Revelation 18

1 After this [following these events, subsequent to these things] I saw [perceived, had a vision of] another [different, distinct] angel [messenger, heavenly being] descending [coming down, falling] from heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place] with [accompanied by, having] great [intense, extraordinary] authority [power, freedom to act], and the earth [the land, the world] was illuminated [lit up, made bright] by [because of, as a result of] his glory [honor, praise, divine presence]. word study 2 And he cried out [with a mighty, strong voice] in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen [completely destroyed, collapsed] is Babylon [the great city] the great! She has become [turned into, transformed] a lair [dwelling place, habitation] for demons [unclean spirits, evil beings] and a haunt [prison, hold] for every unclean [impure, detestable] spirit, every unclean [foul, hateful] bird, and every detestable [abominable, loathsome] beast. word study 3 All the nations [including Gentiles, non-Jewish people] have drunk the wine of the passion [intense desire, wrath] of her immorality [sexual sin, idolatry]. The kings of the earth [rulers, sovereigns] were immoral [committed fornication, sinned sexually] with her, and the merchants [traders, buyers and sellers] of the earth have grown wealthy [become rich, prospered] from the extravagance [abundance, luxury] of her luxury [strēnous, excessive indulgence].” word study 4 Then I heard another [different] voice from heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place] say: “Come out [exit, depart] of her, My people [those who belong to Me], so that you will not [lest you] share in [participate with, have fellowship with] her sins [transgressions, rebellions] or [and, also] contract [receive, take part in] any of her plagues [punishments, afflictions]. word study 5 For her sins [have reached unto heaven] are piled up to heaven [the sky and God’s home], and God [the one true deity] has remembered [recalled to mind, brought to attention] her iniquities [crimes, wrongdoings, missing the mark]. word study 6 Give back to her [as she has rewarded you] as she has done to others; pay her back double [double the amount, twofold] for what she has done; mix her a double [twice as much, increased] portion in her own cup [the vessel of her judgment, the cup she has filled]. word study 7 As much as [to the same extent that, in proportion to] she has glorified [exalted, praised] herself and lived in [indulged in, reveled in] luxury [deliciously, extravagantly], give her the same measure [equivalent amount, corresponding degree] of torment [suffering, affliction] and grief [sorrow, mourning]. In her heart [inner being, mind] she says, ‘I sit [reign, rule] as queen [sovereign, monarch]; I am not [will not be] a widow [one who has lost her husband, bereaved] and will never [at no time, under no circumstances] see [experience, encounter] grief [sorrow, pain].’ word study 8 Therefore her plagues [troubles, calamities] will come in one [single, unified] day— death [physical or spiritual separation from God] and grief [sorrow, mourning] and famine [hunger, lack of food]— and she will be consumed [utterly destroyed, burned up] by fire [divine judgment, purification], for mighty [strong, powerful] is the Lord God [the supreme Creator, Elohim] who judges [condemns, evaluates] her.” word study 9 Then the kings [rulers, sovereigns] of the earth [the world, earthly realm] who committed [practiced, engaged in] sexual immorality [fornication, unlawful lust] and lived [indulged, reveled] in luxury [excess, decadence] with her will weep [mourn, lament] and wail [cry out, mourn loudly] at the sight [when they see] of the smoke rising [rising vapor, burning fumes] from the fire [burning flames, consuming blaze] that consumes [destroys, devours] her. word study 10 In fear [terror, alarm] of her torment [intense suffering, punishment], they will stand [remain, be stationary] at a distance [from afar, remotely] and cry out: “Woe [alas, sorrow], woe [lamentation, grief] to the great [mighty, powerful] city, the mighty [strong, powerful] city of Babylon [the capital of Chaldea]! For in a single [one, lone] hour [a brief period, a moment] your judgment [verdict, sentence] has come [arrived, been executed].” word study 11 And the merchants [traders of the earth] of the earth will weep [cry out loud, mourn deeply] and mourn [grieve, feel sorrow] over her, because there is no one left [none, nobody] to buy [purchase, acquire] their cargo [goods, merchandise]— word study 12 cargo [merchandise, goods] of gold [a valuable metal], silver [a precious metal], precious stones [gemstones, jewels], and pearls [valuable gems]; of fine linen [luxurious fabric], purple [a purplish-red color], silk [a luxurious fabric], and scarlet [a deep red color]; of all kinds of citron wood [thyine wood, fragrant wood] and every article of ivory [made from elephant tusks], precious wood [most precious wood], bronze [copper, a strong metal], iron [a strong metal], and marble [a sparkling white stone]; word study 13 of cinnamon [a valuable spice], spice [fragrant aromas], incense [burned in worship], myrrh [a fragrant resin], and frankincense [a sweet-smelling resin]; of wine [a drink made from grapes], olive oil [used for lamps and anointing], fine flour [high-quality wheat flour], and wheat [a type of grain]; of cattle [domestic animals], sheep [gentle creatures], horses [strong animals], and chariots [four-wheeled vehicles]; of slaves [people bound to servitude] and souls of men [the essence of human beings, their breath of life]. word study 14 And they will say: “The fruit [produce of your deepest longings] of your soul’s [the seat of emotions and desires] desire [strong longing, craving] has departed [gone away, vanished] from you; all [every, everything] your luxury [rich, indulgent, sumptuous] and splendor [shining, radiant, glorious] have vanished [perished, disappeared], never [not any more, no longer] to be seen [found, discovered] again.” word study 15 The merchants [traders, sellers of goods] who sold these things and grew their wealth [became rich, prospered] from her will stand [be positioned, remain] at a distance [from afar, far off], in fear [terror, alarm] of her torment [suffering, punishment]. They will weep [cry out loud, lament] and mourn [grieve, sorrow], word study 16 saying: “Woe [alas, a cry of sorrow], woe [a lamentation of grief] to the great [magnificent, powerful] city, clothed [arrayed, dressed] in fine linen [luxurious fabric] and purple [a royal color, sign of wealth] and scarlet [a deep red], adorned [decked, gilded] with gold [a precious metal, valuable treasure] and precious stones [highly valued gems, treasures] and pearls [rare and beautiful gems, highly prized]! word study 17 For in a single [one, brief] hour such fabulous [great, immense] wealth [riches, treasures] has been destroyed [laid waste, made desolate]!” Every shipmaster [captain, helmsman], passenger [traveler, voyager], and sailor [seaman, mariner], and all who make their living [earn their income, gain their livelihood] from the sea [the ocean, the deep], will stand [remain, be stationed] at a distance [far away, from afar] word study 18 and cry out [with great lamentation] at the sight of the smoke [a sign of judgment] rising from the fire [burning, a trial by fire] that consumes her [completely destroys, annihilates]. “What city [town, metropolis] was ever like [similar to, comparable with] this great [magnificent, powerful] city [a city of immense importance]?” they will exclaim [shout out, declare]. word study 19 Then they will throw dust [loose dirt, earthly sorrow] on their heads as they weep [cry out loud, mourn deeply] and mourn [grieve, feel sorrow] and cry out: “Woe [alas, a cry of sorrow], woe [deep regret] to the great [magnificent, powerful] city, where all who had ships [vessels, boats] on the sea [large body of water] were enriched [made rich, prosperous] by her wealth [costliness, valuable possessions]! For in a single [one, unique] hour [specific time, moment] she has been destroyed [laid waste, made desolate].” word study 20 Rejoice [celebrate, be glad] over her, O heaven [the sky and God’s dwelling place], O saints [holy ones, set apart] and apostles [messengers of Jesus Christ] and prophets [speakers of God’s word], because God [the one true deity] has pronounced [judged, avenged] for you His judgment [decision, verdict] against her [on your account, for your sake]. word study 21 Then a mighty [strong, powerful] angel picked up a stone [as a great millstone, like a large grinding stone] the size of a great millstone and cast [threw with force] it into the sea, saying: “With such [sudden, violent] violence the great [intense, magnificent] city of Babylon [the capital of Chaldea] will be cast down [thrown down, overthrown], never [no longer, not again] to be seen [found, discovered] again. word study 22 And the sound [voice, noise] of harpists [lyre-players, musicians] and musicians [skilled in the arts], of flute players [pipers] and trumpeters [those who play the trumpet], will never [at no time, not ever] ring out in you again [be heard in your midst]. Nor will any [no, not one] craftsmen [skilled workers, artisans] of any [every, all] trade [skill, craft] be found [discovered, met] in you again [in your presence], nor the sound [noise, voice] of a millstone [grinding stone, used for grain] be heard [perceived, listened to] in you again [within your borders]. word study 23 The light [radiance, illumination] of a lamp will never shine [appear, be seen] in you again, and the voices [sounds, utterances] of a bride [newly married woman] and bridegroom [husband] will never call out [be heard, resound] in you again. For your merchants [traders, businessmen] were the great ones [nobles, magnates] of the earth [world, globe], because all the nations [Gentiles, peoples] were deceived [led astray, misled] by your sorcery [magic, enchantments].” word study 24 And there was found [discovered, came upon] in her [the city, Babylon] the blood [life force, sacrifice] of prophets [messengers of God, spokesmen] and saints [holy ones, set apart], and of all [every single one] who had been slain [killed, slaughtered] on [upon, against] the earth [the world, soil]. word study