Riches Gone in One Hour Revelation 18:17

An “angel” from heaven showed John the apostle many things which will occur in the tribulation time on the earth, and he continued, “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, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 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. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she has filled fill to her double. How much she has glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she says in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judges her. 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. Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is your judgment come. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buys their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble. And cinnamon, and odors, 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. And the fruits that your soul lusted after are departed from you, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from you, and you shall find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! ” In chapter eighteen and verse seventeen of Revelation we learn how, “in one hour so great riches is come to nothing” where we read:

For in one hour so great riches is come to nothing. And every ship-master, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

The verse reads, “For in one hour so great riches is come to nothing.” John began with the word, “for” which means “because, since and on account” “in one hour” or “in one single hour of the day” “so great riches” which means “such large amounts and quantities of wealth, abundance, plenitude and that with which one is enriched” “is come to nothing” which means “is made desolate, waste, despoiled and ruined”. John heard the “merchants” wailing because all the “riches” within the city of Babylon have been destroyed in one hour's time.

The verse continues, “... And every ship-master, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, ” John added the words “and every ship-master” which means “and each, all, the whole and everyone of the steersmen, helmsmen and sailing masters” “and all the company” or “and each, every, the whole and everyone of the crowd, throng and multitude of men gathered together” “in ships” or “in sailing vessels”, “and sailors” which means “and seamen and mariners”, “and as many as” or “however many and whoever there is that” “trade” which means “work, labor, do business and produce” “by sea” or “through use of the sea in general and specifically the Mediterranean or Red Sea”, “stood afar off” which means “took their place, were made firm, fixed and established from a far distance away”. Masters of “merchant ships”, tradesmen within the ships, “seamen” and “workers” all stayed far away from the city of “Babylon”.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we see how all these people avoided the city of Babylon at this point. For some reason, possibly the burning itself, nuclear fall out or some other devastating condition fell upon the city so that no one could come near it. This destruction is thorough, and even those who were used to “trading, bartering and doing business” within the city were standing “afar off” from it. This city, filled with temporary wares, is a great warning to all who read these words. God Almighty and His Son Jesus Christ want every person to know the “eternal and true riches” which cannot be destroyed. Though the “riches” of Babylon shall disappear in “one hour”, the relationship with God will last forever. Those who are wise shall choose the “everlasting” treasure that God offers through His Son Jesus.

Next time we learn how the “merchants”, “cried when they saw the smoke of” “Babylon's” “burning”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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