Have you heard the story of a boiling frog? It describes a frog slowly boiled alive. The premise is that if a frog is placed in boiling water, it will jump out, but if it is placed in cold water that is slowly heated, it will not perceive the danger and will be cooked to death. The story is often used as a metaphor for those who are unwilling to react or be aware of the upcoming gradual threats or challenges. C.S. Lewis said, “The safest road to hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestone, without signposts.” In the days of Noah, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered the ark. They knew nothing until the flood hit and swept everything away. So, Jesus says to his disciples and us, “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming” (Matt 24:42 ESV). In Revelation 22 Jesus says three times, “Behold, I am coming soon!” (7, 12, 20) Jesus wants us to stay awake and have a sense of urgency. Then, as the bride of Christ, how may we – as a church and as individuals – be prepared for the Day of the Lord? Today’s passage gives us an answer to this question.
Worship God
Worship God
In the passage the Apostle John sees an angel who has the eternal gospel. This gospel prepares and equips us for the Day. Basically, the eternal gospel has three messages. The first angel proclaims, “Worship God alone!” In verse 7 the angel says, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” The top chronic disease of humankind is idol worship. John Calvin said, “The human heart is a factory of idols… Every of us is, from his or her mother’s womb, expert in inventing idols.” Our problem today is the same as the one in the day of Elijah. At that time the Israelites thought they believed and worshiped God rightly. But it was not true. When Elijah confronted Baal’s prophets, he said to the people, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is god, follow him!” (1Kg 18:21). If we are willing to follow God, we must get rid of our idols first. We cannot worship God with divided hearts. When I was in Thailand as an exchange student, I was surprised that the people there accepted Christ rather easily than I expected. But, the problem was that they didn’t want to give up their other beliefs. They said, “I believe in Christ. But I still believe in Buddha. Both of them are all good for me.” Many Christians today have the same attitude. They sit on the fence. They stay in the gray zone. But the Book of Revelation clearly says that in the last days only two groups of people will exist: “Those who have the seal of God” (Those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes) vs. “Those who have the mark of the beast (Those who follow the ways of Babylon).” We belong to one of the two groups. We cannot belong to the both groups at the same time. Love for Babylon and love for God cannot coexist. Love for Babylon pushes out love for God. Then, what does mean to love “Babylon”? The message of the second angel gives us a clue to this question.
Don’t Worship Babylon
Don’t Worship Babylon
The second message is this: “Don’t worship Babylon!” In verse 8 the angel proclaims, “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.” Here “Babylon” refers to “the kingdom of the devil.” The Book of Revelation, especially chapter 13-19, describes what the devil’s kingdom is like with detail. The devil parodies the Holy Trinity and establishes his own false trinity: “the beast out of the sea,’ ‘the beast out of the earth,’ and ‘Babylon the prostitute.’ They are three enemies of the church. First, the beast out of the sea represents physical persecution (13:1-10). He has an impressive show of power. He is given a mouth to blaspheme God. He is also given power to persecute the church. Second, the beast out of the earth represents intellectual false teaching (13:11-18). He has two horns like a lamb, masquerading as a counterpart to Christ the Lamb. He performs miraculous signs, deceives the people on earth, and made them worship the first beast. Third, Babylon the prostitute represents moral compromise (14:8; ch. 17-18). She is described as seductive prostitute who devours the church and its saints. In the early church the devil tried to crush the church by force. He tried to mislead the church by false teaching and by distracting the apostles from their ministry of the Word and so exposing the church to heresy. He tried to corrupt the church by the moral hypocrisy of Ananias and Sapphira. All over the world today the same threefold assault on the church – physical, intellectual, and moral attacks – is still mounted by the devil.
The difficult part is that the strategy of Satan is so subtle, so mixed. It is so hard to perceive it. So, many people, even many Christians are deceived because not only does Satan persecute the church, but also he provides some kind of distorted comfort, rest, pleasures and happiness to the people. So, in Revelation 18 when Babylon is fallen, many people on earth weep and mourn over her because their hope of pleasures is gone. But the word of God, particularly the Book of Revelation, enables us to see this Satan’s subtle deception. It also enables us to see the conclusion of Babylon, the devil’s kingdom. It will be destroyed completely, suddenly and eternally. So today God proclaims his eternal gospel to John and to us through the angel. Don't worship the wealth of Babylon, don't worship the power of Babylon, and don't worship the pleasures of Babylon. But worship God and Jesus the Lamb! (cf. 19:10; 22:9)
Choose Today
The difficult part is that the strategy of Satan is so subtle, so mixed. It is so hard to perceive it. So, many people, even many Christians are deceived because not only does Satan persecute the church, but also he provides some kind of distorted comfort, rest, pleasures and happiness to the people. So, in Revelation 18 when Babylon is fallen, many people on earth weep and mourn over her because their hope of pleasures is gone. But the word of God, particularly the Book of Revelation, enables us to see this Satan’s subtle deception. It also enables us to see the conclusion of Babylon, the devil’s kingdom. It will be destroyed completely, suddenly and eternally. So today God proclaims his eternal gospel to John and to us through the angel. Don't worship the wealth of Babylon, don't worship the power of Babylon, and don't worship the pleasures of Babylon. But worship God and Jesus the Lamb! (cf. 19:10; 22:9)
Choose Today
The third message of the eternal gospel is, “Choose today for yourselves!” The angel contrasts between two groups of people. First, in verse 11 the angel warns those who worship Babylon that they will have no rest day or night. They might have temporary distorted pleasures and happiness, but their end will come like a thief. But, in verse 13 the angel of God blesses those who worship God alone, remain faithful to Jesus, and even die in the Lord. The Spirit promises, “Yes, they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” The conclusion of the eternal gospel is crystal clear, that is, “Choose today for yourselves whom you will worship and follow! Don’t sit on the fence any longer!” We know whom we must choose today. We “know” the answer, but the problem is that we don’t have “power” to follow God because we are made of flesh and blood, because the enemy’s physical, intellectual, and moral attacks and temptations are too strong to defeat. That’s why Jesus became flesh and blood. By his death he broke the power of the devil, who has the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who put their hope in this world and have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying (Heb 2:14-15). Jesus opened the door for us to clearly see the two things: the eternity of the kingdom of God and the vanity of the kingdom of the world. The Book of Revelation is all about this. The more our eyes are open for the hope of the kingdom of God, the more we will risk death for God’s kingdom and his righteousness, the more we will hate sin and compromise, and the more we will devote ourselves to the work of God without reserve.
Scottish missionary David Livingstone in his last days had been “lost” to the outside world. Henry Stanley was sent out to find Livingstone. Finally, he found Livingstone who was suffering from tropical disease in the small village in Zambia. Stanley urged Livingstone to return to England with him. He said, “You’ve dedicated yourself to this mission for 30 years. I think that is enough. So now, why don’t you go back with me and have some rest and see your children?” Then, Livingstone answered, “Thank you, but no. For me the ministry here is not a sacrifice, but a great privilege. Every time I think about this honorable ministry my heart is full.” But after Stanley left, Livingstone was thoroughly homesick. In his journal he wrote: "19th March, 1872. Birthday. Lord, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. Sever any ties, save the tie that binds me to Thy heart. My Jesus, my King, my life, my all, I again dedicate my whole self to Thee." About a year later he died while kneeling in prayer at his bedside. Livingstone truly believed and lived out the eternal gospel. He lived in the kingdom of God.
Your Last Words
Scottish missionary David Livingstone in his last days had been “lost” to the outside world. Henry Stanley was sent out to find Livingstone. Finally, he found Livingstone who was suffering from tropical disease in the small village in Zambia. Stanley urged Livingstone to return to England with him. He said, “You’ve dedicated yourself to this mission for 30 years. I think that is enough. So now, why don’t you go back with me and have some rest and see your children?” Then, Livingstone answered, “Thank you, but no. For me the ministry here is not a sacrifice, but a great privilege. Every time I think about this honorable ministry my heart is full.” But after Stanley left, Livingstone was thoroughly homesick. In his journal he wrote: "19th March, 1872. Birthday. Lord, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. Sever any ties, save the tie that binds me to Thy heart. My Jesus, my King, my life, my all, I again dedicate my whole self to Thee." About a year later he died while kneeling in prayer at his bedside. Livingstone truly believed and lived out the eternal gospel. He lived in the kingdom of God.
Your Last Words
For me personally, I have made my “Ten Commandments of Preaching.” I read this before preaching every single week as a reminder. The very first commandment is this: “Remember this sermon that I am going to preach would be my last message on earth.” For all of us in this room, the Day will come soon.
D.L. Moody’s last words were, “Earth recedes, Heaven opens before me! It is beautiful. It is like a trance. If this is death, it is sweet. There is no valley here. God is calling me, and I must go.” John Bunyan said, “Weep not for me, but for yourselves. The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, through the mediation of His blessed Son, receives me, though a sinner. We shall meet to sing the new song, and remain everlastingly happy.” Richard Baxter said, “I have pain; but I have peace, I have peace!” As I was preparing this message, I kept asking to myself, ‘If this is my last sermon, what would I preach?’ My last message would be this: “Let us flee from Babylon! Worship God and Jesus alone! And Live for eternity!” How about you? What would be your last words?
D.L. Moody’s last words were, “Earth recedes, Heaven opens before me! It is beautiful. It is like a trance. If this is death, it is sweet. There is no valley here. God is calling me, and I must go.” John Bunyan said, “Weep not for me, but for yourselves. The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, through the mediation of His blessed Son, receives me, though a sinner. We shall meet to sing the new song, and remain everlastingly happy.” Richard Baxter said, “I have pain; but I have peace, I have peace!” As I was preparing this message, I kept asking to myself, ‘If this is my last sermon, what would I preach?’ My last message would be this: “Let us flee from Babylon! Worship God and Jesus alone! And Live for eternity!” How about you? What would be your last words?
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