Revelation 18:23

the voice of bridegroom and bride
The voice of bridegroom and bride attends normalcy and stability (Mtt. Mat. 24:38). There would be nothing approaching normalcy nor any future for Babylon.

shall not shine, shall not be heard
In each of these phrases, the double negative, οὐ μὴ [ou mē] , appears emphasizing the permanence of the declarations.

your merchants were the great men of the earth
See commentary on Revelation 18:3.

for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived
Sorcery is φαρμακείᾳ [pharmakeia] . This term describes “sorcery, magic, . . . magic arts”¹ and includes “the use of drugs of any kind for magical effect.”² Isaiah lists her sorceries: enchantments, astrology, star-gazing, and monthly prognostication (Isa. Isa. 47:12-13).³ It is because of the multitude of her sorceries that her destruction has come (Isa. Isa. 47:9 cf. Nineveh, Nah. Nah. 3:3).⁴ Her magical arts were employed in the deception of the nations at the direction of the master deceiver, Satan (Rev. Rev. 12:9+). He empowered the beast upon which she rode (Rev. Rev. 13:2+; Rev. Rev. 17:3+). The city is like Jezebel: having known “the depths of Satan” (Rev. Rev. 2:24+ cf. 2K. 2K. 9:22).⁵ Those who practice sorcery “have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone” (Rev. Rev. 21:8+) and never enter the New Jerusalem (Rev. Rev. 22:15+).⁶ See commentary on Revelation 9:21.

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Notes

¹ Frederick William Danker and Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 854.

² Timothy Friberg, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller, Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 397.

³ Several of which are available at most supermarket checkout stands in our own country.

⁴ “We can be certain that, in the wicked and terrifying days of the tribulation, ungodly men will turn to intoxicants and drugs far more than ever in history. . . . The great demand for intoxicants and drugs in these coming days will surely be further stimulated by the ungodly and covetous merchants who profit so greatly from them.”—Henry Morris, The Revelation Record (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1983), Rev. 18:13.

⁵ This is one of many reasons why Satan will be confined during the Millennial Kingdom, so that he shall no longer deceive the nations (Rev. Rev. 20:3+).

⁶ Concerning prohibitions against witchcraft and sorcery: Ex. Ex. 22:18; Lev. Lev. 19:26, Lev. 19:31; Deu. Deu. 18:10; 2Chr. 2Chr. 33:6; Isa. Isa. 8:19; Isa. 19:3; Isa. 44:25; Acts Acts 16:16; Gal. Gal. 5:20; Rev. Rev. 18:23+; Rev. 21:8+; Rev. 22:15+.