“I then heard another voice from heaven saying, Come out from her, my people, so that you may not share in her sins, neither participate in her plagues. For her iniquities (her crimes and transgressions) are piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her wickedness and [her] crimes [and calls them up for settlement].” Revelation 18:4-5 ->me: This passage has me chewing. This follows the description of the harlot (the representation of civilized man apart from God). This appears to be an indictment by association. ‘Come out of her’ – remember my QT from the 8th – RUN AWAY!. ‘that you may not share in her sins’ – I take this to mean that we have very little power within ourselves to withstand the temptations of this world when we allow ourselves to be rubbing shoulders with her. We must run away to our Father in Heaven to stay pure and holy. ‘God has remembered her wickedness’ means that if I don’t get away I could find myself in harm’s way as God’s wrath comes down on her. I don’t think John is talking about a physical closeness but a heart and treasure one. As part of our reading this month for my men’s study at church we have been reading The Treasure Project. This book really focuses on redirecting our treasure building forward, no investment here (earth)…at all. In the verses before this one it talks about the businessmen becoming rich with the wealth of her excessive luxury and wantonness – such a powerful warning and association with our dealings with the world to make money. How can I possibly think that unless I am steeped in God’s word and communal prayer with Him (this is how I define ‘to come out from her’) that I stand any chance of making any right decisions on my own. Without the Holy Spirit actively drawing me to the right decisions and life choices, I am doomed to participate in the harlot’s sinning and plagues. I put myself at risk of her evil and despicable wickedness rubbing off on me.
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