启示录18 看破暂时的荣耀！
 
GK611晨祷生命读经
10.03.2026 
主讲：郑伟健传道


引言：暂时与永恒

一、认识真正的大权柄！（启18:1-3）

1. 真权柄带来真荣耀 (V1）
约翰看见一位“有大权柄的天使从天降下，地就因他的荣耀发光”。这表明真正的权柄来自神，也必然带来神的荣耀。世界也有许多看似辉煌的权势，例如政治权力、经济力量或社会影响力，但这些荣耀往往只是人所建立的暂时荣耀。与之相比，从神而来的荣耀才是真正永恒的光。当神的荣耀显现时，世界所夸耀的光就显得暗淡。

2. 抵挡神的必倾倒 (V2-3）
天使宣告：“巴比伦大城倾倒了！”在启示录中，巴比伦象征一个敌挡神、迷惑世界的系统。对于当时的信徒而言，这指向强盛的罗马帝国，一个拥有政治、经济和文化中心地位的世界体系。列国因她的奢华和财富而被吸引，君王与她行淫，商人因她发了财。然而，无论一个系统看起来多么强大，只要它抵挡神，最终必然倾倒。历史一再证明，人所建立的荣耀是脆弱的，而神的国却永远稳固。

 二、爱地上荣耀的悲哀！（启18:4-13）

1. 必受加倍的悲哀 (V4-8）
神向祂的百姓发出呼召：“我的民哪，你们要从那城出来。”这不是指离开城市，而是呼召信徒离开巴比伦的价值观和生活方式。巴比伦的罪恶已经“滔天”，意思是罪一层一层堆积到天上。虽然世界常常看似繁荣，但神并没有忘记其中的不义。最终，神必按她所行的加倍报应她。巴比伦自以为稳固，甚至自夸“决不至于悲哀”，但审判却会在“一天之内”来到。由此可见，建立在不义之上的荣耀必然短暂。

2. 终失去一切荣耀(V9-13）
当巴比伦倒塌时，三类人哀哭：地上的君王、地上的客商，以及依靠贸易为生的人。君王为失去权势哀号，商人为失去市场哭泣。圣经列出一长串奢华商品，从金银宝石到香料、美食，甚至包括“奴仆、人口”，原文更可译为“人的灵魂”。这揭露了巴比伦体系的本质那就是在追逐财富的过程中，人甚至把人的价值降为可以买卖的商品。然而，这一切看似繁荣的荣耀，在“一时之间”就会归于无有。

 三、守天上永久的奖赏！（启18:14-24）

1. 神必为圣徒伸冤 (V14-20）
当地上的人因巴比伦倾倒而哀哭时，天上却传来欢喜的声音：“众圣徒、众使徒、众先知啊，你们都要因她欢喜，因为神已经在她身上伸了你们的冤。”这形成强烈对比：地上哀哭，天上欢喜。神的百姓在历史中可能经历逼迫和不公，但神从未忘记他们的痛苦。到了神的时间，祂必彰显公义，为祂的子民伸冤。

2. 神必彰显真神国(V21-24）
一位大力的天使把一块大磨石扔进海里，象征巴比伦彻底沉没，永不再见。经文连续多次说“决不能再”，表示这个假冒的世界体系将完全终结。音乐、商业、日常生活的声音都停止了，因为这个迷惑万国的系统已经被审判。巴比伦的荣耀结束后，真正的国度，神的国将完全显现。

 总结：贪爱短暂的荣耀必倾倒，唯有坚持等候神的人必看见永恒的荣耀。


  

Revelation 18 Seeing Through  the Temporary Glory!
GK611 Morning Devotion
10.03.2026
Speaker: Ps Asher Chang


 Introduction: The Temporary and the Eternal

I. Recognizing the True Great Authority! (Revelation 18:1–3)

1. True authority brings true glory (V.1)
John saw “an angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his glory.” This shows that true authority comes from God and inevitably brings God’s glory.

The world also has many powers that appear glorious, such as political power, economic strength, or social influence. Yet such glory is often only temporary glory established by people. In contrast, the glory that comes from God is the true and eternal light. When God’s glory appears, the light that the world boasts in becomes dim.

2. Those who oppose God will surely fall (V2–3)
The angel proclaimed: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the great!” In Revelation, Babylon symbolizes a system that opposes God and deceives the world.

For believers at that time, this pointed to the powerful Roman Empire—a world system with political, economic, and cultural dominance. Nations were attracted by her luxury and wealth; kings committed immorality with her, and merchants grew rich from her.
However, no matter how powerful a system may appear, if it stands against God, it will ultimately fall. History repeatedly proves that the glory established by humans is fragile, but the kingdom of God stands firm forever.

 II. The Sorrow of Loving Earthly Glory! (Revelation 18:4–13)

1. Double sorrow will surely come (V4–8)
God calls out to His people: “Come out of her, my people.” This does not mean leaving a city physically, but a call for believers to leave behind the values and lifestyle of Babylon.
Babylon’s sins have “piled up to heaven,” meaning sin has accumulated layer upon layer until it reaches heaven. Although the world may appear prosperous, God has not forgotten the injustice within it.

In the end, God will repay her double according to what she has done. Babylon believed she was secure and even boasted that she would “never mourn,” yet judgment would come “in a single day.” This shows that glory built upon unrighteousness is always temporary.

2. All glory will eventually be lost (V9–13)
When Babylon collapses, three groups weep: the kings of the earth, the merchants of the earth, and those who depend on trade for their livelihood.
The kings mourn the loss of their power, and the merchants cry because they have lost their market. The Bible lists a long series of luxury goods—from gold and silver to spices and fine foods—even including “slaves, that is, human souls.”

This reveals the true nature of the Babylonian system: in the pursuit of wealth, people reduce human value to something that can be bought and sold. Yet all this seemingly prosperous glory will disappear “in a single hour.”

 III. Holding Fast to the Eternal Reward in Heaven! (Revelation 18:14–24)

1. God will avenge His saints (V14–20)
While people on earth mourn the fall of Babylon, a voice of rejoicing is heard in heaven: “Rejoice over her, you saints, apostles, and prophets, for God has judged her for the way she treated you.”
This creates a striking contrast—mourning on earth, but joy in heaven. God’s people may experience persecution and injustice in history, but God has never forgotten their suffering. In His time, He will reveal His justice and vindicate His people.

2. God will reveal the true Kingdom (V21–24)
A mighty angel threw a huge millstone into the sea, symbolizing Babylon’s complete and irreversible destruction. The passage repeatedly says “never again,” emphasizing that this counterfeit world system will come to a total end.

The sounds of music, business, and daily life all cease, because the system that deceived the nations has been judged. When Babylon’s glory ends, the true kingdom—the Kingdom of God—will be fully revealed.


 Conclusion：

Those who love temporary glory will ultimately fall, but those who persevere and wait upon God will behold the eternal glory.