Prophecy · Chapter 18 of 22

Revelation 18

An angel with great glory announces that Babylon the great is fallen, become a haunt of devils. A voice calls God's people to come out of her and share not her sins or plagues. Kings, merchants, and sailors who grew rich through her weep from afar as her luxury is destroyed in one hour. Heaven is called to rejoice, for in her was found the blood of prophets and saints.

What happens in Revelation 18

Another angel descends in great glory, crying that Babylon the great is fallen, become a haunt of devils. All nations drank her wine, and merchants grew rich by her luxury. Another voice from heaven calls, Come out of her, my people, that you share not her sins or receive her plagues, for her iniquities have reached heaven. She is repaid double, for she boasted that she sits a queen and will see no sorrow. Therefore her plagues come in one day, and she is burned with fire.

The kings of the earth bewail her from afar. The merchants weep because no one buys their goods, a long list of luxuries ending with the souls of men. Sailors cry over the smoke of her burning. But heaven, apostles, and prophets are told to rejoice, for God has avenged them. A mighty angel casts a great millstone into the sea, showing how violently Babylon will fall, silenced forever.

Revelation 18 in context

This chapter is a dramatic lament and celebration over the fall of Babylon announced in chapter 17. Its style echoes the prophets' oracles against Tyre and Babylon in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. For readers under Rome, whose commerce and cruelty enriched the few and crushed the faithful, it promised that the whole system of luxury built on injustice would one day collapse in a single hour.

Main themes of Revelation 18

Revelation 18 (KJV)

1And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 4And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 6Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. 7How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 8Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. 9And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 10Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. 11And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 12The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, 13And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. 14And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. 15The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! 17For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, 18And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! 19And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. 20Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. 21And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. 22And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; 23And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. 24And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Verses to carry from Revelation 18

“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”Revelation 18:4

“And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.”Revelation 18:13

“Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.”Revelation 18:20

Reflection

Babylon boasted, I sit a queen and shall see no sorrow, yet fell in one hour. Where might you be trusting a security that God calls fragile? The command Come out of her still stands. Consider one way your loyalty to Christ should set you apart from a system that profits at the cost of souls.

A prayer from Revelation 18