Another angel comes now with a strong proclamation: "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’" Verses 2-3 describe why she is fallen. Babylon is the home for every impurity, every immorality, and excessive wealth. "Here Babylon’s fall is announced as if it had already occurred; so certain is its fall. Let this serve as a warning for all! The utter desolation of Babylon is vividly described when it is said that even the unclean spirits and the unclean and hated birds consider it a prison (cf. Is. 13: 20 ff.; Je. 50: 39, 45; 51: 37, 42; Zp. 2: 14)." [1]
“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; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.” (Revelation 18:4–5, NIV)
Such address to Christians is unexpected here. So this again is a reminder that this foretelling of doom and the calling out of God's people is not strictly future but indeed encompasses all the Last Days. "God’s people in every generation, however, must be careful not to compromise with secular civilization. The apostle Paul put the warning this way: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Cor. 6:14)." [2]
"In perfect equity, God will pay (Babylon) back as she herself has paid back (see Ex. 21:23–25). The double portion (see Isa. 40:2; Jer. 16:18) from her own cup is the just retribution that duplicates the violence she inflicted on the saints, whose blood she wantonly shed (Rev. 19:2)." [3] “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 18:8, NIV)
Everyone who has loved and fully participated in Babylon's pleasure and profits will mourn for her. "Their cry, “What city was like the great city?” no longer ascribes incomparable excellence (13:4) but mourns incomparable destruction (Ezek. 27:32)." [4] "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. [5]
Notice the fact that the phrase ‘no more at "all’ (verses 21– 23) occurs six times. Observe also the climax in the arrangement of the six: ‘No more at all’ shall Babylon be found. The city as such is gone." [6] “In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people, of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”” (Revelation 18:24, NIV). God will avenge the blood of those who have been martyred by this wicked system.
This chapter shows us clearly that "when God destroys the final product of civilization, a great wicked city, its commerce, religion, and culture will vanish forever because it enticed people away from true religion and holiness and into false religion and impurity." [7] "Babylon is not just one Satanic nation but a corporate, depraved worldwide system spanning the ages from the cross to the final parousia [coming of the Lord]." [8]
Father, this world and the things of this world will be destroyed. Father, by Your Spirit help us who know Your love and Your mercy to use this world for your glory and not love this world. Anyone who loves the world does not have Your love in them. You alone in Christ are what is valuable. You alone are our great treasure. You alone bring joy unspeakable and full of glory. You are God. You are God alone.
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1. Hendriksen, William (1998-06-01). More Than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (pp. 173-174). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
2. Easley, K. H. (1998). Vol. 12: Revelation. Holman New Testament Commentary (328). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
3. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2488). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
4. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2489). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
5. The New International Version. 2011 (Re 18:21). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
6. Hendriksen, William (1998-06-01). More Than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 177). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
7. Easley, K. H. (1998). Vol. 12: Revelation. Holman New Testament Commentary (337). Nashville,
8. Beale, G. K. (1999). The book of Revelation: A commentary on the Greek text. New International Greek Testament Commentary (924). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.
TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
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