Revelation 17-19

“… the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries” (18:3). John’s vision involves divine judgment against the great city of “Babylon,” symbol of human rebellion against God’s ways. The self-centered obsession with “luxury”, according to John’s visions, is at the root of much suffering and violence; greed is part of the “magic spell” by which people and nations are led astray (18:23), and even human beings are used and sold for profit (18:13). 

The angel tells John and the other disciples not to despair, but to cling to the testimony of Jesus (19:10). In a world motivated by greed and power, we are called to follow the One who is Faithful and True (19:11).