Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”
And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”
Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”
Comment: Yesterday ended up with an angel calling clearly for people on earth to stand in awe or if appropriate, rank fear of God’s coming judgement. God’s GRACE is vast and flows like a river to those living on the earth, because of what Jesus has done. But in the end God wants sin and its results at all levels eradicated! Thus the first angel who comes onto the scene today speaks to Babylon. Here, not a geographical city, but a concept standing for places devoted to rebellion against God. Specifically this angel announces judgement on sexual immorality and deviations. The last half of Romans chapter 1 powerfully expresses God’s attitude to sexual matters.
The next angel announces what will happen to those who are marked as following the ‘beast’ – a person or possibly a type of those standing against God and His people. What is coming for them sounds horrific! But after all it was, in the Bible, what God had promised for His Opposition, who had refused His Proffered GRACE!
And at the end a call for perseverance for God’s people (the saints, a word which in the Bible stands for all true believers) and describes their future blessed estate! Note that their deeds followed them. It is, as believers, significant how we live! Not re our salvation, but God will express His opinion, in an appropriate manner, of how we have lived.
Prayer: Help me to live in a way which causes You much joy and approval, please Father.
As I read it! 