Verse By Verse Through Revelation
Chapter Eighteen
Revelation 18:1 “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.”
- After the internal issues of the great city turn against her (Revelation 17:16-18), the things we are about to read about occur.
- We have seen the language “another angel” multiple times in this letter to the seven churches (Revelation 7:2, Revelation 8:3, Revelation 10:1, Revelation 14:6, Revelation 14:8, Revelation 14:15, Revelation 14:17, Revelation 14:18, and Revelation 15:1).
- This angel [messenger; Strong’s #32] with great authority is not identified.
- An angel, as a spirit being from Heaven besides the Father, Son or Spirit, can bring light with glory (Luke 2:8-9 and Acts 12:7).
Revelation 18:2 “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.”
- The angel with great power cried mightily with a strong voice (cf. Revelation 5:2 and Revelation 10:1-3).
- The first time we saw this message was in chapter fourteen (Revelation 14:8).
- These are the words that Isaiah used prophetically at the fall of ancient Babylon (Isaiah 21:9).
- This speaks figuratively to the great whore (Rome), the great city (Revelation 17:1-5).
- The great city had become a cage of evil and disgusting creatures. This is reminiscent of what physically occurred in ancient Babylon (Isaiah 13:20-22 and Jeremiah 50:35-40).
- On a spiritual note, consider what Jesus taught about unclean spirits in welcoming hosts (Matthew 12:43-45).
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.”
- We have already seen that the nations have drunk of the wine of her fornication, etc. (Revelation 14:8 and Revelation 17:2).
- We will see the merchants of the earth weep over the fall of this city (Revelation 18:11).
- The alluring power of a king’s delicacies is something God’s people are warned about (Proverbs 23:1-8).
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 of her plagues.”
- The language of “another voice” indicates a non-specified being talking. We have to be careful not to infer something here.
- The warning given is for saints to flee as not to face the punishment coming. This is like what we see in Jesus’ teaching about the destruction that came upon Jerusalem (Matthew 24:15-16).
- There was a congregation in Rome (Romans 1:7).
Revelation 18:5 “For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.”
- The hyperbolic language here has occurred in similar fashion in other Scriptures (II Chronicles 28:8-9, Ezra 9:6, and Jonah 1:2).
- This was said of ancient Babylon in a similar way (Jeremiah 51:9).
- God had remembered her iniquities. This is not that He forgot or put such aside for a period of time. This is as though they sinned in a fashion wherein the Lord was mindful (cf. Hebrews 11:15; Strong’s # 3421) of their transgressions (cf. Revelation 16:19). This is in connection with Judgment. That God is mindful of sin and will visit sinners for such (Jeremiah 14:10).
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.”
- We are still reading about “another voice from heaven…” (Revelation 18:4).
- This voice says to reward the great city as she had rewarded the Lord. Remember, as we discussed when looking at Revelation 17:14, whatever one does to the Lord’s people, they have done such unto Him (Matthew 25:40, Matthew 25:45, and Acts 9:1-5).
- The call is for the city to reap what has been sown, like Babylon of old (Psalms 137:8-9 and Jeremiah 51:24).
- The Lord rewards according to works (Isaiah 3:10-11, Matthew 16:27, and II Timothy 4:14).
- Not just as was done, but the request is for double. This is as Jeremiah requested of old (Jeremiah 17:14-18). God has issued such judgment, even on His own people (Isaiah 40:1-2).
Revelation 18:7 “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.”
- No one can exalt him or herself and not face judgment for that (Isaiah 2:11, Matthew 23:12, and Luke 14:7-11).
- Think about Nebuchadnezzar and ancient Babylon (Isaiah 13:1-14:23 and Daniel 4:28-5:31).
- God’s people of old thought God would not judge them too (Isaiah 5:18-19 and Zephaniah 1:12-13). Remember… Psalms 62:12 and Jeremiah 2:19
Revelation 18:8 “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.”
- This language is indicative of judgment in a moment (cf. Isaiah 47:9-11), suddenly (Proverbs 6:12-15).
- The plagues had already been coming (Revelation 15:1), but there was no repentance (Revelation 9:20-21 and Revelation 16:9-11).
Revelation 18:9-10 “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.”
- The kings of the earth who joined in with the great city are not mourning the sins of Rome. As we will see later in the context, with the merchants, this is selfish (cf. Revelation 18:11-13).
- This selfish mourning is like when Tyre fell long before this (Ezekiel 27:27-36).
- Note that they stand afar off, from fear. They are not coming to help (cf. Psalms 76:6-8).
- Judah experienced similar loneliness when the Lord punished them (Lamentations 1:7).
- We see this again later in the context (Revelation 18:15).
Revelation 18:11-13 “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 slaves, and souls of men.”
- Those who did business with the great city are mourning their losses. Just as was the case with the fall of Tyre long ago (Isaiah 23:1-15).
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.”
- Whether one is righteous or not, financial success can easily be lost (Proverbs 23:5, Proverbs 27:24, and Matthew 6:19).
- The wicked cannot think their wealth will save them (Proverbs 10:2, Proverbs 11:4, and James 5:1-6).
Revelation 18:15-18 “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!”
- Reality sets in by the merchants watching the fall of the great city. How could a powerful, wealthy city fall so far so fast? Think back to Babylon (Isaiah 47:1-11 and Jeremiah 51:8).
- You could also look at the fall of Tyre (Ezekiel 27:30-32).
Revelation 18:19 “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.”
- Amazement has set in. All they can think is how quickly the mighty have fallen. Think back to David lamenting Saul and Jonathan (II Samuel 1:17-27).
- No man or nation is so strong that he or they cannot fall (Psalms 89:48).
Revelation 18:20 “Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.”
- Rejoice over God’s righteous judgment (Deuteronomy 32:43, Psalms 58:10, Psalms 96:11-13, and Psalms 97:6-8).
- Remember what was under the fifth seal (Revelation 6:9-10).
- Saints know God is the one who takes vengeance (Romans 12:17-21).
Revelation 18:21 “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.”
- We read earlier of “another mighty angel” (Revelation 10:1).
- A stone LIKE a millstone… A millstone was: “a large mill consisted of two stones, an upper and an under one; the “nether” stone was stationary, but the upper one was turned by an ass” (Thayer; Strong’s # 3458).
- The point was to symbolize the fall of the great city. On a much smaller scale, a similar point was made of actual Babylon (Jeremiah 51:61-64).
- Remember, Babylon is not the literal city. The mention of Babylon is rooted in the fact that the “Great City” reminds God of Babylon (Revelation 16:19).
Revelation 18:22-24 “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 heard 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 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.”
- Think back to what God said even about the cities of Judah that He was going to judge for their sins (Jeremiah 7:34 and Jeremiah 16:9).
- The same of Tyre (Ezekiel 26:1-13).
- This was the judgment for their sorceries and persecution of the saints (Revelation 17:1-2 and Revelation 17:6).
Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22