immorality with her,
and the merchants of the earth
have grown wealthy from her excessive luxury.

Then I heard another voice from heaven:

Come out of her, My people,
so that you will not share in her sins
or receive any of her plagues.
For her sins are piled up to heaven,
and God has remembered her crimes.
Pay her back the way she also paid,
and double it according to her works.
In the cup in which she mixed,
mix a double portion for her.
As much as she glorified herself and lived luxuriously,
give her that much torment and grief,
for she says in her heart,
“I sit as a queen;
I am not a widow,
and I will never see grief.”
For this reason her plagues will come in one day—
death and grief and famine.
She will be burned up with fire,
because the Lord God who judges her is mighty.

Revelation 18:1-8

This text ultimately expands on the certainty of Babylon’s doom–discussed last time. Today’s text breaks into two sections: the message of doom (18:1-3) and the message of salvation (18:4-8).

The Message of Doom

It is worth noting at the outset that John describes an angel speaking the first three verses. We will contrast this with the identity of the speaker in verses 4-8 before we conclude.

For now, though, look at the declaration: “It has fallen, Babylon the Great has fallen!” Verse 2 explains Babylon’s present state, drawing on language from Isaiah 13. It is interesting that Isaiah’s speech is presented in future tense (x will happen); this angel declares it to John in past tense (she has become x). In other words, what Isaiah predicted as a future reality, John understands as fulfilled. Babylon is so certain to fall that she can be described as already fallen.

In other words, because Babylon has become so spiritually devoid of health (dwelling place of demons), spiritually dangerous (unclean spirit), and physically dangerous (unclean and hateful bird), she has corrupted the world: nations, kings, and merchants. Because she fell morally, she is also guaranteed to fall economically and politically.

It should be noted that at the time when John wrote this book, he could say that Babylon (the world order opposed to Christ) was certain to face destruction, and he could call people out of it (see next section). As such, the period of Babylon’s fall has already lasted for 2,023 years. When will it end? When Christ returns! (I’ll make this connection textually in a moment.)

In fact, it makes sense to connect “unclean birds” (18:2), “the passion of her immorality” (18:3), and Babylon’s being “drunk on the blood of the saints” (17:6), because we also find birds mentioned in 19:17, 21, feasting on the dead bodies of those who fought against Christ at his return. (This is when Babylon’s fall will be truly realized: Christ’s glorious return). The birds eat the flesh of dead people (believers when Babylon seems to be winning; unbelievers at Christ’s victorious return), but given the moniker “unclean,” it should be understood from a Jewish perspective: Jews couldn’t be near these birds. As such, it makes sense how verse 4 begins.

The Message of Salvation

“Come out of her, My people.” We’ll come back to this verse in a bit, but it is worth noting now that there is a reason given for this command, other than the implicit separateness of verse 3. Believers must escape so they don’t take part in sin and the punishment that results. Her sins are increasing and God has noticed. Christians must be different from the culture!

Verse 4 starts with an imperative to Christians. Is verse 6 also an imperative to Christians? Are we supposed to wage war on Babylon? Are we supposed to vent our wrath on unbelievers?

Absolutely not!

The fact is that “God” is mentioned at the end of verse 5; He’s the one being implored in verse 6.

An additional reason to turn to God is implicit in verses 6-7. All the sinful wickedness and violence perpetuated by the world will be turned back against the world. “Twice as much”–actually. Joy and pleasure today turn to pain and misery for eternity. Pride will be abased.

Verse 8 adds yet another implicit reason to flee Babylon. Her destruction will come “in one day.” It will be sudden and unexpected. Misery awaits the enemies of God (Romans 5:10). Don’t remain His enemy!

It is worth drawing attention to the speaker of verses 4-8. It is not an angel, like it was in verses 1-3. Christians are no angel’s people. The speaker here is Christ, the exalted, divine Christ. The amazing point here is that Christ uses an intermediary to declare judgment, but He personally calls out a salvific message: “Come out of her, My people.” Jesus is not simply calling to those who are already believers. His people could include current nonbelievers who need this declaration to draw them to salvation.

If you’re reading this and you’re not a believer in Jesus, I thank you for reading this far. I beg you today to change your allegiance from Babylon to Christ. Give up your worldly ways and pursue Christ. He’s your only hope for peace, joy, and eternal life.

If you’re reading this and you are a believer in Christ, in what area do you look too much like the world? Come out of her! Present that area before Jesus in prayer and ask Him to help you live wholeheartedly for Him. He will answer!

“Come out of her, My people,” Jesus says.

“Fly, you fools!” Gandalf cried.

“Run for your life!” I say. “Trust Christ and escape the coming wrath.” I’m begging you. If you’ve already trusted Christ, stop flirting with the evil world system.

In this with you.

Soli Deo Gloria
Sola Fide
Solus Christus
Sola Scriptura

Thanks for reading.

The next entry can be found here.