Reviews and Views

Book of Revelation – Chapter 18

In the previous chapter, we glimpsed at the coming Babylonian religious system and how it is used by and eaten up by the Antichrist after he has risen to power. Now we will look at Babylon, the city, its control, prosperity, and fall. As a reminder, “Mystery Babylon” was a religious Babylon with the harlot. “Babylon the great” is the commercial Babylon of the Antichrist in this chapter.

A rebuilt Babylon becomes a world commerce and trade city and a political center, destined to become the world’s capital again. Babylon will again become the home of idolatry, occultism, demonism, and false religion. All this leads to its destruction by horrible judgments from God. The apostle John gives us three reasons for Babylon’s utter destruction. Let’s look at God’s Word.

First, due to the magnitude of her sins, Babylon is destroyed. The city becomes wholly given over to demonism (a belief in the power of demons) and depravity (corruption) by this time.

• In verse 1, we are told “after these things,” which refers to the destruction of religious Babylon (or the worldwide apostate church). Next is a description of a mighty angel with a shining glory to lighten the earth. The judgment coming will be powerful and glorious to see.
• In verse 2, this angel shouts out that Babylon is fallen and has become a home for devils, evil spirits, satanism, occultism, witchcraft, and astrology (unclean and hateful birds).
• In verse 3, hailed as a center of enlightenment and liberal thinking, the city gives free rein to all forms of immorality. Because it seeks prestige and power, this Babylon promotes and joins ungodly international alliances. The world loves it. The rulers of the earth become captivated by the prospect of getting rich through her trade. There will be both legal and illicit trade (i.e.drug, sex and human trafficking trade). There is a lot of “wheeling and dealing” with Babylon by world merchants who become exceedingly wealthy. Gaining more riches remains the focus of the world merchants. Nothing deters them, not even God’s judgments destroying cities and the death of people from hunger and neglect.

Second, because of the measure of her sins, Babylon faces destruction. Many places attract or tempt men to engage in corruption, but Babylon is at a different level never seen before. People become enticed with the sins Babylon offers.

• In verses 4 and 5, another voice from heaven warns believers to come out of Babylon because her sins have reached heaven, and God has remembered her wickedness. Even though only a few believers are on earth, the warning is to have nothing to do with the city. God’s people must resist all the enticements offered to them. They are to be careful of materialism and to refrain from illegal gain through the love of the delicacies of this world.
• “There comes a time when the sins of a nation or a city reach to heaven & cry aloud for God to act. The sword of vengeance slumbers long, and heaven seems silent and indifferent to earth’s corruptions, calumnies (slanders), and crimes. God Himself seems deaf and blind, but then suddenly He acts, and the tale is told.” John Phillips commentary, page 223.
• In verse 6, with Babylon’s sins decreed, the angel cries out to God to reward her with a double punishment. As Job 4:8 states, “they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.” God cannot tolerate sin forever, and the reaping of political Babylon’s corruption must finally take place.

Third, on account of the madness of her sins, Babylon never rises again. Of the many sins committed by commercial Babylon, pride and presumption (arrogance or audacity) become her crowning sins.

• In verse 7, we see Babylon glorifying herself. Her wealthy citizens become even richer while her poor become poorer. “I sit as a queen and am no widow and shall see no sorrow.” Babylon becomes the Laodicea of the world’s cities, as she becomes “rich and increased in goods” and feels her need for nothing.

Verse 8 tells us that all the vengeance of God will be released suddenly upon this city of Babylon. Plagues come in one day along with death, and then the mourning starts. Ultimately the city is burned with fire and turned to ashes, which coincides with the pouring out of the seventh bowl judgment in Revelation 16:19. Three groups mourn the loss of this city; the kings (rulers) of the earth, the merchants, and the mariners.

• Verses 9 and 10 are about earth’s monarchs and presidents mourning over the city’s loss. They helped to sponsor Babylon’s founding and construction. Most of their power was centered in Babylon. Now, these rulers stand afar off, watching its destruction. They wring their hands and recognized that the city just had a holy judgment visitation. The smoke rises to heaven.
• In verse 11, earth’s merchants also stand afar off, crying and mourning their losses because there is no one to buy their products. Their biggest buyer is gone. Verses 12 thru 16 cover everything Babylon will no longer purchase from them, which is quite a list. The merchants grew rich over the sales of the latest fashionable clothing, expensive jewelry of gold and precious gems, high-end furniture of exotic woods and ivory, beautiful oils and perfumes, the latest hi-tech transportation, and enslaved people. These merchants trafficked in every luxury the heart could desire.
• From verses 17 thru 19, all shipping to her shores stopped as they watched the destruction of Babylon. The skies filled with the smoke of her burning buildings. “What city in the world is like this great city?” They cried. Losses increased for those that had traded with Babylon the great. World trade was in ruins! Many mariners saw the smoke and flames from their ships and knew going further was no use. So the world mourned and cast dust on their heads and cried.

But in verse 20, there is cheering and rejoicing over Babylon’s demise! The news of Babylon’s fall prompts praise in heaven. You can hear the phrase, “Praise the Lord!” throughout heaven. 

We see a mighty angel lift a stone (verse 21) similar to a great millstone that could be six feet in diameter and weigh as much as 3,300 pounds! This angel throws it into the sea to symbolize the violence of Babylon’s destruction. There may be some similarity between the millstone cast into the waters and the rock crushing the ten toes of the giant statue in Daniel 2:34, 44, and 45. As the stone sinks quickly beneath the seas, Babylon’s overthrow is likewise quick. Babylon disappears forever.

Still speaking of Babylon’s destruction in verse 22, entertainment ceases inside the city and surrounding area. All the craftsmen and artisans – including tool and die makers, auto mechanics, and machinists are out of business as all production halts in Babylon. No one hears music or laughter again.

Finally, in verse 23, all is dark, no lights shine, marriages cease, and heartbreak inundates (or overwhelms) the land. There is nothing left but dust and ruin.

Verse 24 wraps up Babylon’s destruction by mentioning that the blood of prophets, saints, and all earth’s slain reside there. Babylon was deliberately built to organize, control, and extend the Beast’s policies of godlessness, iniquity, oppression, and persecution. Babylon boasted wildly and arrogantly that she would see no harm. There was an unrealistic presumption about everything in her outlook and language. She was arrogant and stubborn and would not repent of her evil. All this lead to her becoming the final depository of the world’s sins. Thus, “her fall was just.” John Phillips commentary, page 227.

Next, singing breaks out in heaven again. But now, preparations are being made for King Jesus to return to earth with the Church. Is the world ready for this 2nd advent? Are we?

March 14, 2024 Posted by Bill Wyler | Bible, Last Days, Revelation | Bible, Future, GOD, Truth | Leave a comment