Friday, 18 June 2021
The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. Revelation 18:14
The mournful words concerning the destruction of Babylon the great continue here, saying, “The fruit that your soul longed for.” Here is a word found only in this one instance in the Bible, opóra, fruit. It signifies ripe fruit, coming from words that indicate “the end of the summer.” Albert Barnes says it “means, ‘late summer; dog-days,’ the time when Sirius, or the Dog-star, is predominant. In the East this is the season when the fruits ripen, and hence the word comes to denote fruit. The reference is to any kind of fruit that would be brought for traffic into a great city, and that would be regarded as an article of luxury.”
Of these things, it says this fruit “has gone from you.” Babylon is destroyed, and so these things will never be brought into her again. The cargo carriers with their precious ladings will be taken elsewhere, but they will not enter her anymore. The thought is then further expanded upon by saying, “and all the things which are rich and splendid.”
Again, another unique word is found here, liparos. It comes from the word meaning “grease” or “fat,” and thus it signifies rich and sumptuous. The next word of note is from the Greek lampros. It signifies bright, shining, splendid, or magnificent. One can see the connection to our word “lamp.” It is used several times in the New Testament to indicate rich, luxurious clothing.
The two words together may indicate soft, comfortable gilded furniture, or something like that. Such things as this, it is said, “have gone from you.” It is the same thought just stated, highlighting the notion of complete desolation. Nothing of value, pomp, or finery is to be seen. And more, the verse finishes with, “and you shall find them no more at all.”
The utterly complete destruction of Babylon the great is highlighted with this. Not only have all of these things been destroyed out of her, and not only will shipping into her cease, but it will be so forever. She has found her ruin, and she will remain a ruin from this point on.
Life application: The works of the flesh that Babylon the great sought after were like those explained by Paul in Galatians 5 –
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21
These are the works of wickedness which have been the main diet of those in Babylon since the beginning. What they should have focused on is a right walk with the Lord. In this, they would have reaped of the fruit of the Spirit. This is explained by Paul in the next verses of Galatians 5 –
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:22-24
The unbridled lusts and passions of the people participating in Babylon’s wealth have caused them to squander their existence. The choice foods, the expensive clothes, the high living… they are all gone, never to return.
The halls of Babylon will be desolate, and her riches will be turned to rubble, but Jerusalem shall be a praise in all the earth and the glory of the Lord will radiate from Zion. Babylon the great will not even come to remembrance when the Lord is exalted throughout the world. Man’s ways are fallen and will always lead to condemnation. But the Lord’s ways are right and in pursuing them, man finds salvation. The Door is open, and the path to glory is set. Let us come to God in the manner He has laid out for us. Let us come to Him through JESUS.
Heavenly Father, we long for the day when Christ our Lord will sit on the throne of His glory in Jerusalem and rule the nations! We long for the day when the wickedness of Babylon isn’t just gone from the world but gone from the memory of the people as well. Help us today to live in the Spirit and produce fruit acceptable and pleasing to You! Amen.