Apocalipsis 18

La caída de Babilonia

1 Después de esto vi a otro ángel que bajaba del cielo. Tenía mucho poder, y la tierra se iluminó con su resplandor.

2 Gritó a gran voz:«¡Ha caído! ¡Ha caído la gran Babilonia!Se ha convertido en morada de demoniosy en guarida de todo espíritu maligno,en nido de toda ave impura y detestable.

3 Porque todas las naciones han bebidoel excitante vino de su adulterio;los reyes de la tierra cometieron adulterio con ella,y los comerciantes de la tierra se enriquecierona costa de lo que ella despilfarraba en sus lujos».

4 Luego oí otra voz del cielo que decía:«Salgan de ella, pueblo mío,para que no sean cómplices de sus pecados,ni los alcance ninguna de sus plagas;

5 pues sus pecados se han amontonado hasta el cielo,y de sus injusticias se ha acordado Dios.

6 Páguenle con la misma moneda;denle el doble de lo que ha cometido,y en la misma copa en que ella preparó bebidamézclenle una doble porción.

7 En la medida en que ella se entregóa la vanagloria y al arrogante lujodenle tormento y aflicción;porque en su corazón se jacta:“Estoy sentada como reina;no soy viuda ni sufriré jamás”.

8 Por eso, en un solo día le sobrevendrán sus plagas:pestilencia, aflicción y hambre.Será consumida por el fuego,porque poderoso es el Señor Dios que la juzga».

9 Cuando los reyes de la tierra que cometieron adulterio con ella y compartieron su lujo vean el humo del fuego que la consume, llorarán de dolor por ella.

10 Aterrorizados al ver semejante castigo, se mantendrán a distancia y gritarán:«¡Ay! ¡Ay de ti, la gran ciudad,Babilonia, ciudad poderosa,porque en una sola hora ha llegado tu juicio!»

11 Los comerciantes de la tierra llorarán y harán duelo por ella, porque ya no habrá quien les compre sus mercaderías:

12 artículos de oro, plata, piedras preciosas y perlas; lino fino, púrpura, telas de seda y escarlata; toda clase de maderas de cedro; los más variados objetos, hechos de marfil, de madera preciosa, de bronce, de hierro y de mármol;

13 cargamentos de canela y especias aromáticas; de incienso, mirra y perfumes; de vino y aceite; de harina refinada y trigo; de ganado vacuno y de corderos; de caballos y carruajes; y hasta de seres humanos, vendidos como esclavos.

14 Y dirán: «Se ha apartado de ti el fruto que con toda el alma codiciabas. Has perdido todas tus cosas suntuosas y espléndidas, y nunca las recuperarás».

15 Los comerciantes que vendían estas mercaderías y se habían enriquecido a costa de ella se mantendrán a distancia, aterrorizados al ver semejante castigo. Llorarán y harán lamentación:

16 «¡Ay! ¡Ay de la gran ciudad,vestida de lino fino, de púrpura y escarlata,y adornada con oro, piedras preciosas y perlas,

17 porque en una sola hora ha quedado destruida toda tu riqueza!»Todos los capitanes de barco, los pasajeros, los marineros y todos los que viven del mar se detendrán a lo lejos.

18 Al ver el humo del fuego que la consume, exclamarán: «¿Hubo jamás alguna ciudad como esta gran ciudad?»

19 Harán duelo,^[a] llorando y lamentándose a gritos:«¡Ay! ¡Ay de la gran ciudad,con cuya opulencia se enriquecierontodos los dueños de flotas navieras!¡En una sola hora ha quedado destruida!

20 ¡Alégrate, oh cielo, por lo que le ha sucedido!¡Alégrense también ustedes,santos, apóstoles y profetas!,porque Dios, al juzgarla,les ha hecho justicia a ustedes».

21 Entonces un ángel poderoso levantó una piedra del tamaño de una gran rueda de molino, y la arrojó al mar diciendo:«Así también tú, Babilonia, gran ciudad,serás derribada con la misma violencia,y desaparecerás de la faz de la tierra.

22 Jamás volverá a oírse en tila música de los cantantesy de arpas, flautas y trompetas.Jamás volverá a hallarse en tiningún tipo de artesano.Jamás volverá a oírse en tiel ruido de la rueda de molino.

23 Jamás volverá a brillar en tila luz de ninguna lámpara.Jamás volverá a sentirse en tiel regocijo de las nupcias.^[b]Porque tus comercianteseran los magnates del mundo,porque con tus hechiceríasengañaste a todas las naciones,

24 porque en ti se halló sangre de profetas y de santos,y de todos los que han sido asesinados en la tierra».

Apocalipsis 18 Commentary

Chapter 18

Another angel from heaven proclaims the fall of mystical Babylon. (1-3) A voice from heaven admonishes the people of God, lest they partake of her plagues. (4-8) The lamentations over her. (9-19) The church called upon to rejoice in her utter ruin. (20-24)

Verses 1-8 The downfal and destruction of the mystical Babylon are determined in the counsels of God. Another angel comes from heaven. This seems to be Christ himself, coming to destroy his enemies, and to shed abroad the light of his gospel through all nations. The wickedness of this Babylon was very great; she had forsaken the true God, and set up idols, and had drawn all sorts of men into spiritual adultery, and by her wealth and luxury kept them in her interest. The spiritual merchandise, by which multitudes have wickedly lived in wealth, by the sins and follies of mankind, seems principally intended. Fair warning is given to all that expect mercy from God, that they should not only come out of this Babylon, but assist in her destruction. God may have a people even in Babylon. But God's people shall be called out of Babylon, and called effectually, while those that partake with wicked men in their sins, must receive of their plagues.

Verses 9-19 The mourners had shared Babylon's sensual pleasures, and gained by her wealth and trade. The kings of the earth, whom she flattered into idolatry, allowing them to be tyrannical over their subjects, while obedient to her; and the merchants, those who trafficked for her indulgences, pardons, and honours; these mourn. Babylon's friends partook her sinful pleasures and profits, but are not willing to share her plagues. The spirit of antichrist is a worldly spirit, and that sorrow is a mere worldly sorrow; they do not lament for the anger of God, but for the loss of outward comforts. The magnificence and riches of the ungodly will avail them nothing, but will render the vengeance harder to be borne. The spiritual merchandise is here alluded to, when not only slaves, but the souls of men, are mentioned as articles of commerce, to the destroying the souls of millions. Nor has this been peculiar to the Roman antichrist, and only her guilt. But let prosperous traders learn, with all their gains, to get the unsearchable riches of Christ; otherwise; even in this life, they may have to mourn that riches make to themselves wings and fly away, and that all the fruits their souls lusted after, are departed from them. Death, at any rate, will soon end their commerce, and all the riches of the ungodly will be exchanged, not only for the coffin and the worm, but for the fire that cannot be quenched.

Verses 20-24 That which is matter of rejoicing to the servants of God on earth, is matter of rejoicing to the angels in heaven. The apostles, who are honoured and daily worshipped at Rome in an idolatrous manner, will rejoice in her fall. The fall of Babylon was an act of God's justice. And because it was a final ruin, this enemy should never molest them any more; of this they were assured by a sign. Let us take warning from the things which brought others to destruction, and let us set our affections on things above, when we consider the changeable nature of earthly things.

Footnotes

• [a]. "Harán duelo" . Lit. "Se echaron polvo en la cabeza" .
• [b]. "el regocijo de las nupcias" . Lit. "la voz del novio y de la novia" .

Chapter Summary

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.