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Under the Influence: Part 2

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In part one, we saw that the world lies under the influence of an evil power, led by a sinister ruler, with the purpose of deceiving, enslaving, and destroying the souls of those who dwell here. In the book of Revelation, that power is depicted as Babylon, a city opposed to God and hostile to His followers. But you won’t read that on the “Welcome to Babylon” sign. Those under the influence of Babylon are unaware of the dangers in that city.

In Revelation 18, John saw an image of Babylon as a seductive prostitute enticing the whole world—and he marveled. She intoxicated the world with her wine, seduced the world with her sexual immorality, and deceived the world by blinding them to the dangers of her culture. 

It’s easy to become absorbed into the culture that is at odds with God. Like the smog in Los Angeles, Babylon emits an invisible, toxic influence that weakens our resolve to live for Christ. We ended last week with four reasons why Babylon is dangerous, or, to put it another way, four ways Babylon keeps us under her influence:  

Babylon is (1) attractive, (2) seductive, (3) pervasive and (4) deceptive. God calls His people to “Come out of her.” But how can we escape such an impressive, powerful culture that offers everything our fallen hearts crave? What hope do we have in the face of Babylon’s beauty, power, seduction and deception?

God offers us something more powerful than Babylon’s dirty counterfeits. He offers us incomparable Truth and Beauty. 

Counter Babylon’s Deception with Truth: Don’t miss what John is doing in this section. First, he is exposing Babylon for what she really is, a lie. He’s showing us her end—a fate that will be shared by those who participate in her culture. John is giving us truth. That’s how we counter deception. We need God’s perspective. We need divine revelation. Jesus said the truth will set us free. But we have to know it first. Only God’s truth can liberate us from Babylon’s lies. That truth is found in the Bible. Of course, Jesus is the written, incarnate Word of God—the ultimate revelation. And Jesus always pointed us back to Scripture for liberating truth.   

So be a faithful, lifelong learner of God’s Word. Listen to it. Read it. Study it. Memorize it. Meditate upon it. And grow in that discipline. If reading is a struggle for you, download the Bible on an audio app. Do the same with sound biblical teaching. Grow in your faith, and learn to view everything, culturally, personally, socially, and politically—at every level—critically and clearly in light of what Scripture teaches. That’s how you counter deception and "bring every thought captive into obedience to Christ.” 

Be under the influence of God’s Word and God’s Spirit. They will never lead you astray, seduce you, or deceive you. They cannot. You’ll be free, and you can help free others.

Counter Babylon’s Seduction with Surpassing Beauty: The second thing John is doing is creating longing in us—longing for a better ending and surpassing pleasure. His before and after picture of Babylon is devastating. Revelation 18 is set up like a poetic funeral dirge. But the next section in Revelation is set up like a party, with the New Holy city of Jerusalem coming down from heaven. Do you want a funeral or a party?

John purposely contrasts Babylon’s deception and seduction with the New Jerusalem’s beauty and glory to build anticipation in our hearts. Those who come out of Babylon will not be disappointed. God will reward them. 

Babylon was a great prostitute, the New Jerusalem will be the pure wife of the Lamb. Babylon is of the earth, rising up to challenge heaven. Jerusalem comes down from above, the heavenly city. Babylon is filled with death, deception, destruction and sinful deeds. Jerusalem is filled with glory, blessing, life, and righteous deeds. The kings of Babylon commit immorality and mourn her destruction. The kings of Jerusalem bring glory into Jerusalem, and celebrate her beauty. Babylon deceived the nations. Jerusalem heals the nations. God calls us to come out of Babylon. He calls us to enter the New Jerusalem. See the contrast.  

Why settle for Babylon, when a better city awaits? John is inviting us not just to muster up the will power to say “no” to Babylon, but to understand how much more powerful it is to say “yes” to Jerusalem. Two Greek Legends illustrate his point:  

In Homer’s classic Greek tale, The Odyssey, the sirens pose a deadly threat to all who pass by their island. With their enticing song, they tempt men to their island and consume them. Ulysses puts wax in the ears of his men and demands to be tied to the mast of his ship until the danger passes. He is nearly driven mad by the power of the Sirens’ seduction, but they survive the temptation. That’s one way to attempt escaping temptation. Plug your ears. Bind your body. Try and control the impulse to indulge. Don’t look. Don’t listen. Don’t touch. Don’t taste. Just say no.  

Another legend, Jason and the Argonauts, offers a different strategy. The Argonauts had Orpheus onboard their ship, a master musician and singer. When the sirens began their seductive song, Orpheus lifted up his voice and sang a more captivating melody. The beauty of his music drowned out the seductive song of the sirens and the men, preferring the richer, sweeter more compelling music of Orpheus, escaped. 

The music of the Gospel is much sweeter, and the promises of Jesus are more compelling, than the empty seduction of Babylon. Her wine and sexual immorality cannot satisfy the deep longings we have for pleasure and beauty. Only Christ can, and does.  

So don’t merely change the channel, change your story. Transfer your hope, trust, and allegiance to Jesus. Reject the lies of Babylon. Put wax in your ears if you have to, until the danger has passed. Then enjoy the sweeter music of the Gospel. Say no to the false identity, security and comfort Babylon offers. But don’t stop there. Say yes to Jesus. Deny yourself to be true to yourself.