All Nations Drunk with the Wrath of Fornication Revelation 18:3

An angel showed John the apostle the “great whore” who was sitting upon a “scarlet colored beast” and was “arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls”. John continued by sharing, “And the woman which you saw is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth”, and he added, “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, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” In chapter eighteen and verse three of Revelation the angel tells John how “all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” where we read:

For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

The verse reads, “For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, ...” John began with the words, “for all nations” which means “because, on account of and since each, every, the whole and everyone of the companies, troops, tribes and people groups” “have drunk” or “imbibed” “of the wine” which means “fiery” “of the wrath” which means “the passion, anger, heat, boiling up, inflaming and fierce indignation” “of her fornication” which means “pertaining to Babylon's worship and defilement of idols ”,“and the kings” or “and the rulers, leaders, princes, commanders and lords” “of the earth” which means “the arable land, country, territory and region” “have committed” or “prostituted, given, worshiped and practiced” “fornication” which means “spiritual idolatry” “with her” or “with the city of Babylon”. The “voice” from heaven gave the reason as “spiritual idolatry” for God's “wrath” being poured out upon “Babylon”.

The verse continues, “... and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.” John continued with the words, “and the merchants” which means “the wholesale tradesmen whether by sea or land” “of the earth” or “the arable land, country, territory and region” “are waxed rich” or “have abundance, are richly supplied and affluent in resources” “through the abundance” which refers to “by the power, strength, ability and influence which belong to riches and wealth” “of her delicacies” or “pertaining to Babylon's excessive strength, luxury and eager desire”. All the “business” people in the world have become “rich and powerful” from this great and powerful city of “Babylon”.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we see how much influence and affluence was gained through the city of “Babylon”. “Tradesmen” throughout the world were made “rich” from the “abundance” of supply which was offered within this great city. Because these people will be wealthy, they forsake or reject a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ, and though they are “rich”, they will be extremely poor. God desires for all people to be “rich” in Him, and when a person receives Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” they have moved from “temporary Babylonian-like” riches to the true riches of God.

Next time John, “heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.