Revelation 18 Study Notes
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18:4 The insight into the dark demonic “heart” of Babylon the Great (v. 2) causes the Lord (another voice from heaven) to command his people to come out of Babylon or be caught up in his judgment for her sins. A few interpreters understand the rapture of the church to take place at this point.
18:5-8 Babylon the Great was remembered in the presence of God (16:19). Her sins and crimes are piled up to heaven like a growing refuse heap, the stench of which finally became unbearable. God will pay . . . back (Rm 12:19) Babylon for her works in full measure and more so. Babylon may arrogantly sit as a queen, with a false sense of security, but the judgment for her manifold sins, including self-glorification and lavish living, is certain and will be strong and swift.
18:9-10 The words woe, woe may indicate that the destruction of Babylon is the focus of the third woe predicted in 8:13. This was supposed to come upon the “earth dwellers” suggesting one of the following. (1) The “earth dwellers” and Babylon the Great are the same entity. (2) As a result of their stubborn lack of repentance before the Lord (9:20-21), the “earth dwellers” are eventually merged into the Babylonian world system.
18:11-14 The merchants of the earth grew wealthy (v. 3) from their relationship with Babylon the Great. They weep and mourn at her demise because of their loss of business. The inventory of about thirty items of cargo is similar to the list in Ezk 27. All these splendid and glamorous things will disappear.
18:15-16 The merchants do not come to Babylon’s aid but stand far off to protect themselves. They are only self-interested.
18:17-19 The next group to lament the loss of Babylon the Great are those heavily invested in maritime commerce. Their weeping and mourning grows out of the fact that they had become rich through her trade. On woe, woe, see note at vv. 9-10.
planao
| Greek pronunciation | [plah NAH oh] |
| CSB translation | deceive |
| Uses in Revelation | 8 |
| Uses in the NT | 39 |
| Focus passage | Revelation 18:23 |
Planao means to wander about (Heb 11:38). This connotation of wandering can be seen in the related noun planetes (wanderer). By figurative extension, planao could also mean to go astray (Mt 18:12-13; Heb 3:10; 5:2; Jms 5:19) or to be mistaken, deceived, or misled (Mt 22:29 = Mk 12:24; Jn 7:12,47; 1Co 6:9; Gl 6:7; 2Tm 3:13; Jms 1:16; 1Jn 1:8; 2:26; 3:7). Planao may also mean to deceive someone (Mt 24:4-5 = Mk 13:5-6; Jn 7:12) and this is how the word tends to function in Revelation, where John warns about the deceivers “Jezebel”(2:20), the false prophet (13:14; 19:20), Babylon (18:23), and Satan—the archdeceiver (12:9; 20:3,8,10).
18:20 In stark contrast to the self-centered mourning of the sinful accomplices (v. 3) of Babylon the Great (vv. 9-19), the martyrs in heaven (saints, apostles, and prophets) are urged to rejoice because God has judged Babylon, largely because of their shed blood. Among the martyrs by this time were the apostles James (Ac 12:2) as well as Paul and Peter according to credible extrabiblical tradition.
18:21 On mighty angel, see note at 10:1. A large millstone could weigh several tons.
18:22-23 Throughout Scripture, beautiful aspects of life (e.g., the voice of a groom and bride) and culture (e.g., the sound of . . . musicians, craftsmen of every trade) have either been used in praise of God (Ps 150:3-5) or in arrogant rebellion against him (Gn 4:21-22). After the judgment of Babylon the Great, such perversion of God’s intention for beauty will never happen again. The lack of repentance of the “earth dwellers” during the trumpet judgments (9:21) was caused by the deceptive sorcery of Babylon the Great.
18:24 What is seen in Revelation is the end-time manifestation of Babylon the Great since she is held guilty of the blood of not just prophets and saints, but all martyrs slaughtered on the earth throughout history.