Babylon?

Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her:
death, mourning and famine.
She will be consumed by fire,
for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

Revelation 18:8

The prophecy in the book of Revelation about “Babylon the Great” is frightening. It is the God predicted and yes God inspired destruction of a country that is called a harlot or prostitute. It must be a country that was created with allegiance to God and then turned away to follow other gods. It must be a country that trusted in God and then sold itself to the highest bidder.

The outward appearance of two married women cannot tell you which one is a prostitute. Their hair may look the same, they may be wearing identical dresses and they both may have glowing smiles. But the prostitute is the one who has been repeatedly intimate with someone other than her husband and she does so for personal financial gain.

In the United States of America, when someone says “I vote my pocketbook” they are saying that they will make choices about our country for their own financial gain regardless of principle or morality.

Could the United States be “Babylon the Great” of Revelation 18? I suppose we can only know that for sure if the country is at some point “consumed by fire.” The United States certainly can be described as one that honored God and then turned to other gods! Even the President proclaims to the world that we are not a Christian nation.

Then there is a call for God’s people to separate themselves from “Babylon the Great.” Revelation 18:4 says:

Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
"Come out of her, my people,
so that you will not share in her sins,
so that you will not receive any of her plagues;

How can God’s people “come out of” Babylon? The answer to that question is not easy. Most people do not have the means or ability to get up and move out of their country. The key to the admonition of Revelation 18:4 seems to be to “not share in her sins.”

Wherever you live and in whatever country you find yourself, make it your determination not to share in the national sins of your nation. Just because a thing is legal in your country, does not mean that it is not a sin in the eyes of the Lord! If you cannot keep from sharing in the sins of your country unless you physically leave, then leave. Leave like Lot did if you must. But leave. If you cannot leave, then trust the Lord who kept Daniel’s friends unscathed in the fiery furnace that He can keep you safe through whatever may come. Someone said that some Christians are delivered from the mouths of lions and others are delivered by the mouths of lions, but they are all delivered.

When a man turns his heart to Jesus he gives up his citizenship on this earth. Too many Christians are trying to maintain dual citizenship. Citizens of Heaven cannot belong to another country as well!