Tag: Jeremiah 51:62-64
A Sudden Violent Destruction
Scripture reading for December 24: Revelation 18
“Then a mighty angel took 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 be found no more; and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more, and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery. And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.” Revelation 18:21-24
As John was shown the judgment of the great city, Babylon, he saw a ‘mighty angel’ taking up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea. This vision mirrored the prophet Jeremiah’s prophetic pronouncement of Babylon’s final judgment given over 600 years before. (Jeremiah 51:62-64) Babylon was the name God chose for the wicked world system that enslaved men from all nations through sensuality, sorcery, and murderous violence. As a city, it appeared to be organized and civilized with normal activities taking place like marriage, musicians, commerce and night life. John was told that all these activities would come to a halt and destruction would be swift and final.
The millstone was originally used in grinding grain but was also used as an example by Jesus Christ when warning those causing young children to go astray. He said it would be better that a millstone be tied around his neck and be drowned in the sea than causing a little one to sin. Jeremiah the prophet sent a scroll of the prophesy of Babylon’s destruction dictated by God and commanded it to be read those in Babylon. After it was read, it was tied to a rock and thrown into the Euphrates river where it made a big splash and sank surely to the bottom. Babylon would be judged with swiftness and finality because in that wicked world system was found those guilty of murdering God’s people.
As you read of Babylon’s sure destruction prophesied by Jeremiah and now to John, how does that give new understanding to your world view? Have you heeded God’s call to ‘come out of her’? What hinders people from taking action to leave this system and join Christ’s kingdom?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for using illustrations that are easy to picture and understand concerning the fallen world system described as Babylon. Help me to stay free from the enticements to sin and compromise my faith. Use me to share the Gospel with those blinded to this wicked trap. Amen.