Revelation 18
OGCRevelation 18:1-20
Strauss-’ Comments SECTION 59
Text Revelation 18:1-20
After these things I saw another angel coming down out of heaven, having great authority; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried with a mighty voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For by the wine of the wrath of her fornication all the nations are fallen; and the kings of the earth committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth waxed rich by the power of her wantonness. 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues: 5 for her sins have reached even unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 6 Render unto her even as she rendered, and double unto her the double according to her works: in the cup which she mingled, mingle unto her double. 7 How much soever she glorified herself, and waxed wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning. 8 Therefore in one day shall her plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judged her. 9 And the kings of the earth, who committed fornication and lived wantonly with her, shall weep and wail over her, when they look upon the smoke of her burning, 10 standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! for the one hour is thy judgment come. 11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no man buyeth their merchandise any more; 12 merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stone, and pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet; and all thyine wood, and every vessel of ivory, and every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon, and spice, and incense, and ointment, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and cattle, and sheep; and merchandise of horses and chariots and slaves; and souls of men. 14 And the fruits which thy soul lusted after are gone from thee, and all things that were dainty and sumptuous are perished from thee, and men shall find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning; 16 saying, Woe, woe, the great city, she that was arrayed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearl! 17 for in one hour so great riches is made desolate. And every shipmaster, and every one that saileth any whither, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood afar off, 18 and cried out as they looked upon the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like the great city? 19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, wherein all that had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. 20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye saints, and ye apostles, and ye prophets; for God hath judged your judgment on her.
Initial Questions Revelation 18:1-20
The angel of Rev 18:1 left the throne room of God. What does this vs. say about this angel?
Is it possible that cities and nations are used, as a whole, for good or bad - Revelation 18:2? Discuss the problem of the good individual and the totally corrupt society of which he is a part. If evil dominates, what happens to the good which individuals do? This thesis is of vital concern to contemporary as well as first century Christians. Reinhold Niebuhr’s Moral Man and Immoral Society, is a brilliant analysis of this problem.
In Revelation 18:3 we see the problem of the big nation and the little nations. Does this imagery apply in our own day?
What was the economic effects of alliances with the great harlot - Revelation 18:3?
How is it possible to have fellowship with sin - Revelation 18:4?
How does God humiliate the proud city - Revelation 18:7?
God’s judgment is so sure and severe that it will take how long for her plagues to come - Revelation 18:8?
In the great power struggles between nations are all morally responsible for their actions, regardless of their attempts to justify any given action as politically expedient - Revelation 18:9?
In Revelation 18:10 we note sacred sarcasm against any and all who trust in their own strength (misplaced trust) - Revelation 18:10. Discuss.
Discuss the relationship between morals, merchants, and money - Revelation 18:11.
What would happen in our world, if the things were no longer of value - Revelation 18:12? Would nations give their wealth to escape a nuclear holocaust? Would the money mongers exchange their wealth for their safety?
How can we make merchandise of the souls of men - Revelation 18:13?
How did the merchants respond to the destruction of the great city - Revelation 18:15?
How long did it take God to make desolate the great city - Revelation 18:16?
How were the great merchant ships affected by the destruction of the great city - Revelation 18:19?
Has God vindicated His people by His judgments - Revelation 18:20?
The Doom of Babylon
Chapter Revelation 18:1-24
John gives us the announcement of the collapse of Babylon in this chapter.
John saw another angel coming down out of heaven. The heavenly messenger proclaims the ruin of Babylon (Revelation 18:1-8). John uses a series of quotations in this section of The Revelation from Jeremiah 25:15; Jeremiah 25:27; Jeremiah 50:8; Jeremiah 50:39; Jeremiah 51:8; Isaiah 21:9; Isaiah 47:7-8; Isaiah 48:20; Psalms 137:8. The fall of Babylon has effected the economy of the world. The merchants, the kings of the earth, and the seafaring people are mourning over their economic catastrophe. The imagery of the laments come directly from Ezekiel, Chapter s 26-27.
The angel came directly from the throne room of God because the earth was lightened with his glory. The entire populated earth was to hear the announcement of doom.
The angel cried - Fallen fallen (epesen) is Babylon the great, and became a dwelling place of demons, and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and having been hated bird,.. The mighty city has become so corrupt that evil spirits make it their home. The luxury of Rome provided the seed of immorality!
The kings and nations of the earth shared the guilt of decadent Rome. — And the merchants of the earth became rich (the English word, waxed, of the 1901 translation comes from the German word wachsen - to grow or increase) from power of her luxury (strçnous is a late Greek word for arrogance which stems from luxury).
The angel hurls down the challenge for the Christians to - Come forth, my people, out of her, that (hina - purpose clause) you do not share (the Greek word is to have fellowship with) in her sins, and that you do not receive of her plagues. God’s judgment is coming. May the people of God be in but not of the world when His trumpet sounds to assemble mankind in the valley of judgment. Jeremiah 51:6; Jeremiah 51:45; Isaiah 48:20, and 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 issues the same command to come out! This is one of the greatest paradoxes of the Christian life - how to witness to a lost world, and yet not become tainted with her sins. One thing is certain, the Church cannot be a ghetto institution and carry out the great final commission of our Lord.
Their iniquities have reached heaven. God’s universe is still a moral universe, and whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap.
The double recompense was a vital part of the Levitical law (see Exodus 22:4; Exodus 22:7). The Spirit of vengeance has already been manifested in *The Revelation 6:10*How long O Master, the holy and true, doest thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? The divine justice demands that the evil city (the entire Empire) be rewarded for her iniquity. The voice that John heard said, Give back (apodate - 2nd aor. imp. mood signifies a command to return double as she gave to you) to her as indeed she gave back, and double (imp. mood - command again) double unto her double according to her works; in the cup in which she mixed - mix (again imper. mood) to her double. There will be a pay day some day! Evil shall not always prosper nor prevail. Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord. The verse implies that the persecuted Christians are to retaliate. Each major verb is in the imperative or command mood. In the historical situation, the Christians were in no condition to retaliate; therefore, in the plan of God Christians alone shall prevail, and mercy, justice, and righteousness shall run down the hills of the new Jerusalem as mighty waters. One of the central problems of a Christian World-view is the phenomenon of evil. How can God be both just and justifier of the alien sinner? How can God be both Holy and all-powerful and permit evil to persist? How can the Christian God permit His people to be persecuted and slain? Does this verse speak of the O.T. lex talionis? (See also The Sermon on The Mount - Matthew 5:38-48). Does this verse imply that the great harlot is to receive twice as much punishment as she deserves? The phrase kata ta erga autçs (according to her works) clearly shows that the harlot receives just the amount that she deserves!
Swete’s words are very appropriateLet her share of misery be proportionate to her arrogant self glorification. (Swete, op cit., p. 230). The great harlot is humiliated by her loss of wealth and status. (Our age is not the only age which has been burdened by - The Status Seekers). Their wealth and social status is now replaced by torment and sorrow. Because (hoti or causal or force - shows the ultimate cause of her torment and sorrow) in her heart she continually says, because (hoti - again the cause) I sit a queen, and I am not a widow, and shall by no means (ou mç - the double negative is an idiom for absolutely not) see sorrow. This is manifestly a belligerent, arrogant attitude. The self-image of the great harlot made her ready for the visitation of God’s judgment. There is no fall like the fall which comes when one thinks he is on top! This is true of individuals or nations, or empires, or civilizations (see Arnold Toynbee’s History for his analysis of the fall of the great world civilizations). All the great civilizations, including Rome, fell at the height of their power. Why? Their moral decadence destroyed the ethical foundations of her society. Societies have been built on reason (Plato’s rationalistically oriented Republic); law (Roman civilization contributed concepts of Law which are still inseparably bound to the 20th century, western civilization); religion (Jewish civilization and Roman Catholic Europe, up to the modern era of Newton, Galileo, Descartes, Leibniz, et al.) Religion had been used for over one thousand years as a foundation of society; yet, it contributed to the collapse of Medieval Europe. The 1955 Harvard Report on Education claimed that Western civilization would never again utilize Christianity as the foundation for our social structure. This may be true, but no one could seriously claim that Biblical Christianity has ever been used as the foundation for human civilization. Here we have the insoluable paradox between humanly engineered society and the Kingdom of God! What place does human effort really play in the working out of God’s purpose in the universe? (See W. A. Beardslee, Human Achievement and Divine Vocation in Message of Paul: Studies in Biblical Theology, Alec R. Allenson, Inc., 635 East Odgen Ave., Naperville, Illinois.)
Jesus warned those of us who fail to lay up treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt. This is exactly the situation we find in this verse. The great harlot was not building for eternity, but rather, for the pleasures available only for a season. Moses understood this problem very well. A person cannot serve both God and Man. God’s spirit enabled Moses to serve the living God, even at the expense of earthly possessionsWhen he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; accounting the reproach of Christ’s greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked unto the recompense of reward (Hebrews 11:24-26). The fall of Babylon was inevitable, because of the power and purpose of the living God. John heard the voice out of heaven sayTherefore (dia touto - transitional preposition) in one day her plagues will come, death, and sorrow, and famine, and she will be burned down (utterly consumed) with fire; because (hoti - causal force - the cause of death, famine, and destruction by fire) the Lord God is strong (and not in text) - the one who judged her. (krinos - 1st aor. participle, the fact is asserted that the judgment is over.) How long can the strongest stand in the presence of the living God, when they are enthralled with evil? God’s messenger stated that the mighty Roman Empire would last one day (en mia hçmera). The proud, arrogant harlot thought that she would be able to stand against her strongest enemy, but she forgot to consider the greatest of all of her enemies - the Holy, Righteous God! She thought that no one could call her to give an account, but the all-mighty is the one who judged her. She was unprepared for that summons!
This verse begins a section which extends to Revelation 18:20. Those who repeatedly committed fornication with the great harlot lament - kings, merchants, and navigators. This is followed by the scene of rejoicing in heaven. The kings of the earth will weep and wail over herwhen all the petty kings of the earth see that the giant harlot is fallen, they will express their loss with intensive crying, and wailing or agonized mourning. The source of their income and immoral pleasure lies in debris heaps. This will be their immediate responsewhenever they see the smoke of her burning,if this is the response of the men of international influence, how will the lesser persons respond? The rulers of the earth have yielded to her temptations; and have enjoyed the prestige of her wealth. What do these men deserve - when they stand in judgment?
The destruction is so extensive that the ruins of her can be seen by thosestanding from afar because of the fear of her torment, saying, Woe, Woe, the great city Babylon, the strong city! Because in one hour came (çlthen - 2nd aor. ind. - it came in a single, final act) your judgment. Note the paradox between the descriptive phrases - the strong city, and the great (megalç - great both with respect to power and size or extent of control of the nations of the earth) and the fact that it only took God one hour to judge her. This imagery shows the greatness of God. What men think is great and powerful will be absolutely powerless, when God comes in judgment. It took centuries to build the mighty Roman Empire and God leveled her cities, wealth, prestige in one hour. Can America learn anything from this pronouncement by the voice out of heaven?
Beginning in this verse through Revelation 18:14, Rome is pictured as the great commercial city controlling the economy of the world. (Check Revelation 13:17And that no man should be able to buy or to sell save he that hath the mark,—) This implies an absolute control of commerce or international trade. Does the Gospel of Christ have anything to say to the economic systems of our day? Does redemption in Christ contribute anything to the political and economic situation of our own day? The preceding two verses mentioned the response of the rulers of the world to the fall of Babylon. Now in this verse the heavenly messenger describes the merchants of the earth. John uses imagery taken from Ezekiel Chapter s 26-27, where he describes the fall of Tyre. The merchants weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargo anymore. The merchants were not particularly grieved because of the fall of Babylon, the great harlot, but because their income was cut off.
What were the cargos of the merchants? They were the status symbols of the first century. Our contemporary status symbols, at least for middle class society, are new homes and automobiles. The cargoes which came from all over the world were things which only a very wealthy culture could afford. Note Revelation 17:4, and notice again the apparel of the great harlot. The things by which she sought power and security were all perishable. Paul warns us not to be conformed to this world (Romans 12:1 f). The glamorous fashions of this world will not avail us anything on the day of judgment. All men will be leveled before the throne of God; wealth, social status, education, prestige will not aid their possessors in that hour of God’s righteous indignation. I heard Billy Graham telling of his personal audience with the queen of the Netherlands. After a short while, Billy began talking to this head of a royal house about Jesus Christ. Suddenly, she got stiff and reared back and saidMr. Graham, do you mean that I must repent too? He replied, yes, your majesty, you must repent too! This will be the plight of us allnone shall escape, for there is no hiding place from the wrath of the Lamb. Read the items listed in the cargo, but pay special attention to the last two items in the listand bodies (sômaton - slaves - but men were so cheap, that they were listed as nothing but bodies - merchants of men were called Body-merchants), and the souls of men. How cheap are bodies and souls of men in view of Calvary? The moral degradation of the great city becomes most apparent when we see that that which is in the image of God can be purchased in the market place. (See also Colossians 2:8 f; 2 Peter 2:3 on the theme of Using People). When human life becomes a commodity everything else is lost! For further study on these two verses find out where these cargo items came from and note how universal was Rome’s control and significance. Rome was the biggest thing that man had built on the earth - but it is now fallen! How small this giant had become in one hour.
What is the relationship of man’s spiritual needs and things? The 20th century finds mankind locked in a bitter struggle between a materialistically oriented, atheistic communism and the so-called Christian West. The hideous truth is that we are just as materialistically oriented as the communist world ever dared to be. And the fruit which your soul lusts (epithumias - basic immoral desire means to want more than anything else in the world. It is used in a good, positive sense by Paul in 1 Timothy 3:1, when speaking of Elders desiring their office more than anything else in the world) after-departed (or went away) from you, and all the sumptuous things and the bright things (glittering things) perished from you, and shall find no more at all (kai ouketi ou me - means will absolutely never be found again).
The merchants wail, because their priceless cargos - suddenly become worthless! The things that thrilled them had been destroyed in one hour. Their lust for luxury has now turned into weeping and sorrowing.
These verses recount the words and haunting memories which dashed through their minds as they watched from afar. They just cannot bring themselves to accept the fate of the filth of Rome because in one hour (hôra - hour is the shortest period of time used in the Bible) such great wealth was made desolate (çrçmothç - 1st aor. passive voice indicative - in a single act - God made the wealth and its supposed security - desolate!) The angel next presents four groups of people(1) Shipmasters, (2) The ship’s passengers, (3) Sailors, and (4) Tradersas a group who stood from afar. Through their stunned gaze they were mutteringwhat (city - not in text) is like unto this great city! The vastness of her influence is seen in the assertion that By which all the ones having ships in the sea were rich from her worth (costliness); The great harlot was the only city in the world who could afford to consume the luxurious cargos mentioned in Revelation 18:12-13; Revelation 18:16.
God has sealed the downfall of Babylon and heaven is commanded to rejoice Because God has judged your judgment on her. The eternal city is eternal no more!
Discussion Questions
See Revelation 18:21-24.
Revelation 18:1-24
**Tomlinson’s Comments
CHAPTER XVIII BABYLON IS FALLEN**
Text (Revelation 18:1-24)
1 After these things I saw another angel coming down out of heaven, having great authority; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried with a mighty voice, saying, Fahen, fallen is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For by the wine of the wrath of her fornication all the nations are fallen; and the kings of the earth committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth waxed rich by the power of her wantonness. 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues: 5 for her sins have reached even unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 6 Render unto her even as she rendered, and double unto her the double according to her works: in the cup which she mingled, mingle unto her double. 7 How much soever she glorified herself, and waxed wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning. 8 Therefore in one day shall her plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judged her. 9 And the kings of the earth, who committed fornication and lived wantonly with her, shall weep and wail over her, when they look upon the smoke of her burning, 10 standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. 11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no man buyeth their merchandise any more; 12 merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stone, and pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet; and all thyine wood, and every vessel of ivory, and every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble; 13 and cinamon, and spice, and incense, and ointment, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and cattle, and sheep; and merchandise of horses and chariots and slaves; and souls of men. 14 And the fruits which thy soul lusted after are gone from thee, and all things that were dainty and sumptuous are perished from thee, and men shall find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning; 16 saying, Woe, woe, the great city, she that was arrayed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearl! 17 for in one hour so great riches is made desolate. And every shipmaster, and every one that saileth any whither, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood afar off, 18 and cried as they looked upon the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like the great city? 19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, wherein all that had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. 20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye saints, and ye apostles, and ye prophets; for God hath judged your judgment on her. 21 And a strong angel took up a stone as it were a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with a mighty fall shall Babylon, the great city, be cast down, and shall be found no more at all. 22 And the voice of harpers and minstrels and flute-players and trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft, shall be found any more at all in thee; and the voice of a mill shall be heard no more at all in thee; 23 and the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the princes of the earth; for with thy sorcey were all the nations deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that have been slain upon the earth.
Revelation 18:1 And after these things.
After the descriptions given us in the seventeenth chapter to reveal to us the identity of that great city of Spiritual Babylon, or papal Rome which rules over the kings of earth, we now come to the consideration of her downfall.
I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power, and the earth was lightened with his glory. (Revelation 18:1)
The introduction of such a mighty angel at this juncture emphasizes the importance of the subject matter of this vision before us. This is another angel than one of the seven angels which had the seven vials who talked with John in the seventeenth chapter. To this present angel was given great power or authority because of the world-shattering events introduced in this chapter. The earth was lightened with his glory, because he came with a revelation of great enlightenment concerning the final destruction of that great city Babylon which had darkened the earth doctrinally, spiritually, politically and economically.
Revelation 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
Here this angel repeats a former angelic pronouncement recorded in (Revelation 14:8), Babylon is fallen is fallen. By referring back to that setting we find that this first pronouncement falls into the time of the seventh vial, because in the pouring out of his seventh plague great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. (Revelation 16:19)
The repetition of this announcement of Babylon’s fall calls our attention to the importance of this climactic event of history’s consummation. Again the emphasis becomes apparent in the double declaration is fallen is fallen. When Joseph explained to Pharaoh why his dream was doubled, he said: And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established, and God will shortly bring it to pass. (Genesis 41:32)
For the same evident reason the word fallen is repeated twice, even doubled unto us *twice,*one double in Revelation 14:8 and the second double in Revelation 18:2.
The importance of all this is readily seen when we realize that all the activities of men, all their religious or business enterprises, eventuate in that condition of a godless civilization as typified by the literal Babylon of antiquity and the spiritual Babylon symbolized under that name in Revelation. The confusion that obtains in religion, education, economics, finance, industry, government, politics and moralityall is traced back to that great city that rules over the Kings of the earth the Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and abominations of the earth. This Babylon we have proved by the testimony of Scripture and History alike to be the religio-political hierarchal system known to the world as the papacy and the apostate church. With a false church dominating the world, it follows, as naturally as daylight comes after dark, that men would have false conceptions of right and wrong in the moral, spiritual, intellectual, financial, economic and political realms of activity. Our present state of civilization is the harvest. Rome sowed the wind and the closing period of this age is reaping the whirlwind. The angel describes this present age of which the world is so blindly proud, as a habitation of devils, a hold for every foul spirit, a cage for every unclean and hateful bird. Of course to the spiritually deluded and the worldling this all sounds absurd. They point to the grandeur of the Roman church, her multitudes of earnest devotees, her pronouncements on peace, her denunciation of intellectual evils, etc. This generation boasts of its material accomplishments in the way of scientific research and inventive genius, but they do not see all this through God’s eyes. Surely, the world, in its evaluation of things, needs to hark back to the declaration God made to Samuel who was trying to select a king to be anointed. Samuel was one of the noblest men of history, yet even this fine man illustrates how far wrong a good man can be in property evaluation. Hear God’s council to him:
And the Lord said to Samuel; Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature: because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)
This twice repeated expression is fallen is fallen describes a twin falling action. Babylon, as a system of false teaching and worship in an apostate church, and, Babylon as a system of commercialism resulting from a scriptural departure in doctrine and practice, falls. Twin falls are thus portrayed. Both Mother and child, both spiritual and carnal, both cause and effect are included in this repeated expression, is fallen is fallen. And the reason by both fall together is given in the very next verse:
Revelation 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
Then John hears a call for God’s people to come out of this Babylonish nightmare: Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not her plagues.
This call to come out of this spiritual Babylon, producer of all the evils of our present civilization, is not the first time such a call has been heard. The call to flee from either physical or spiritual Babylon has been issued seven times in all the scriptures. The call occurs five times in the Old Testament. They are: (Isaiah 48:20; Isaiah 52:4-11) (Jeremiah 50:8-9; Jeremiah 51:6; Jeremiah 51:8) (Zechariah 2:6-7)
In the New Testament there are two calls. Although in the first of the two the name Babylon is not actually mentioned, but is implied by the confusion caused by the mixing of believers and unbelievers. The two instances are: (2 Corinthians 6:17-18) (Revelation 18:4)
The seven-fold, or fullest possible measure of calling, for the people of God to flee this great Babylon is impressive indeed. However, we should recall that whereas God brought His people out of Egypt in a body, with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm, in the case of this call to flee Babylon is an individual one. Again his people were forced to flee out of Egypt, but here only those who have a mind to come out may do so.
It will not be a mass evacuation, but rather an individual and voluntary leave of this world-wide institution of confusion and apostacy.
Revelation 18:5 Regardless of man’s human judgment her sins are enormous, for we read: For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
While the promise to the obedient believer is Their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more (Hebrew Revelation 8:12), the sins of Babylon are remembered and unforgiven by God, because we read:
Revelation 18:6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
Contemptuous flaunting and defiance of the word of God is the essence of the sin of Babylon. If Revelation did not here declare it so plainly we would know it applied to our age in which we live. Rome’s disregard for the Scriptures and the authority of Christ’s word has caused the world to hate what they know as the church. They have falsely and mistakenly judged the church of Christ by what they have beheld in the Catholic church. The result has been that men have turned away from God’s word, the church and drifted into utter indifference, agnosticism, skepticism, free-thinking and out right infidelity. We live, as a result of Babylons heaven reaching sins, in this age of humanism.
God’s principle of judgment is that every individual, as well as every institution, is to be rewarded according to his or its work. What is sown must be harvested. This Thyatira church as given space to repent of her fornication and she repented not. (Revelation 2:21)
He further adds, Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation except they repent of their deeds. (Revelation 2:22)
But an added measure of punishment is revealed here. Babylon, or Rome shall be rewarded double.
Not only was she and still is unrepentant, but she is the most arrogant institution in all the world. Hear the angel describe her haughty attitude: How much hath she glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her.
Revelation 18:7 This recalls the case of the rich man and Lazarus: There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day, but at the end, in hell a far different scene is presented: But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and thou art tormented. (Luke 16:19; Luke 16:25)
Likewise, she who lived deliciously shall be meted out torment and sorrow. But her boasting continues: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. What a strange statement of the angel concerning Babylonthe papal church! The holy word of God, says Christ is the bridegroom and the repentant baptized believers are his bride. But inform a member of this apostate church of his condition and he will immediately declare, the Roman Catholic church is the only and true church. It is the voice of the apostacy crying I sit as a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
And as for this ungodly and unregenerate civilization she has produced, if you tell them of the impending danger of living in sin until Christ comes, they if not in substance, at least in their actions will reply, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation (2 Peter 3:4). But Christ said of these last days,
As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Even so shall it be when the Son of man is revealed. (Luke 17:26-27; Luke 17:30)
So shall the plagues of Babylon come suddenly:
Revelation 18:7 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord who judgeth her.
Man’s disbelief that God will punish, notwithstanding, God will destroy her suddenly. Like the saints under the fifth seal the true saints of this day, cry out, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? I know all who have perused the contents of this book are crying out, How long? When will Babylon fall? In answer will say that such time has never been revealed. There is the highest authority for such a reply, even Christ himself:
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father. (Matthew 24:36)
Christ continued after this declaration But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. (Matthew 24:37)
So even the angel who here announced the suddenness of Babylon’s destruction knew not the hour, so could not tell us when the destruction shall be.
Revelation 18:9-11 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning. Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The follows an enumeration of the articles in which they made traffic.
Revelation 18:12-13 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble.
And cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves and souls of men. In this lamentation over the sudden fall of Babylon, the merchants of earth and king’s of earth join in their voices. Probably not until God himself reveals all things to us will we begin to realize how this spiritual Babylon has her hand in business and politicsas symbolized by the lament of merchants and kings. For a book of such brevity as the apocalypse to devote so much space and divulge so many articles of traffic as here confronts us, it must be that the angel wanted to make plain to a startled world how vast are the ramifications of Rome’s activities in all the affairs of men. The whole world is conscious of the political activities of this apostate church which maintains embassies and sends ambassadors to almost every nation on earth, but it may come as a complete surprise to learn of her commercial activities. But the last statement of these verses is the most startlinga revelation of her traffic in the slaves and souls of men. Literally, the word slaves should read, bodies. Thus the Greek reads. Here it is that men and women barter their souls and bodies. There are multitudes of Esaus who will barter their spiritual birthright for a mess of this world’s pottage. How pertinent are Christ’s words about the conditions of the near approach of His return.
For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul, or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. (Matthew 16:26-27)
The spiritual Babylon has with business made traffic of the bodies and souls of men. And when we recall the masses for the dead which are said by the priesthood of Papal Rome, in which the devotees pay to have their loved ones prayed out of Purgatory, surely there has been a long and lively traffic in the souls of men. But the things for which Babylon longed are gone forever at the time of her fall.
Revelation 18:14-19 And the fruits that thy soul lusteth after are departed from thee, and all the things that were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shall find them no more at all.
The merchants of these things which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, and cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate! Thus we see merchants, kings and shipmaster with their sailors lamenting the fall of Babylon. In other words, business, politics and transportation were under the denomination of and blessed by a false religious system that fostered their respective ungodly world-systems. And three times we hear the cry, Alas, alas! Once it comes from the kings of the earth, or the political realm; once it is uttered by the merchants, or the commercial realm; and once from the shipmasters and sailor, or the transportation realm, It is a triple voice, each part of which is double. It is that evil number six complete.
The repeated Alas, alas! is striking. The word is the same as that of the angel in Revelation 8:13, when he cried, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound.
The casting of dust on the head is a symbolic act of one who thus expresses his utter hopelessness and despair. Because of the sin of Achan which brought defeat to Israel we read:
And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell on the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads. (Joshua 7:6)
Again this recurrence of the word woe or alas (Revelation 18:10; Revelation 18:16; Revelation 18:19) helps us to identify the time of the fall of Babylon as being in the period of the third and last woe. (Revelation 11:14)
We have had symbolized to us the suddenness of Babylon’s downfall in the expressions: in one day Revelation 18:8, in one hour Revelation 18:17; Revelation 18:19. Now we are informed as to the violence of the downfall.
Revelation 18:20 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more.
This symbolic action of the mighty angel as portrayed in this verse is an intensified picture of a typical act which Jeremiah commanded Seraiah to perform when he came to that Babylon on antiquity:
And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, when thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words,. and it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it and cast it into the midst of Euphrates. And thou shalt say. Thus shall Babylon sink and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her. (Jeremiah 51:61; Jeremiah 51:63-64)
Thus we see that the destruction of ancient Babylon was typical of the destruction of spiritual Babylon. Thus we see that the fall of mysterious Babylon, that Romish church; that great Harlot woman; the Mother of Harlots and abominations of the earth; is one of the, if not the most outstanding and marvelous events of all time. More is said about Babylon in the Scriptures than any other great religious and secular occurrence.
But the rejoicings of heaven, and those whose affections are set on things above and not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2), are now set forth in exact contrast with the lamentations of the kings, merchants and shipmasters and all their peoples they represent.
Revelation 18:21 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
While earth rings with the chorus of lamentation, disappointment and despair, a grand jubilation fills the heaven. While the world cries, Woe, woe over the fall of this religio-political system, the citizens of heaven pour out of their mighty halleluiahs. The angel then announces:
Revelation 18:22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee, and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be herd no more at all in thee.
And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. It will be an event unbelievable to the world. The world has become so accustomed to seeing the Roman church, her priesthood and religious processions and pronouncements played up with such righteousness in the press, magazines and periodicals; propagated in the movies, on the radio and television screen; eulogized in song, poetry and story; kowtowed to by politician, merchant, transportation interests, advertisers, rulers and common citizens that the fall of such a church with such suddenness and violence will be shock that will shake the whole earth. And it will be the immediate act of God. No earthy power or agency could bring to an end an institution so hoary with age and deeply intrenched in every activity of man. And to think that all of this could have been avoided! If there had been the New Testament church, with Christ as head and supreme authority upon the earth since Pentecost there would have been no spiritual Babylon to confuse the world religiously, corrupt political governments, compromise truth and morals, and finally to condemn the world to eternal destruction and damnation.
Revelation 18:21-24
Strauss-’ Comments SECTION 60
Text Revelation 18:21-24
21 And a strong angel took up a stone as it were a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with a mighty fall shall Babylon, the great city, be cast down, and shall be found no more at all. 22 And the voice of harpers and minstrels and flute-players and trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft, shall be found any more at all in thee; and the voice of a mill shall be heard no more at all in thee; 23 and the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bride-groom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee; for thy merchants were the princes of the earth; for with thy sorcery were all the nations deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that have been slain upon the earth.
Initial Questions Revelation 18:21-24
What did the great millstone cast into the sea symbolize - Revelation 18:21?
Is the joy and happiness gone from the city according to Revelation 18:22?
Why will there be no more craftsmen - Revelation 18:22?
Why will there be no more grinding of the grain - Revelation 18:22?
What social, family and individual issues might be raised by the fact that there shall be no light from the lamps - Revelation 18:23? What about the source of oil necessary for the lamps?
Is is possible that there were no more young left after the destruction in view of second clause of Rev 18:23?
Can a nation or a society be responsible for crimes which were engineered and executed by their leaders - Revelation 18:24?
John next saw that one strong angel lifted a stone like a great millstone, and threw (it - not in text) into the sea, saying, thus with a violent impulse Babylon the great city shall be thrown down, and by no means shall be found any longer. The imagery speaks of the final destruction of the eternal city.
The places of entertainment are destroyed. This entertainment might have occurred in the great religious Temples which were the sanctuaries of the immoral mystery religions. The musical instruments which were used in the services of the pagan religions are no longer heard in the great city. There are no crafts-men whatsoever. If there is no market for a given product, then men will not learn the craft. International economy has collapsed, therefore it would be utter folly to continue to make products which will not be purchased. There is no grain produced and no one to buy (or who could buy it); therefore, the sound of a mill shall be no means be heard in you any longer.
The great city is in ruin! Her places of entertainment, Temples, homes, and public buildings have gone up in smoke. Men no longer go out in the night to hide in the flickering shadows of half-lighted buildings in order to commit their immoral acts. No one can be found who is still arrogant because of the luxury of the great harlot. Darkness has captured the city which spawned malignant darkness. The light of a lamp by no means shall shine in you any longer.—–The young men and women have left, or were killed in the great judgment, because the voice of the bridegroom and bride shall by no means be heard in you any longer; because your merchants were (çsan - imperfect tensetheir merchants used to be the great ones of the earth, but this is no longer true) the great ones of the earth, because by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. Most men are easily deceived, particularly when they labor under the delusion that wealth, luxury, and physical force are adequate to provide for security. Some men have no commitment about anything; they just want to be on the winning side. Contemporary man has observed the rise and fall of some very powerful men. Whenever power is not tempered by Christian morality, it will inevitably destroy its possessor.
In the great city, which was bred and nurtured by evil, the great heavenly voice charges her with another barbarian activity butchery. (See Dill, Roman Society, p. 242 - now in paperback - excellent, standard work!) It was a common thing for the socially elite of Rome to butcher Christians in order to celebrate a Roman holiday.
Discussion Questions
Chapter Revelation 18:1-24
What was the angel’s message in Revelation 18:4?
Discuss the Holiness and Righteousness of God in view of the persistent problems of evil - Revelation 18:6.
Does Revelation 18:6 imply that God demands more punishment than is deserved?
What was the attitude of the great harlot in Revelation 18:7?
Discuss the relationship of God’s purpose and human achievement - Revelation 18:7.
How long does it take God to bring destruction upon the great harlot - Revelation 18:8?
What groups of people are mentioned in Revelation 18:9?
What were the cargoes of the ships? Discuss the items as status symbols - Revelation 18:12-13.
What does Revelation 18:13 tell us about the value of a man in first century Roman culture?
What does the goals of a person tell us about that person - Revelation 18:14?
What has happened to turn the priceless cargoes into worthless trash - Revelation 18:15?
What are some of the implications of the relationship of luxury and spirituality - Revelation 18:19?
What has happened to the lights, the craftsmen, brides and grooms, the mills, the places of entertainment in the great city - Revelation 18:22 ff?
What barbarian activity is implied in Revelation 18:24?