When Salvation is no Longer on Offer.
“And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of sexual immorality and lived luxuriously with her, will weep and mourn over her when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’ “And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo any more— cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; every kind of citron wood, every article of ivory, and every article made from very valuable wood, bronze, iron, and marble; cinnamon, spice, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, and cargo of horses, carriages, slaves, and human lives. The fruit you long for has left you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and people will no longer find them.” – Revelation 18:9-14. NASB
The situation of End-time Babylon would have rung a bell with people in first-century Asia Minor. The “kings of the earth” in this text would probably have been seen as the client kings that ruled on Rome’s behalf in the provinces. In the last days, they are the 10 unidentifiable kings who give their authority to the harlot sitting on the beast. They keep their distance from the destruction out of self-preservation. Both then and now, love for “Babylon” is a self-interested love, it is not self-sacrificing love.
In the First Century, Rome was the engine that drove the prosperity of the Empire. Rulers in the provinces profited greatly. Rome provided security and prosperity for its friends. Asia Minor, where John was located, was the richest of the provinces.
But her luxury came at the expense of others. Here, “the Kings of the earth” had sold their soul to the system that pampered them and now that system was gone!
Though luxury means as much to people today as it did then, this list of luxuries is largely strange to us. When God revealed Himself to John, He spoke in the language of John’s time and place. When we try and interpret texts like this, we need to remember the context of its authorship. If we try and interpret it in terms of the 21stcentury, then it could end up like stringing zeros together and ending up with nothing.
No matter how one pretty’s things up, the reality is that the book of Revelation was not written in the last decade or even the last century.
. It was written in the first century and spoke powerfully to that time and place. To read the Apocalypse from one’s own point of view is to end up where you begin, with ideas of your own making. God’s message for us is best discerned when we first pay attention to His message to John.
But notice the hierarchy of things in this text, the souls of men come last! The things Revelation says we will walk on in heaven as pavement come first. Along with political leaders, economic leaders will grieve over the fall of Babylon. This passage lists many of the most precious commodities of the ancient world. The point is not to give a literal inventory of Babylon, but to symbolize her far-reaching and enormous wealth. At some point in the end times, Babylon will go from being outrageously wealthy and powerful to desolate, faster than anyone would have thought possible. In The words of Jesus, “What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and yet losses his own soul.” Sobering words for us all.
God is long-suffering and patient, slow to wrath. However, when God’s wrath comes it is quick and severe. “Her plagues will come in one day,” meaning a short time. Thankfully, God is merciful. Since the plagues pour out in double portion (18:6), they must fall quickly in different places, or the entire world would perish on the spot.
The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament over her, when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, “Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city!…”
The 10 unidentified kings, the beast, and the false prophet who gave their support to the woman (Babylon) riding on the beast now stand at a distance. With the outpouring of the plagues, they are finally convinced that she is wrong, but it is too late. As one part of the earth after another by the plagues, they forsake their relationship with her and stand back in fear of her torment.