Revelation chapter eighteen chronicled the destruction of the godless economic empire established by God’s adversaries. Unfortunately, many ungodly business practices are built on the assumption that God will never hold us accountable for our conduct. Revelation chapter eighteen thus serves to preview the ultimate end of any immoral economic philosophy.
That chapter also described the deep emotional distress of those who were left behind following the destruction of the blasphemous economic system known as “Babylon.” Revelation 18:11 identifies the source of their distress: “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore” (NIV). So, their concern did not stem from the loss of human casualties or the devastation that will take place. Instead, their sorrow was generated by the loss of a market for their products. That indicates that their primary (or perhaps only) motive involved financial gain.
However, there was a second group of individuals who responded in a very different manner. We will meet those individuals in the opening verses of Revelation chapter nineteen…
“After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, ‘Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.’ Again they said, ‘Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever’
And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, ‘Amen! Alleluia!’ Then a voice came from the throne, saying, ‘Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!’ And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, ‘Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.’
And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” (Revelation 19:1-8).
So when faced with the destruction of this blasphemous economic system, one group responded by weeping and wailing. The other group rejoiced. In a similar manner, the things we celebrate and the things that bring us distress often serve to reveal our true priorities.
We’ll continue to crisscross through these verses over the next few messages of our study in this chapter.