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SERIES: THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, WEEK 69

TITLE: LEX TALIONIS

TEXT: REVELATION 18:6-10

INTRODUCTION: (1) THE LATIN PHRASE LEX TALIONIS MEANS LAW OF RETALIATION.

* THE BASIS OF THIS LAW IS THE PRINCIPLE OF PROPORTIONATE PUNISHMENT, OFTEN EXPRESSED UNDER THE MOTTO, “LET THE PUNISHMENT FIT THE CRIME.”

** AND THIS PRINCIPLE IS ROOTED IN THE O.T. TRUTH OF AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.

*** THE LAW OF RETRIBUTION, THE LAW OF DIVINE JUSTICE, DIVINE REQUITAL, OF PROPORTIONATE PUNISHMENT.

**** SIMPLY PUT, IT REQUIRED THAT PUNISHMENT EXACTLY MATCH THE CRIME. IN FACT, THE SAME IDEA IS CARRIED IN THE EXPRESSION “TIT FOR TAT” AND “QUID PRO QUO.”

(2) NOW SPECIFICALLY IN THE BOOKS OF MOSES, THE PENTATEUCH, GENESIS-DEUTERONOMY, AN EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH ARE PART OF LONGER LISTS THAT INCLUDE “HAND FOR HAND, FOOT FOR FOOT, BURN FOR BURN, WOUND FOR WOUND, BRUISE FOR BRUISE” IN EXODUS 21:24&25.

* EXODUS 21:24&25 SAYS: “EYE FOR EYE, TOOTH FOR TOOTH, HAND FOR HAND, FOOT FOR FOOT, BURN FOR BURN, WOUND FOR WOUND, BRUISE FOR BRUISE.”

** NOW CLEARLY LEX TALIONIS IS COMMUNICATED HERE, THE PUNISHMENT IS TO FIT THE CRIME.

*** AND THERE WERE TWO BASIC PURPOSES FOR THIS LAW: NO. 1 THIS LAW WAS GIVEN TO CURTAIL FURTHER CRIME.

**** FOR WHEN A PERSON IS PUNISHED QUICKLY FOR HIS CRIME, DEUTERONOMY 19:20 SAYS: “THE REST WILL HEAR AND BE AFRAID, AND WILL NEVER AGAIN DO SUCH AN EVIL THINGS AMONG YOU.”

**** SO LEX TALIONIS IS A DETERRENT TO CRIME.

(3) NO. 2, THE SECOND PURPOSE OF LEX TALIONIS WAS TO PREVENT EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENT BASED ON PERSONAL VENGEANCE AND ANGRY RETALIATION.

* IN OTHER WORDS, PUNISHMENT WAS TO MATCH, BUT NOT EXCEED, THE HARM DONE BY THE OFFENSE ITSELF.

** NOW NOTE THERE ARE 3 PENTATEUCH PASSAGES THAT PRESCRIBE LEX TALIONIS, EXODUS 21-23, LEVITICUS 24 AND DEUTERONOMY 19.

*** AND THE PRINCIPLES OF THESE PASSAGES HAD TO DO WITH ISRAEL’S CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM, ISRAEL’S CIVIL LAW.

**** AND ALTHOUGH PUNISHMENT WAS SOMETIMES CARRIED OUT BY THE VICTIM, THE TRIAL AND SENTENCING WERE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DULY APPOINTED JUDGES OR OF A LARGE, REPRESENTATIVE BODY OF CITIZENS, ILLUSTRATED IN EXODUS 21:22; LEVITICUS 24:14-16 AND DEUTERONOMY 19:18.

(4) WITH THAT SAID, LEX TALIONIS, AN EYE FOR AN EYE WAS A JUST GOOD LAW, BECAUSE IT MATCHED PUNISHMENT TO THE CRIME, IT WAS A MERCIFUL LAW BECAUSE IT LIMITED OVER-REACTION AND PERSONAL VENGEANCE AND IT WAS A LAW RESTRAINED WRONGDOING.

* NOW IN THE O.T., NO ONE WAS ALLOWED TO TAKE THE LAW INTO HIS OWN HANDS AND APPLY IT PERSONALLY, THERE WAS NO LATITUDE FOR PERSONAL VENGEANCE AND BEING A VIGILANTE.

** VENGEANCE WAS ALWAYS THE LORDS. GOD’S COMMAND FOR INDIVIDUALS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AS PROVERBS 25:21 SAYS: “IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, GIVE HIM FOOD TO EAT; AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM WATER TO DRINK.”

*** BEYOND THAT, NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO SAY, “THUS I SHALL DO TO HIM AS HE HAS DONE TO ME; I WILL RENDER TO THE MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WORK,” IN PROVERBS 24:29.

**** AND TO REINFORCE THAT IN THE N.T. JESUS SAID IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT IN MATTHEW 5:43&44 (QUOTE IT). ALSO QUOTE ROMANS 12:19-21.

(5) NOW MY POINT IS, NO ONE IN THE O.T. OR N.T. WAS ALLOWED TO TAKE THE LAW INTO HIS OWN HANDS AND APPLY PERSONAL VENGEANCE, LEX TALIONIS WAS FOR JUSTICE, NOT PERSONAL VENGEANCE.

* YET THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT RABBINIC TRADITION HAD DONE.

** FOR EACH MAN WAS ALLOWED IN EFFECT, TO BECOME HIS OWN JUDGE AND JURY.

*** THE RESULT BEING, GOD’S LAW WAS TURNED INTO TO INDIVIDUAL LICENSE, AND CIVIL GOVERNMENTAL JUSTICE WAS PERVERTED AND TURNED INTO PERSONAL VENGEANCE.

**** AND INSTEAD OF PROPERLY APPLYING THE LAW OF AN EYE FOR AN EYE, RABBINIC TRADITION PERVERTED AND USED IT FOR VENGEANCE.

(6) BECAUSE OF THAT MISINTERPRETATION AND MISAPPLICATION BY THEM, JESUS SAID THIS IN MATTHEW 5:38–42:

V. 38 – “YOU HAVE HEARD THAT IT WAS SAID, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’

V. 39 – “BUT I SAY TO YOU, DO NOT RESIST AN EVIL PERSON; BUT WHOEVER SLAPS YOU ON YOUR RIGHT CHEEK, TURN THE OTHER TO HIM ALSO.”

V. 40 – “IF ANYONE WANTS TO SUE YOU AND TAKE YOUR SHIRT, LET HIM HAVE YOUR COAT ALSO.”

V. 41 – “WHOEVER FORCES YOU TO GO ONE MILE, GO WITH HIM TWO.”

V. 42 – “GIVE TO HIM WHO ASKS OF YOU, AND DO NOT TURN AWAY FROM HIM WHO WANTS TO BORROW FROM YOU.”

* NOW PROBABLY NO PART IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT HAS BEEN MORE MISINTERPRETED AND MISAPPLIED AS MATTHEW 5:38-42.

** JESUS IS NOT THROWING OUT LEX TALIONIS OR AN EYE FOR AN EYE, HE IS MERELY CORRECTING THE ABUSE OF RABBINIC TRADITION AS HE DID WITH DIVORCE AND ADULTERY IN MATTHEW 5:27&28 AND MATTHEW 5:31&32. (QUOTE THEM).

*** BELOVED, JESUS WAS REBUKING THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES FOR RATIONALIZING THE LAW OF GOD, FOR MARGINALIZING THE LAW OF GOD AND USING IT FOR THEIR OWN PURPOSES AND TO JUSTIFY THEIR EXTERNAL RELIGION THAT WAS HEARTLESS AND FAR AWAY FROM GOD.

**** WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO PERSONAL VENGEANCE. YET GOD NOT ONLY HAS A RIGHT TO VENGEANCE, BUT IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN RIGHTEOUSLY JUDGE SINNERS.

(7) YET, WHEN WE SEE GOD’S JUDGMENT ON SINNERS AND SOCIETIES TODAY, PEOPLE CRY FOUL, GOD IS HARSH, GOD IS UNJUST, GOD IS UNLOVING, GOD IS UNKIND.

* BUT IN REALITY, THOSE COMMENTS AND VIEWS REFLECT PEOPLE THAT DON’T UNDERSTAND GOD’S LAW AND WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND JUSTICE AND THAT DO NOT UNDERSTAND LEX TALIONIS.

** FOR A WEEK AGO LAST FRIDAY I WAS READING PROVERBS 28:4&5 AND THOSE VERSES JUMPED OFF THE PAGE, WHERE IT SAYS:

V. 4 - “THOSE WHO FORSAKE THE LAW PRAISE THE WICKED, BUT THOSE WHO KEEP THE LAW STRIVE WITH THEM.”

V. 5 – “EVIL MEN DO NOT UNDERSTAND JUSTICE, BUT THOSE WHO SEEK THE LORD UNDERSTAND ALL THINGS.”

*** AND BELOVED EVIL PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND JUSTICE.

**** WHICH LEADS US TO REVELATION 18:6-10 FOR GOD WILL JUSTLY DEAL WITH ECONOMIC BABYLON, SPECIFICALLY THE CAPITAL CITY OF POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC BABYLON UNDER THE RULE OF ANTI-CHRIST.

(8) AND LEX TALIONIS IS THE THEME OF OUR TEXT TODAY AS DIVINE RETRIBUTION, DIVINE IMPRECATION, A DIVINE JUSTICE EXALTS AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AS THE PUNISHMENT FITS THE CRIME.

* AND THE CITY OF BABYLON WILL BE JUDGED QUICKLY AND JUSTLY IN OUR TEXT TODAY. AND ONLY EVIL PEOPLE WILL NOT UNDERSTAND THIS, BUT THOSE WHO TRULY KNOW THE LORD UNDERSTAND THIS AND DO NOT SEE GOD AS UNJUST, BUT JUST IN HIS HOLY WRATH BEING POURED OUT ON ECONOMIC BABYLON.

** BECAUSE OF THAT I’VE TITLED THE MESSAGE THIS MORNING: “LEX TALIONIS!”

*** AND UNDER THAT TITLE WE’LL LOOK AT 4 MAIN POINTS. NO. 1 THE PLEA GIVEN IN V. 6; NO. 2 THE PRIDE COMMUNICATED IN V. 7; NO. 3 THE PLAGUES TALKED ABOUT IN V. 8; AND NO. 4 THE PAIN EXPRESSED BY THE KINGS OF THE EARTH, VV. 9&10.

**** AND WITH MY LONG INTRODUCTION OUT OF THE WAY, LET’S JUMP INTO OUR STUDY TODAY BY LOOKING AT V. 6 WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR FIRST POINT, THE PLEA. LOOK AT REVELATION 18:6 PLEASE.

I. THE PLEA, (READ V. 6)

A. NOW THE ONE WHO MAKES THE PLEA HERE IS NOT IDENTIFIED.

* BUT IT APPEARS TO ME AND I’M NOT BEING DOGMATIC THAT IT IS CHRIST SPEAKING TO HIS FATHER.

** FOR BACK IN V. 4 OF THIS CHAPTER “ANOTHER VOICE FROM HEAVEN” APPEARS TO BE CHRIST, FOR THE VOICE ADDRESSES HIS PEOPLE, LIT. MY PEOPLE, HIS FOLLOWERS.

**** BEYOND THAT REFERENCE IS MADE THAT GOD HAS REMEMBERED BABYLON’S SINS, SPEAKING OF GOD THE FATHER.

**** AND THE FLOW OF THE CONVERSATION JUST CONTINUES IN V. 6 WITH NO PARAGRAPH DIVISION, SO IT APPEARS TO BE CHRIST SPEAKING.

1. BUT REGARDLESS OF WHO IT IS, THE PLEA TO GOD THE FATHER, THE LORD GOD IN V. 8, IS “PAY HER BACK EVEN AS SHE HAS PAID.”

* AND HERE WE HAVE LEX TALIONIS, THE LAW OF DIVINE RETALIATION, AN EYE FOR AN EYE.

** AND OBVIOUSLY BABYLON HAS BEEN EXTENDED ENOUGH GRACE AND HEARD ENOUGH WARNINGS, NOW IT’S TIME FOR JUSTICE, DIVINE VENGEANCE, IT’S TIME FOR HER DESTRUCTION.

*** AND THIS PLEA CONTINUES IN V. 6 WHERE THE VOICE SAYS: “GIVE BACK TO HER DOUBLE ACCORDING TO HER DEEDS.”

**** AND LITERALLY IN THE GREEK THIS PHRASE CAN BE TRANSLATED: “DOUBLE THE DOUBLE THINGS.”

2. AND IT DOES NOT MEAN RETRIBUTION DOUBLE IN SEVERITY TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF SIN.

* DOUBLE HAS THE SENSE THAT THE PUNISHMENT SHOULD BE THE EXACT EQUIVALENT OF THE OFFENSE.

** DOUBLE HAS THE SENSE OF FULLNESS OR COMPLETENESS. DOUBLE HAS BEEN BABYLON’S SINS, DOUBLE MUST BE HER PUNISHMENT.

*** BABYLON’S SINS HAVE OVERFLOWED, PILING UP AS HIGH AS THE HEAVENS, AND THE VOICE CALLS FOR GOD’S JUDGMENT TO OVERFLOW ON HER IN EQUAL MEASURE.

**** AND AGAIN THE PLEA IS THAT THE PUNISHMENT FIT THE CRIME.

3. AND THIS PRINCIPLE OR LAW IS STATED ONE MORE TIME IN V. 6 AT THE END WHERE IT SAYS: “IN THE CUP WHICH SHE HAS MIXED, MIX TWICE AS MUCH FOR HER.”

* AND HERE AGAIN WE HAVE THE PUNISHMENT FITTING THE CRIME, FOR THE PLEA IS SYMBOLIZED IN A CUP.

** AND IN BABYLON’S HAND THE CUP CONTAINED A BREW OF INTOXICATING SPIRITUAL AND SENSUAL DEPRAVITY OF WHICH THE NATIONS HAD DRUNK, GOING BACK TO REVELATION 14:8B WHICH SAYS: “SHE WHO HAS MADE ALL NATIONS DRINK OF THE WINE OF THE PASSION OF HER IMMORALITY.”

** SO SHE MIXED A DRINK THAT LED PEOPLE TO DESTRUCTION, RUIN AND MISERY, BUT NOW THE PLEA IS FOR ANOTHER CUP, ANOTHER MIXING, MIXED FOR HER JUDGMENT.

*** BABYLON WILL RECEIVE GOD’S CUP OF WRATH WHICH SHE DESERVES.

**** SO LEX TALIONIS COMES INTO PLAY AND WE SEE THIS TRUTH AGAIN IN V. 7 WHERE SHE WILL BE JUDGED FOR HER PRIDE, OUR 2’D POINT TODAY, THE PRIDE, LOOK AT V. 7 PLEASE.

II. THE PRIDE, (READ V. 7)

A. NOW TWO VERBS DEFINE THE PRIDE OF BABYLON WHICH WILL BRING DIVINE RETRIBUTION.

* AND THE FIRST VERB IS GLORIFIED, “SHE GLORIFIED HERSELF.”

** MEANING SHE REVELED IN SELF-GLORIFICATION, WHAT SHE WAS AND WHAT SHE HAD ACHIEVED FILLED HER WITH PRIDE.

*** NOW THE SECOND VERB IS “LIVED SENSUOUSLY” TRANSLATED LIVED DELICIOUSLY IN THE KJV, LIVED IN LUXURY IN THE ESV.

**** AND THIS VERB LIT. MEANS TO RUN RIOT, TO REVEL OR BE WANTON.

1. IT DESCRIBES THE HEDONISTIC SENSUAL LUXURIOUS WAY OF LIFE THAT LEAVES OUT ALL SPIRITUAL VALUES.

* IT DENOTES A LUXURIOUS LIFESTYLE THAT LEADS PEOPLE TO RESPOND WITH DISCOURTESY, ARROGANCE, SELF-INDULGENCE AND THE RUTHLESS CUT-THROAT EXERCISE OF STRENGTH AND UNRULINESS.

** AND BABYLON’S PRIDE AND ARROGANCE BRINGS OUT THE PLEA: TO THE DEGREE SHE LIVED THIS WAY, TO THE SAME DEGREE GIVE HER TORMENT AND MOURNING.

*** AND THE REPETITIOUS LAW OF LEX TALIONIS JUMPS OUT AT US AGAIN. THE VOICE CALLS FOR COMPLETE VENGEANCE FROM GOD, THE LAW OF RETRIBUTION IS CALLED FOR AGAIN.

**** AND THE CALL FOR JUSTICE HERE LEADS TO A CALL FOR TORMENT AND MOURNING FOR BABYLON.

2. AND TORMENT LIT. MEANS TORTURE AND MOURNING REFERS TO THE GRIEF AND SORROW THAT THE TORTURE PRODUCES.

* THE MOURNING OR SORROW IS THE ANGUISH AND GRIEF BROUGHT BY THE TORTURE. THE PAIN IS GOD’S ANSWER TO THE PRIDE AND PLEASURE MADE CAREER OF THIS SINFUL CITY.

** AND BABYLON’S PRIDE IS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION AGAIN IN THE LAST PART OF V. 7 WHICH IS REALLY AN INTRODUCTION TO V. 8.

*** AND THE CITY OF BABYLON’S HEART IS COMMUNICATED BY THE STATEMENT “I SIT AS A QUEEN AND I AM NOT A WIDOW, AND WILL NEVER SEE MOURNING.”

**** NOW WHAT PRIDE AND PRESUMPTION. SHE SEES HERSELF AS THE QUEEN OF THE WORLD, SUPREME OVER ALL, AS ROYALTY, AND DOES NOT ENVISAGE ANY CHANGE.

3. I’M NEVER GOING TO BE A WIDOW OR SEE MOURNING. I WILL NEVER SUFFER. HER PRIDE AND SELF SUFFICIENCY IS INCREDIBLE. SHE IS DECEIVED AND SELF SUFFICIENT LIKE THE CHURCH OF LAODICEA WHICH SAID IN REVELATION 3:17 (QUOTED IT).

* AND LIKE LAODICEA, BABYLON’S PRIDE WILL LEAD TO PLAGUES AND JUDGMENT BEING BROUGHT UPON HER, LOOK AT V. 8 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR 3’D POINT, THE PLAGUE.

III. THE PLAGUES, (READ V. 8)

A. NOW THE PREPOSITION “FOR” LIT. MEANS THEREFORE AND IS TRANSLATED THAT WAY IN THE KJV, NKJV AND NIV.

* AND THE PREPOSITION “THEREFORE” TAKES US BACK TO V. 7, MEANING FOR THIS REASON, THEREFORE BECAUSE OF BABYLON’S PRIDE, ONE DAY HER PLAGUES WILL COME.

** HER JUDGMENT, DIVINE RETRIBUTION WILL COME SUMMARIZED AS HER PLAGUES.

*** HER PLAGUES BEING PESTILENCE OR LIT. DEATH, MOURNING OR LIT. SORROW, FAMINE, LIT. A LACK OF PROVISION, HUNGER, AND SHE WILL BE BURNED UP, JUDGED BY FIRE, SHE WILL BE BROUGHT TO SMOKING RUINS, A SMOLDERING RUIN.

**** AND THIS DIVINE JUDGMENT AND RETRIBUTION WILL COME QUICKLY WHEN IT COMES COMMUNICATED BY THE WORD “ONE DAY.”

1. IN OTHER WORDS, BABYLON’S DESTRUCTION WILL NOT BE PROGRESSIVE, THE WICKED CITY WILL BE INSTANTLY DESTROYED, POSSIBLY IN CONNECTION WITH THE 7TH BOWL JUDGMENT.

** AND THE REASON HER JUDGMENT COMES QUICKLY AND POWERFULLY IS “THE LORD GOD WHO JUDGES HER IS STRONG.” BELOVED, IS SINNING AGAINST THE ALMIGHTY, THE ALL POWERFUL, THE STRONG LORD.

*** HE IS THE SOURCE OF THEIR JUDGMENT, LEX TALIONIS COMES FROM HIM, HE WILL RETALIATE, FULLY, POWERFULLY AND RIGHTEOUSLY.

**** AND BABYLON’S SWIFT JUDGMENT REMINDS US OF GOD’S HATRED FOR THE SIN OF PRIDE.

2. FOR PRIDE ROBS GOD OF HIS GLORY. IT IS A SELF-SUFFICIENCY THAT ATTRIBUTES ACCOMPLISHMENT FROM MANKIND’S STRENGTH AND POWER AND NOT GOD’S.

* PRIDE IS A LACK OF PROPER PERSPECTIVE, THINKING THAT WE HAVE THE POWER AND ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH THINGS. IT IS SPIRITUAL INDEPENDENCE, IT IS TAKING CREDIT FOR WHAT GOD HAS DONE THROUGH US.

** FOR BOTTOM LINE AS JOHN 15:5 SAYS: “WITHOUT HIM WE CAN DO NOTHING.”

*** BELOVED THAT WE CAN WORK AND THINK IS A GIFT OF GOD’S GRACE. THAT IF WE CAN WALK, IT IS A GIFT OF GRACE, SALVATION IS A GIFT OF GRACE, SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE A GIFT OF GRACE, FOOD IS A GIFT OF GRACE AND LIFE IS A GIFT OF GRACE.

**** SO RATHER THAN RESPONDING IN PRIDE, WE SHOULD RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING THAT SHOULD LEAD TO THANKSGIVING.

3. FOR PRIDE ALWAYS LEADS TO JUDGMENT, SHAME, AND BEING BROUGHT LOW. QUOTE PROVERBS 11:2, PROVERBS 16:18, PROVERBS 18:12 AND PROVERBS 29:23.

* AND UNDERSTAND THAT OUR SOCIETY PROMOTES PRIDE IN MANY WAYS, BUT ONE WAY IS THROUGH SELF-ESTEEM WHICH IS A SYNONYM FOR PRIDE.

** NOTICE IT IS SELF, A SELF VIEW OF ESTEEM.

*** AND THERE IS NOTHING IN MY FLESH OR NATURE THAT CAN BE ESTEEMED, QUOTE ROMANS 7:18.

**** SO MY CONFIDENCE IS NOT IN ME AND WHAT I CAN ACCOMPLISH TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT SELF, WHAT CHRIST CAN ACCOMPLISH THROUGH ME FOR HIS GLORY. QUOTE PHILIPPIANS 4:13.

4. THUS WE ARE NOT CALLED TO LOVE OURSELVES BUT TO DENY OURSELVES AND LOVE CHRIST AND LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS WE NATURALLY LOVE OURSELVES.

* BELOVED THE DOCTRINE OF SELF ESTEEM PEDDLED BY A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE TODAY COMES FROM A ROOT OF PRIDE THAT WILL BRING YOU LOW, NOT UP.

** WELL, BABYLON IS JUDGED FOR HER PRIDE. AND THE KINGS OF THE EARTH WILL LOOK AT HER JUDGMENT AND WEEP AND LAMENT OVER HER, THERE WILL BE PAIN COMMUNICATED BY THE WORLD’S LEADER, WHICH LEADS US TO OUR LAST POINT TODAY, THE PAIN. LOOK AT V. 9 PLEASE.

IV. THE PAIN, (READ V. 9)

A. NOW THE GOVERNING HEADS OF THE NATIONS AT THIS TIME, OBVIOUSLY UNDER THE BEAST-ANTICHRIST’S RULE, WHO HAVE ENGAGED IN ILLICIT RELATIONS WITH BABYLON, WHO HAVE GONE TO BED WITH HER IN THEIR LUST FOR FORTUNE AND THINGS AND MONEY, THE KINGS OF THE EARTH, BABYLON’S TRADING PARTNERS, WILL WEEP AND LAMENT OVER HER WHEN THEY SEE HER JUDGMENT.

* THEY LITERALLY ARE GOING TO CRY OVER HER JUDGMENT, THERE WILL BE SHOCK AND DISMAY. THEY WILL OPENLY SOB.

** FOR THE TERM WEEP REFERS TO UNCONTROLLED SOBBING AND LAMENT MAKES REFERENCE TO BEATING THE CHEST WITH ANGUISH. THESE TERMS ARE GRAPHIC.

*** AND BELOVED AS THEY VIEW BABYLON BURNING, WHICH FURTHER SUPPORTS THE IDEA THAT COMMERCIAL BABYLON IS THE CAPITAL CITY OF ANTICHRIST’S ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL POWER.

**** FOR THE WORLD IS NOT BURNING IN SMOKE YET, IT WILL BE JUDGED BEYOND THE BOWLS, SEALS AND TRUMPETS, BUT CHRIST WILL RETURN AND THE BURNING WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER THE MILLENNIUM AND THERE WILL BE A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH IN REVELATION 21&22.

1. BUT THE PAIN OF THE WORLD LEADERS IS GREAT, THEY SEE THEIR FORTUNES AND GREAT TRADING PARTNER GO DOWN THE DRAIN. THIS HITS THEM RIGHT IN THE POCKET BOOK.

* AND THIS PAIN IS FURTHER COMMUNICATED IN V. 10. LOOK AT V. 10 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 10. NOW THE WORLD’S LEADERS PAIN IS CLEARLY COMMUNICATED BUT ALSO WE SEE A CLEAR NOTE OF FEAR HERE.

* THE WORLD LEADERS FINAL JUDGMENT WILL COME IN REVELATION 19:19 AS THE KINGS OF THE EARTH ARE ASSEMBLED TO MAKE WAR WITH CHRIST.

** BUT AT THIS POINT OF REVELATION 18, THEY WILL KEEP THEIR DISTANCE FROM BABYLON, FEARING THEIR OWN JUDGMENT.

*** THEY DON’T WANT TO GET BURNT IN THE PROCESS SO THEY KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE, SELF-PRESERVATION KICKS IN.

**** THERE IS NO RUSH TO HER AID, THERE IS NO BAIL OUT, JUST STANDING AND WATCHING IN HELPLESS HORROR.

1. AND THIS HORROR LEADS THEM TO SAY, “WOE, WOE, THE GREAT CITY BABYLON, THE STRONG CITY.”

* AND THE WORDS “WOE” CAN BE TRANSLATED ALAS, A SIGH OF GRIEF, AN EXCLAMATION OF GRIEF.

** AND THE WORD WOE OR ALAS DOUBLED, USED TWICE IS FOR EMPHASIS, IT COMMUNICATES GREAT GRIEF.

*** FOR BABYLON AT THIS FUTURE TIME WILL BE THE GREAT CITY OF THE WORLD, THE STRONG CITY OF THE WORLD, THE CROWN JEWEL OF ANTICHRIST’S EMPIRE.

**** AND THESE WORLD LEADERS CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THIS GREAT CITY, THIS STRONG CITY HAS BEEN DESTROYED SO QUICKLY, “FOR IN ONE HOUR YOUR JUDGMENT HAS COME.”

2. WHICH CAN BE A LITERAL HOUR OR MORE LIKELY AS THE PHRASE ONE DAY IS USED IN V. 8, THE REFERENCE IS TO HOW QUICKLY THIS POWERFUL CITY HAS BEEN DESTROYED AND BROUGHT TO RUIN.

* SO THEIR PAIN AND AGONY IS COMMUNICATED AGAIN HERE.

IN WRAP UP AND IN APPLICATION: (1) IN LIGHT OF OUR STUDY TODAY, MATTHEW 7:2 AND GALATIANS 6:7&8 COME TO MY MIND.

* QUOTE MATTHEW 7:2 AND GALATIANS 6:7.

GALATIANS 6:8 – “FOR THE ONE WHO SOWS TO HIS OWN FLESH WILL FROM THE FLESH REAP CORRUPTION, BUT THE ONE WHO SOWS TO THE SPIRIT WILL FROM THE SPIRIT REAP ETERNAL LIFE.”

** NOW MY POINT FROM THESE VERSES IS THE PRINCIPLE OF PROPORTIONATE PUNISHMENT, LEX TALIONIS, DIVINE REQUITAL, AN EYE FOR AN EYE IS STILL IN EFFECT AND IS ALWAYS EXERCISED, EVEN FOR THOSE IN CHRIST.

*** YOU SAY RAY, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? AREN’T TRUE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST FORGIVEN AND THERE WILL BE NO DIVINE WRATH ON THEM?

**** AND THE ANSWER IS YES, BECAUSE, BECAUSE, BECAUSE CHRIST SUFFERED LEX TALIONIS, PROPORTIONATE PUNISHMENT BY FULLY BEARING OUR SIN.

(2) BROTHERS AND SISTERS, CHRIST SUFFERED THE FULL WRATH OF GOD, DIVINE ANGER FOR SIN BY BECOMING OUR SUBSTITUTE, BY BECOMING SIN FOR US, BY BECOMING THE PROPITIATION FOR OUR SIN.

* BELOVED CHRIST PAID FOR EVERY SIN AND BORE OUR PUNISHMENT, LEX TALIONIS-DIVINE RETRIBUTION, AN EYE FOR AN EYE WAS TAKEN CARE OF BY CHRIST DYING FOR HIS PEOPLE.

** AND THAT’S WHY ROMANS 5:6-11 SAYS: (QUOTE ROMANS 5:6-9)

*** ROMANS 5:10 & 11–FOR IF WHILE WE WERE ENEMIES WE WERE RECONCILED TO GOD THROUGH THE DEATH OF HIS SON, MUCH MORE, HAVING BEEN RECONCILED, WE SHALL BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE.

V. 11 – AND NOT ONLY THIS, BUT WE ALSO EXULT IN GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THROUGH WHOM WE HAVE NOW RECEIVED THE RECONCILIATION.

**** NOW GOD’S JUSTICE WAS SATISFIED BY CHRIST’S SACRIFICIAL DEATH. WE WERE RESCUED FROM THE CUP OF GOD’S WRATH AND ANGER THROUGH CHRIST.

(3) SO I ASK, WHAT DOES THAT REALITY DO TO YOU? WHAT DOES IT MEAN? WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT KIND OF LOVE AND MERCY?

* WELL, THAT KIND OF LOVE AND MERCY SHOULD MOVE US TO PASSIONATE, ON FIRE, HOT LOVE FOR CHRIST MANIFEST IN OBEDIENCE, SERVICE AND SACRIFICE IN 2008.

** HOW CAN WE REMAIN DEPRESSED, APATHETIC, UNMOTIVATED AND SELFISH?

*** HOW CAN WE REMAIN STAGNANT IN 2008? I PRAY THAT IN THE DAYS THE LORD GIVES US IN 2008, WHETHER IT BE THIS DAY, 1 MONTH, OR THE REST OF THE YEAR OUR LIVES WILL BE LIVED FOR HIM.

**** THAT OUR MOTIVATION FOR 2008 IS LEX TALIONIS, OUR PUNISHMENT IS BYPASSED BECAUSE CHRIST BORE THE SINS OF OUR CRIME, THE JUST FOR THE UNJUST.

(4) IN CLOSE WITH HEBREWS 12:1-3 AND PHILIPPIANS 3:13&14 IN LIGHT OF LEX TALIONIS.