Where Is Your Hope and Trust?

After making gestures of friendship and identifying with many evangelical churches, Hitler had lulled the nation of Germany into complacency. Under Hitler’s regime, many “undesirables,” according to Hitler, were annihilated. Nations, which had previously been allies with Hitler, found themselves to be enemies. After the various nations finally stopped Hitler, the world rejoiced. Even in the last few decades, when Nazi officials have been tried and convicted of war crimes, the world cheered because justice had taken place.

Imagine if you will, the events during the Tribulation Period. The beast, or the antichrist, will set up a cozy relationship with the churches of the world. There will be incredible prosperity and wealth during this time period. Suddenly, the beast will point out those he considers undesirables. There will be persecution and murder of those who follow Jesus Christ, daring to defy the antichrist’s whims. This will merely be a continuation of what has occurred throughout the ages against God’s people. The difference being the intensity.

However, my friends, as we will see today, there will come a day of ultimate justice. There will come a time when God’s people throughout the ages, and his holy angels, will shout for joy, because God will exact his justice.

Our trust and hope must remain strong only in our mighty Lord.

Trust and Hope In the World’s System Is Courting Evil.

Revelation 18:1–3 (NASB95)

After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory. And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality.”

When one reads the book of Revelation, we should recognize the incredible parallelism between it and many Old Testament pictures and writings. Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Daniel are probably the most similar in their descriptions.

John describes another angel with another message. The message is that “Babylon, the great has fallen.“ God, at this time, will obliterate all of the splendor and power that used to belong to her.

I tend to understand this Babylon as a particular city around the Euphrates River, not just the false religious system, which you will recall from chapter 17. The language of this chapter tends to portray this as a very real location that has previously withstood the previous judgments.

Babylon has been the central headquarters of the economic and political system that had been propped up by the false religious system. Demons and evil spirits will be all that makes up Babylon the great. No longer will there be any semblance of religiosity. It is evil in absolute form.

Why this incredible judgment? Verse 3 gives a twofold explanation. Even though it is twofold, it seems that one feeds naturally into the other. First is the problem of idolatry. There was worship of false gods; be it humanism, or some other philosophy. Secondly, what is the excessive wealth which is spoken? We understand that wealth is not necessarily evil. The evil comes when we have not recognized that wealth actually belongs to God. When money issues crowd out spiritual priorities, that becomes a form of idolatry. Trust had been placed in wealth and sensuality and a false form of religion.

My friends, believers cannot court evil. When we put trust and hope in the world system, that is courting evil. When people who call themselves Christians, align themselves with any form of religiosity in an attempt to look good, or to have control or power, they are courting evil. They may not have an image set up to which they bow. However, there is an image in the heart, which is not shaped like Christ. Anything, or anyone, or any philosophy other than Jesus Christ ruling in our lives, is a formula for disaster to the soul.

Trust and Hope In the World’s System Is Cause for Escape.

Revelation 18:4–8 (NASB95)

I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. “Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her. “To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.’ “For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong.

Another voice speaks, sounding like a plea, or possibly a warning. The voice is not only suggesting for people to simply leave a particular location. What the voice seems to be stating is that those who belong to God need to leave behind those things which smack of Babylon the great. One commentator, Dr. Alan Johnson, states, “Wherever there is idolatry, prostitution, self glorification, self sufficiency, pride, complacency, reliance on luxury and wealth, avoidance of suffering, violence against life, there is Babylon.“

You will recall Revelation 2-3, where the Lord warned the churches about the danger involved in agreeing with the principles of this world. In fact, God warned some of the churches that He would remove their lampstand if they did not come back to what God‘s expectations of them were. Those who had come to Christ as Savior, were to separate themselves from sin, and anything associated with it.

If Christians today do not remove themselves from the philosophy and lifestyles of those who would portray themselves as Christians, yet are not true believers, our own lampstand will be in danger of being removed. Christians cannot permit themselves to be seduced by the smooth talk of those who are part of Babylon the great.

If you and I truly belong to Jesus Christ, then we will take a stand for Christ. We will be willing to stand against family members and friends if they are faking their love for Christ, while doing that which is unbiblical. If we don’t, consider the price that will be paid. If we would rather compromise, then the validity of our salvation is in question. Verse 7 lets it be known that there will be no mercy when our Lord carries out His judgment. Again, we are reminded that God is not mocked. God is just, holy, and righteous. God will carry his plans to completion and fulfillment. Therefore, our trust and hope must remain strong only in our mighty Lord.

Trust and Hope In the World’s System Will Cause Mourning.

Revelation 18:9–19 (NASB95)

“And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and lament 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 cargoes any more— cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble, and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives. “The fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and men will no longer find them. “The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls; for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!’ And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood at a distance, and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What city is like the great city?’ “And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!’

In these verses, we see that the kings of the earth are in morning. Their “New World Order” which they had ushered in will no longer function. All the power and influence they thought they had will be brought to nothing.

The merchants will weep and mourn. Since the philosophy of Babylon the great was probably “eat, drink, and be merry,” the question will be, who will purchase their products? Just looking through this list of 28 different luxuries is mind-boggling. Yet, notice the last part of verse 13. The phrase slaves and human lives, basically are two words meaning slaves. In other words, they had completely reduced a man or woman to a basic commodity or product for the sake of the pleasure of the few. All that the world had lived for, was going to be of no value. The system which the world felt was so strong, was going to fall. The wealth of this world is going to amount to nothing one day.

In verses 17-19, we see the sea captains and sailors expressing their dismay. They would no longer be involved in transporting, luxurious goods, since there was no longer to be any business. Their hopes in a secure future were dashed to pieces.

These are all kinds of temporary pleasures that may seem to have a sense of permanence. But there is no security in anything other than Jesus Christ. Whatever our hopes and aspirations and dreams may be for this world and whatever society thinks it can accomplish, will be wasted. There is no world order which will succeed. There is no form of government that will heal the problems of humanity. There is no permanence to anything which humanity can design.

If a person wants real treasures, where should they look? The Bible is very clear that the Christian is to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven. We are to do the will of God. Our trust and hope must remain strong only in our mighty Lord.

Trust and Hope in God’s System Will Cause Excitement.

Revelation 18:20–24 (NASB95)

“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her.” Then a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer. “And the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer; and no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer; and the sound of a mill will not be heard in you any longer; and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery. “And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth.”

Here we see a dramatic mood change. The world and the system, which are under Satan’s rule, find themselves in deep sorrow. Interestingly, these verses portray great joy. Babylon had spent her energy torturing and persecuting all those who belong to Jesus. Interestingly, it was another false religious system, which killed Jesus. False religious leaders attacked and killed the prophets. It was the false religious system that stoned Stephen and murdered the apostles, excepting John. It has been and is the false religious system that has persecuted Christians for centuries. It is the false religious system that is hindering God’s people from doing genuine ministry work for Christ kingdom. Is there any wonder that we will find in these verses, great joy?

We finally see an angel give an incredible object lesson. This angel picks up a millstone, which would be 4-5 feet across and 8 feet thick. The weight would be several thousand pounds. The angel throws it into the sea. Obviously, it will not float. It is instantaneously gone, just as Babylon will be. God will instantly obliterate and darken its supposed light. The world will no longer have any reason for a celebration and rejoicing. Normal activities such as music, food preparation, romance, any work of any kind, will be completely stopped and will be no more.

All those who followed her, were led astray by her magic spell, or sorcery. It is almost as if there was a drugging involved. The Greek word is pharmakeia, which is used to refer to magic and occult practices. Babylon literally charmed all who followed her as she was dragging them down to their destruction. It wasn’t just because of the military and economic strength; it was demonic.

Verse 24 describes the reality that all who have ever been killed or murdered for their loyalty to Jesus Christ, experienced that as a result of this false religious system.

Satan has been using his deception for centuries in the church. He has planted his workers in local congregations, using those who are skilled at saying the right words and doing the appropriate activities to make them look spiritual. Meanwhile, they lull the rest of the church into apathy and complacency. Those who are wanting to do ministry which counts for God’s kingdom, find themselves frustrated, and wondering why God allows this to happen.

However, this is not the end of the story. For those who would deceive and charm their way for their own gain, will find themselves destroyed one day. All of the supposed good works and pious words will have no affect when God executes His final judgment.

So what do we do? In the meantime? We put our trust and hope only in our mighty Lord.

Conclusion

We wonder sometimes why revival does not happen in our community. We may find ourselves frustrated, feeling as though we’re just going through the motions. We wonder if God is really able to use us. My friends, I wish to answer with a resounding, yes! The reason is that we place our trust and hope in our mighty Lord.

We seem to be hearing a lot about revival in Kentucky. I am not going to speak against it or for it. I tend to approach what I read and hear with great caution. For some, it may be very real. For others it may not be anything more than an emotional experience. True revival is accompanied by confession and repentance, and people turning to Jesus Christ for their salvation. It is based upon the Word of God, convicting the hearts of those who are there. It is done in a biblical manner. It is not based on emotion or experience.

As with David, there is a need to ask God to purify hearts. In other words, a person wanting to experience revival, must be willing to allow God to burn off any garbage in our lives that may keep us from being effectively used by Him. Revival always leads to holy living and behavior. Revival always leads to a genuine outpouring of love for others as we share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Revival spreads as those impacted go out into their areas of influence in obedience to God’s commands.

Our hope and trust cannot be in any religious service or any government institution or any individual or any event. Our hope and trust must remain strong only in our mighty Lord.

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