Revelation 18WEB
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Revelation18

World English Bible · Public Domain

1After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with his glory.

2He cried with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hated bird!

3For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality, the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the abundance of her luxury.”

4I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, that you have no participation in her sins, and that you don’t receive of her plagues,

5for her sins have reached to the sky, and God has remembered her iniquities.

6Return to her just as she returned, and repay her double as she did, and according to her works. In the cup which she mixed, mix to her double.

7However much she glorified herself and grew wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning. For she says in her heart, ‘I sit a queen, and am no widow, and will in no way see mourning.’

8Therefore in one day her plagues will come: death, mourning, and famine; and she will be utterly burned with fire, for the Lord God who has judged her is strong.

9The kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived wantonly with her will weep and wail over her, when they look at the smoke of her burning,

10standing far away for the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For your judgment has come in one hour.’

11The merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise any more:

12merchandise of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet, all expensive wood, every vessel of ivory, every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble;

13and cinnamon, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, and people’s bodies and souls.

14The fruits which your soul lusted after have been lost to you. All things that were dainty and sumptuous have perished from you, and you will find them no more at all.

15The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, will stand far away for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning,

16saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls!

17For in an hour such great riches are made desolate.’ Every ship master, and everyone who sails anywhere, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood far away,

18and cried out as they looked at the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like the great city?’

19They cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her great wealth!’ For she is made desolate in one hour.

20“Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets, for God has judged your judgment on her.”

21A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all.

22The voice of harpists, minstrels, flute players, and trumpeters will be heard no more at all in you. No craftsman of whatever craft will be found any more at all in you. The sound of a mill will be heard no more at all in you.

23The light of a lamp will shine no more at all in you. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all in you, for your merchants were the princes of the earth; for with your sorcery all the nations were deceived.

24In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth.”

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Revelation 18.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: Another angel from heaven proclaims the fall of mystical Babylon. (1–3). A voice from heaven admonishes the people of God, lest they partake of her plagues. (4–8). The lamentations over her. (9–19). The church called upon to rejoice in her utter ruin. (20–24).

vv1-8

The downfal and destruction of the mystical Babylon are determined in the counsels of God. Another angel comes from heaven. This seems to be Christ himself, coming to destroy his enemies, and to shed abroad the light of his gospel through all nations. The wickedness of this Babylon was very great; she had forsaken the true God, and set up idols, and had drawn all sorts of men into spiritual adultery, and by her wealth and luxury kept them in her interest. The spiritual merchandise, by which multitudes have wickedly lived in wealth, by the sins and follies of mankind, seems principally intended. Fair warning is given to all that expect mercy from God, that they should not only come out of this Babylon, but assist in her destruction. God may have a people even in Babylon. But God's people shall be called out of Babylon, and called effectually, while those that partake with wicked men in their sins, must receive of their plagues. (Rev 18:9-19)

vv9-19

The mourners had shared Babylon's sensual pleasures, and gained by her wealth and trade. The kings of the earth, whom she flattered into idolatry, allowing them to be tyrannical over their subjects, while obedient to her; and the merchants, those who trafficked for her indulgences, pardons, and honours; these mourn. Babylon's friends partook her sinful pleasures and profits, but are not willing to share her plagues. The spirit of antichrist is a worldly spirit, and that sorrow is a mere worldly sorrow; they do not lament for the anger of God, but for the loss of outward comforts. The magnificence and riches of the ungodly will avail them nothing, but will render the vengeance harder to be borne. The spiritual merchandise is here alluded to, when not only slaves, but the souls of men, are mentioned as articles of commerce, to the destroying the souls of millions. Nor has this been peculiar to the Roman antichrist, and only her guilt. But let prosperous traders learn, with all their gains, to get the unsearchable riches of Christ; otherwise; even in this life, they may have to mourn that riches make to themselves wings and fly away, and that all the fruits their souls lusted after, are departed from them. Death, at any rate, will soon end their commerce, and all the riches of the ungodly will be exchanged, not only for the coffin and the worm, but for the fire that cannot be quenched.

vv20-24

That which is matter of rejoicing to the servants of God on earth, is matter of rejoicing to the angels in heaven. The apostles, who are honoured and daily worshipped at Rome in an idolatrous manner, will rejoice in her fall. The fall of Babylon was an act of God's justice. And because it was a final ruin, this enemy should never molest them any more; of this they were assured by a sign. Let us take warning from the things which brought others to destruction, and let us set our affections on things above, when we consider the changeable nature of earthly things.

Key Words

AfterG3326Greek

μετά (metá): properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between G575 (ἀπό) or G1537 (ἐκ) and G1519 (εἰς) or G4314 (πρός); less intimate than G1722 (ἐν) and less close than G4862 (σύν))

thisG5023Greek

ταῦτα (taûta): these things

sawG1492Greek

εἴδω (eídō): used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent G3700 (ὀπτάνομαι) and G3708 (ὁράω); properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know

anotherG243Greek

ἄλλος (állos): "else," i.e. different (in many applications)

angelG32Greek

ἄγγελος (ángelos): compare G34 (ἀγέλη)) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor

coming downG2597Greek

καταβαίνω (katabaínō): to descend (literally or figuratively)

fromG1537Greek

ἐκ (ek): literal or figurative; direct or remote)

heavenG3772Greek

οὐρανός (ouranós): the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of God); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel (Christianity)

havingG2192Greek

ἔχω (échō): to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)

greatG3173Greek

μέγας (mégas): big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application)

Cross References

Revelation 18
v2Isaiah 21:9allusion

Direct textual source for 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen' and desolation imagery.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v4Jeremiah 51:6quotation

The Old Testament call for God's people to flee Babylon to escape her judgment.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v21Jeremiah 51:63typology

Seraiah's prophetic action of binding a stone and casting it into Euphrates mirrors millstone cast into sea.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v2Jeremiah 51:8allusion

Old Testament source for the sudden fall and mourning over historical Babylon.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v7Isaiah 47:7-9allusion

The source of Babylon's boast: 'I sit a queen... and shall see no sorrow.'

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v22Jeremiah 25:10allusion

Parallel judgment of silencing the millstone, candle light, and voices of bridegroom and bride.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v2Isaiah 13:19-22allusion

Prophetic background of desolate Babylon becoming a dwelling place for wild beasts and unclean spirits.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v2Revelation 14:8allusion

Earlier apocalyptic announcement of Babylon's fall and her cup of fornication.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

Apostolic instruction to separate from unclean things, adapting the call to flee Babylon.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v5Jeremiah 51:9allusion

Old Testament source of sins reaching up to heaven and judgment matching her work.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v11Ezekiel 27:27-36allusion

The lamentation of merchants and shipmasters modeled directly on the fall of Tyre.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v4Genesis 19:12typology

The warning to Lot to flee Sodom before fire falls, illustrating urgent separation.

Supported by JFB

v4Numbers 16:26typology

Moses commanding Israel to depart from tents of Korah to escape their sudden judgment.

Supported by JFB

v6Isaiah 40:2thematic

Provides biblical precedent for the concept of receiving 'double' for all her sins.

Supported by JFB

v16Revelation 17:4thematic

Identical description of the harlot's luxury: purple, scarlet, gold, precious stones, and pearls.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v24Matthew 23:35thematic

The culmination of righteous blood shed on the earth charged to apostate authority.

Supported by Matthew Henry