About This Chapter: Revelation chaoter eighteen continues with a description of Babylon and the announcement of its fall. An angel declares that Babylon has fallen, and a voice calls for God’s people to come out from within her. This chapter also chronicles the responses of kings and merchants as they observe Babylon’s downfall from a distance, describing its wealth and its sudden destruction. Another angel then performs a symbolic action by casting a great stone into the sea to illustrate the city’s destruction along with a declartion that no further cultural, social, or commercial activities will ever be found there again.
Revelation 18:1–3 — The Announcement of Babylon’s Fall
Revelation 18:4–8 — The Call to Come Out
Revelation 18:9–19 — The Lament Over the City
Revelation 18:20–24 — The Final Declaration
Revelation 18:1–3 — The Announcement of Babylon’s Fall
In our earlier study of Revelation chapter seventeen, we noted that the Book of Revelation employs the word “Babylon” as a shorthand designation for the blasphemous political, religious, and economic structures that will arise in the future. Those structures have always existed to greater or lesser degrees throughout much of human history, but they will dominate the future that is chronicled for us within this book.
The previous chapter of Revelation also detailed the fall of the blasphemous religious system that will arise during that period. Here now, in Revelation chapter eighteen, we will witness the fiery devastation that will be unleashed upon the godless economic system of that era. And while it is never explicitly mentioned within our text, the underlying presence of idolatry will emerge as one of the core components of that system.
As noted in our survey of Revelation chapter two, we can define an idol as anything that takes God’s place within our lives. When someone elects to replace God with something else at the top of life’s priority scale, that “something” (whatever it is) effectively becomes his or her idol. That alternative doesn’t have to involve a spiritual concept or philosophy. Instead, it might represent an underlying value, ideology, conviction, or belief that serves to establish the principles that guide our lives.
For many, the acquisition of financial and material wealth (along with the status and privilege that accompany it) often represents one such priority. As we consider the economic aspects of the godless worldview described here in Revelation chapter eighteen, we will find that the relentless pursuit of personal gain and financial self-interest will largely shape the narrative of this chapter. The prevailing attitude will be one of self-concern, and to borrow a phrase from modern parlance, “everyone will be in it for themselves.”
Those who witness the downfall of this blasphemous economic system will also demonstrate a callous disregard for the lives that are lost and the destruction that takes place. Instead, their primary concern might be expressed in a single question: “What does this mean for me?” That attitude is far removed from the precepts given to us in the Scriptures…
“Try to do what is good for others, not just what is good for yourselves” (1 Corinthians 10:23 ERV).
“Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up” (Romans 15:2 NIV).
“Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4 AMP).
The events of this chapter will thus provide us with an object lesson and an example to avoid.
“After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, ‘Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury” (Revelation 18:1-3).
These verses depict an amazing spectacle. Consider the magnitude of power that would be necessary to allow this angelic being to illuminate the earth. This is especially noteworthy in relation to an earlier passage from Revelation chapter thirteen: “…the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness” (Revelation 13:10). So much like a spotlight that illuminates criminal activity that occurs under the cover of darkness, God’s angelic agent will illuminate this world for all to see.
Next. we’re told “…all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries” (NIV). So this encompasses more than just a single town, region, or country. Instead, this passage tells us that every nation will adopt the same godless economic philosophy. Verse three then goes on to describe the impact of that global phenomenon: “Because of her desires for extravagant luxury, the merchants of the world have grown rich” (NLT).
These verses hold a surprising degree of relevance for modern-day audiences. For instance, if God has blessed us with the opportunity to purchase various luxury items, we should approach those purchases thoughtfully and prayerfully to ensure we are using those resources in a way that honors Him. In addition to our text from Revelation eighteen, the New Testament book of James offers a brutally frank assessment that draws our attention to an attitude we should avoid…
“And now, you rich people, listen to me! Weep and wail over the miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches have rotted away, and your clothes have been eaten by moths. Your gold and silver are covered with rust, and this rust will be a witness against you and will eat up your flesh like fire.
You have piled up riches in these last days. You have not paid any wages to those who work in your fields. Listen to their complaints! The cries of those who gather in your crops have reached the ears of God, the Lord Almighty. Your life here on earth has been full of luxury and pleasure. You have made yourselves fat for the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent people, and they do not resist you” (James 5:1-6 GNT).
We’ll consider this challenging subject at greater length next.
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“…the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth and economic power of her sensuous luxury” (Revelation 18:3 AMP).
Before we criticize the wealthy in light of this passage, we should remember that the Scriptures identify several God-honoring individuals who were rich in financial and material wealth. (1) Thus, we can say that financial and/or material riches alone do not explain the fate that befell those mentioned here in Revelation chapter eighteen. Instead, the underlying issue involved the beliefs and attitudes that shaped the way they managed and used those resources.
Unfortunately, there is a cost associated with the lifestyle mentioned here. In addition to what we read here in Revelation chapter eighteen, the Biblical book of James identifies that cost: “You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter” (James 5:5 NIV).
Notice that James identifies two important parameters in speaking with the wealthy: luxury and self-indulgence. These individuals took the blessings of wealth and prosperity and used those God-given gifts to benefit themselves. Thus, it may be said that their financial and material wealth was not the primary issue; it was what they did with it.
With this in mind, the New Testament epistle of 1 Timothy shows us a better path forward…
“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
This underscores the need to capitalize on the opportunities that God makes available to us as we invest the talents, skills, and resources He provides. Acts 20:35 identifies the positive personal benefit that flows from that approach: “…It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Nevertheless, we should also be mindful of Jesus’ cautionary message from the Gospel of Luke as we consider these passages…
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? (Luke 10-12 NLT).
(1) See discussion in James chapter five here. Abraham was a man of substantial wealth yet he was called a friend of God. Job was also identified as a God-honoring man of wealth and God even doubled his assets following his period of trial. The Old Testament book of Ruth provides us with the example of a man named Boaz, a wealthy man who served as Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer. In the New Testament, we have the example of Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:57-58) as well as Zacchaeus, a wealthy individual who clearly received Jesus’ approval for the manner in which he decided to handle his finances (Luke 19:2-10).
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“…Because of her desires for extravagant luxury, the merchants of the world have grown rich” (Revelation 18:3 NLT).
Our text from Revelation 18:3 allows us to conclude our short discourse on the subjects of wealth and materialism with a few final thoughts. For instance, the Biblical book of 1 Timothy offers two passages that should inform our thinking on these subjects…
“…[Our] trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17 NLT).
“Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:6-10).
The verses help provide direction for our purchasing and investment decisions. For example, there is nothing inherently wrong with financial or material wealth, for God richly provides us with all we need for our enjoyment. However, it’s important to recognize that everything we possess is a gift of God’s benevolent provision. Thus, we would be wise to view ourselves as stewards (or managers) of the financial and material resources that God has graciously allowed us to acquire.
Other helpful insights come from the following portions of Jesus’ famous Sermon On The Mount…
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:31-33 NLT).
A lifestyle that honors God through the responsible use of the financial and material resources He provides is one that enriches everyone, including ourselves. These observations will prepare us for entry into the next portion of Revelation eighteen.
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Revelation 18:4–8 — The Call to Come Out
“And I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues’” (Revelation 18:4).
We can often identify a self-oriented worldview with a look at the way it frames the issues and circumstances of life. For instance, a mindset that prioritizes self-interest might ask some, or all, of the following questions exclusively when confronting life’s challenges…
- “What’s best for me?”
- “What do I want?”
- “How will this impact me?”
In contrast, a God-honoring mindset first asks a different set of questions. Those questions might include some, or all, of the following:
- “What Biblical teaching or principle can I apply to this situation?”
- “How would God have me respond?”
- “How does this reflect on my relationship with Christ?”
These latter questions (and others like them) can help us maintain the right attitude and avoid the negative repercussions that flow from the godless philosophies we find here in Revelation chapter eighteen.
“For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’
Therefore her plagues will come in one day–death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her” (Revelation 18:5-8).
This reference to a “double repayment” draws our attention to the Old Testament legal mandate for the restitution of stolen property. According to that statute, a convicted thief had to repay twice the value of the property he or she had stolen (see Exodus 22:9). Since a corrupt economic system is unlikely to prioritize righteousness and justice, it may explain why there will be a double repayment “…according to her works.”
We should also consider the mindset that characterized these purchases. The best illustration of that thought process appears in verse seven, where we read, “As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning…” (ESV). Here in Revelation 18:7, this reference to glorification encompasses a range of ideas, including the acts of praise, magnification, and honor with respect to oneself. (1) If we were to express those qualities with a one-word definition, we might so so with the word “pride.”
(1) G1392 – doxazo – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1392/kjv/tr/0-1/
Revelation 18:9–19 — The Lament Over the City
“Give her as much torment and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, ‘I sit enthroned as queen. I am not a widow; I will never mourn’” (Revelation 18:7 NIV).
Revelation 18:7 speaks of Babylon and the “…luxury she gave herself.” So, in addition to the qualities of self-honor and self-praise that characterized those who took part in this corrupt economic system, we can add one more quality: self-indulgence. That attitude expressed little or no empathy for those in need and no willingness to assist the less fortunate. Instead, the individual desire for comfort and personal gratification took precedence.
The latter half of verse seven reveals another disturbing aspect of that mindset: “…she keeps telling herself: ‘Here I sit, a queen! I am no widow, I will never know grief’” (GNT). If we were to paraphrase that response from a first-person perspective, we might do so by saying, “Don’t you know who I am? I’m not like other people. Nothing bad will happen to me.”
Most of us have probably encountered others who exhibit a similar mindset, but hopefully, those individuals are relatively few in number. The issue is that such attitudes will be widespread among these future populations. Unfortunately, there is a cost associated with that mentality, and we will close this portion of our study with a look at that price…
“The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’ “
And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men.
The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! For in one hour such great riches came to nothing’…” (Revelation 18:9-17).
“…Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’ “They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate’” (Revelation 18:17-19).
In thousands of years of recorded human history, with all its wars and conflicts, humanity has never possessed the destructive power to annihilate an entire city within a mere sixty minutes. It was only with the advent of the nuclear era that human beings gained that capacity. So what may have seemed impossible before the dawn of the twentieth century is now a terrifying reality.
That backdrop sets the scene for Revelation 18:9-19 and the list of goods and commodities that will vanish following Babylon’s destruction. With the exception of the food-related items, everything mentioned in that list is a luxury item, not a necessity. However, there is another commodity on that list that should definitely command our attention: “…[the] bodies and souls of men” (Revelation 18:13).
This passage speaks of human beings who are viewed as nothing more than possessions to be bought and sold. But that godless economic platform went far beyond mere slavery, for it also encompassed “…the very souls of men” (Phillips). This reference to “souls” suggests a level of control that extends beyond mere ownership; it implies dominion over one’s internal thoughts and accompanying behaviors. While many have desired to exert such control over other human beings over the course of human history, modern-day advances in electronic surveillance and related technologies have now brought that desire closer to reality.
We should also notice that an overwhelming sense of grief followed the loss of these luxury items. For instance, verse nine speaks of weeping and lamentations, while verse eleven mentions weeping and mourning. More weeping and wailing then follow in verse fifteen, with additional weeping and wailing in verse nineteen. While anyone might grieve over the loss of their possessions, we should note that these individuals showed no remorse concerning this devastating loss of human life.
Instead, Revelation 18:11 identifies the source of their grief: “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore” (NIV). So, their primary (and perhaps only) motivation involved wealth acquisition. Unfortunately for them, this act of destruction will obliterate their profits, along with Babylon’s inhabitants and their materialistic values.
Image Attribution: “Spangdahlem recognizes National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month” by SrA Kyle Cope. Public Domain via getarchive
Revelation 18:20–24 — The Final Declaration
“‘Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!’ Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, ‘Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore.
The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth’” (Revelation 18:20-24).
Given the apocalyptic imagery that precedes it, the exhortation to rejoice here in Revelation 18:20 may seem rather disturbing. For instance, consider the following passage from Revelation 18:8: “Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine…” (KJV). How could anyone rejoice over such a fate?
A shift in perspective may help address that concern. Just as we rejoice when justice is served in a human court of law, the downfall of Babylon, a place that had become “…a home for demons” and “…a hideout for every foul spirit, a hideout for every foul vulture and every foul and dreadful animal” (Revelation 18:2 NLT) offered cause to rejoicing.
Moreover, we should not forget that this blasphemous regime had committed many criminal acts. In fact, Revelation 18:5 tells us, “…Her sins are piled as high as heaven, and God has remembered her crimes” (GW). Revelation 17:6 also serves as a case in point. That portion of Scripture depicts Babylon as a woman who sat astride a scarlet beast while she was “…drunk with the blood of God’s people and the blood of those who were killed because they had been loyal to Jesus” (GNT).
Finally, Revelation 18:24 tells us, “In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people, of all who have been slaughtered on the earth” (NIV). Should God permit such criminal activity to go unpunished? Should not those who perpetrated such crimes be held to account for their actions? On the contrary, it would be wrong for a righteous judge to allow such crimes to go unavenged. Thus, we find heaven rejoicing over the fact that justice had been served.
“Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, ‘Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore’” (Revelation 18:21).
Imagine what would happen if a giant, boulder-like object were to suddenly plummet into one of the world’s great oceans. While that event would propel untold amounts of water into the earth’s atmosphere, the seas would eventually rush in to cover the initial point of impact. The ocean’s ceaseless motion would thus make that area virtually indistinguishable from the surrounding waves in a relatively short period.
Such will be the case with the godless economic system described here in Revelation eighteen. As one translation renders this text, “With this kind of sudden violent force Babylon the great city will be thrown down and it will never be found again!” (NET).
But let’s revisit this analogy again and consider some other potential implications. While the initial point of impact would soon become indistinguishable, the effect of such an event would likely reach far beyond its origin. Coastal cities might suffer the devastating impact of an incoming tsunami, while other natural processes might face irreversible damage. In like manner, the effects of Babylon’s destruction will resonate far beyond the city itself. We find a summary of those effects in verses twenty-two and twenty-three…
“The sound of harps, singers, flutes, and trumpets will never be heard in you again. No craftsmen and no trades will ever be found in you again. The sound of the mill will never be heard in you again. The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The happy voices of brides and grooms will never be heard in you again. For your merchants were the greatest in the world, and you deceived the nations with your sorceries” (NLT).
So this portion of Scripture tells us that there will be no further cultural activities, building projects, agricultural production, artificial illumination, or sense of happiness that might arise from human relationships. Thus shall Babylon be recompensed for “…the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth” (Revelation 18:24).
So this brings us to the end of our study in Revelation chapter eighteen. In chapter seventeen, we saw the systematic dismantlement of Babylon’s blasphemous religious structure. Here in chapter eighteen, we have witnessed the downfall of Babylon’s godless economic system. The only remaining stronghold is the unholy political alliance that will arise during that era. That coalition will meet its end in the following chapter.