God's Justice and Mercy: The Hope of Revelation

Devotional

Day 1: The Fall of Babylon—God’s Justice Will Prevail

Throughout history, Babylon has symbolized the world’s rebellion against God, from the Tower of Babel to the oppressive empires of Egypt and Assyria, and finally to the great city in Revelation that stands for all that opposes God’s kingdom. The story of Babylon is a warning that no matter how powerful or alluring the kingdoms of this world may seem, they will ultimately fall under God’s perfect justice. The allure of power, wealth, and immorality is fleeting, and in a single day, all the pleasures and pride of this world will dissolve like a stone sinking into the ocean. God’s people are called to remember that justice is coming, and that the end of the story is one of restoration and joy for those who belong to Him. [38:36]

Revelation 18:21-22 (ESV)
Then a mighty 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 be found no more; and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are tempted to trust in the security or pleasures of this world rather than in God’s justice and promises? How can you take a step today to “come out” from that false security?

Day 2: If You Drink the Cup of Immorality, You Will Drink the Cup of Judgment

The seductive power of sin and immorality is portrayed as an attractive woman offering a cup filled with abominations, but those who drink from it will ultimately face the cup of God’s judgment. This is a sobering warning that runs through all of Scripture: sin is addictive and destructive, and to partake in it is to invite its consequences. Yet, there is one hope—Jesus Christ, who drank the cup of God’s wrath on our behalf, offering us forgiveness and freedom from condemnation. For those who are in Christ, there is no cup of wrath left to drink, but for those who persist in the ways of Babylon, judgment is certain. [56:54]

Revelation 18:4-6 (ESV)
Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.”

Reflection: Is there a temptation or pattern of sin that you have been excusing or minimizing? What would it look like for you to “come out” from it today and trust that Jesus has already taken the cup of judgment for you?

Day 3: Earthly Power and Pleasure Will Ultimately Devour Those Who Trust in Them

Aligning yourself with the power structures and pleasures of this world may seem advantageous for a time, but Scripture warns that these alliances are unstable and self-destructive. The beast and the prostitute—symbols of earthly power and immorality—eventually turn on each other, illustrating the law of rebound: evil rebounds on those who practice it. Whether it’s bitterness, dishonesty, or the pursuit of power, these things ultimately consume those who cling to them. God’s wisdom calls us to humility, forgiveness, and self-examination, rather than seeking to advance ourselves at the expense of others. [01:01:46]

Proverbs 26:27 (ESV)
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.

Reflection: Is there a relationship or situation where you have been tempted to use power, manipulation, or resentment to get your way? How can you choose humility and reconciliation instead, trusting God with the outcome?

Day 4: Hold Fast to Biblical Wisdom—Do Not Be Led Astray by Deception

The end times will be marked by powerful deception, with the Antichrist and false prophets performing signs and wonders to lead many astray. The call for God’s people is to hold fast to the truth of Scripture, to be wise and discerning, and not to be surprised or shaken by increasing persecution or chaos in the world. Those who know their Bibles and cling to Jesus will not be caught off guard, but will be prepared to stand firm, even if it means suffering for their faith. The Lamb will conquer all who oppose Him, and those who are called, chosen, and faithful will share in His victory. [01:09:00]

Matthew 24:24-25 (ESV)
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can deepen your knowledge of Scripture this week so that you are better equipped to recognize and resist deception?

Day 5: Our Cry of “How Long?” Will Become a Song of Hallelujah

In seasons of suffering, injustice, or waiting, God’s people often cry out, “How long, O Lord?” Yet, the promise of Revelation is that one day, Jesus will return, evil will be undone, and every tear will be wiped away. The agonizing cry of God’s people will be transformed into a song of rejoicing as we see the wisdom, power, and glory of God fully revealed. Even now, as we wait, we are invited to trust in God’s timing, rejoice in His salvation, and remember that He takes thought for us in our need. [01:23:50]

Psalm 40:16-17 (ESV)
But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!” As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!

Reflection: In what area of your life are you currently crying out, “How long, O Lord?” How can you choose to rejoice and trust in God’s help and deliverance today, even as you wait?

Sermon Summary

The story of God’s justice and mercy is woven throughout Scripture, culminating in the final chapters of Revelation. We are reminded that there are no coincidences in God’s plan—He has given us the end of the story so that we might live with hope and perseverance. As we return to Revelation, we see the ultimate fate of Babylon, the symbol of all that opposes God: the world’s systems of power, immorality, and deception. Babylon’s story is not just ancient history; it is a recurring pattern in the world and in our own hearts, where the temptation to build our own kingdoms and pursue our own glory is ever-present.

From the Tower of Babel to the empires of Egypt and Babylon, and even to Israel itself, we see that when people reject God’s ways, judgment follows. Yet, God’s justice is always measured and purposeful. The warnings in Revelation 17 and 18 are not just for the world “out there,” but for us. The seductive allure of Babylon—pleasure, power, and self-exaltation—can draw us in, but its end is always destruction. The world’s pleasures are fleeting, and its power structures ultimately turn on those who trust in them.

Three warnings ring out: If you drink the cup of immorality, you will drink the cup of judgment—unless Jesus has taken that cup for you. If you ride the beast of earthly power, it will eventually devour you. And if you do not hold fast to biblical wisdom, you will be led astray by demonic deception. These are not abstract theological points; they are spiritual realities that play out in our relationships, our ambitions, and our daily choices.

Yet, there is a promise that outshines every warning: for those who belong to Christ, the cry of “How long, O Lord?” will one day turn into a song of “Hallelujah!” Justice will be done, evil will be unmade, and God’s people will be vindicated and restored. In the end, it is not the details of the beast or Babylon that matter most, but the certainty that Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. He will wipe away every tear, and all suffering, injustice, and death will be swallowed up forever. Until that day, we are called to come out of Babylon, to live as those who are called, chosen, and faithful, and to rejoice in the hope of Christ’s return.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s justice is both patient and perfect, allowing time for repentance but ultimately bringing every evil to account. The story of Babylon is a warning that God’s judgment is not arbitrary; it is the necessary response to persistent rebellion and the oppression of His people. Even when it seems that evil prospers, God is working out His purposes, and His justice will be seen in the end. [42:00]
2. The seductive power of the world—symbolized by Babylon—offers pleasure, wealth, and influence, but these are fleeting and ultimately destructive. The “cup of immorality” is attractive, but it leads to the “cup of judgment.” Only those who have trusted in Christ, who drank the cup of wrath on our behalf, are spared from this fate. This calls us to examine where we seek satisfaction and to turn from the world’s empty promises. [52:31]
3. Aligning ourselves with earthly power, whether in politics, business, or relationships, can seem advantageous, but such alliances are inherently unstable and self-destructive. The very systems we trust to elevate us will eventually turn and consume us, as seen in the law of rebound throughout Scripture. True security and significance are found only in humble dependence on God, not in the pursuit of power. [61:46]
4. Spiritual deception is a real and present danger, especially in times of upheaval and uncertainty. Without a firm grounding in biblical wisdom, even the elect can be led astray by the allure of false teaching, counterfeit miracles, and the promises of the Antichrist. Vigilance, discernment, and a deep love for the truth are essential to persevere in faith and resist the schemes of the enemy. [60:13]
5. The hope of God’s people is not in escaping suffering, but in the certainty of Christ’s ultimate victory and restoration. Our present cry of “How long?” is met with the promise that one day, every wrong will be made right, every tear wiped away, and we will rejoice in the presence of our King. Until then, we are called to endure, to come out from the world’s corruption, and to live as those who are called, chosen, and faithful, awaiting the hallelujah of Christ’s return. [83:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[33:30] - Health Update and God’s Providence
[36:00] - Community in Suffering
[38:36] - Babylon: The Pattern of Rebellion
[40:13] - God’s Judgment on Human Pride
[42:00] - The Justice of God in History
[44:10] - Babylon and the Beast: Symbols of Evil
[45:30] - The Allure and Danger of Worldly Temptation
[47:44] - Three Warnings and a Promise
[48:47] - Psalm 40 and the Cry for Justice
[52:31] - The Cup of Immorality and Judgment
[56:54] - Jesus Drinks the Cup for Us
[58:19] - The Beast of Power Devours Its Own
[60:13] - The Danger of Spiritual Deception
[61:46] - The Law of Rebound and Self-Destruction
[83:50] - Closing Prayer and Psalm 40

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Revelation 17–18 — (ESV, selected verses)

> Revelation 17:1–2
> Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.”

> Revelation 18:4–5
> Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.”

> Revelation 19:1–2
> After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

Psalm 40 — (Read the whole Psalm, but especially verses 1–3 and 16–17)

Observation Questions

In Revelation 17 and 18, what are some of the main images or symbols used to describe Babylon and its fate? ([44:10])
According to Revelation 18:4, what command does God give to His people regarding Babylon? What is the reason for this command? ([52:31])
What is the response of heaven in Revelation 19:1–2 after the judgment of Babylon? ([36:00])
In the sermon, what Old Testament stories or nations are connected to the idea of “Babylon” and God’s judgment? ([40:13])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Babylon is portrayed as both attractive and dangerous in these chapters? What does this say about the nature of temptation and sin? ([45:30])
The sermon mentions that God’s justice is “measured and purposeful.” How does this challenge common ideas about God’s judgment being harsh or arbitrary? ([42:00])
The call to “come out of her, my people” is not just for the world “out there,” but for us. What might it look like for a Christian today to “come out of Babylon”? ([52:31])
The sermon describes a “law of rebound”—that evil and power eventually turn on those who trust in them. How have you seen this principle play out in history, in the world, or even in personal relationships? ([01:01:46])

Application Questions

The sermon warns that “if you drink the cup of immorality, you will drink the cup of judgment—unless Jesus has taken that cup for you.” Are there areas in your life where you are tempted to seek satisfaction in the world’s pleasures rather than in Christ? What would it look like to turn from those things this week? ([52:31])
“If you ride the beast of earthly power, it will eventually devour you.” Are there ways you are tempted to trust in power, influence, or status—at work, in your family, or in your community? How can you practice humble dependence on God instead? ([01:01:46])
The sermon talks about the danger of spiritual deception, especially in times of uncertainty. What are some practical ways you can stay grounded in biblical wisdom and avoid being led astray by false teaching or empty promises? ([01:00:13])
The call to “come out of her, my people” is a call to live differently. Is there a specific area where you feel God is calling you to separate from the world’s values or systems? What step could you take this week to obey that call? ([52:31])
The hope of God’s people is not in escaping suffering, but in the certainty of Christ’s victory. When you find yourself asking “How long, O Lord?” in your own life, how can you remind yourself of the promise that one day every wrong will be made right? ([47:44])
The sermon ends with the promise that Jesus will wipe away every tear and that all suffering and injustice will be swallowed up forever. How does this future hope shape the way you face trials or disappointments right now? ([01:23:50])
The sermon mentions that God’s justice allows time for repentance. Is there someone in your life who needs to hear about God’s justice and mercy? How might you share this hope with them this week? ([42:00])

Sermon Clips

Babylon, the great city, the symbol of the enemy of God, all enemies of God. Babylon where Israel spent 70 years themselves in exile, the, the nation that took Israel captive. We first meet Babylon, I learned this from the Bible project in, in Genesis 11 as the Tower of Babel. I, I didn't know that the word for Babylon in the Bible is Babel, Babel. So the tower that we call the Tower of Babel is actually the Tower of Babylon. [00:38:54] (37 seconds) #BabylonBeginsAtBabel

God's first judgment on Babylon was there in Genesis 11, scattering and confusing the language and spreading them out. Then we see Babylon come up over and over again in the story, but not necessarily named. The next time we meet the great kingdom of the world is with a guy named Pharaoh in Egypt. This evil power of the world that oppresses the people of God, keeps them as slaves, abuses them, and God raises up Moses to go and say, let my people go, and ten acts of mighty judgment, and the great city, the great empire of Egypt comes under the judgment of God, and the entire army is devastated in the Red Sea. Pharaoh himself is humbled. [00:41:01] (42 seconds) #GodJudgesOppression

If you read the Old Testament without that context, you're like, this seems very violent. Why is it sometimes they go in and they're like, and God says, wipe them out altogether. It's because the sin in that nation had become so severe, there was no mercy left for them, and that's the conquest of the land. We see that. Again, it's a judgment on Babylon, and then, in an unforeseen twist in the biblical narrative, the judgment God had brought over and over again on the kingdoms of men, suddenly, the prophets of God like Isaiah and Jeremiah start speaking these words of judgment and warnings of judgment on Israel. Israel had become Babylon. [00:42:39] (44 seconds) #JudgmentReflectsSinSeverity

The Bible is filled with alarms like that, that are essentially fire alarms, that are saying, warning, warning, warning, judgment is coming, Jesus is coming, and only a fool would ignore warnings like this. We have three of them here in this passage. Warning number one, if you drink the cup of immorality, you will drink the cup of judgment. [00:50:27] (22 seconds) #JudgmentIsInevitable

To take part in her sins is to then take part in her plagues. These are Old Testament warnings that take us back to the story of Lot. Remember, Abraham and Lot, his nephew, split up. Abraham said, you go left, I'll go right, our flocks are too big. So Lot ends up in this fertile valley where the two cities are called Sodom and Gomorrah, and it turns out they're filled with wickedness and immorality, and so God tells Abraham, I'm going to wipe out that valley with those two wicked cities, and Abraham, in a moment of intercession and mediating for his nephew, says, can we rescue my nephew and his family so that they don't get burned up in the just wrath of God, and God agrees. [00:53:50] (46 seconds) #LotAndTheCupOfJudgment

If you drink the cup of immorality, you will drink the cup of judgment. There's only one exception to that inescapable rule of God's justice, and that's if Jesus drank that cup for you. And this is a beautiful passage in Isaiah 51. Thus says the Lord, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering, the cup of drunkenness and immorality. I've taken that. The bowl of my wrath you shall drink no more. This is what Jesus meant as he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. Father, take this cup from me. [00:56:18] (36 seconds) #JesusTookOurCupOfWrath

But instead, Jesus prayed, not my will, but yours be done, and committed himself to finish the task for the joy set before him of our redemption and our joyful service with him for eternity. So he took from our hand the cup of wrath that you and I should have drank. [00:57:34] (22 seconds) #NoCondemnationInChrist

If Jesus drank it for you, Romans 8 says there's no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. There's no cup of wrath for you to drink in judgment, and we'll see that in the great white throne of judgment, for those whose name is already in the Lamb's book of life. [00:58:20] (16 seconds) #PowerCorruptsAndConsumes

Warning number two, if you ride the beast of earthly power, it will eventually devour you. So here's the woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names with seven heads and ten horns. We saw this beast come crawling out of the ocean where the dragon represents the devil. The beast is the Antichrist, and then another beast comes crawling out of the earth, and that's the false prophet. So the book of Revelation presents us with a false trinity, with the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. [00:58:38] (31 seconds) #EvilReboundsOnTheEvilDoer

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What is the significance of the ending of the story?

How does Babylon symbolize worldly temptation and rebellion?

What does riding the beast represent in biblical prophecy?