January 3: GREAT REJOICING!
“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!” Revelation 18:20
The angel’s command to Rejoice over [Babylon the great] is diametrically different from all of the lamentations, weeping, and wailing of the last eleven verses! The angel is now speaking for himself and also on behalf of the watching universe: O heaven! He is also addressing John on behalf of his fellow apostles — all of whom had been martyred — as well as the Old Testament prophets, many of whom were martyred and all of whom were sorely mistreated for their truth-telling. The world was not worthy of them (Hebrews 11:38). Though this is only a vision given to John to share with the end-time servants of the Lord, the angel speaks forcefully, confidently; because he knows that the final judgment of Babylon the great is both just and certain.
The Bible has many accounts of redemptive calamities that were allowed to fall upon the people of God when they rebelled against Him. In each case, there was a willful stepping away from what they knew was right, placing themselves out from under the covenant of His protection. The redemption of stubborn—stiff-necked—souls is often a business of tough love. Due to our selfish and sinful natures, we complicate our lives terribly. Apart from the Lord, they are flawed beyond repair. But over it all is the flawless sovereignty of God. Many fallen people, both Jews and Gentiles, have been mercifully lifted out of the dark pit of sin after yielding to His offer of grace to live a different life as a law-abiding citizen of heaven. Many will join the redeemed in viewing God’s rescue operation: You answered them, O LORD our God; You were to them God-Who-Forgives, Though you took vengeance on their deeds. Exalt the LORD our God (Psalm 99:8-9a).
Yes, there will be great celebration over God’s judgment of Babylon. His longsuffering and perfect timing will mean something even greater to rejoice over: the salvation of all who came out of her. In the old lesson that says “Vengeance is Mine, and recompense . . . for the LORD will judge His people” (Deuteronomy 32:35a,36a; see also Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30), we are admonished to leave those who have harmed us in His hands, even as we pray for their salvation (Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60). A glorious Day is coming soon: the return of the Savior! One of the many descriptions of this Day reminds us that the saved will experience the gift of new, perfectly healthy bodies at the same time, all together!
And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they [the dead in Christ] should not be made perfect apart from us. Hebrews 11:39-40 (see also Matthew 24:31; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18).