We complete Revelation 18 this time. This is an awful picture of the depravity of mankind and the judgment of God upon the world that has rejected Him. As we come to the end of Revelation 18, we are looking at the final announcement that the Lord has brought at this time. This is an announcement of joy.
In Revelation 18:20 it says, “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her.” It is interesting isn’t it that the very thing that the world sorrows over can sometimes bring joy to the followers of Jesus Christ. It depends on where your heart is. The unbelievers of this time, characterized by Babylon the great and all those that were wrapped around her, they loved the sensuality and immorality and the materialism that came from this system. However, God judged it because this system was godless and rejected Him. The believers here in Revelation 18:20 are rejoicing over God’s righteous judgment upon sin. While the world mourns because its lost its stuff, hopes, and dreams, the child of God rejoices because the righteous judge of all the earth has done that which is right, and He has judged that which is godless and that which needed to be judged. So, we find joy here. It is a pronouncement, even a command of sorts, to, “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints,” who follow the Lord.
He goes on in Revelation 18:21 and says, “Then a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer.” So, this millstone, this very heavy millstone being “thrown into the sea” is a symbolic gesture of the destruction of Babylon itself.
We continue, notice at this point the cadence of “no longer.” Six different times we are told something does not happen “any longer” as we see in Revelation 18:22, “And the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer,” that is the sounds of joy. Things that are fun and enjoyable and musical. We continue, “and no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer.” Now, we are having these crafts and abilities to create things destroyed . . .
