Revelation 18:20-24: a reflection

20“Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets, for God has judged your judgment on her.” 21A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all. 22The voice of harpists, minstrels, flute players, and trumpeters will be heard no more at all in you. No craftsman of whatever craft will be found any more at all in you. The sound of a mill will be heard no more at all in you. 23The light of a lamp will shine no more at all in you. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all in you, for your merchants were the princes of the earth; for with your sorcery all the nations were deceived. 24In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth.”

This passage announces the fall of Babylon, the symbol of a corrupt worldly system built on exploitation, seduction, and violence. An angel casts a great millstone into the sea, declaring that Babylon will be thrown down and found no more; all her commerce, music, and light will cease. And the reason is given: in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth. The corrupt system that had exploited and shed innocent blood would fall under God's certain judgment; and heaven is called to rejoice, for God has vindicated his people.

Notice the certainty of God's judgment on the corrupt system, and his vindication of the wronged. Babylon seemed permanent, dominant, its commerce and splendor unassailable; yet its fall is announced as certain, thrown down like a millstone into the sea, to rise no more. And the ground is justice: in her was found the blood of the innocent, the prophets and saints she had slain. God's judgment on the corrupt system is his vindication of those it wronged; the blood of the innocent is not forgotten, but answered. The corrupt system falls, and the wronged are vindicated.

That is a comfort in a world where corrupt systems seem to prevail, exploiting and shedding innocent blood unanswered. We can look at the corruption, exploitation, and violence of the world and despair, feeling that the corrupt systems are unassailable and the blood of the innocent forgotten; but this passage announces the certain fall of such systems and the vindication of the wronged. God's judgment on corruption is sure, however permanent and dominant it seems; and the blood of the innocent is not forgotten, but answered. Do not despair as though the corrupt systems of the world will prevail forever and the wronged be forgotten; God's judgment on corruption is certain, and he will vindicate those it has wronged, as Babylon falls and the blood of the saints is answered. Trust the God who will judge corruption and vindicate the wronged, rather than despairing before the seeming permanence of corrupt systems, for they will fall under his certain judgment, and the blood of the innocent will be answered.

Lord, this passage announces the fall of Babylon, the symbol of a corrupt worldly system built on exploitation, seduction, and violence. An angel casts a great millstone into the sea, declaring that Babylon will be thrown down and found no more; all her commerce, music, and light will cease. And the reason is given: in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth. The corrupt system that had exploited and shed innocent blood would fall under your certain judgment; and heaven is called to rejoice. Show me the certainty of your judgment on the corrupt system, and your vindication of the wronged. Babylon seemed permanent, dominant, its splendor unassailable; yet its fall is announced as certain, to rise no more. And the ground is justice: in her was found the blood of the innocent. Your judgment on the corrupt system is your vindication of those it wronged; the blood of the innocent is not forgotten, but answered. Give me that comfort in a world where corrupt systems seem to prevail, exploiting and shedding innocent blood unanswered. I can look at the corruption and violence of the world and despair; but this passage announces the certain fall of such systems and the vindication of the wronged. Keep me from despairing as though the corrupt systems of the world will prevail forever and the wronged be forgotten; your judgment on corruption is certain, and you will vindicate those it has wronged. Help me trust the God who will judge corruption and vindicate the wronged, Lord, rather than despairing before the seeming permanence of corrupt systems.