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Day 358 (Jeremiah 51:47-49) “Therefore behold, the days are coming that I will bring judgment on the carved images of Babylon; her whole land will be ashamed, and her slain will fall in her midst. Then the heavens and the earth and all that is in them will sing joyously over Babylon; for the plunderers will come to her from the north,” says the LORD. “As Babylon caused the slain of Israel to fall, So, at Babylon the slain of all the earth will fall.” You hear horror stories about countries that keep their people under subjection. They live in fear for their lives. Yet they know no other way of life. God sent Judah into captivity because she disobeyed Him. However, He did not give Babylon permission to persecute them and cause them to turn away from Him. He told Jeremiah He would bring judgment against Babylon when He brought His people back to their land. He would destroy her, and everyone would rejoice over her destruction. Many Christian churches send missionaries to counties where the gospel of Jesus Christ isn’t allowed, or the people never heard about a Savior who could change their lives from the inside out. When missionaries return home, they bring accounts of the way of life in those countries and how torn their lives are because of the restrictions found there. Yet, they bring hope about those who gave their lives to Jesus Christ and stood up against their restraints. Slowly, Satan’s hold over the people is broken. God promised that one day, Babylon, where Satan dwells, would come under His judgment. Then he would be punished and sent to the Lake of Fire and Brimstone forever, and everyone would rejoice because he had been thrown down. (Revelation 20:1-10) Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things, he must be released for a little while. And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who takes part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. God will bring judgment against everyone who comes against His people. As He did to Babylon when He brought His people back to their homeland, so too, He will bring judgment against Babylon in the last days and the whole earth and heaven will rejoice at her destruction. Until then, pray for God to work in the lives of the people in those countries, and watch God work in the lives of the people and rejoice when their hearts and lives turn to God and commit their lives to Him. Let’s pray: Father, You are God and there is no other. You are a fair and just God who doesn’t want anyone to perish, but for everyone to come to know You and accept You as their Savior and Lord. Lord, work through me to bring the gospel to those who don’t know You. Let them hear Your words and change their hearts and lives as they commit themselves to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 6 July 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay