The Monday Morning Pulpit

The City of Man is a defeated foe. It is imploding upon itself and will finally fall at the judgment of God when Christ Comes again.

Passages that lead me away from Dispensationalist

We begin in Revelation 17, where the Apostle John is invited to witness the judgment of The spirit of the age - the City of Man. As G.K. Beale notes, these chapters (17–18) are an "expanded replay" of the final judgments, showing us the inner rot of the world system.

Robert H. Mounce famously called this “A tale of two cities.” Throughout history, and peaking in Revelation, we see a collision between:

1. The City of Man (Babylon): The world system organized in opposition to Christ.

2. The City of God (New Jerusalem): The bride of Christ, the community of the elect.

The Augustinian Insight: St. Augustine argued that these two cities are built on two different loves. The City of Man is built on amor sui: the love of self to the point of despising God; 

The City of God is built on amor Dei: the love of God to the point of despising self. 

Today, we see the "City of Man." 

We see it in its most seductive and predatory form. 

We see its demise and destruction.

We begin in Revelation 17, where the Apostle John is invited to witness the judgment of The spirit of the age - the City of Man. As G.K. Beale notes, these chapters (17–18) are an "expanded replay" of the final judgments, showing us the inner rot of the world system.

Robert H. Mounce famously called this “A tale of two cities.” Throughout history, and peaking in Revelation, we see a collision between:

1. The City of Man (Babylon): The world system organized in opposition to Christ.

2. The City of God (New Jerusalem): The bride of Christ, the community of the elect.

The Augustinian Insight: St. Augustine argued that these two cities are built on two different loves. The City of Man is built on amor sui: the love of self to the point of despising God; The City of God is built on amor Dei: the love of God to the point of despising self. 

Today, we see the "City of Man." We see it in its most seductive and predatory form. We see its demise and destruction.

Before the bowls of wrath are poured out, heaven sings. Revelation 15 pulls back the curtain and shows the redeemed rejoicing over the holiness and justice of God as His final judgments are about to fall — no embarrassment, no apology, only the declaration, “Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations.” In a generation that often prefers a therapeutic gospel to a holy God, this passage confronts us: the sanctuary fills with smoke, access closes, and mercy gives way to judgment. Here we are reminded that salvation is not merely deliverance from a broken life but rescue from the righteous wrath of a holy God — and the darker the backdrop of divine justice, the brighter the brilliance of the Lamb who was slain.

“Revelation 14 pulls back the curtain on history to reveal two destinies—those sealed by the Lamb and those who follow the beast—reminding us that Christ’s victory is certain, judgment is coming, and our only hope is to stand with Him on Mount Zion.”

“Revelation 14 pulls back the curtain on history to reveal two destinies—those sealed by the Lamb and those who follow the beast—reminding us that Christ’s victory is certain, judgment is coming, and our only hope is to stand with Him on Mount Zion.”

“Revelation 14 pulls back the curtain on history to reveal two destinies—those sealed by the Lamb and those who follow the beast—reminding us that Christ’s victory is certain, judgment is coming, and our only hope is to stand with Him on Mount Zion.”

Revelation 13 pulls back the curtain on the true nature of evil power in the world. John shows us two beasts—one political, one religious—working together to demand allegiance that belongs to God alone. The church is warned not to be dazzled by power, pressured by fear, or deceived by false worship, but to endure with wisdom and faithfulness. In the face of counterfeit authority and the infamous mark of the beast, Christ calls His people to patient endurance, confident that even now He reigns—and the beasts’ time is short.

Revelation 13 pulls back the curtain on the true nature of evil power in the world. John shows us two beasts—one political, one religious—working together to demand allegiance that belongs to God alone. The church is warned not to be dazzled by power, pressured by fear, or deceived by false worship, but to endure with wisdom and faithfulness. In the face of counterfeit authority and the infamous mark of the beast, Christ calls His people to patient endurance, confident that even now He reigns—and the beasts’ time is short.