Revelation Chapter 18

Verses 1-3

And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great 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. 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.[1]

Verse 1

After these things…another angel – In the last chapter, an angel announces the fall of the great city. Chapter eighteen will expound upon the fall, repeat what led to the fall, and explain the aftermath of the fall. The phrase after these things makes this event different from the event in chapter seventeen.

Coming down from heaven – This tells us Johns perspective is from the earth viewing the events unfold.

Having great power – Some translators say “been given authority.” It is not uncommon to see the phrase given authority in connection with the demons, who have no authority of their own. This is one of few places where we see an angel specifically given authority.

Earth was lighted with his glory – Some people mistakenly connect this angelic being as Jesus due to this description. This angel should not be confused with Jesus. It has not been uncommon for angels to have a glory shine about them, and this angel is coming directly from the presence of God. His glory is so bright, it is said to light the earth.

Verse 2

Mighty and strong voice – It has been said many times in the book of an agnel having a loud voice, but this is the first angel who has a mighty voice. His glory, authority, and powerful voice will all be needed for this authoritative announcement he is about to make.

Babylon is fallen, is fallen – This phrase has appeared once before in the book, in 14:8, and the double repetition is fallen, fallen signifies a past tense in a future vision. John is recording the prophetic events as if they have already happened. This shares language and prophetic structure with a similar account in Isaiah 21:9 when Isaiah proclaimed the fall of the neo-Babylonian civilization. To proclaim this message would require the great voice and the authority from God – Johns initial audience would have seen this Babylon as Rome, which was seen by admirers and enemies as indestructible, combined with the surety of writing its fall in the past tense.

Become the habitation of devils – This place has become abandoned of human life and become the habitation of the devils.

Hold of every foul spirit – It has become the place where the evil spirits reside.

Cage of every unclean and hateful bird – These would be birds such as vultures and bats, and birds that feed from the flesh of dead bodies. Such birds are known to occupy abandoned and or wilderness places and are commonly found where there is death. In chapter nineteen, we will see the birds come that they may eat of the human flesh.

Verse 3

For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication – This is the reason for the destruction, and we have seen this phrasing show a few times now. We have first seen this statement in 14:8, and we saw another variation of this same phrase last week in 17:2. The idea is that the city, the women, was not content in her own sin, but had to share it with all the nations. Fornication may have some connection to physical adultery and fornication, but the angels message has the Old Testament idea of committing adultery against God in the worship of idols.

The kings of the earth – The earths rulers went to bed with this women, supported her, and were seduced by the luxuries she offered. It has been suggested that in the phrase the kings of the earth may also include the populations that lived under those rulers. Throughout history, rulers have been apt to give into immorality to further their own comforts.

The merchants – The merchants became wealthy from the trade with the women. They engaged in self-indulgence and the pleasures they once experienced with the women shall now fail.

Verses 4-8

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 of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, And God hath remembered her iniquities. 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. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, So much torment and sorrow give her: For she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, And am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 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 God who judgeth her.[2]

Verse 4

I heard another voice from heaven – Some debated whether this be the voice of God, or the voice of another angel. It has been suggested that the possessive my people necessitate that it is God speaking, and others have suggested that it could still be an angel repeating the command. In the same argument, those against the idea that God is speaking directly point out verse five appears to be the same speaker, and it is unlikely that God would be referring to Himself in the third person. We are left then, no closer to discovering who the unknown voice is than we were the first time we’ve seen John discuss unknown voices from heaven. Regardless of who is speaking, we can be assured it carries the authority of God.

Come out of her, my people – There has been debate regarding the timing of this message. This is obviously a call to Gods people to flee the city which shall be destroyed. With the knowledge that John does not write chronologically, and the knowledge of chapter sixteen, in which nearly everything was destroyed, this portion of the chapter must take place, chronologically, prior to the sixteenth chapter. It is likely, if the angel is referring to the church, that this call comes at the start of the tribulation in the form of the rapture. There is yet the option that God can be calling the tribulation saints, those who get saved during this mess to flee from the city prior to the final judgements in chapter sixteen.

That ye be not partakers of her sins – This warning is applicable to all Christians throughout the church age. This does not mean that we should shun living in cities, but that we must not indulge in the wickedness that cities are known for.

And that ye receive not of her plagues – This statement is how we can identify this scene takes place prior to chapter sixteen. We are equipped with the knowledge the last of the plagues were poured out during the bowl judgements. This tells us that we must place this event earlier in the tribulation. This warning is specific that those who desire to escape the plagues must not partake in her fornication. This gives me much belief that the group of people will be the tribulation saints, who must decide to receive or forsake the mark of the beast.

Verse 5

Her sins have reached unto heaven – There is a bit of symbolism here. The idea is that her sins are piles of trash that have rotted and accumulated throughout the generations and have now reached into the heavens. I close my eyes and literally picture this, six thousand years of sin and corruption compounding. There is more symbolism stemming back to the original Babylon, the tower of Babel. The tower was said to reach to the heavens. The last form of symbolism would be known by Johns original audience, the seven hills of Rome were also described as reaching the heavens.

God has remembered her iniquities – Although it may appear that the wicked are getting away with their evil, God will not forget their iniquities. God will repay them for what they have done.

Verse 6

The voices audience in this verse shifts to an unknown audience. It has been suggested and I believe it is likely that this voice is now speaking to the seven angels with the seven vials. He tells them to reward her even as she rewarded you and that they are to double unto her according to her works. This has the famous Old Testament idea of justice, eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. The idea is that she will be repaid once for once for all her wickedness. Many have criticized this as a contradiction of Christ’s teachings to turn the other cheek. Those who criticize this passage that way fail to mention that law applies to how we as people ought to deal with one another. We as Christians are not to retaliate personally, but God’s vengeance is still very much alive. Paul wrote it like this, in Romans 12:19 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

In the cup she has filled fill to her double – This does not mean, as it would seem reading it, that she will drink double what she poured out to the nations. Fill to her double means to copy as she has done, to give back to her. If she poured out an once from that golden cup (chapter seventeen) that an ounce shall be poured back to her. From the cup she poured out to the nations that made her wealthy she shall be made to drink wrath.

Verse 7

Her torment and sorrow shall be given to her in equal portion to the extend of which she glorified herself.

Kendal Easley said of her self glorification:

• I sit as queen as the mistress of the world, the finest city of all time.

• I am not a widow, because all the world’s kings are my lovers.

• I will never mourn for I am emphatically in control of my destiny.[3]

Verse 8

Therefore the plagues come in one day – We should read all of chapter sixteen and the bowl judgements into this verse. The phrasing of death, and morning, and famine should describe to use the impact on the human life in this city. This foretells of a city that should fall and never rise again.

It is likely the phrase in one day is not literally, but has the meaning “the plagues shall come suddenly.” In any case, we should not rule out the other possibility, and both options would present a day in which destruction came without warning.

Verses 9-20

And ythe kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, zShall 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 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 odours, And ointments, and frankincense, And wine, and oil, And fine flour, and wheat, And beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, And mslaves, and souls of men. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, And all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee,

And thou shalt 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, 16 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, 18 And cried When they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they 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. Rejoice over her, thou heaven, And ye holy apostles and prophets; For God hath avenged you on her.[4]

Verse 9

The kings of the earth… lived deliciously with her – The rulers of the earth have greatly profited from their intimacy with the women. They have lived in luxury and were well to do.

Shall bewail her, and lament for her – Where they once lived deliciously they will now cry and lament. This signifies a change from luxury and wealth to destitute.

When they see the smoke of her burning – When they see the smoke is when the reality really sets in. The end of the women also means the end of their wealth. It is not so much that the kings mourn for the women, as they mourn for their own selfish desires that vanish with the women.

The smoke of her burning signifies a finality of her destruction rather than an ongoing torment. This city shall be completely destroyed and shall never return. Much as Sodom and Gomorrah.

Verse 10

Standing afar off – There is irony in this statement, particularly due to the perceived intimacy they had with the women. Here they stand afar off, likely to avoid getting caught in her destruction.

Alas, alas! – Doubled for emphasis, the meaning is literally “woe to the great city.”

Great city Babylon – even with mentioning the greatness of the city, it is mentioned of the destruction. The idea is clear, that even the greatest of the earth cannot stand against the greatness of God.

In one hour – This phrase here is partially responsible for my comments in verse eight. I believe that in both cases, one day and one hour are symbolic to mean suddenly without expectation and swift without delay.

Verse 11

The merchants too, who have profited from their relationship with the women, weep and mourn over her. As with the kings of the earth, their weeping have nothing to do with the women herself, but with their own selfish ambitions. For the only weep when they see no man buyeth their merchandise any more. They weep then, not out of remorse, but for their loss of profits and luxury.

Verse 12

Verses twelve through fourteen describe the merchandise of which there is no longer a buyer.

Of the start of the list, we have gold and silver, both precious metals and bought by the wealthy and imported from Spain. Precious stones, imported from India and pearls, imported from India and the Persian Gulf. Included in this first list are luxury clothing materials, fine linen, more comfortable and more expense than wool and imported from Egypt. Purple, silk, and scarlet all luxury items and purchased only by the wealthy. Purple was a dye from shellfish (the murex), silk imported from China, and scarlet cloth extracted from berries. The final items included in the first list are luxury building materials, thyine wood, or citron wood, which was a luxury wood from North Africa used in fine furniture. All vessels of ivory, imported from India in inlay work. And all manner vessels of most precious wood most likely referring to cedar and ebony. We see this list concluded with precious metals, bronze, iron, and marble. Marble being imported for use in statues and building materials.

Verse 13

John continues to list various products with a second list, including spices, consumable items, livestock and human slave trade.

Cinnamon imported from China would have been used for incense and medicine and ointments and frankincense used in burial and religious practices. Odours, or spice, would have been used as a perfume, and imported from India.

Wine – Although wine was produced nearly everywhere, Rome was known to import expensive vintages from Spain and Sicily.

Olive Oil – imported from Africa and Spain, an important ingredient for both cooking and light lamps.

Wheat – also used in cooking, wine, oil, and the wheat all share in common that they were widely bought by all people.

Fine flour – From the food items, fine flour is the odd one out. Fine flour was purchased by the wealthy and used in more luxury and fancier meals.

Beasts refer to cattle, and were used at the time for plowing fields rather than beef and sheep were raised for the wool. Horses and chariots, often sold together for chariot racing or the transportation of the wealthy.

Slaves – the wealthy, even in our own country until a hundred and fifty years ago, supported their lifestyles with slave labor. Even today, in many nations throughout the world there are still slave trade markets where slavery is very much alive. Throughout the world, and the US today, there are active sex trade markets and child trafficking markets as well. In the Roman times, slaves were purchased from the wealthy who lived extravagant lifestyles.

Souls of men – A reminder that the slave trade was dealing with more than simply bodies, but with the precious souls of men. This also applies today with our media culture and the use of human sexual nature to sell television shows. Humans are often treated by the wealthy as bodies to be used rather than souls that should belong to God.

Verse 14

The fruits thy soul lusted after are departed – The things the merchants longed after, luxury, wealth, fine items, are departed from them. They are now gone.

Thou shall find them no more – The loss the city, the kings, and the merchants have suffered are irreparable. Their goods are gone forever, the city is gone forever, and these things shall never again be found.

Verse 15

The merchants.. which were made rich by her – This clarifies as I had earlier pointed, the grief of the merchants has not to do with the womens loss, but with their own loss of wealth.

Stand afar off – As with the kings of the earth, the merchants stand afar off and watch the destruction as it destroys their livelihood.

Verse 16

Saying – Alas, alas, just as with the kings, this is literally to say, “woe to the great city.” They then describe the city That was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls. To the merchants, they still cling to the “glory” of the women. To the merchants, the women’s glory was the source of their own gain. To John, the women and her false glory was an afront to God.

For in one hour so great riches has come to nought – Technically, this is part of verse seventeen, but it’s thought belongs to verse sixteen. Where the second sentence in verse seventeen begins a completely new train of thought, turning to the shipmasters. This has the same general meaning as the last time we say the phrase for in one hour in that the destruction was sudden and swift. This time, the lament is directed towards the riches rather than the city.

Verse 17

Every shipmaster, all the company, sailors, and as many trade by sea – The shipmasters would be the captain of the ship and not necessarily the ship owner. Where the company would be commercial passangers traveling via ship. The sailors referred to general crew, and as many trade by sea refers to the general population that makes their wealth from operating fleets in the sea.

Stood afar off – The destruction of the sea and all ships in the sea (the second bowl judgement) happen prior to the ending of the great city. Where portions of this chapter take place prior to chapter sixteen, verses fourteen through the chapters end take place after the sixteenth chapter. Like the kings and the merchants, they too stand afar off watching the destruction take place.

Verse 19

Cast dust on their heads – Their weeping was more elaborate than the prior two groups. Casting dust on your head was a tradition sign of mourning, and was also used to express a sign of repentance. Though, in this case, this mourning is directed at their own financial loss rather than repentance.

Alas, alas – Here we see, once again, literally “woe to the city.” This completes a three-fold woe to the great city Babylon.

Wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness – Once again, we see the intention of the weeping. No one has wept for the city, but all for their own selfish losses. I find it quite disturbing to be so near the end and no one has wept for their sin or the judgement, but its all directed at the selfish lusts and desires.

For in one hour she is made desolate – One more mention of how quick and sudden the judgement came on Babylon.

In these verses, we have seen that all manners of people, wealth, and trade have been cut off.

Verse 20

This invitation to celebrate is counterpart to two separate chapters. We immediately see a comparison between the inhabitants of the earth, who weep, and the inhabitants of the Kingdom of God, who shall rejoice. This is also the counterpart of the inhabitants of the earth who rejoiced, and sent gifts one to another at the murder of the two witnesses in 11:10.

Verses 21-24

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 at all. And bthe 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 ethe sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; And fthe 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 the 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.[5]

Verse 21

A mighty angel – This is the third speaker in this chapter, and the third time an angel has been described in this book as mighty. With the first speaker John had heard and seen him, the second speaker was unidentified, John only heard him. With the third speaker, John will hear and see him as with the first, but not before something else happens.

Like a great millstone, cast it into the sea – This represents the conclusion and finality of the judgements.

Thus with violence – She will not simply be plopped down, but shall be thrust down with force and great violence. If you would remember the bowl judgements from chapter sixteen, they were violent indeed.

Shall be found no more – With this conclusion, the city shall never be found again. This will be the end of the judgements upon the earth before the new heavens and new earth shall come.

Verse 22

The next two verses will go into more detail of which shall never be found again.

The voice of harpers, musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters – Obviously, these things are not inherently evil, as there are the heavenly counterparts. This is referring to the earthly, the secular version of these things. They shall be heard no more at all in thee.

No craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be – Merchandise and builders have been completely lost forever. They shall not be found anymore in thee.

The sound of a millstone – A basic tool found in an ancient home, where occupants would grind their own grain. It shall Be heard no more at all in thee.

Verse 23

The light of a candle – Babylon will become a dark place, where even the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee.

The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride – All that we have read in this last two verses, concluded with the bridegroom and the bride, show a complete breakdown in the domestic lifestyle.

The rest of this verse will address once again the reasons for the judgement.

For thy merchants were the great men of the earth – There was every opportunity to use the merchants for good. Rather, they were taken in to the lure of the wealth, the greed, and the pride.

For by thy sorceries were all nations deceived – I must point this out, because if I don’t, someone else will. The word Sorceries is literally pharmakeia, the word we use for pharmacy or medicine. For this reason, some take this too far to interpret that we should not use anything of medicine because it is of the devil.

That said, we have also seen gold and silver, trumpets and harpers, and fine linen used of the devil. That does not make them inherently evil, as they all have heavenly counterparts. In addition, the Greek word pharmakeia also literally translates to “sorcery, magic, and witchcraft.” We can see that it has many different uses and the translators picked a wise English translation of sorcery.

The important factor than, is not that the word is the same for our use of medicine, but in how it was used, which was to deceive all nations.

Verse 24

The women is responsible for all the death in the world from Able on. In both Old and New Testaments, she is responsible for the blood of the saints, God’s people, and the spokesmen, God’s prophets. In the end times, where she appears as the capital for the antichrist, she will create many more martyrs.

It is here that the cry of the saints, from Revelation 6, for vengeance is completed.

[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Re 18:1–3). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[2] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Re 18:4–8). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[3] Easley, K. H. (1998). Revelation (Vol. 12, p. 329). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

[4] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Re 18:9–20). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[5] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Re 18:21–24). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.