Revelation 18: The Fall of Babylon
Revelation 18: The Fall of Babylon
(v1-8) Angels Proclaim Babylon Has Fallen
(v1-3) John saw another angel with great authority - whose glory brightened the world - who declare that Babylon the great has fallen. Babylon was the dwelling place for demons, and a haunt for unclean spirit, unclean bird, and detestable beast. Nations have drunk the wine of passion of her sexual immorality, and kings have committed the same immorality with her. The merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.
As we said in Chapter 17, the harlot is part of Babylon. The harlot represents the false religion of the world, while the rest of Babylon represent economic and political system. The phrase "the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living" (v3) confirms Babylon is about greed, money and power. As 1 Tim 6:10 says: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils."
The anti-Christ will make the corrupted financial system into something that is even more evil, so that he can politically control the world. As Revelation 13:16-18 revealed. no one can buy or sell anything without the sign of the beast imprinted on the right had or on their foreheads. Is that why the angel said that it is a place for demons and unclean spirit?
(v4-7) Another voice from heaven told the believers to "come out of her (Babylon), my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues..." (v4). The sins are heaped as high as heaven and God remembered her iniquities. Babylon should be paid with punishment for their sins - "repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed" (v6) - in fact, to double the punishment for their sins. The self-glory and the luxuries should be paid with torment and mourning, as she had confidently and proudly said she has power of a queen and she doesn't need anything like a widow, and she will never see mourning. (v7)
Who are people that verse 4 is addressing? The key word, "my people", refers to people who were faithful to God, during tribulation time. The word "come out" means two things - to stay away from the world practice, and to physically move themselves out of those countries that supports the beast.
Jesus himself warned: “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak." (Matthew 24:15-17). Jesus is asking people to flee Jerusalem as there will be a great war there.
Similarly, in the Old Testament, Lot was told to go out of Sodom before its destruction, and the people of the Jews was warned to go out of Babylon when the northern nations (i.e. Mede-Persia) invade them. (Jeremiah 50:8-9)
Are we still living in the same system as the world does? Sometimes we think it's alright as we did not murder or steal, but God's holiness if so much higher than we can think. These things are detestable to Him. That is why we cannot compromise on the commandments of the Bible and must constantly abide in Christ.
(v8) The voice continued to say that this is the reason that the plaques will come in a single day, with death and mourning and famine. She will be burned up with fire, for the mighty God has judged her.
God must be enraged with the current system and how the anti-Christ had made it worse. He is also angry that the anti-Christ has made himself a god. He has made the judgement and will punish them by fire - the fire of hell.
(v9-19) The Earth Mourns For Babylon
(v9-13) The kings of earth will weep and lament for her, when they see her burning. They stood afar from her torment, saying that the judgement has come in one hour on the mighty city of Babylon. The merchants will mourn over her as their trades with her are gone. The merchandise was describe as gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, silk, scarlet, wood, ivory, bronze, iron and marble. Fragrant and food such as cinnamon, incense, fragrant oil, frankincense, wine, oil, flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, and bodies (slaves) and soul of men.
The inclusion of “souls of men” underscores the city’s moral corruption and disregard for human dignity. It serves as a powerful reminder that material wealth should never come at the expense of human lives. It includes human trafficking, prostitution, and pornography.
(v14) It continues to say that the "fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you", and the things that are rich and splendid are gone as well. The "fruit of your soul" refers to the world riches, pleasures, fame, power, and so on that are desires of men who are apart from God.
(v15-19) The merchants who became rich by her stood far from her torment, weeping and wailing, saying that the city of these riches came to nothing, The ships and those who trade on the sea cried out when they see the smoke of her burning, "what is like this great city?" They threw dust on their heads, weeping and wailing, saying that the great city, that had ships on the sea by her wealth, that was made desolate within an hour.
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Many other things happen in the battle. Read Zechariah 14 and Ezekiel 38 and 39, if you want details.
(v20-24) Finality Babylon's Fall
(v20) A voice said "Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her." The rejoicing is not that many people will suffer and die, but that God has brought a holy justice on those who rebelled against Him.
(v21) Then a mighty angel took stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, and said that it represents the violence that Babylon was thrown down and it shall not be found anymore.
Guzik said, it reminds us of Matthew 18:6 - "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea." This applies to Babylon in Revelation 18, because she led others into sin. It is a terrible thing to sin unto yourself; it is even more terrible to lead others into sin.
(v22-24) The angels continued to say that all the musicians shall not be heard anymore; craftsman of any craft will never be found anymore; the light of lamp will not shine in Babylon anymore; the voice of joy of marriage will not be heard anymore. Babylon's merchants were great men of the earth, and they have deceived the earth by their sorcery.
(v24) The last verse says: "In her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth." This is referring to the general Babylon, not a specific nation or place.
Appendix
The world today are moving away from God and worshiping wealth and materialism. They are flexible in sexual conducts and supporting the LGBTQ, and same sex marriage. The super-rich people are manipulating politics and economy to favor themselves. The gap between rich and poor have been increasing.
Maybe we have lost the sensitivity to the sin the world is committing as we are partially living in the same system as them. Sometimes we think it's alright as we did not murder or steal, but God's holiness if so much higher than we can think. These things are detestable to Him. That is why we cannot compromise on the commandments of the Bible and must abide in Christ.
Are we ready to come "out of the world" and into the kingdom of God, and to obey His purpose for us?
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