Replace Worldliness with Christ

 

REVELATION 18:1-24

 

 

JESUS CELEBRATING THE END OF WORLDLINESS (18:20-24)

WORLDLINESS USES THE DEAFENING SPELL OF ENTERTAINMENT Revelation 18:20 "Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!" (They refused to listen to God's servants) 21 Then 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. (They lost their opportunity to live forever, instead they will die forever) 22 "The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. (No more music and tunes to drown out God ) No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore.23 "The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.24 "And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth."

 

? Gone will be the diversions. Music and entertainment are shut down. The work that captivates so many keeping them from spiritual things ceases. The regular grind (millstone) of life stops. There is nothing left to hide the thoughts of God. No diversions, no distractions! This is just another of the endings of this chapter.

 

? The profits of commerce ended in v. 11.

 

? The enjoyment of exotic commodities ended in v. 14.

 

? The whole system of materialism burned in v. 21

 

? The very sounds of life: music, industry, and home cease in v. 22.

 

 

? Finally even light and social life v. 23 stop.

 

Why? Because of the sorceries (Greek. Pharmakeia) the drug induced stupors of addiction, the demonic induced bondage of the astrology industry, the godless and mindless following of the evolutionary, dehumanization of mankind by philosophy and secular education. All the evils are facing judgment day.

WHAT IDOLS DO WE NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR TODAY?

What are some of these deadly modern idols? We can take a look at some of the old ones the Lord condemns, and then looking around we can see their modern counterparts. For instance, the oldest book in the world is probably the Old Testament account of Job. So the oldest record of man's struggle with idols, and what was a very tempting idol back four thousand or more years ago? The same as today; THE IDOL OF MONEY.

Job 31:24-28 "If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, `You are my security,' if I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my hands had gained, if I have regarded the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor, so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand offered them a kiss of homage, then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high. (NIV)

The Old Testament prophets WARNED THAT THE ISRAELITES COULD BEGIN TO WORSHIP THEIR CAREER, JOB, OCCUPATION OR TECHNOLOGY. And then his work would become an idol. Note the little minor prophet Habakkuk.

Habakkuk 1:15-16 The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet; and so he rejoices and is glad. Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, for by his net he lives in luxury and enjoys the choicest food. (NIV)

In the New Testament church, the apostle Paul warned the saints at Philippi to BEWARE OF THE POTENTIAL IDOL OF APPETITE, AND PHYSICAL DESIRES.

Philippians 3:19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. (NIV)

 

WHAT DOES GOD TRULY WANT FROM US?

Since no one has ever seen the Father, we need to listen to Jesus: Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus replied: "`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all

your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. (NIV)

All of this we saw is only a foretaste of what's to come. But God has not left us without instructions. In Revelation we see truth to live by for a safe future.

 

HOW DO WE SURVIVE?

BUILD YOUR LIFE WITH FIREPROOF MATERIALS

 

1. REMEMBER JESUS COMPARES OUR EARTHLY LIFE TO A BUILDING, SO WE MUST WATCH WHAT WE BUILD WITH AND WHERE. [Quakes, fires, hurricanes, floods]

 

 

? I Corinthians 3:10-17 According to the grace of God, which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward

 

 

2. REMEMBER JESUS SAYS OUR LIFE IS A STEWARDSHIP, SO WATCH WHERE YOU INVEST IT. [Scams, bilked out of millions, folded companies, Depco, stock market crashes]

 

 

? 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

 

 

3. REMEMBER JESUS SAYS OUR LIFE IS LIKE A RACE, SO WATCH OUT FOR THE RULES, KNOW THE BOUNDARIES AND KEEP THE BAGGAGE AT A MINIMUM. [We must keep in the lines, follow the rules, and not trip]

 

 

? Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (KJV)