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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 5 of 5
Devotional: December 24th

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Revelation 18:14-24

The moaning and groaning of the merchants (vv. 11, 15 . . .) recalls the complaints of Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen at Ephesus, as they feared they would lose the "no small gain" and the "wealth" which idol worship brought them (Acts 19:1-41). When it comes down to it, what difference is there between the great "Diana of the Ephesians" and "Babylon the great", between pagan idolatry and corrupt Christendom? Any religion that gives man all "the fruits that thy soul lusteth after" (v. 14), which delights the senses by putting the conscience to sleep (here music plays an important role: v. 22; Daniel 3:7), which favours business and is a good excuse for all kinds of merry-making, cannot fail to be successful. You only have to look at this time of the year to see the profane way in which many people celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus.

"In her was found the blood . . . of saints" (v. 24). In the city which Cain built, at the beginning of the Bible, there were many pleasant things . . . whilst the blood of Abel cried out (cf. Genesis 4:10; Genesis 4:17). Today the religious world rejoices whilst the true believer suffers and grieves (John 16:20). Tomorrow the sighs of "alas!" will resound down here, but the joy of heaven will be the answer (v. 20)! May God grant us to see by faith everything as He sees it!

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