Chapter 18 contains a lament over a city that has not yet been destroyed. It is a prophetic action. The city is Babylon, the city of the harlot. We know it as Rome. The city of Rome today is not the same as the Rome we know today.
How are we supposed to view this today? Today the enemy of the Lord is everywhere, in every city.
Today, we need to prophesy and understand that the end of this world system is coming. We should be encouraged by that. When you are suffering and being chased by terrible enemies it is good to know that there is victory ahead of us.
One of the reasons the sin of adultery is so bad is that it is a betrayal of trust. This is important to understand because we live in an age when adultery is accepted and we don’t even know how bad it is.
In verse 4 we see a message for the people of God. Come out from her people so that you will not share in her sins and receive any of her plagues. We are tempted every day to buy into the world system. Consumerism, politics, etc. We don’t belong there. We are to stand for the truth. As soon as we do, lots of people will come against us.
We are to be in the world, but not of the world.
Trouble tends to come upon us suddenly. God’s judgement comes upon us suddenly.
God says that in the same way you judge, you will be judged. Be careful how you judge others. This is pretty scary. Watch your words and watch how you think. Repent right away.