Mystery, Babylon, Part Five

Revelation 18:9-20

Revelation 18:9-20 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, 10 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. 11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 12 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, 13 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 slaves, and souls of men. 14 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. 15 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! 17 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! 19 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. 20 Rejoice over her, [thou] heaven, and [ye] holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

THE FALL OF BABYLON MOURNED

Introduction

Financial collapse did not just happen in the 1930’s. Look around the world today. Just look at the price of gasoline in the last week.

Boarded up windows of businesses that were once thriving are a blot on our economy.

When you cannot even get onion rings and fried pickles at your local restaurant, we have serious problems. LOL

Revelation 18:9 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,

“And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her” – All of the leaders of the nations of the earth, who have joined forces with Babylon, which have been seduced by the riches she has offered are included in this section.

However, this goes far beyond just the kings of the earth. Commerce affects every person on the earth. The wealth of the city (Babylon) is the wealth of the world. It is a world system. The city (Babylon) employees’ people and are dependent upon her. This image of Babylon is likened to the prosperous city that is on the trade routes or shipping ports. Business and governments are dependent and yet so interconnected that what affects one, affects the other.

The image of Rome would be fresh on the minds of these first century, persecuted believers. Rome is the power in the world. Their armies have tamed most of the world. Their financial and commercial system was the normal way of business in the known world. Rome was seen as excess and the height of luxury and decadence.

In 2015, we can understand this type of inter-reliance upon other governments. Oil from the Middle East, steel from Russia, electronics from Japan and dry goods from China and Mexico. If there is a financial issue in the world, like what happened to Greece a couple of years ago, the entire world is affected. Computers have shrunk the world with business being able to be conducted 24 hours a day.

I am reminded of the computer scare of 2000. The world went to great lengths to be ready when the clocks on computers went from 11:59 of 1999 to 00:00 of 2000. There was panic and worry of the great unknown. Nothing really happened. The fear did not equate to destruction of devices or data. Recently, we have been introduced to the realities of computer failure in the world’s business. Computer “glitches” have caused panic on Wall Street and traffic control at airports.

In the time of the Tribulation, this interdependence will be at the mercy of the world system of Babylon. Just one flip of a switch and the world’s economic system will come to a standstill.

“…shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning” – The word used for “bewail” means a “loud lamentation.” This seems to be in stark contrast to the response of the ten kings in the previous chapter (17:16).

Revelation 17:16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

The kings had no further use of the one world religion, but the loss of financial gain causes the kings to wail and lament over the collapse of the great city, Babylon.

Revelation 18:10 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.

“Standing afar off for the fear of her torment” – The kings did not come to the aid of Babylon to save her; instead, they stood far away from the destruction. For a short period of time, they supported and sustained the political and commercial system that was now in ruin. Government was helpless to stop the devastation and could only weep and morn over her ruin.

“…saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city!’ – The only language that could be heard were the cries of unbelief.

I remember watching the television coverage of the destruction of the World Trade Center. One news report panned the faces in the crowd, and they appeared as though they could not come to grips with what their eyes were seeing. They interviewed several and they could not take their eyes off the collapse of the buildings and the ruin that followed.

“…for in one hour is thy judgment come.” – Some translations render this “the hour of her judgment.” Either way, the time of Babylon’s judgment had come.

Revelation 18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

“And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her” – The second group that is mourning the fall of that great city are the merchants. The commerce will come to a screeching stop and the merchants will feel the result of her destruction. Their weeping and mourning are due to the loss of customers as the failed system leaves everyone in the same condition…financial collapse the world over.

I was not alive during The Great Depression (1929 – 1934). This worldwide collapse was brought on by the collapse of Wall Street. For those five years preceding WW1, times were hard for everyone, and no help was in sight.

This is how I picture of the destruction of Babylon.

“…for no man buyeth their merchandise any more” – the main reason that the merchants are mourning is because “no one is buying their products anymore. Their hope of financial gain has ended with no hope of a recovery.

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, 13 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 slaves, and souls of men.

The wealth of the merchants is listed in twenty-eight groups or categories were the riches of the city of Babylon. Fourteen are listed in verse twelve and the other fourteen are in verse 13. This list comprises an enormous commercial system of trade received from all the corners of the world.

This list begins with items of timeless value = gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls. These serve as the basis for most monetary systems in the world. In times of inflation, wise investors put their money in this area.

The next is the textile industry – fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet. The textile industry is one of the largest in the world today, as well as in the days of the Tribulation.

The next group centers on the materials needed in manufacturing – wood, ivory, wood, brass, iron, and marble.

Each of these items in verse twelve, have been sought after and prized by men in all of history.

Those first items in verse thirteen are luxury items – spices, perfumes, ointments, and incense.

The next group includes the commodities – wine, oil, wheat, and livestock. Livestock trading is another huge business in history as well as today.

The next one concerns transportation – chariots. The root word for chariot is “a type of vehicle having four wheels, or a carriage drawn by mules” and not the two wheeled chariot of war. This would lead me to believe that it is referring to transportation in general.

The last two items drew my attention the most; “slaves, and souls of men.” The word “slaves” by some translators means a particular type of slave that took care of horses and carriages. We would refer to them as “grooms” today. While others translate the word as a common slave. The traffic in slaves has never really diminished. Look at the trade in slaves today and it is shocking. According to an article published by SFGate titled; “Slave Trade Endures In the 21st Century”:

MOST AMERICANS have no idea that slavery still exists and sends workers and women into bondage. Yet just last week, the United Nations reported that the traffic in people, now the fastest-growing business of organized crime, is only exceeded by the smuggling of drugs and weapons. Pino Arlacchi, director general of the U.N. Office of Drug Control and Crime Prevention, estimates that some 200 million people may now be in the hands of traffickers.

That number breaks my heart, but in the Tribulation, anything goes, all the time.

“Souls of men” – when compared to the previous word “slaves”, this phrase may also mean slaves, and some have taken the stand that it means female slaves. However, it appears to me that men have sold their “souls to the devil” for thousands of years. Men have traded their morality for a position of control, to assume power over others and or to render themselves guiltless. The religious have placed themselves into positions as false teachers (2 Pet. 2:3) and became slaves to their own lusts.

If men think so little of the sanctity of life right now in the 21st century, to what length will they go when the Law of the world is the desire of Satan and the Antichrist? Unbridled, comes to mind.

Revelation 18:14 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.

Note: this verse is easily divided into three parts, with each part beginning with the word “and.”

“And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee” – There is an interesting take on the word “fruits” by many commentators. The Greek word “opora” is translated as fruit, fruits, or fancy things. Page Patterson describes fruit as a literal fruit that has disappeared. It is a:

“…particularly refreshing summer fruit. There is mention that their souls longed for their fruit, which was now gone from them. The word translated “longed for” (epithumia), generally rendered “lust,” indicated inordinate and uncontrolled desire. Whatever this fruit may be, clearly it is greatly treasured and at the point of the fall of Babylon will no longer be readily available. In fact, all of the riches and splendor of Babylon have vanished, and they are never going to be recovered.

The word can also be used for a “period of time,” as the end of July and all of August and part of September. We would refer to this as the end of summer. This is the time when fruit is normally gathered. Therefore, this could mean any or all the fruit that would be ripe for the picking.

The idea is that the ripe fruit represents all the good things in life.

“…and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee” – Three words need to be addressed here. “Dainty” = the Greek word “liparos” means “oily, shiny with oil” as in today’s cosmetics. Strong’s Concordance defines this as “things which pertain to a sumptuous and delicate style of living.”

The word “goodly” = the Greek word “lampros” means “bright, radiant like the sun and stars.” Those things in which the rich take delight.

“…and thou shalt find them no more at all” – All of the items mentioned in the previous three verses are ended and will not be found again. All production will be stopped, and the commercial system of the Antichrist is ended.

Revelation 18:15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

“The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her” – The businesses and particularly the businessmen that have been made rich and famous by the above products during the Tribulation under the protection of Babylon and the Antichrist.

“…shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing” – They will only be able to stand back and watch the destruction of their empires. Their education and knowledge will not be able to prevent this financial collapse of all the commerce of the earth. Just like a family watching their home burn to the ground, the merchants will only be able to stand by and watch their commercial empires reduced to ashes.

Revelation 18:16 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!

The merchants weep and wail as their empires and a way of life are wiped out. In front of their eyes their way of life is becoming extinct. They remember the way it was as the total obliteration of the commercial system come to an end with no hope in sight. They remember the greatness and beauty of Babylon, “that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!”

Revelation 18:17 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,

“For in one hour so great riches is come to nought” – Looking back at the 17th chapter, we were told that the ten kings would “receive power as kings for one hour with the beast.” (17:12). We decided at that time that “one hour” was not to be taken literally but was symbolic of a short or brief period.

All their wealth came quickly, as the merchants received their riches under the covering of Babylon. And just as quickly, the destruction of Babylon took it all away, to “waste.”

“And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off” – The lament is picked up by those that earn their livelihood by transporting the above goods. From the captain of the ship, to those stevedores and those buyers of the goods on foreign shores.

Revelation 18:18-19 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.

The shock of the destruction of Babylon affects those that make their living on the seas. Where there was splendor and opulence, now desolation and ruin lay in its place. In their experience, there never was a city like Babylon in influence, authority, opulence, idolatry, blasphemy, corruption, and depravity.

Filled with loss and regret, they “cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing.” They picked up the cry, “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.”

Revelation 18:20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

Amid all the destruction, the angel announces that those opposed to the Antichrist and the destruction of Babylon should rejoice.

There is a sharp contrast to the language of the kings, merchants and seamen who lost everything in the destruction of Babylon, compared to those that have been persecuted and martyred by her. For Babylon was the great persecutor of the believers. While many became rich through her, believers were outside the system and were poor and starving.

Those saints in heaven, the New Testament apostles and the Old Testament prophets should rejoice over her ruin. Not as a cry of vengeance, but of immense joy.

And what is the reason for the rejoicing? God has avenged the persecutors of the church of God.

CONCLUSION

In the 21st century, where does a Christian place their trust?