The world doesn’t have to end anytime soon.
But my series of posts on Revelation really should. The problem? There is a whole lot of stuff going on in the last four chapters. And in those chapters are allusions to what had been previously revealed (by “allusions”, think “a trip down a textual memory lane”).
I wish I could simplify these chapters and say, “The End.” But many of you know me too well to believe that will happen. No can do.
So I ask your patience as I lead you back into the ever-outrageous vision which John presents to us in Revelation.
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The last glimpse we had of the text of Revelation was Chapter 18, where we read an extended farewell to Babylon, the great city which encompasses the world, and demands a buy-in on the part of the world’s people - kings, leaders, tradesmen, and commoners alike. Babylon was the ultimate consumer’s paradise. It supplied the world with “gold, silver, and jewels; fine linen and purple cloth; scented woods, articles made of ivory, bronze, iron, and marble; cinammon, spice, incense, wine, and oil; cattle, sheep, horses, and chariots.” (18:12-13)
There was always something for everyone in Babylon.
And the glitter and glory presented by this great city was sufficiently engaging so as to distract any attention to the presence of other cargo: “slaves, that is, human souls”. This was Babylon’s dirty little secret. But it was the reason for the concluding judgment which was laid at Babylon’s feet.
And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, all who have been slain on earth. (18:24)
It may come as a surprise, then, to discover that this story of judgment now becomes a song of salvation; a celebration of the triumph of God over the godless world:
Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for he his judgments are true and just. For he has judges 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. (19:1-3)
Here is where we encounter our first trip down memory lane. We’ve read about the blood of the saints previously. In fact, we have heard the appeal for the judgment which appears before us now.
I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God, and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? (6:9-10)
The answer they received at that time was ominous, in a way.
They…were told to rest a little longer until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. (6:11)
We have seen bits and pieces of the suffering ordained for God’s people.
The great multitude before the throne are “the ones coming out of the great tribulation….They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more…” (7:14-15)
Those who bear witness to the gospel on earth, when their witness is complete, then “the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them.” (11:7)
Likewise in Chapter 13, the beast “was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them…” And the false prophet would “cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.” (13:7,15)
There is no shortage of words describing the tribulations of God's people. It is for that reason the vindication of their faith and perseverance is not out of place. The wrongs done against them are no trifling matter. The God who told Abraham, “those who curse you I will curse”, maintains to the end the threat and promise of his words.
So what is the basis of the blessing and curse? It is simply this: God remembers.
God remembers what has been said. God remembers what has done. God remembers what has been thought. Nothing goes unseen or unheard or unnoticed. Human courts can only approximate God's judgments, and will never completely establish justice or punish evil.
It is in keeping with God's comprehensive judgement of all things and all people that, in Revelation God's justice is done and seen to be done. There are no backroom deals cut for the high and mighty. All the money in the world cannot persuade God to change his mind.
The judgments which are celebrated in this paragraph will be reinforced by the subsequent passages of Revelation. They are final words ending the kingdoms of man, and will be the crowning glory of God's people.
But first, it gets very messy. That is what awaits us next.