Revelation 18:20 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Revelation 18:20

Comments

The joy that God commands here will not end in sorrow, but will continue forever. It is the joy of an eternal victory. It is a joy that never fades, a joy unmixed with wickedness. Victorious over the world, they will know that they have gained a status which will never be taken from them. That constant worry that dogs the unbeliever, the anxiety that all this cannot last, that he must soon lose all that he has accumulated in life; this is absent from the minds of the glorified saints. They are free forever from the curse and the process of decay that was part and parcel of life on earth.Rejoice, O heaven, because heaven has also been involved in this battle. The angels, who have stood loyal to the Lord, have also had to wage war with the devil and his angels. They too have had to wait for the time when Christ’s great work of redemption was complete and the very last soul has been redeemed from the earth.Rejoice also, you holy and apostles and prophets. Although the conjunction of these two words is used at times in the New Testament to refer to the New Testament prophets (1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 3:5; 4:11), the context here requires a more universal meaning. Verse 24 of this chapter tells us that it is the blood of all who were slain on the earth that is in mind when the angel speaks of the prophets. Christ sets the Old Testament prophets before us as an example of suffering which we are to emulate (Matthew 5:12). They too suffered at her hands. Babylon is the world which was manifested in those Jews who murdered the prophets. She is that kingdom of the devil to which all belong who have not been called out by Christ. God has avenged and his vengeance is more thorough than any that we might deliver. It takes into account all that the world has ever done to the saints; God has forgotten none of the tears of his people. Though he seems not to act, though the poor saints are tempted to think that he does not care at times, the vigour with which he finally executes judgment will convince them that it was his patience, not his lack of concern, that delayed vengeance.

Application

God’s command to rejoice is always good and it is safe. So much human rejoicing will be regretted. Men rejoice at the prospect of gain, at the possession of riches, at their success in getting away with sin. But for all these joys they will experience a corresponding sorrow. That sorrow will be greater than any joy which knew in the act of sin. Is it really worth indulging in a joy that will be snatched away from us? ‘Solid joys and lasting treasure, none but Zion’s children know.’

But how easy it will be for the saints to obey this command. Now they know they are utterly in tune with the will of God. To do his will is their great pleasure. They will prove that godliness with contentment is great gain. It is such gain as they never imagined on earth. They have been brought into an infinite realm of pleasure in the presence of God. They bask in his approval, the object of his love whose care and protection is guaranteed for eternity.

World governments will be judged if there is no repentance and turning away from the seductress, this present world culture, covetousness, love of things, sexual alternatives! Rome fell not only to homosexuality but to gender fluidity too. All those things undermined Rome in ancient times, and they are undermining the West right now, and bringing this nation – the USA and others and all of Europe – down also. We can see it happening before our eyes. All the hatred that is directed against Christ and the church, and the persecution of individuals, will be avenged when the beast out of the sea, world governments, and the woman Babylon, finally fall.

Questions

Should we rejoice over human misery? No, but Babylon is at an end; no more souls will be sucked into its deception. What a day will be the triumph of Christ! Vengeance – God has seen more than enough hostility towards his people. Now he will repay it.

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Introduction

Revelation 18:20 Commentary and Bible Study