This powerful exploration of Revelation chapters 17-19 confronts us with a stark choice: are we being seduced by Babylon or preparing ourselves as the bride of Christ? The vivid imagery of the prostitute riding the beast represents far more than ancient Rome—it symbolizes every system, structure, and temptation that draws us away from wholehearted devotion to Jesus. Babylon promises wealth, luxury, pleasure, and prosperity, yet ultimately leaves its followers mourning when it falls. The merchants weep not because they loved Babylon itself, but because they depended on her systems for their own gain and comfort. This challenges us to examine our own lives: Have we become so attached to certain luxuries that we would resent God for taking them away? Are we compromising our faith for the sake of comfort, security, or cultural acceptance? The contrast between Babylon's fall and heaven's hallelujah chorus reminds us that we're engaged to the Lamb, waiting for His return. We're called to 'make ourselves ready' by clothing ourselves in the righteousness Christ has already provided. This isn't passive—it requires us to actively resist the seductions of our modern Babylon, to recognize when American values masquerade as Christian values, and to choose the way of the cross over the way of comfort. Taking communion becomes an act of resistance, a declaration that we choose Jesus over everything else this world offers.