The previous passage of scripture gives us a vivid account of the judgement to be incurred by Babylon the great. There are three main points that the Holy Spirit reveals to us in this passage. Firstly, we see that her destruction will be very sudden, in that it will happen overnight. In other words, its destruction will not be gradual but rather as a result of a sudden cataclysmic event taking place which will take everyone by surprise. For the scripture states that, “her plagues will come in one day”, and “in one hour your judgment has come”, and again, “in one hour such great riches came to nothing”. Secondly, we see that her destruction will be extremely violent. For the scripture says that, “a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore”. The scripture also gives us an indication as to what type of violence will be used to destroy her, for the scripture says that, “she will be utterly burned with fire”, and “they will see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance for fear of her torment”. It is interesting to note that in describing those who see the smoke of her burning, that they will stand at a distance for fear of her torment. The Holy Spirit records that aspect for us on more than one occasion, for the scripture says, “the merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment”, and again, “every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning”.
Michael E.B. Maher
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