Revelation 18:17b-20 “Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. 18 When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’ 19 They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out:
“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,
where all who had ships on the sea
became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’
20 “Rejoice over her, you heavens!
Rejoice, you people of God!
Rejoice, apostles and prophets!
For God has judged her
with the judgment she imposed on you.”
The third woe is from the seamen who cry out because their trade is gone. They no longer can dock their ships and their business is lost. This “city” had a lot of shipping business import and export that made the world wealthy. Trade by shipping is a major business today. There are 50,000 merchant ships on the oceans today. A cargo vessel holds a lot of merchandise. Our homes are full of imported good (“made in China” or some other country). What would life be like if all of a sudden this trade stopped? Many countries would be plunged into economy turmoil. Much of the world’s business now relies on imports and exports. The tone of verse 20 turns from woe to rejoice because Babylon has been judged. It is ironic that this judgment comes from the lips of seamen.
Have we built our lives on cheap imported good and missed out on building a life on treasures of heaven?
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