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The Fall of the Empire

Emily Tenter

June 28, 2020 • Kevin Zeller • Revelation 18:2–10

One Man defeated the evil empire.

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The empire ruled the entire world for centuries, millennia. All humanity succumbed to it. All lands felt its iron grip.

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The empire ruled with hate and vitriol. With domination and rebellion. With use and manipulation. With lies and deceit. With death, pain, and fear.

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Then it fell, beaten by the love of the new King.

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Oh, the empire tried to ensnare Him in its workings, but He had no interest in conquering, in dealing, in grasping wealth. It swallowed Him up in death, and He spit it out in life. In love, He broke the cycle of human violence.

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The foundations of the empire were shattered when, in love, He died... but then rose again.

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Oh, the empire seems to be in full operation. Tyrants and slavers still conduct their business. The hungry masses still rage and plot. The Earth is still full of the bones of the murdered.

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But so many have already defected to join the King. Millions of them now. They eagerly await the day when His kingdom of love comes in fullness, destroying the last feeble remnants of the empire.

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The end will come quickly. Get out of the empire while you can, because soon there will be nothing left. Join the King, and His new kingdom. It will last forever—its people loved by their King and, thus, loving Him and each other.

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The old empire will be scarcely remembered. • Kevin Zeller

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• Throughout the Bible, the empire of Babylon is used as a name for the sinful system of the world. What ways do you see the empire in the news every day?

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• How did Jesus destroy the empire of sin and death? (To learn more, check out our "Know Jesus" page.)

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• How do Christians undermine the work of the empire?

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They will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will cry out, “How terrible, how terrible for you, O Babylon, you great city! In a single moment God’s judgment came on you.” Revelation 18:10 (NLT)

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