Rejoice Over Her, O Heaven,
God Has Judged Her for the Way She Treated You
18: 20
Rejoice over her, O heaven, God has judged her for the way she treated you DIG: How were the believers, apostles and prophets treated by Babylon?
REFLECT: How do you feel when evil is judged? How do you feel when God’s righteousness is upheld? What is the difference between the two?
Jesus Christ has said: I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10). When one sinner repents, heaven rejoices with great joy because the sinner has been delivered from hell and assigned to heaven for all eternity. But on the other hand, if such sinners harden their hearts and lead others to hell with them, then there is also another kind of joy in heaven when the rebels are brought to justice. Neither saints nor angels delight when some poor soul is sentenced to an eternity in hell. Adonai ELOHIM has said: I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezeki’el 33:11). Yet the Bible also says: Heaven and earth and all that is within them will shout for joy over the destruction of far eschatological Babylon, for out of the north destroyers will attack her (Jeremiah 51:48).
Therefore, the viewpoint of heaven is entirely different than those upon the earth. There will be no funeral procession there! Rather, it will be the celebration of a longed-for event. The saints prayed for it, the apostles taught about it, and the prophets of the TaNaKh saw it coming. At the end of the Great Tribulation, it will be fulfilled. God will clear His name because judgment will have come. Just what is your heart fixed on today? It will make a lot of difference in that Day because you could possibly either be with the mourners on the earth or with those who rejoice in heaven.398
The angel who began speaking in 18:4 will address the redeemed in heaven, saying: Rejoice over her, O heaven! Rejoice, believers and apostles and prophets! God has judged her for the way she has treated you. The long-awaited moment of vindication and justice for which the martyred Tribulation believers had prayed will have arrived (6:9-10). God will impose on Babylon the same sentence that she imposed on them. They will rejoice, not over the lost, but because of the triumph of righteousness, the exaltation of Jesus, the removal of His enemies and the onset of the Messianic Kingdom.399
Dear Wonderful Father, Living with You in heaven for all eternity will be so wonderful! When we see evil that appears to be conquering, we must remember that time on earth is only a blink of an eye and you, the Almighty Sovereign of the Universe, have reserved an eternity of judgement for all who refuse to bend the knee to worship and to love You. He who trusts in the Son has eternal life. He who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him (John 3:36.) You are wonderful! How awesome it will be to live with You in eternal peace and joy in heaven for all eternity, praising Your great name! We love You! In Your holy Son’s name and power of His resurrection. Amen
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