181011AM
Rev 18
Short Clip
Revelation 18:4-8 is a repetition of the continually repeated warning. God wants us, His saints, to live out our high calling. We are called to be holy in all parts of our lives. To “separate from” and “get out of Babylon” is called for seven times in the Word of God. (See Isaiah 48:20; 52:11; Jeremiah 50:8-9; 51:6, 8; Zechariah 2:6-7; Revelation 18:4.) Some of the key calls of God have been for men to get out of worldliness. You may be thinking: Wait a minute, this is the Tribulation, the end of the world. So what is this? There are still going to be Christians on the planet. There will always be Christians on this planet because we have the two witnesses (Revelation 11), the 144,000 (Revelation 7 and 14), and the angel preaching the everlasting gospel (Revelation 14). The gospel is continually going out, and people will be responding throughout the Tribulation.
From the Garden of Eden to the end of time, God has the same call to His saints: “Come out of worldliness! Get away from the worship of this world!” Look at what He has to say about this in the following verses.
 
God called Abraham out of his world to follow His way: “… ‘Get out of your country, from your family And from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you’ ” (Genesis 12:1).
 
God called Lot to totally abandon the sinfulness of Sodom: “Then the men said to Lot, ‘Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city—take them out of this place!’ ” (Genesis 19:12).
 
God called Moses to stay out of the very presence of those rebelling against the Lord: “… ‘Speak to the congregation, saying, “Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram” ’ ” (Numbers 16:23-24).
 
God promises great blessing for living a life that avoids the ungodliness around us: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law, he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-3).
 
Jesus prayed for our realization that this world is not our home: “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one …” (John 17:14-16).
 
God expects His children to come out—and stay out—of worldliness: “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? … For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you’ ” (2 Corinthians 6:14-17).
 
God calls us to be careful to not associate with sin: “Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure” (1Timothy 5:22).
 
Are you obeying God’s call to come out of worldliness? Are you worshiping God—and God alone? If you are struggling with worldliness, the key to victory and freedom is yielding to and obeying the Lord! For Jesus says, “…. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. … If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. … If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love …” (John 15:5, 7, 10a).