Rev. 18.  The great city of Babylon had been laid to waste for centuries when John received this vision.  Yet the vision warns people to come out of her, because being in Babylon means taking part in her sins, and sharing in her judgment (4).  Also, she is said to have wronged not only the Old Testament saints and prophets, but also the New Testament apostles (20). Babylon is Rome, and any other political and economic system that honours itself, and seeks its own glory, forgetting God. The kings of the earth are shocked at  the smoke of her burning. The merchants of the earth weep and mourn at her sudden loss. The plagues of her judgment will come in a single day, and she will be burned up with fire (8).

LORD, guide us out of any allegiance that keeps us from serving and honouring you alone.