Revelation 18
November 16, 2022
“After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. With a mighty voice he shouted: ‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’”(v1-2)
Every so-called “great” (v2) human civilization believes it is invincible and will last forever. From the time of the Tower of Babel (Gen 11), humanity has bought the lie that we can build something apart from (even against) God that will flourish and satisfy us. And from Babel to Babylon, they all eventually fail and all eventually fall.
Father, I praise You that Yours is the only Kingdom that will never fail or fall. Like Isaiah confessed, “I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5). Even the best version of government, economics and education falls short of Your perfect Kingdom. And so, while I pray for our nation’s leaders (in obedience to 1 Timothy 2), I do so confessing that the civilization in which I live is also marked by many of these Babylonian (anti-God) characteristics, described in Rev 18. Therefore, I pray, “May Your Kingdom come, may Your will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven,” confident that You will answer that prayer, as You promise in the next chapters of Revelation!
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
