Mourning and Rejoicing at Babylon's End - Merchants Weep and Mourn

 The kings of the earth are not the only ones to regret the passing of Babylon the Great.  "Also. the merchants of the earth are weeping and mournign over her, because there is no one to buy their full stock anymore. a  full stock of gold and silver and precious stone and pearls and fine linenand purple and silk and scarlet; and everything in scented wood and every sort of ivory object and every sort of object out of most precious wood and of copper and of iron and of marble; also cinnamon and Indian spice and incense and perfumed oil and frankincense and and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat abd cattle and sheep, and horses and coaches and slaves and human souls. Yes, the fine fruit  that your soul  desired has departed from you [Babylon the Great], and all the dainty things and the gorgeious things have perished from you, and never again will  people find them."- REVELATION 18:11-14.

 Yes, Babylon the Great was a close friend and a good customer of wealthy merchants. For example, the monasteries, nunneries, and churches in Christendom have over the centuries  acquired huge amounts of gold, silver, precious stones, valuable woods, adn other forms of material wealth. Further, religion's blessing has been bestowed on the lavish buying sprees and drunken orgies that accompany the celebration of the Christ-dishonoring Christmas and other so-called holy days.  Christendom's missionaries have pentrated distant lands, openig up new markets for "the traveling merchants" of this world. In the 17th century Japan, Catholicism. which had come from with the traders, even became involved in feudal warfare.  Reporting ona  decisive battle under the walls   of Osaka castle, the Encyclopedia Britannica states:   "The Tokugawa troops found themselves fighting against a foe whose banners were emblazoned with the cross and with images of the Saviour and St. James, the patron saint of Spain."  The victorious faction persecuted and practically wiped out Catholicism in that land. The churche's participation in worldly affairs today will likewise bring her no blessing.

The voice out of heaven says further:  "The traveling merchants of these things, who became rich from her, wil stand at a distance of their fear of her torment and will weep and mourn, saying,  too bad, too bad-the great city, clothed with fine linen and purple  and scarlet, and richly adorned with gold ornaments and precious stone and pearl, because in one hour such great riches have been devasted!"' (Revelation 18:15-17a)  With the destruction of Babylon the Great, the  "merchants" mourn at the loss of that commercial partner.  Truly, it is "too bad, too bad" for them. Notice, though, that their reasons for mourning are entirely selfish and that they -like the kings-"stand at a distance." They do not get close enough to be of any help to Babylon the Great.

The account goes on:  "And every ship captain and every man that voyages anywhere, and sailors and all those who make a living by the sea, stood at a distance and cried out as they looked at the smoke from the burning of her and said,  'What city is like the great city?' And they threw dust upon their  heads and cried out, weeping and mourning, and said, 'too bas, too bad-the Great city, in which all these having boats at sea became rich by reason of her costliness, because in one hour she has been devastated!" (Revelation 18:17b-19) Ancient Babylon was a commercial city and had a great fleet of ships. Similarly, Babylon the Great does much business by the "many waters" of her people.  This provides employment for many of her religious subjects. What an economic  blow the destruction of Babylon the Great will be for these!  There will never be another source of livilhood like her.

Next time: Mourning and Rejoicing at  Babylon's End - Rejoicing Over Her Annihilation

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