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1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven.
He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.
2 With a mighty voice he shouted: "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon
the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every
evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird.
3 For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants
of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries."
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "Come out of
her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that
you will not receive any of her plagues;
5 for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her
crimes.
6 Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what
she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own cup.
7 Give her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she
gave herself. In her heart she boasts, `I sit as queen; I am not
a widow, and I will never mourn.'
8 Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning
and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord
God who judges her.
Revelation 18:1-8
Explanation:
This chapter shows the complete destruction of Babylon, John's metaphorical
name for the evil world power and all it represents. Everything
that tries to block God's purposes will come to a violent end. For
more information on how the book of Revelation uses the name Babylon,
see the note on 14:8. Merchants in the Roman empire grew rich by
exploiting the sinful pleasures of their society. Many business
people today do the same thing.
Businesses and governments are often based on greed,
money, and power. Many bright individuals are tempted to take advantage
of an evil system to enrich themselves. Christians are warned to
stay free from the lure of money, status, and the good life. We
are to live according to the values Christ exemplified: service,
self-sacrifice, obedience, and truth. The people of Babylon had
lived in luxury and pleasure. The city boasted, "I sit as queen...and
I will never mourn." The powerful, wealthy people of this world
are susceptible to this same attitude. A person who is financially
comfortable often feels invulnerable, secure, and in control, feeling
no need for God or anyone else. This kind of attitude defies God,
and his judgment against it is harsh. We are told to avoid Babylon's
sins. If you are financially secure, don't become complacent and
deluded by the myth of self-sufficiency. Use your resources to help
others and advance God's kingdom.
9 "When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with
her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will
weep and mourn over her.
10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: "`Woe!
Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom
has come!'
Revelation 18:9-10
Explanation:
Those who are tied to the world's system will lose everything when
it collapses. What they have worked for a lifetime to build up will
be destroyed in one hour. Those who work only for material rewards
will have nothing when they die or when their possessions are destroyed.
What can we take with us to the new earth? Our faith, our Christian
character, and our relationships with other believers. These are
more important than any amount of money, power, or pleasure.
11 "The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her
because no one buys their cargoes any more--
12 cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen,
purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles
of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble;
13 cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense,
of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep;
horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men.
14 "They will say, `The fruit you longed for is gone from you.
All your riches and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.'
15 The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from
her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep
and mourn
16 and cry out: "`Woe! Woe, O great city, dressed in fine linen,
purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and
pearls!
17 In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!' "Every
sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who
earn their living from the sea, will stand far off.
18 When they see the smoke of her burning, they will
exclaim, `Was there ever a city like this great city?'
19 They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning
cry out: "`Woe! Woe, O great city, where all who had ships
on the sea became rich through her wealth! In one hour she has been
brought to ruin!
20 Rejoice over her, O heaven! Rejoice, saints and apostles and
prophets! God has judged her for the way she treated you.'"
21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone
and threw it into the sea, and said: "With such violence the
great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.
22 The music of harpists and musicians, flute players and trumpeters,
will never be heard in you again. No workman of any trade will ever
be found in you again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard
in you again.
23 The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voice
of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. Your merchants
were the world's great men. By your magic spell all the nations
were led astray.
24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints, and
of all who have been killed on the earth."
Revelation 18:11-24
Explanation:
Those who are in control of various parts of the economic system
will mourn at Babylon's fall. The political leaders will mourn because
they were the overseers of Babylon's wealth and were in a position
to enrich themselves greatly. The merchants will mourn because Babylon,
the greatest customer for their goods, will be gone. The sea captains
will no longer have anywhere to bring their goods because the merchants
will have nowhere to sell them. The fall of the evil world system
affects all who enjoyed and depended on it. No one will remain unaffected
by Babylon's fall. This list of various merchandise illustrates
the extreme materialism of this society. Few of these goods are
necessities--most are luxuries. The society had become so self-indulgent
that people were willing to use evil means to gratify their desires.
Even people had become commodities--the "bodies and souls of
men" were sold as slaves to Babylon. God's people should not
live for money, because money will be worthless in eternity. And
they should keep on guard constantly against greed; a sin that is
always ready to take over their lives.
