An Invitation To An Unforgettable Meal (Revelation 19:1-21) Series

Last week, in Revelation 18, we read about the vision John saw of a future, when Babylon has been destroyed by God. No matter how secure she looks, and powerful, the truth is that she cannot stand against God. Revelation 18 told us there were many reasons why God judged her: her boastful speech (Revelation 18:7) and pride, her luxuries (Revelation 18:7), and the way she deceived the world into pursuing her rather than the Lamb. But perhaps above all else, she was judged because of her persecution of the church.

In every way, Babylon set herself up as a rival, and enemy, to God. She deliberately made war with God's people. And throughout the entire Bible, any nation that does this gets wrecked. So we aren't surprised by her fate.

But who is Babylon?

It's debated. Everything, by this point in Revelation, is debated by someone. But I think Babylon serves as a symbol for the high point-- the center-- of every evil, demonically empowered, human empire. There have been many Babylons throughout history. In the story of the Tower of Babylon in Genesis 11, people deliberately defied God's commands, and set out to make a name for themselves. In the sixth century B.C., Babylon was the nation who conquered Judah, destroyed the temple, and scattered God's people across its empire. In the first century, Babylon is a symbolic way of speaking about Rome. Rome treated God's people, the way 6th century Babylon did-- it destroyed the temple, promoted idol worship, and attacked God's people.

We saw in our study of the Beast in Revelation 13, that satan has been enabled to pick out nations, and give them his throne, and power, and authority, and make nations into evil empires, which Revelation calls "the beast." And at the center of every beast, riding the beast, is Babylon.

So every generation of Christians will find itself opposed by Babylon, and the Beasts. And God expects every generation of Christians to rise up, and courageously oppose the Beast by testifying about sin, and judgment, and Jesus. Our job today, is the same job the church has had for 2,000 years-- to be the two witnesses of Revelation 11, regardless of the cost, while we wait for God to vindicate us, and bring judgment on Babylon and the Beast.

So at this point in Revelation, the final fate of Babylon has been sealed. Her future, of destruction, and desolation, is assured. But the focus last week wasn't where we'd maybe expect it. We want to know the how. We want to know the when. But Revelation wants us to decide how we feel about that fall. Are we like the kings of the earth, and the merchants, who mourn Babylon's destruction, because we've committed ourselves to earthly things, and earthly empires, and are focused on luxuries? Or do we celebrate the fall of every Babylon, understanding that this shows God fighting for us, and rescuing us from those who hate us?

What we are invited to do, is rejoice. Let's read Revelation 18:20 (NIV no reason):

“Rejoice over her, you heavens!

Rejoice, you people of God!

Rejoice, apostles and prophets!

For God has judged her

with the judgment she imposed on you.”

This week, we will see this call to rejoice answered. Heaven and earth celebrate the fall of Babylon, in a big, loud way. Let's start by reading verses 1-2. As I read, try to imagine hearing what John hears. All of this, John "hears":

(1) After these things, I heard [something] like the sound of a great crowd in heaven, saying,

"Hallelujah! (Praise Yah!)-- Salvation/rescue and glory and power belong to our God!-- [or: "are from our God"],

because true and righteous, his judgments [are]:

because He judged the Great Prostitute

who seduced/enticed the earth by/with her sexual immorality [cf. 17:2; 18:3],

and He avenged the blood of his slaves, shed by her hand [Revelation 6:10; for "by her hand," see 2 Kings

9:7 LXX; h/t Craig Koester ],"

What John hears, is the sound of massive worship. Imagine being at a football stadium, filled with Christians, and everyone is singing a song that praises God.

Now, we all know that there are many reasons to praise God. God has been incredibly good to us, in many different ways. We can praise God as Creator of the world, and Sustainer. We praise God for sending Jesus. We praise God for being a good Father.

What does this group praise God for?

The reason this group sings, and praises, is not a reason that the modern church usually sings about. This group praises God because his judgments are true and righteous. We live in a world where judgments are often made on the basis of wealth, and politics, and who your friends are. God is not like that. God judges in truth, and He judges in righteousness. He gives people exactly what they deserve.