Alas, Alas, That Great City |
|
October 29, 1929 has become known as “Black Tuesday.” Black Tuesday is notorious for being the worst day in the U.S. stock market. Throughout the 1920’s stock prices soared to peaks never seen before. From 1920 to 1929 stocks more than quadrupled in value. But in 1929, the bubble burst, and by 1932 and 1933, prices were down about 80% from their highs in the late 20’s.
The great crash of 1929 plunged the U.S. into what is known as “The Great Depression.” Between 1930 and 1933, about 9,000 banks failed. Production in the U.S. hit rock bottom and unemployment left millions of American’s out of work, and the rest, struggling to survive. In 1932, the New York City Police Department estimated that 7,000 people over the age of 17 shined shoes for a living. A popular song of the 30’s called, “Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?” expressed the nationwide despair.
Many Americans died of disease resulting from malnutrition. Thousands lost their homes because they could not pay the mortgage. Soup lines, hobo jungles (people who traveled in freight trains, camped and lived near train yards) and Hoovervilles (groups of shacks built out of tin cans and crates—Hoovervilles, a name that reflected the people’s anger at President Hoover) were common.
However, the great crash of 1929 is nothing compared to the great crash that will occur near the end of the Tribulation Period as described by our text. The despair of the hour is highlighted by the repeated phrase, “Alas, alas, that great city” which is found in verses 10, 16, and 19.
In our last study we saw that Babylon in chapter 18 represents a system, in particular, an economic system that has been controlled by the antichrist. We also saw the hour arriving when God’s judgment falls upon the kingdom of the antichrist. We read in verse 8, “for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.”
To refresh your memory, you see the motive of God’s judgment. In verse 5 we read, “For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” Like bricks piled one upon the other, the sins of the world have piled up before God, sins that are now judged by God.
There is also the measure of God’s judgment. We read in verse 6, “Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.” As the world has sown, so shall the world reap. We read in verse 7, “How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her.” God’s judgment is poured out in the measure of her sins. Double her sins have been, double her judgment will be. As she has lived, so will her judgment be.
In verses 1-8 we saw the collapse or crash of this world system. Now in verses 8-24 we see the reaction of the world to this great economic crash and the results of the crash. Let’s walk through these verses by first noticing:
1. A FALL THAT IS ACCELERATED
The events of chapter 18 do not extend over a period of time like many of the events we have seen in Revelation. The fall of this mighty system called Babylon does not happen over a period of time. We read in verse 8, “Therefore shall her plaques come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire.” Instead of weeks and months, it all happens in “one day.” It was be a fall that is quick and accelerated.
As we think of how accelerated these events are we are mindful of:
A) How Sudden the Outpouring of God’s Judgment
Notice once again verses 1-2, “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen…” The repeating of the words “is fallen” speaks of how sudden and rapid this judgment comes. In a split second of time, an angel descends from heaven, his mighty voice is heard and judgment falls.
I once preached on the island of Spanish Wells in the Bahamas. I met a fellow who had long scars on each side of his face. I ate breakfast at his house one morning and he told me the story of how he had received the scars. He was a lobster diver and years before he had been diving for lobsters. These lobster divers put a little air hose in their mouth and dive to the bottom. On this particular day he dove to the bottom and was gathering lobsters. He told me that he turned around and all he saw was the open mouth of a shark. It grabbed him by the head. He took the shark by the mouth and pulled his head free. He said to me, “I had no warning. I never knew it was there until I turned. It all happened so quickly.”
I can imagine that it will be a morning like all the others. The great city Babylon will awake with plans to do their own thing and live their normal godless lives, but then in an instant, a shout splits the air, and judgment is upon them.
Furthermore, the acceleration of God’s judgment makes us mindful of:
B) How Swift the Outcome of God’s Judgment
Verse 8 tells that it will all occur in one day. However, as you read on you find that this judgment will not last for a full day. It won’t even last for several hours. We read in verse 10 “for in one hour is thy judgment come.” Again in verse 17 we read, “For in one hour so great riches is come to nought.” In verse 19: “for in one hour is she made desolate.”
God’s judgment will come suddenly and be executed swiftly.
On June 25, 1876, Lt-Colonel George Armstrong Custer led a detachment of the 7th Calvary into a ravine where thousands of Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Indians under chiefs Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and Gall lying in wait. In what has been spoken of as the greatest defeat inflicted on the U.S. Army in the Plains Wars, and most commonly called “Custer’s last Stand,” Custer and an estimated 225 soldiers were killed. The battle lasted for approximately one hour.
In a similar fashion, the economic system of the antichrist will crash and it all will happen within one hour.
Secondly, we not only see a fall is accelerated, but also:
2. A FALL THAT IS ACCENTUATED
After the crash of 1929, the economy in the U.S. fell apart and the economic desolation brought despair to 13 million people. With the failure of banks and businesses, the entire nation was left in desperate conditions. Things were so desperate that qualified mechanics, engineers, and teachers were traveling the nation along with common laborers in a desperate search for work. Knocking on doors and begging for food was the norm.
Yet the despair that followed the 1929 crash is nothing compared to the despair that will follow the great crash of Babylon. Great will be the sorrow, grief and despair of the world. It is a despair that is accentuated by certain things. First, there is:
A) The Lamenting That Is Expressed
Revelation 18 describes the despair that grips the hearts of the people. We find such words as “bewail, lament, weep” and “mourn” describing their despair. As this despair is described, 3 particular groups of people are mentioned.
First, there is the despair that will grip the heart of the monarchs. We read in verse 9, “And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning.”
The “kings of the earth” refer to national leaders. These are the leaders of the world that have committed fornication with the antichrist. They had created an alliance with the antichrist and entered into a relationship with Him carrying out his purposes.
The great crash of 1929 largely involved the U.S. The great crash of the Tribulation will involve the whole world. Since there will be a one-world government, the governments and leaders of the world are so intertwined, the whole world is affected by the collapse of Babylon’s economy. This economic collapse will be felt from one end of the earth to the other.
The word “bewail” means “to sob, to wail aloud.” The word “lament” literally means “to beat the breast in grief.” On that day you will hear cries from the White House, the Kremlin, Downing Street, and from every political leader in the world. In one hour, the whole world’s economy will go down the drain, accentuated by the wailing of the world’s leaders.
We saw in Revelation 17 that the leaders of the world rejoiced at the destruction of ecumenical Babylon. However, now the tide turns and they wail at the destruction of economic Babylon.
There is also the despair that will grip the heart of the merchants. We read in verse 11, “And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her.” The word “merchants” speaks of those who deal in large quantities of trade items and international commerce. These are the CEO’s and large corporations of the world. These are those who control the commerce of the world.
This great despair of the merchants is explained in verse 11: “for no man buyeth their merchandise anymore.” Their despair is due to the great financial losses they incur. The collapse of the world’s economy leaves people with nothing to buy with. Their mega-corporations and mega-profits are completely wiped out. Their industrial empires will be in ruins before them. The world will be in one gigantic, universal, depression and their merchandise can not be bought.
As you look closer you find that John describes 28 categories of merchandise. Let me put them all into 3 categories.
We read in verse 12 that the luxuries of life are no longer affordable: “The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and thyine wood, and all manner of vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble.” All the jewelry stores will close. All the department stores that sell the fine linen, purple, scarlet, and silk will go out of business. All the specialty shops will shut their doors.
We read in verse 13 that all the necessities of life are beyond one’s ability to buy: “And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.” Food to sustain oneself cannot be bought. Jobs are not to be found. Tools by which you work cannot be purchased. Automobiles are beyond one’s ability to buy or afford.
We read in verse 14 that the novelties of life are unaffordable: “And the fruits that they soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more.” All the things one does for pleasure and brings pleasure are no longer things one can enjoy. The great crash has brought to end the enjoyment of such things.
We read once again of the despair of the merchants in verse 15: “The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing.” No one can buy, thus the merchants cannot sell. Great is their despair.
For a city that accustomed to everything the worse of the worst has come. We hear them all crying in verse 16-17a, “Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stone, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought.”
The third group that is mentioned which are gripped by despair are the mariners. We read in 17b-18, “And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!” These are those who have made great profits by transporting the merchandise of Babylon. Since production and distribution of goods around the world will be devastated, there is nothing to ship. Like the others, they find themselves in financial ruins.
People talk about the pro’s and con’s of the Free Trade Agreement and outsourcing, but none will care about such things when this great crash comes. There will be no trade between nations for all nations are in the grip of this great crash. All the monarchs, merchants and mariners will wail for sorrow, accentuating the judgment that falls.
Furthermore, we see this judgment accentuated by:
B) The Loss That Is Experienced
In verse 21 we read of another mighty angel and his actions: “And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more.” This mighty angel takes a millstone and throws it into the sea. This millstone is like the millstones used to grind grain which was four to five feet in diameter and approximately a foot thick. They were very heavy. The image reminds us that as a heavy millstone would sink quickly to the bottom of the sea, the fall of economic Babylon will be sudden, swift, and sure.
The prophet Jeremiah had this to say about the fall of Babylon: “Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil I will bring on her” (Jer. 51:64). Just as a millstone does not float back to the surface, neither will Babylon rise again.
John saw that Babylon “shall be no more.” With the destruction of Babylon, there are several things that cease or are lost with its fall. As you read verses 22-23 you find several things that will be “no more.” These “no mores” accentuate the despair God’s judgment brings.
In verse 22a we read that there will be no more music: “And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more.” No will feel like singing or playing. Music is often that which bring us joy and happiness, but there is no reason to be happy. Music will vanish and be no more.
Also in verse 22b we see that there will be no more manufacturing: “and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found anymore in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee.” The factories sit empty, machines sit silent, tools are unused and skills are useless. All work ceases and jobs are unknown.
In verse 23a we see that there will be no more marriage: “And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee, and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee.” Light in a person is a reflection of happiness in a person. Marriage is a time of gaiety and happiness. But the joy of such blissful unions is over. No more falling in love, no more wedding bells, and no more pronouncing a couple husband and wife.
Life as the world has known it has come to an end. Just around a corner a new age will be ushered in and society as man has known it is coming to end. It is the thoughts of the end of one and the start of another that leads to my final thought.
Lastly, we see:
3. A FALL THAT IS APPRECIATED
Notice back in verse 20 where we see an attitude opposite than the one we have been looking at. We read, “Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.” Once again we see a scene of heavenly rejoicing. In every heavenly scene we find in Revelation we find the saints of God rejoicing.
We see:
A) The Persons of this Heavenly Celebration
There is the “apostles and prophets.” From the Old Testament age there are the prophets. From the New Testament age there are the apostles. These are those who faithfully proclaimed God’s Word and promises. They rejoice!
They are not alone in their praise for we read that all of heaven joins in with them. The words “thou heaven” takes in every saint. Whether you realize it or not, you are seeing yourself in this scene. I am here rejoicing. You are rejoicing. All of heaven is rejoicing.
As we have seen all through Revelation, our great occupation in heaven is the worship and praise of God. I highly recommend that some of you get in a little practice down here, since that is what you are going to be doing all through eternity.
A collective sound of rejoicing is heard. Why are they rejoicing? Notice also:
B) The Purpose of this Heavenly Celebration
In their rejoicing there is the claim, “God hath avenged you on her.” Both earth and heaven know what is happening. God’s judgment has come. There is a celebration of God’s judgment. Throughout Revelation the saints of God have anticipated the hour when God would avenge Himself. They have eagerly waited for the hour when God would revenge Himself for the way the world has disrespected and mocked His name. That hour is come!
In verse 23-24 we read, “for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.” God is not only avenging His name but His people as well.
You can add a few more “no mores” to this scene. No longer will God’s name be dragged through the mud. No longer will men harass and persecute His people. As we shall see in chapter 19 the Lord Jesus is ready to return and take back what rightfully belongs to Him. All heaven knows this and breaks forth in praise.
In Edward Gibbon’s work The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, he gave five reasons why the mighty Roman Empire fell:
The fall of the mighty Babylonian Empire—the kingdom of the antichrist—is due to one major reason which we will see in chapter 19 – THE LORD IS COMING BACK TO THE EARTH TO RIGHTFULLY RULE AND REIGN OVER THE EARTH.
© 2006 by the Living Word. No part of this sermon shall be reproduced in any form, except for quotes, unless permission is received from the author. |