This is my daughters, Beri and Brooke, from 1991!

Revelation 18

We are almost through the tribulation. Yeah!!! As a reminder to myself, the purpose of my daily devotions is to allow scripture to influence how I think and act today. The temptation in Revelation is to focus on interpretation rather than devotional application. However, sound interpretation, to some degree, must precede sound devotional application. So, I always first ask, “what does this passage mean by what it says” (interpretation) and therefore, “how then should I think and live accordingly?” (Devotional application). My point is that in Revelation, one could spend all their time on interpretation. So in each chapter I am trying to understand the basic context and interpretation and then focus on “how therefore should I live?”

Chapter 17 & 18 tell of the rise and fall of Babylon, the Great; The city that is central to the religious, political, and economic engine of the world during the tribulation. Its religion is false, fueled by Satan and filled with immorality. Its politics are corrupt and its commerce is rich, decadent and flourishing. Today, we see shades of Babylon everywhere in the major cities of the world. The world system we live in today carries all the characteristics of the Babylon of the tribulation. But the Great Babylon in the tribulation will take what we see today to the next level.

In Babylon but not of Babylon

Revelation 18:4 provides a reminder of how I should live today; “I heard another voice from heaven, saying, ‘come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as the heaven.’”  We are in the world, but we are not of the world. I’m reminded of I John 2:15ff which is an ideal passage of devotional application for Revelation 18. “Do not love the world nor the things in the world….for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but from the world….now little children, abide in Him…” Lord, how much does the world have a hold on me? I live in the world but May I abide (dwell) in You. May my thoughts, decisions, motives and actions be in submission to You and not the driving influences of this world. Amen!