Tues.’s Devo - Babylon Has Fallen!

Read: Zechariah 10:1-11:17; Revelation 18:1-24; Psalm 146:1-10; Proverbs 30:33 Their feasts had been centered around praying to God for the rain so they could yield a great harvest. God was telling them to return to depending on him for rain and blessings. He can and will give them. The people trusted in worthless gods and witchcraft instead so they were like sheep without a shepherd. God was mad at the leaders who were suppose to be shepherding the people. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies had come to look after Judah and make them strong and glorious. God’s plan for Judah was to make it strong and able to conquer their enemies. Those scattered would return and become a great nation. Zechariah was telling them that their great nation was going to fall but then God would restore it. Chapter 11 speaks of the Temple that was made from the trees of Lebanon. The great doors of the Temple were made of this wood and Josephus says that one day the doors just opened on their own. They believed that it was depicting the fulfillment of this prophecy. The Romans did come and destroy the Temple and took captive those who did not die in the battle. Zechariah took two shepherd’s staffs and named one of them Favor and the other Union. God took out three of the evil rulers in one month. He took the staff called Favor and cut it in two showing that God was ending the covenant he had made with them. He told them they could pay him his wages if they wanted. They gave him thirty pieces of silver. The same amount Judas was given to betray Jesus. The Lord told Zechariah to give the silver to the potter just as Judas gave his to the Potter’s Field. With the other staff, Union, he cut in two showing that Judah and Israel would once again be divided. God told Zechariah to go again and play the part of a worthless shepherd. This would illustrate the worthless shepherd that God would send them who would not care for those who were dying, nor look after the young, nor heal the injured, nor feed the healthy. This shepherd, the anti-christ, would eat the fattest sheep and tear off their hooves. He would be cursed and end up losing his arm and his right eye. Revelation rejoices in her fall. Babylon who stands for the whole demonic system is declared fallen. Babylon, the center of commerce, entertainment, luxury and worldly lust would fall in a day. Those that made money by her would stand in horror and amazement as they watch her fall. It would be like watching the Stock Market crash, the World Trade Center crumble, Disney bombed, and Silicon Valley go up in flames all at the same time. Then, another angel picked up a hugh millstone and threw it into the ocean and shouted, “just like this the great city Babylon will be thrown down with violence and will never be found again.” The whole city would go silent and never be heard from again. Lord, thank you that you will over evil and sin. We are so grateful to be on your side and look forward to the end of this evil system and the rise of your righteous city.