FRIDAY 18TH NOVEMBER 2016 MORNING
Revelation 18:1-8 New International Version (NIV)
Lament Over Fallen Babylon
1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 2 With a mighty voice he shouted:
“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’[a]
She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,
a haunt for every unclean bird,
a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.
3 For all the nations have drunk
the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,
and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”
Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
“‘Come out of her, my people,’[b]
so that you will not share in her sins,
so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
5 for her sins are piled up to heaven,
and God has remembered her crimes.
6 Give back to her as she has given;
pay her back double for what she has done.
Pour her a double portion from her own cup.
7 Give her as much torment and grief
as the glory and luxury she gave herself.
In her heart she boasts,
‘I sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow;[c]
I will never mourn.’
8 Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her:
death, mourning and famine.
She will be consumed by fire,
for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.
Footnotes:
- Revelation 18:2 Isaiah 21:9
- Revelation 18:4 Jer. 51:45
- Revelation 18:7 See Isaiah 47:7,8.
There is much debate about what exactly is meant by The Great Babylon. Babylon was one of the enemies of Israel. But probably here it is taken to mean all that is immoral and opposed to the one true God. We see much evil in the world. We see many bad people appearing to prosper and to mock God but they should know that one day they will be judged.
Even as Christians we sometimes think that God ignores our sins and rebellion. Let us not be envious of the rich and powerful. Let us not seek to gain wealth by illegal means. Let us not oppress the weak. Let us humble ourselves and repent and be reconciled to God.
IJUMAA TAREHE 18 NOVEMBA 2016 ASUBUHI
UFUNUO 18:1-8
1 Baada ya hayo naliona malaika mwingine, akishuka kutoka mbinguni, mwenye mamlaka kuu; na nchi ikaangazwa kwa utukufu wake.
2 Akalia kwa sauti kuu, akisema, Umeanguka, umeanguka Babeli ule mkuu; umekuwa maskani ya mashetani, na ngome ya kila roho mchafu, na ngome ya kila ndege mchafu mwenye kuchukiza;
3 kwa kuwa mataifa yote wamekunywa mvinyo ya ghadhabu ya uasherati wake, na wafalme wa nchi wamezini naye, na wafanya biashara wa nchi wamepata mali kwa nguvu za kiburi chake.
4 Kisha nikasikia sauti nyingine kutoka mbinguni, ikisema, Tokeni kwake, enyi watu wangu, msishiriki dhambi zake, wala msipokee mapigo yake.
5 Kwa maana dhambi zake zimefika hata mbinguni, na Mungu amekumbuka maovu yake.
6 Mlipeni kama yeye alivyolipa, mkamlipe mara mbili kwa kadiri ya matendo yake. Katika kikombe kile alichokichanganyisha, mchanganyishieni maradufu.
7 Kwa kadiri alivyojitukuza na kufanya anasa, mpeni maumivu na huzuni kadiri iyo hiyo. Kwa kuwa husema moyoni mwake, Nimeketi malkia, wala si mjane, wala sitaona huzuni kamwe.
8 Kwa sababu hiyo mapigo yake yatakuja katika siku moja, mauti, na huzuni, na njaa, naye atateketezwa kabisa kwa moto. Kwa maana Bwana Mungu aliyemhukumu ni mwenye nguvu.
Kuna mawazo mbalimbali kuhusu Babeli mkuu. Je ! Ni mahali halisi? Babeli ilikuwa taifa katika maadui wa taifa la Israeli. Lakini katika mistari hiyo inawezakana kwamba Babeli ni mfano wa kila kitu ambacho ni kiovu na kila mtu ambaye anamwasi Mungu na anatenda dhambi kwa kiburi.
Duniani kuna mambo mengi mabaya. Watu wabaya wanatenda mambo mengi ya ovyo na wanaonekana kustawi.
Tusitamani kuwa kama hao. Tusitamani kutajirika kwa njia isiyo halali. Tusiwatese wanyonge. Tubu dhambi zako na upatane na Mungu.
