Revelation 18
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CHAPTER 18
The Fall of Babylon (18:1-24)
1-2 Next John received a vision of the fall of a great city, which he describes in this chapter. In John’s mind, the great city was Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire, which is called Babylon the Great in the vision (see Revelation 14:8; 17:5 and comments). However, the great city described here represents not only Rome but also every civilization of evil, worldly men right up to this present time. Just as God brought about the destruction of ancient Rome in the 5th century A.D., so God will bring about the destruction of the world at His appointed time.
For us, therefore, John is describing in this chapter two things. First, he is describing the fall of the historic city of ancient Rome. Second, he is describing the future fall of all evil cities and kingdoms and powers in the world. 41 One day, God will destroy them all.
Then John, in his vision, heard an angel shout: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!” (Isaiah 21:9; Revelation 14:8). The city—the highest and greatest work of worldly men—had become a home for demons (Isaiah 13:19-22).
3 The kings of all the surrounding nations had allied themselves with the city (”Babylon”) and thus shared in its evil. The nations had drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings had committed adultery with her; that is, they had turned from the true God and had joined together with Babylon, the great prostitute (see Revelation 17:1-2 and comment). The merchants of the earth had traded with the city, and from this trade they had grown rich.
4-5 Then a voice from heaven said, “Come out of her, my people”. Let all those who belong to God refuse to take part in the evils of Babylon; let them come out of the city (see Isaiah 52:11; Jeremiah 51:45; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 and comment). Those who share in the sins of Babylon will also receive her plagues.
6-8 Then the voice from heaven said: “Give back to her as she has given” (verse 6). It’s possible that this voice was speaking to the beast and its ten kings, who had been appointed to destroy Babylon, the great prostitute (Revelation 17:12,16). God will pay back evil men according to what they have done (Psalm 62:12; Jeremiah 50:29; Romans 2:5-6). Babylon had exalted herself and had puffed herself up with pride. She boasted in her heart, “I sit as queen” (Isaiah 47:8-9). But she will be brought low (Proverbs 29:23; Matthew 23:12). Her plagues—death, mourning and famine—will come upon her (verse 8). She will be destroyed by fire (Luke 17:28-30).
9-10 The kings of the earth who shared in Babylon’s reign will mourn at her fall, because they know that now their own reigns will come to an end (Ezekiel 26:15-18).
11-13 The merchants of the earth will also mourn over Babylon’s fall. Their trade with Babylon had been great. The rich and powerful people of Babylon craved all kinds of luxuries.42 Thus, supplying Babylon with these luxuries had been very profitable for the merchants.
Among all the goods the merchants brought to Babylon, the last to be mentioned here are the bodies and souls of men—that is, slaves 43 (verse 13). The slave trade not only involves selling men’s bodies; it also involves selling their souls.
14-16 The merchants will mourn, because their opportunity to get rich by trading with Babylon will be lost forever. Indeed, along with the destruction of Babylon’s wealth, their own wealth will be destroyed too (Ezekiel 27:1-4,12-24).
17-19 All who earn their living by the sea will also mourn, because they had earned much income by transporting goods to Babylon (Ezekiel 27:25-26).
20 All non-believing men of the world will weep at the fall of Babylon, but believers in Christ—saints and apostles and prophets—will rejoice. The martyrs mentioned in Revelation 6:9-10 will also rejoice, because their blood has now been avenged.
21-24 Then John saw a mighty angel throw a boulder the size of a large millstone into the sea (verse 21). In the same way that boulder disappeared into the sea, so will the wealth, power, and splendor of Babylon disappear also (Jeremiah 51:6364).
By [Babylon’s] magic spell all the nations were led astray (verse 23). These nations were bewitched by Babylon’s great wealth and power. They had believed that Babylon would never fall.
Just as Babylon (or Rome) had destroyed the bodies of Christ’s prophets and saints, so God will destroy Babylon (Isaiah 13:122).