Sudden & Swift
12/22/25 Bible Thought (Revelation 18)
The judgment of God is sudden, and it is swift.
In Revelation 17, we saw the self-destructive sequence that unraveled the evil powers of the earth. The beast turned against its rider, bringing about the dissolution of Babylon (Rome), the great prostitute. Though once clothed in scarlet, she was now naked, destitute, and to be consumed with fire.
Now, as we turn to Revelation 18, we see what some describe as a “funeral dirge” for the once great Rome.[1]
A Look at Revelation 18
Rome, at various intervals in its history, afflicted the church. Empire-wide persecution wasn’t the norm, but there were certainly times when Christians faced persecution, especially because they refused to worship the emperor.
For the Christian, Caesar was never lord. Christ alone was and is Lord.
To churches facing persecution, God’s delays probably seemed like forever. To this, we must always remember that God’s delayed judgment is due to His mercy, not His negligence (see 2 Pet. 3:9).
There is a window of opportunity between the two comings of Christ to find forgiveness, but when that window is shut, God’s judgment will come swiftly, and it will be inescapable.
That is the teaching of this chapter. The mighty city, Babylon, found that in a single hour its judgment came (Rev. 18:10). Furthermore, in just that single hour, all her wealth and truly everything she was, was laid waste (Rev. 18:17,19).
What took human beings centuries to build, God undid in no time.
A Great Hope
To a people awaiting God’s actions, this chapter came as a great encouragement. Babylon’s sins reached up to heaven, and God remembered them (Rev. 18:5). As such, He acted quickly, and furthermore, He acted on behalf of His afflicted people:
“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!” (Rev. 18:20, emphasis added).
The saints are called to rejoice at the. downfall of Babylon, for God gave judgment against her for them. Again, we see that the cries of the martyrs (Rev. 6:9-11) didn’t fall on deaf ears. Nor do the cries of His people fall on deaf ears today.
Bringing it Home
As we presently await the final installment of history and a modern-day Babylon, let us be encouraged—the victory is certain.
Nations will rise and fall, but the Kingdom of God holds fast. Emperors, kings, dictators, presidents, and whoever else might lead those nations will likewise rise and fall, but there is One who will not leave His throne.
He is just. He will not allow the sins of the world to go unpunished.
He is sovereign. He will fulfil His plans no matter who stands in the way.
He is good. He offers salvation from the judgment that is to come through a substitutionary sacrifice.
We can rejoice, even today, in the in-between, as we anticipate the final victory of God, knowing that although His just judgment is delayed at the right time, it will be unleashed upon a world in rebellion against Him.
When it comes, it will come suddenly and be executed swiftly.
Challenge for Today:
Do I ever find myself thinking that God’s delays are God’s denials?
[1] Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997), 322.
I’m glad you included the reference to 2 Peter 3 - “we must always remember that God’s delayed judgment is due to His mercy, not His negligence (see 2 Pet. 3:9).” That is what came to mind while reading. It also makes me think of Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the weeds, where the owner delays the “weed pulling” until the harvest and chooses to allow both wheat and weeds to grow together. This is the mercy of God, and yet it does not negate that there IS a harvest…a time where weeds will be pulled from the field. Where the parable breaks down is that weeds can in fact become wheat as the gospel sinks deep. We don’t like to talk about the judgment of God, but I’m guessing none of us would like to live in a world created and ruled by a God who is not just.