Morning Prayer: 14 Nov – Revelation 18:11-19 ~ woe to the merchant / maritime classes

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences

Lord, open my lips and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

I arise today, through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to secure me: against snares of devils,
against temptations of vices, against inclinations of nature,
against everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and anear, alone and in a crowd.

Revelation 18:11-19 (ESV) – to be read aloud

And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.

“The fruit for which your soul longed has gone from you, and all your delicacies and your splendors are lost to you, never to be found again!”

The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,

“Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls! For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste.”

And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning,

“What city was like the great city?”

And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out,

“Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been laid waste.”

Reflection

THE THIRD VISION (17:1-21:8)

The Judgement of Babylon (18:1-19:5)

A Dirge in Three Parts (18:9-19)

The merchant class (18:11-17a)

The merchants of the earth weep and mourn, not out of sympathy for the proud city now brought low, but because with its collapse they have been deprived of their major source of financial gain. (Mounce, p. 332)

The lament of the merchants is altogether selfish and mercenary; the destruction of the city means their economic ruin…. In this catalogue of merchandise, John accurately reflects the luxury and opulence pursued by wealthy city dwellers in a city like Rome. (Ladd, 239-49)

To the kings, Rome was the “city of power” (v. 10); to the merchants she is dressed in expensive clothes and adorned in costly ornaments (cf. 17:4). Each group sees her fall in terms of its own interests. (Mounce, p. 335)

The merchant mariner class (17b-19)

The merchant mariners and all those who shared in the wealth of the city by sea-trafic also stand far off…. They too grieved not from a feeling of affection, but because they had been among those who had ships at sea and had grown rich by her wealth…. (Ladd, p. 241)
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Canticle

Christ, as a light – illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield – overshadow me.
Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me – on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me – on my left and my right.

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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Peanut Gallery: In September, we will begin reading through the Book of Revelation (ESV). Our purpose will be devotional, i.e. to discover the word of blessing that God has for us in these troubled times… to find hope and help for our daily lives.

This will not be a Bible Study per se: we will not attempt to unravel the “mysteries” of Revelation… that is far beyond our abilities and is not our interest here. However, so as not to get too far afield, we will rely on three study resources: primary – A Commentary on the Revelation of John (George Elton Ladd); supplemental Revelation (Leon Morris) and The Book of Revelation (Robert H. Mounce).

The general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) On Sundays, we’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world. Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.

Morning Prayer: 13 Nov – Revelation 18:9-10 ~ woe to the political class

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences

Lord, open my lips and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Revelation 18:9-10 (ESV) – to be read aloud

And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say,

“Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”

Reflection

THE THIRD VISION (17:1-21:8)

The Judgement of Babylon (18:1-19:5)

A Dirge in Three Parts (18:9-19)

John proceeds to bring out the total destruction of the great city by picturing the lamentation of those who had cause to mourn her passing, the kings, the merchants, those whose trade was on the sea. None is depicted as loving the city for herself, but only for what they could get out of her. She might seduce and enrich people but there was nothing lovely in her. (Morris, p.212)

The political class (18:9-10)

The kings of the earth represent “the bankruptcy of an arrogant existence which believed that it was ‘secure’ because it was living in a perverted political order.” They have committed adultery (entered into illicit relations; cf. 17:2) with the prostitute and lived voluptuously with her. Now their fortunes have changed, and they weep and wail as the rising smoke announces her destruction by fire…. The kings of the earth do not rush to the rescue of their paramour but “stand at a distance, horrified at her torture” (TCNT). Those who admired the accomplishments of strength are amazed that the most powerful city in existence lies smoldering in the ashes of destruction. (Mounce, p.331-2)

Their mourning does not reflect any sense of grief for the city herself but only for their personal loss because of the destruction of the city….

Appearances were deceptive; Babylon had seemed to be a city both great and mighty, before whose power and might the strength of the church was as nothing. In her vanity, she seemed to defy God and destroy the saints (17:6) with impunity. But God has the last word. In a single hour divine judgement and destruction will befall her. (Ladd, p. 239)
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Canticle

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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Morning Prayer: 12 Nov – Revelation 18:4-8 ~ Christians: run away

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences

Lord, open my lips and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Revelation 18:4-8 (ESV) – to be read aloud

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,

“Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

“Pay her back as she herself has paid back others. and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed. As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.’

“For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”

Reflection

THE THIRD VISION (17:1-21:8)

The Judgement of Babylon (18:1-19:5)

To God’s people: run away (18:4-5)

The persecuted church has always faced the temptation to compromise with worldliness and thus ease the tension of living in a hostile environment. Separation is the order of the day: sometimes physical, always ideological…. Two reasons are given for separation from the city so as not to share in her sins and so as not to receive any of her plagues (which brings together two basic issues in the book – sin and judgement). To share in her wickedness is to reap her recompense. (Mounce, p. 327)

Compromise with worldliness is fatal. God’s people must, while playing their full role in the community, hold themselves aloof from what is involved in being worldly-minded. (Morris, p. 209)

To the city: severe judgement (18:6-8)

God’s ministers of judgement are to give back to her as she has given, to pay her back double for what she has done, and to mix her a double portion from her own cup. Attempts to soften the passage out of consideration for the character of God (as well as the credibility of the Seer) misunderstand the eschatological wrath of a righteous deity. Babylon has shed the blood of prophets and saints (v. 24) and is about to receive in kind the reward for her cruelty. Not divine revenge but just requital is the issue. The martyrs of chapter 6 need to wait no longer for the sovereign God, holy and true (6:10), to avenge the death of all whose faith has conquered the sword. (Mounce, p. 328)
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Canticle

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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Morning Prayer: 11 Nov – Revelation 18:1-3 ~ announcement of judgement

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences

Lord, open my lips and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Revelation 18:1-3 (ESV) – to be read aloud

After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. And he called out with a mighty voice,

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
She has become a dwelling place for demons,
a haunt for every unclean spirit,
a haunt for every unclean bird,
a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
For all nations have drunk
the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality,
and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her,
and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”

Reflection

THE THIRD VISION (17:1-21:8)

The Judgement of Babylon (18:1-19:5)

John follows the vision of judgement that takes the life of the infamous prostitute with a detailed account of the destruction of Rome, that center of power, luxury, and fierce antagonism against the Christian faith….

The greatness of John as a prophet is seen with great clarity in this section of the Apocalypse. Remember that Rome is at the height of her glory. She rules the world, and nations serve her interests as obedient servants. Her power is unchallenged. Over against this mighty monolith stands a lonely prophet in exile on a barren island in the Aegean. As Rome carries on her opulent lifestyle unaware of any impending danger, John sings her funeral dirge — in the past tense! Rome has fallen. The mighty city has become nothing but a haunt for evil spirits and unclean animals. Imagine how this message fell on the ears of believers in the seven churches . Facing persecution and loss, they are led by the prophetic Spirit to understand that their oppressor will soon be destroyed. The future is not desolate but filled with the joyful expectation of the vindication of their faith. John’s message could not come at a more appropriate time. (Mounce, p. 323)

The announcement of Babylon’s desolation comes in two segments. First, in vv. 1-3, an angel descends from heaven and its very presence illumines the earth. With great authority it announces that Rome has fallen. Then, in vv.4-8, another voice from heaven calls the people of God out of the city, for it is about to receive a double portion of the suffering it inflicted on others. There is nothing ahead for the city but death, mourning and famine. The once proud monarch has been brought to ruin. (Mounce, p.324)

Angelic announcement (18:1-3)

The authority of the angel should be understood in terms of the power required to proclaim the complete destruction of Rome as well as the incredible nature of what he is about to prophesy. In the ears of those who read the prophecy the collapse of mighty Babylon sounds absolutely impossible. John is about to tell them that God is now responding to the cry of the martyrs in the fifth seal. (Mounce, p. 325)

When this desolation has befallen the city, she will be no longer the mistress of civilization; no longer will she be inhabited by princes and merchants; she will be so desolated that no human being will set foot in her…. The cause of Babylon’s judgement is that she has corrupted all the earth…. This evil seduction has affected particularly the political and economic leaders…. The great harlot has used promises of power and enticements of wealth and luxury as the attraction fort following her lead. Power and wealth were employed in the name of demonic religion. (Ladd, p. 236)
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Canticle

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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Morning Prayer: 10 Nov – Revelation 17:15-18 ~ the self-destruction of evil

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences

Lord, open my lips and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Revelation 17:15-18 (ESV) – to be read aloud

Shakespeare’s The Tempest is the inspiration behind this nineteenth century painting: “The cloud-capt towers, the gorgeous palaces, The solemn temples, the great globe itself, Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve” (Act IV, Scene 1). Surely these lines and the painting they inspired bear a striking resemblance to the description of the destruction of Babylon in Revelation 16:17-18. Samuel Colman, The Edge of Doom (1836-38). Oil on canvas. Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York. The Bridgeman Art Library. Used with permission. - See more at: http://blog.spu.edu/lectio/gods-demoliton-project/#sthash.r3EPjHLR.dpuf — Shakespeare’s The Tempest is the inspiration behind this nineteenth century painting: “The cloud-capt towers, the gorgeous palaces, The solemn temples, the great globe itself, Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve” (Act IV, Scene 1). Surely these lines and the painting they inspired bear a striking resemblance to the description of the destruction of Babylon in Revelation 16:17-18.
Samuel Colman, The Edge of Doom (1836-38).
Oil on canvas. Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York. The Bridgeman Art Library.

And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”

Reflection

THE THIRD VISION (17:1-21:8)

The Prostitute and the Scarlet Beast (17:1-18)

The destruction of the woman (17:15-18)

The turning of the beast against the woman who sits on it speaks of “a terrible and mysterious law of political history, according to which every revolutionary power contains within itself the seed of self-destruction.” It describes the self-destroying power of evil. The wicked are not a happy band of brothers, but precisely because they are wicked they give way to jealousy and hatred, so that “at the climax their mutual hatreds will result in mutual destruction.” (Mounce, p. 320)

The reason for all this is the divine will. “The beast and his allies remain in the hand of the God they defy, and by the impulse of the Devil they unitedly fulfill the words of God” (Beasley-Murray)…. Her doom is from God. (Morris, p. 206-7)

John’s language indicates the complete ruin and destruction of the erstwhile proud city…. In the first century, this stood for Rome; but in the end time, it will stand for eschatological Babylon. (Ladd, p. 234)
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