Brace Yourself, Babylon is Here
Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute… - Revelation 17:1
The angel invites John to witness the judgment of “the great prostitute,” which is a clearly derogatory title that is used to represent the system of powers and principalities that the Bible calls “Babylon.” Here in Revelation 17, she is dazzling! She floats above the waters, sitting on a scarlet, blasphemous beast, clothed in purple and scarlet, dripping with gold and pearls. She holds a golden cup in her hand that is full of her sins. Her power has intoxicated nations and seduced kings. If that isn’t enough, she is “drunk with the blood of the saints.” Even John “marveled greatly” at the sight.
This scene is not just ancient history or future prophecy, it’s a mirror for every age… even for today. “Babylon” stands for the world’s powers and seductive cultures, political, economic, and even religious, that lead people away from the authority of the one true God. They may not be as overt as this, but their essence remains. That’s why John is told to look at it, so he won’t be fooled. It is as if Jesus is telling John and us that we need to brace ourselves for what is to come.
1. Brace Yourself Spiritually
The power of Babylon is alluring. It will dress up corruption in gold and call compromise “success.” It invites us to drink deeply of its wine, its comfort, its status, its power, until we’re numb to what God is really up to. Spiritual bracing means waking up and becoming aware of the real struggles in our world. It is not against people, but against the powers and principalities of this world. It means that we must check what’s inside the cup before we sip, making sure that we do not give allegiance to anything other than Jesus.
2. Brace Yourself Emotionally
Babylon is an enemy of believers… of “the saints.” Verse 6 says she is drunk on their blood. Following Jesus sometimes means that we must stand up against the powers of our age. We shouldn’t be surprised when faithfulness to Jesus costs us something. Bracing ourselves means setting our expectations realistically; life with Christ is life on a battleship, not a cruise ship.
3. Brace Yourself with Hope
The angel begins with judgment, but we have to remember that judgement is not despair. No doubt, Babylon’s fall is certain. She may look dazzling now, but her days are numbered. To brace ourselves with hope is to remember, in the end, it is Jesus who wins, it is love that conquers, it is peace that perseveres! Justice comes in the form of a Lamb who was slain, and He brings Heaven with Him!
So look closely. Marvel if you must, but don’t be mesmerized. Keep your heart anchored to Jesus and he will lead you to victory!
Josh Rose
Family Pastor
Thief in the night
(“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)
Amidst Revelation’s descriptions of God’s judgment upon what’s left of the world, Jesus interjects, reminding us that he hasn’t forgotten his people among the chaos. He reminds us that his coming is entirely unpredictable, but he is most certainly coming. Nothing can keep him from stealing us away to be with him.
The words, stay and keep are continuation words. One who stays awake does so at night when one would usually sleep. It is hard to stay awake, and it is uncomfortable to remain dressed when it is dark out and your bed beckons. Likewise, it is hard to keep our minds focused on the things the Lord has for us to do when they are often uncomfortable and the world is so dark. However, blessed is the one who maintains a perspective of hope, anticipating the Lord’s return like a kid anticipates Christmas morning.
It strikes me as endlessly fascinating that the Lord likens himself to a thief. He comes to rob the world of us, in this case. There isn’t anything that can be done to deter him. See Romans 8:38-39. Even if we fail and are found in less than optimal circumstances, he’ll still bring us home! Blessed are the ones who persevere.
Jonathan Duncan EFCC Member
The Book of Revelation in a Nutshell
Ephesians 6:11-13 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Joshua 24:14-15 Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served…. or the gods of the Amorites…… But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.
Luke 9:23-25 Jesus said, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?
Ephesians 5:15-17 Be very careful, then, how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
Dr. Harris was a beloved college Bible professor. When Dr. Harris spoke, you leaned in to listen. He wasn’t a man of big or many words. When he spoke, he paused a lot to carefully speak the truth. One day in chapel he summarized the book of Revelation in a way I cannot forget.
With a warm Texan accent he said,
“Listen up. I’m gonna give you the whole book of Revelation in 3 sentences.
1. There’s a war going on. 2. You must pick a side. 3. Don’t be stupid.”
We studied Revelation 15-16 this week, the Day of Judgment, the Day of the Lord. Plagues, bowls of the Lord’s wrath poured out on the earth, a Holy God whose judgments are just: pain, sores, death, scorching fire, darkness, agony, apocalyptic destruction.
If you’re not mindful of the spiritual war waging, may I remind you we live in Dragon territory (Rev. 12). If you’re on the fence about Jesus, debating if he’s really worth following or not…may I say in love, “Don’t be stupid.”
Only one side wins. Only one side is victorious in the end.
Donielle Winter
EFCC Member
Wrath and Love
When my mom was diagnosed with cancer, I remember sitting in waiting rooms, praying through tears, and watching her courage as she befriended nurses and kept baking cookies for others. But through it all, something settled in me: I hate cancer. I hate it because it threatened someone I loved. I hated what it did, the way it steals and destroys. I’m convinced that hatred wasn’t wrong; it was love refusing to sit silent while something destructive ran wild.
And if that’s true for me, how much more true is it for God?
A lot of people struggle with the idea of God’s wrath. They picture a capricious, cruel deity lashing out in fits of rage. However, the Bible paints a different picture. God’s wrath isn’t random or vindictive; it’s an outflow of His righteous, measured opposition to everything that destroys His good creation. Leon Morris once wrote, “God’s wrath is his strong and settled opposition to everything that is evil arising out of his very nature.” Wrath is not the opposite of love; it’s love in action against evil.
Think about it: if God didn’t hate adultery, would He really love marriage? If He didn’t hate abuse, would He really care for the vulnerable? If He didn’t hate racism, greed, lies, and violence, could we really call Him good? Love demands wrath. A God who shrugs at evil would be a God who doesn’t actually love.
Revelation 16 pulls back the curtain to show us this truth. The bowls of wrath aren’t cruel overreactions; they are God’s decisive “No” to sin, idolatry, and rebellion. They are the final act of a God who is unwilling to let cancerous evil keep destroying what He loves. His wrath is the surgeon’s scalpel, cutting away the disease so that healing can finally come.
Wrath, then, is not the Bible’s dirty little secret. It is the proof of His holy love. The opposite of love is not anger; it’s apathy… and praise God, He is not apathetic. God hates evil, and believe it or not, that is good news. God’s wrath means His love is strong enough to fight for us, to defend us, and to heal His broken world. What proves that more than the cross? At Calvary, we see both the seriousness of sin and the depth of God’s love. In Jesus, God Himself absorbed the full weight of evil and triumphed over it. The cross shows us that God’s justice doesn’t stand apart from His mercy; it meets there. Judgment and love converge, so that those who trust in Christ are not condemned but freed to live in His grace.
May you experience that grace afresh today.
Pastor Ryan Paulson
Songs of Gratitude vs. Cursing God
God’s wrath is coming to an amazing conclusion with the seven angels holding seven bowls containing seven plagues.(Revelation 15:1) Then in verses two and three John says, And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God and they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
“Great and amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations!
Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
The theme of the song of Moses here is the same as the one in Deuteronomy and they are both rejoicing and glorifying God’s justice. The song of Moses and the Lamb are sung together to link the deliverance of Israel (Exodus 15) and a new song celebrating Christ’s final victory over evil.
Both songs in Revelation 15 show us God’s consistent acts of mercy and salvation, from the Old Testament judgment through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice of death on the cross to rescue us from sin, and defeat of the Antichrist and his reign of terror.
The non-believers acknowledge the plagues are coming from God because they are cursing Him. The fourth angel pours out his bowl on the sun, allowing it to scorch people with intense heat. Despite the severe suffering, they "cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues" but did not repent. Revelation 16:9
They don’t have the eternal life hope of the believers who are praising him with song. The message here is simple; you’re either a Christ follower, obeying God’s commands with the joy of redemption, or you’re blaming and cursing His name. Both go through the time of tribulation, but believers have strength and protection from God to endure and those cursing are tormented and miserable with no hope.
Which characteristics of God do you see in the songs or in Revelation 15-16? What have you learned about God’s character in these chapters?
Deb Hill
EFCC Member
A Song of Victory
Prior to working at Emmanuel Faith, I had the privilege of teaching Jr. High School students at Escondido Christian School. I know some may think I’m crazy, but I LOVE Jr. Highers! They are fun and inquisitive - full of energy and not yet too consumed with trying to become adults. While at ECS, I taught 7th grade Old Testament and a week didn’t go by without a student saying, “Really!? The Israelites stopped trusting God and sinned again!?” What they soon realized was that what was common to the Israelites is not so uncommon to us today. So with that, I went on to teach about the Cycle of Sin and Slavery.
This “cycle” is repeated over and over again throughout Scripture. It goes like this:
Sin: Followers abandon their covenant with God and turn to worshipping other gods and committing acts that are “evil in the sight of the Lord”.
Slavery: Due to their disobedience, God allows his people to become oppressed and enslaved by the very gods they chose to serve.
Supplication: In their bondage and distress, the people of God cry out for help and deliverance.
Salvation: A compassionate God hears their cries, and raises up a leader or a judge to rescue his people from their oppressors.
Silence: Peace follows salvation as long as the judge rules. Soon however, God’s people forget about his deliverance, turn back to their sinful ways, and the cycle repeats itself.
You may see this pattern not only through the lives of the O.T. Israelites, but also in the lives of the many generations that follow. We see this cycle in recent history and in our society today. You may even see it in your own life.
But what does this have to do with Revelation 15? It is reminiscent of God’s people seeking a Savior, searching for ultimate victory in the Old Testament. Revelation 15:2-5 says, “And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God 3 and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations; 4 Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
With this declaration, the song of Moses and of the Lamb, the cycle is forever broken. This song is a perfect union between the old and new covenants. God promised deliverance to his people centuries ago and he promises deliverance to his people today. It is a song of expectation and hope. A song of victory that declares, “even though… yet God”.
Have you seen yourself in the cycle above at any point in your life? Where do you find yourself today? As a practice this week, consider starting each morning proclaiming the song in verses 3 and 4 above. Wherever you may find yourself, each and every day, keep remembering that victory belongs to our God!
Lynette Fuson
Care & Counseling Director
The Sickle Comes for Us All
“So He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.” — Revelation 14:16
Revelation 14:14–20 has quite the imagery! John looks and sees “one like a Son of Man” seated on a cloud, a golden crown on His brow, and a sharp sickle in His hand. Is this Jesus? It sure seems like it. An angel gives the order and the sickle swings… “and the earth was reaped.” Another angel appears, also with a sickle. This time he gathers the clusters of grapes for the great winepress of God’s wrath… “and blood flowed!” The first scene seems like a peaceful harvest; the second is a bloodbath. What is going on here?
As I thought about this, I realized I was getting confused by all this agricultural imagery—mostly because, if I were a farmer, I would have starved a long time ago. I just don’t know what I’m doing around anything that grows in the ground. I did what everyone does these days when they don’t know something, so I asked ChatGPT. I learned, among other things, that grain is cut only when it is dry and ready—that is the point at which the stalk’s “life work” is complete and the seed has reached its full potential. That is when a wise farmer strikes it down and collects the grain. To gather the grain, the stalk must die. So both images in Revelation 14 involve a death. The first may not include an ocean of blood, but it is still a death.
What does that mean for us? First, it means the harvest is unavoidable. “The sickle comes for us all.” Life under the sun ripens us until the day when what we have become is revealed. Second, where and how you are planted while you live really matters. We may not grasp every detail of the imagery—or why the grape harvest is linked with judgment—but the point stands: how we grow determines how we are gathered.
So how are you growing on this side of the sickle?
The only appropriate answer comes from another passage penned by John. In John 15, Jesus tells us to abide in Him and in His love. He says we cannot bear fruit unless we abide in Him (John 15:4). Yes, the sickle of death may come for us all, but there is one way to avoid the sickle of judgment: make your home in God’s love and allow that love to be the source of all your growth.
Josh Rose
Family Pastor
For Such a Time as This
“And who knows whether you have not come
to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Esther 4:9c
On Wednesday September 10th, in the middle of the writing team, we heard the news we hoped we wouldn’t hear, Charlie Kirk died. Silence, sorrow, but trust in our Father because “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints,” Psalm 116:15. God was not surprised that this evil act would occur, but He was ready to welcome Charlie home with, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” His work on earth was done, but what God purposed in Charlie to do would continue on.
The following days were filled with stories of the accomplishments which could only be designed by God using a man completely surrendered to His Savior. As I listened and watched, the story of Esther came to mind. Charlie was clearly created ‘for such a time as this.’ As Esther was integral to God’s plan to rescue her people, Charlie would be used by God to bring people to know Jesus. The basis for all his work for faith, family, and our country, was the truth about Jesus. In an interview, Charlie was asked what he wanted to be remembered for. His answer was thoughtful but immediate. “I want to be remembered for my courage for my faith. My faith is the most important thing to me.”
We live in a time that calls for courage. Courage to speak the truth, even when people don’t want to hear it, because some will hear! We need courage because ‘In the absence of courage, truth is an orphan.’ As we've learned in Revelation, the Lord says to His children to be faithful, steadfast, stand firm, and endure; that all takes courage. The outcome is up to God and as Winston Churchill said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” But we believers are here at this place because God designed each of us ‘for such a time as this.’ Our placement here during this era is not accidental but purposeful. And the source of courage is a deep trust in God and His plan.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Prayerfully consider these questions:
How do you want to be remembered?
How does your trust in God and His plan give you courage?
How does knowing you were created for such a time as this make a difference in your life?
Praying for us all as we continue on with strength and courage.
Francie Overstreet
EFCC Member
Run a Good Race
For years I ran/jogged, and after a long break decided to train for the America’s Best half marathon in San Diego. I’d run 10k’s (6+miles) in the past so I knew I needed to train harder to run thirteen plus miles with many hills. I was in my fifties when I set this goal, but I knew if I ran enough miles, and trained hard enough I could at least complete the race and hopefully not come in last. I knew strength, and endurance were needed which required preparation and training. Also patience to go out and run a 12 mile route every Saturday morning plus miles during the week by myself (just me and the Lord and music).
Revelation 14 talks about a different kind of patient endurance. John says in Revelation 14:12 (NIV), “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.” These saints will apparently be saved during the tribulation. The world will be governed by the beast (or antichrist) who will harshly persecute anyone who believes in Jesus (Rev. 13) even to the point of their death.
From the beginning, our Creator has commanded his children to believe in Him. He captured the attention of people in many different ways and most importantly he spoke through Jesus Christ, His Son. In the last days of the tribulation people will still be commanded to believe in Jesus. Some will instead bow to the deceptive ways of the beast and his demand to wear his “mark” which is the sign of antichrist worship. Sp maybe it's logical to assume everyone not wearing "the mark" will stand out in the crowd and be subject to torment and persecution because they worship Jesus.
What does this mean for us right now? Patient endurance requires training and commitment. A commitment to follow God’s commandments, a commitment to study His word, a commitment to pray, and faith that He will always be with us to help no matter what trial or tribulation comes our way. We have to be prepared for the enemy's attacks.
My training and prep for that half marathon worked. I finished the race and wasn’t last, but I pray we all always have the same commitment to endure the race in this life God created us for as believers.
Take a minute to meditate on this verse in Hebrews 12 . . . let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Deb Hill
EFCC Member
The Mark of the Beast
Revelation 14:6-13
6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
8 Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”
9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”
12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”
Our minds take the warning above, about the suffering that will happen to those who take the mark of the beast, as a description of hell. After all, it says “the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever.” A closer look reveals three tribulation warnings about tribulation trouble, not eternal trouble.
Warning 1, verses 6-7: Last chance to receive the gospel. God’s judgement (tribulation judgement, not final judgement) is about to be poured out.
Warning 2, verse 8: Babylon, or impurity & corruption in this world will be eliminated.
Warning 3, verses 9-11: If you get the mark of the beast, you will be in pain.
Many theologians and scholars believe verses 9-11 are about hell. The problem with that reading is verse 10 says this suffering happens in the presence of the Lamb and his holy angels. Hell, however, is separation from God. “They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might” – 1 Thessalonians 1:9. A better understanding is seeing verses 9-11 as a warning there will be a temporal consequence for getting the beast’s mark. Those consequences are revealed in Rev 16:2, “So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.” Since nothing “can separate us from the love of God” Romans 8:39, believers would not lose their salvation because of the beast's mark. Many people will be tempted to get that mark and worship the beast’s image to stay alive and buy and sell in those days (Rev.13:15-17). Those who do, however, will suffer in the days to come.
Verses 12 and 13 emphasize that Christians need to hold on to their faith as the end approaches. Babylon will fall and so will any chance of corruption or sneakiness. God’s people cannot trust in going around the systems of the world to survive. Anyone taking the beast’s mark will suffer greatly too. Three angels and three warnings encourage believers it is better to die in faith than to trust the systems of the world where God’s tribulation wrath will fall.
Pastor John Riley
