August 4, 2024
Revelation 18:9-24 — Jesus’ command is clear, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth … You cannot serve both God and money” (Mt 6:19-24). As kingdom citizens, we must come out of Babylon because we cannot participate in her economic, political, and social injustices. We cannot share her greed and lust for luxuries and riches that come at the cost and oppression of others. We cannot be silent about the economic injustices that even our nation, business practices, and political policies perpetrate. Nations, institutions, corporations, businesses, and individuals will stand under God’s judgment. We who participate in such institutions share their responsibility before God unless we explicitly repudiate our complicity with them and declare their activities wrong. We must evaluate all systems according to their impact on people, especially the most vulnerable. When God blesses us, we are called to use those blessings for the well-being of others, placing their needs above our own, and to use those blessings to further God’s kingdom purposes.
This is part of our series on the book of Revelation: Come,Lord Jesus!Too many resources were used in this series to list them all. However, the following source shaped this series and the content of the sermons extensively: Thomas R. Schreiner, Revelation. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2023). The following key resources were also used — Craig R. Koester, Revelation: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary, ed. John J. Collins, vol. 38A, Anchor Yale Bible (New Haven; London: Yale University Press, 2014); Tom Wright, Revelation for Everyone, For Everyone Bible Study Guides (London; Louisville, KY: SPCK; Westminster John Knox, 2011); Craig R. Koester, Revelation and the End of All Things, Second Edition (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2018); McKnight, Scot; Matchett, Cody. Revelation for the Rest of Us: A Prophetic Call to Follow Jesus as a Dissident Disciple (Zondervan. Kindle Edition); G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 1999); Grant R. Osborne, Revelation, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002).
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