Rejoicing Over Her Annihilation

When ancient Babylon was overthrown by the Medes and the Persians, Jeremiah prophetically said: "And over Babylon the heavens and the earth and all that is in them will certainly cry out joyfully." (Jeremiah 51:48) When Babylon the Great is destroyed, the voice out of heaven climaxes its message, saying of Babylon the Great: "Be glad over her, O heaven, also you holy ones and you apostles and you prophets, because God has judicially exacted punishment for you from her!" (Revelation 18:20) Jehovah and the angels will be delighted to see the annihilation of God's ancient enemy, as will the apostles and early Christian prophets, who by now are resurrected and have taken their position in the 24-elders arrangement. -Compare Psalm 97:8-12.

Indeed, all the "holy ones" - whether resurrected to heaven or still surviving on earth-will cry out for joy, as will the associated great crowd of other sheep. In time, all the faithful men of old will be resurrected into the new system of things, and they too will join in the rejoicing. God's people have not tried to avenge themselves on their false religious persecutors. they have remembered Jehovah's words: "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says Jehovah." (Romans 12:19; Deuteronomy 32:35, 41-43) Well, Jehovah has now repaid. All the blood spilled by Babylon the Great will have been avenged.

Next time:Hurling A Great Millstone.
Revelation Its Grand Climax At Hand! Watchtower Bible And Tract Society, 1988