Revelation 18:4-7

Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment

4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “ ‘Come out of her, my people,’[a]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. Pour her a double portion from her own cup.
7 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;[b]I will never mourn.’

Revelation 18:4-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 18

This chapter gives an account of the fall of Babylon, and of the lamentation of many, and of the joy of others, by reason of it; which account is published by several angels: the first that declares her fall is described by his original, descending from heaven; by the great power he had; by his resplendent glory, and by his mighty cry in publishing her destruction; which is illustrated by the desolate condition she will be in upon her fall; the reasons of which are given, became the nations and kings of the earth had committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth were enriched by her luxury, Re 18:1-3. Another voice is heard from heaven, calling upon the people of God, first to come out of her, lest partaking of her sins they should share in her plagues, seeing her iniquities had reached to heaven, and were remembered before God; and next to take full vengeance on her, because she had glorified herself, lived deliciously, and in great security, Re 18:4-7. And then follows a continuation of the account of her destruction, what her plagues would be, death, mourning, famine, and fire; and which would be sudden, in one hour, and certain, from the power and justice of God, Re 18:8. Next follow the lamentations of the kings, merchants, and masters of ships, because of her greatness, riches, and merchandise, which are all come to nothing, Re 18:9-19. And then the church; the saints, apostles, and prophets, are called upon to rejoice at the vengeance taken on her, Re 18:20 upon which a mighty angel appears, who by an action signifies the manner of her destruction, and the irrecoverableness of her state and condition, Re 18:21 and declares her utter ruin, by affirming that nothing that was either delightful or profitable, or necessary or comfortable, should any more be found in her; giving the reasons of it, because of her luxury, idolatry, and bloodshed, Re 18:22-24.

Cross References 9

  • 1. Isaiah 48:20; Jeremiah 50:8; Jeremiah 51:6,9,45; 2 Corinthians 6:17
  • 2. Genesis 19:15
  • 3. 2 Chronicles 28:9; Ezra 9:6; Jeremiah 51:9
  • 4. Revelation 16:19
  • 5. Psalms 137:8; Jeremiah 50:15,29
  • 6. Isaiah 40:2
  • 7. Revelation 14:10; Revelation 16:19; Revelation 17:4
  • 8. Ezekiel 28:2-8
  • 9. Psalms 10:6; Isaiah 47:7,8; Zephaniah 2:15

Footnotes 2

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