Read Revelation 18:20–19:5
Yesterday, we read about people on the earth mourning the destruction of Babylon. Today, we see a contrast: rejoicing over Babylon’s destruction. Heaven, saints, apostles, and prophets are all told to rejoice in 18:20. We see Heaven doing just that in the remainder of this section. Angels sing “Hallelujah,” and the 24 elders around the throne join in the song and bow down in worship to God.
Despite all of this celebration, some of us might find ourselves having a hard time joining in the excitement. Have we not always been told to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:31) and to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15)? Isn’t it God’s desire that no one perish (2 Peter 3:9)? So, why do we now see a sanctioned party after so much destruction and suffering?
The short answer is that God’s justice has prevailed, and that is reason to celebrate. He is good and all of His ways are good, and we should be excited when good wins. But to unpack this a little more, we should also remember that the real enemy being judged here is Babylon. It is the anti-God spirit that has been reigning
over the earth since the fall in Genesis 3. Outside of Christ, all of us are enslaved to that terrible master. And we have seen the effects of that evil on us and the people around us. As we have read here in Revelation, it brings nothing but death and destruction. But God provides salvation, which the multitude reminds us of in 19:1.
In the here and now, we should lament over the people who do not know God. We should grieve over the fact that so many of our neighbors and loved ones are enslaved to a master who only wants to see their demise. That grief should lead us to want to share the hope of Jesus with them so they can escape the pain of evil. At the same time, we should eagerly look forward to the day when the culture of the world will be defeated and will no longer be allowed to trap anyone else. Tomorrow, we will read more about the glory that defeat brings.
