‘Day 306

“To the extent that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, to the same extent give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.’ For this reason in one day her plagues will come, plague and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong.” Revelation 18:7-8 (NASB)

Babylon is portrayed as a queen; she is dressed in fine garments and decked with jewels (Rev 17:4-5). Her wealth is also the commercial engine that prospers the merchants of the entire world (18:9-19). Her wealth and standing, however, were gained at the expense of others (17:6; 18:2-3; 5). So this text contains a call for reversal. In contrast to her luxurious life, she is condemned to the kind of torment and pain she inflicted on others. Her luxury is even listed as one of the grounds for condemnation (18:3).

Is a luxurious life a sin against God then? If so, how luxurious? Is the mere possession of riches cause for condemnation? And if that is so, are not most of us condemned in today’s world? After all, what ancient person would not have been awed at the wealth of a “poor” person today, many of whom own self-propelled vehicles, live in apartments with heating, and own electronic devices that bring news and entertainment from afar! All of these would have been unimaginable luxuries in the Roman world. Is wealth a sin? And, if so, how much wealth?

The answer lies in the first part of Rev 18:7. It is not just that Babylon has lived luxuriously, it is that she has “glorified herself” in her possessions. She was self-absorbed by her wealth. It is not the possessions themselves that condemn her; it is her selfishness in the use of them that is the crucial thing. Her goal in gathering possessions was not the benefit of others or even humanity as a whole, it was to glorify herself and make her own life comfortable and secure. Babylon isn’t about what you have; it is about how you live.

Her full attention is on her own pleasure and she will defend that position at all costs. She has ignored the teaching of Jesus (Luke 6:38): “Give, and it shall be given unto you.” This suggests that if you want to be wealthy you have to give your riches away. If you seek to hoard them, you will lose them.

In v5 we are told her sins reached to heaven. This is on the heals of Revelation 13:15-16 and the image to the beast enforcement of worship contrary to scripture. Through the influence of the women riding the beast, civil governments will pass laws forcing people to give their allegiance to the beast. The last 2 years seemed to me to be a dress rehearsal for what is coming as worship is legislated “for the common good.” Noncompliance will ultimately be followed by the death decree just like Daniel 3 – a story that helps us interpret this prophecy for the end times.
V8 announces the end of this earth’s probation. Intercession is closed in the court room of heaven and salvation is no longer offered to an unrepentant world.