Revelation 18:1-24
Babylon. A great many Biblical scholars agree that Babylon in John’s time was Rome, a city of wealth and power that ruled the entire Mediterranean world and was responsible for the deaths of thousands of Christians. So I wonder about Babylon in today’s world. That is, if Babylon is a city and not just a concept for evil, what city in today’s world is Babylon? The first city that comes to mind for me is LA/Hollywood. I believe that much of what is wrong in the world today is the result of Hollywood’s influence, especially the sex and violence that sells movies, evils that build the next generation. Other cities on my list include Washington, New York, and Moscow. But I’m certain that’s just my ethnocentric thinking.
One hour. For in a single hour your judgment has come. (v. 10b) For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste. (v. 17a) For in a single hour she has been laid waste. (v. 19b) I had to look back two chapters to see how this great destruction happened in one hour. Here’s the text from the angel pouring out the seventh bowl: The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were flashes of lightning, rumbling peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe. (Rev. 16:17-21) That would be a terrifying one hour.