Smoke that Leads to Great Grief Revelation 18:18

An “angel” from heaven showed John the apostle many things which will occur in the tribulation time on the earth and how the commercial center of “Babylon” “had fallen”, and John wrote, “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 thy 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! 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. ” In chapter eighteen and verse eighteen of Revelation John heard the “merchants” cry “when they saw the smoke of” Babylon's “burning” where we read:

And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

The verse reads, “And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ...” John began with the words, “and cried” which means “vociferated, spoke with a loud voice, shrieked, entreated and screamed” “when” or “at the time and moment” “they saw” which means “the merchants looked upon, perceived, noticed, discovered and discerned” “the smoke” or “the smoke as from a burning pile” “of her burning” which means “of Babylon's smelting, conflagration and calamity”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”. John heard the “merchantmen” wail and cry aloud when they saw the city of Babylon burning.

The verse continues, “... What city is like unto this great city!” John added the words “what city” which means “where is there another dwelling place, abode and habitation” “is like unto” or “similar to and as” “this great city” or “the massive, abundant and large dwelling place, abode and habitation of “Babylon”!. John heard the grievous proclamation by the “merchants” who knew no other city that resembled “Babylon”.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we can almost hear the anguish of these “merchantmen” who cared for the city of “Babylon” in such a deep way. Their “faith and confidence” was in this temporary city, and at this time their short-lived abundance was gone. People wail and cry today over things that are temporary in the world, and when the loss of them come, they become distraught and inconsolable. God Almighty has an “eternal” alternative, and when a person places their “faith and trust” in His Son Jesus, they not only shall have “eternal rewards” which never pass away, but also obtain everlasting life. The “burning” away of “temporal things” often reveals what is truly in a person's heart, and should there be one reading these words who has put their confidence in that which passes away, may today be the day they put their trust in Jesus who remains for all eternity.

Next time we see how the “merchants”, “cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing”, 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.