December 15th, 2011
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Babylon…And Your City

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Opening Prayer

Lord, help me to live beyond the meager resources of my adequacy and learn that You are totally reliable.

Read REVELATION 17:1-18

[1] One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. [2] With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.” [3] Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. [4] The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. [5] This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. [6] I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. [7] Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. [8] The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come. [9] “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. [10] They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while. [11] The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction. [12] “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. [13] They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. [14] They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings-and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.” [15] Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. [16] The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. [17] For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God’s words are fulfilled. [18] The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world …” (Eph. 6:12).

Think Further

If you’ve heard the news or read the paper, you’ve been treated to terrorists raining death and destruction on people, to stories of incredible corporate greed or mind-numbing domestic abuse. And quite honestly, what do we make of our own anger, and delicious scenarios of revenge? We need to take the long view. God sees, God knows, God is just. He will act. He will do something!

The angel takes John into the desert, the abode of demonic spirits (3). He introduces John to an earthly Babylon and reigning prostitute. In 21:10 the angel will take John up to a great high mountain to prepare him for an eventual heavenly Jerusalem and reigning bride.

Revelation’s “bookends,” chs. 1-5 and 19-22, sketch out for John’s audience their near and distant future. The middle section, chapters 6-18, is a challenge and, as a result, interpretations of it abound. One author wryly comments that John probably never saw a creature as strange as some of his commentators!

Babylon represents the godless world system. The three themes woven throughout chs. 17 and 18 are her obsession with political power, religious seduction and self-centered affluence. What to do? Babylon’s influence is real and needs to be recognized and respected, and then judged to be repulsive. Oh, and one more thing: the early Desert Fathers went into the wilderness places not to escape but to confront the evil powers in prayer. Such courage should make them our allies, and our mentors! We, too, can confront the powers of evil with the greater power of prayer!

Apply

List the various spheres of life where you want to see God’s reign extended: local government, schools, and business. Pray for yourself and other Christians involved in these areas.

Closing prayer

Lord Jesus, help me never to feel so at home in “Babylon” that I lose my homesickness for “Jerusalem.” I want to live for You.

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