March 29 - The Fall of Babylon (pt. 4)

March 29 – The Fall of Babylon (pt. 4)
Revelation 18:20-24

“Rejoice over her, O heaven! Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets! God has judged her for the way she treated you.” (Rev. 18:20)

Babylon has fallen, God has judged her. Everyone rejoice.

The mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone (Rev. 18:21). Do you know what this is? Our land in central Iowa was the site of a former grist mill. Farmers would bring the grain to have the miller grind it. We discovered the millstone in the river one day. To pull it out, we needed six rather strong men and a tractor. A huge piece of stone. In New Testament times, a millstone would be turned by a donkey (it was turned by the movement of the river here in Iowa). It was probably four to five feet in diameter, about 12” thick and weighed thousands of pounds.

Jesus spoke of a millstone in Mark 9:42 when he said that anyone causing a child to stone would be better off with a large millstone around his neck being tossed into the sea. This sin in Mark and the sin of extravagance and luxury are similar? Interesting how scripture places the punishment for them in the same arena.

The angel made a point in Revelation 18 of throwing the boulder into the sea. That same amount of violence will be used to destroy Babylon.

What are some things which will be lost when Babylon is destroyed?

“The music of harpists and musicians, flute players and trumpeters, will never be heard from again. No workman of any trade will ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again. The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again.” (Rev. 18:22-23)

From Isaiah 24:8, “The gaiety of the tambourines is stilled, the noise of the revelers has stopped, the joyful harp is silent.”

In Ezekiel 26:13, we read, “I will put an end to your noisy songs, and the music of your harps will be heard no more.”

Jeremiah 25:10, “I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, the sound of millstones and the light of the lamp.”

Eerily reminiscent of the Revelation 18 passage. Arts and entertainment, work and the simple things that bring us joy in our home life are all finished because of the punishment that Babylon deserves.

Babylon is destroyed. All that brings any joy to life on earth is gone. The destruction is nearly complete. I’m exhausted. Death and destruction are difficult to face. It’s hard to accept utter annihilation coming from God, but here we are.