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Day 182 Revelation 18:1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. 2 He cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.” 4 I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6 Render to her just as she rendered to you and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. 7 In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’ 8 Therefore, her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. She will be burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her. 9 The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’ 11 The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 12 merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. 14 The fruit your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you will find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 and saying, ‘Alas, alas, the great city clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17 For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance 18 and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’ 19 They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping, and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour, she is made desolate.’ 20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!” 21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon will be thrown down, and will not be found anymore. 22 The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters will not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft will be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone will not be heard in you anymore. 23 The light of a lamp will not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. 24 In her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.” People are happy when they see justice on those who committed heinous crimes. They have faith in the system again when they see the complete destruction of everything those who committed such crimes did. After the angel poured out the seventh bowl judgment, he showed John what would become of Babylon who wreaked havoc on the saints. He showed him the complete destruction of Babylon along with the weeping and mourning of all those who did business with her. Then the angel told John heaven would rejoice at her destruction because God brought His vengeance on Babylon. Too often Christians want to take justice in their hands when they see people come against them and the gospel. Yet from the beginning, God told His people He would bring vengeance on those who come against His people. They only need to be patient. Deuteronomy 32:35 Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; their foot will slip in due time; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them. 36 “For the LORD will judge His people and have compassion for His servants, when He sees their power is gone, and there is no one remaining, bond or free. 37 He will say: ‘Where are their gods, the rock in which they sought refuge? 38 Who ate the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them rise and help you and be your refuge. 39 ‘Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me; I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal; nor is there any who can deliver from My hand. 40 For I raise My hand to heaven, and say, “As I live forever, 41 if I whet My glittering sword, and My hand takes hold on judgment, I will render vengeance to My enemies, and repay those who hate Me. 42 I will make My arrows drunk with blood, and My sword will devour flesh, with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the heads of the leaders of the enemy.’” 43 “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His servants and render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people.” Paul also admonished the people not to take vengeance because vengeance belonged to God. Romans 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (NKJV) God will repay. You only need to have patience. John saw the day of God’s vengeance on Babylon, on the dragon, beast, and false prophet. He saw how God would avenge His people. In patience you have hope because God will avenge you when people who don’t know your God come against you and everything you believe. There will come a day when Satan will no longer rule the world. God will throw him down and everyone who stand with him will receive the same sentence of destruction on their lives. Therefore, rejoice because God has the final say over those who come against you. Let’s pray: Father, Your will not mine when people come against me. Give me patience as I wait for Your vengeance on my enemy, Satan. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 15 January 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.