April 12, 2022 -- Revelation 18:1-3 -- Understand the reason for the shouts of Hallelujah

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. 2 And he called out with a mighty voice,

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
    She has become a dwelling place for demons,
a haunt for every unclean spirit,
    a haunt for every unclean bird,
    a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
3 For all nations have drunk
    the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality,
and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her,
    and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”
Revelation 18:1-3 ESV

It is hard to believe there is a war raging in Eastern Europe. The news reports are like clips from a new disaster movie, rather than scenes of horror that are being lived every moment. In North America people are getting up for work and going about their lives with very little reference to what is taking place. In fact, the words of Revelation are quite jarring. Revelation speaks to the war that is taking place all around, the war of Babylon, which in every nation and every generation, represents hatred for the Living God and His salvation in Christ and His way of righteousness in which the saints walk by the power of the Spirit.

Do not wonder at the fact that the United Nations are powerless to help the Ukraine. Every nations that sends representatives to the UN have themselves drunk the wine of the passion of Babylon’s sexual immoralities, as much as has Russia, and the Ukraine. There is not a pure nation on the earth. That is the point. It is why this Revelation is for every generation, a call and invitation:

4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,

“Come out of her, my people,
    lest you take part in her sins,
lest you share in her plagues;
5 for her sins are heaped high as heaven,
    and God has remembered her iniquities.

Christians who walk according to the Spirit, have the eyes of discernment which see the wickedness and the corruption that infects every part of every nation. We ourselves had once participated in the debauchery of the world, and now, filled not with the wine of drunkenness and endless sexual prowling and greedy only for gain, Christians have been conquered by the Lamb. Christians have seen the lasting Kingdom—the Kingdom of our LORD and of His Christ—for He shall reign for ever and ever. It is out of this world of endless uncleanness and luxurious living that is opulent now but veils the true riches of God from view—if is from this morass of wickedness the LORD is summoning His people.

Read the Bible—it is the only way you will see whether or not what is written is true.

Ask the Spirit of God to apply the accomplished work of Jesus’ passion to your heart, mind, soul and life so that you will walk in a way that is completely at odds with this world.

Seek Christian friends. Together recognize what Revelation is saying, a new, human-led, world order will inevitably become a new world tyranny and a new wicked incarnation of Babylon. As family in Christ, live as foreigners and strangers, for you are citizens of the heavenly Kingdom. Offer help to those around you with the clear view His is the glory and from Him comes eternal help.

Pray. For Christians in Russia and Christians in the Ukraine. Pray for the 80+ million who are in refugee camps around the world. Pray for the wisdom to walk in Christ no matter where it is He has placed you, so that empowered by His Spirit the Kingdom of Jesus will shine out from your words and your works unto the glory of the Father in heaven.

Sing. Recognize the Hallelujah Chorus is sung by saints now--for God's victory is sure. Christians sing in defiance of the wreckage people make of power here on earth. We are Christians are rejoicing in the fact that Jesus is now, seated at the Father's right hand and of His Kingdom and of His reign there shall be no end. He has thrown down Babylon. He has conquered the beast. He is bringing in the final number of believers and the trumpet will soon sound and the new heavens and the new earth will appear! 

“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2     for his judgments are true and just;
for he has judged the great prostitute
    who corrupted the earth with her immorality,
and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
“Hallelujah!
The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”
“Praise our God,
    all you his servants,
you who fear him,
    small and great.”
Revelation 19:1c-2; 3b; 5b ESV

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