Revelation 18 DESCRIPTION OF THE DESTRUCTION OF “B ABYLON THE GREAT ”: RELIGIOUS & COMMERCIAL

In this chapter is described the after-effects of the judgment of “MYSTERY BABYLON ” – the end-time world religio-political and economic system. BABYLON THE GREAT is shown as “fallen, fallen”. Here is presented the sobering picture of how extensive and complete the final Bowls of God’s Wrath judgments will be and the affect this has on business and the economy. It is reminiscent of the description given in the Old Testament of God’s judgment on His wayward people [e.g., Isaiah 24:5-9; Jer. 7:34; 16:9-12; 25:8-10; Hos. 2:11-13 ]. We will see this reaction from two different and diametrically opposed perspectives—that from earth and that from Heaven. The former is the great anguish of those who worshipped the Beast and his image and received the number of his name; 666 [ Rev. 13:17-18 ] and benefited financially from a relationship with BABYLON THE GREAT . The latter is great joy and jubilation from those who worship God and received the mark of His name on their foreheads [ Rev. 22:4 ] and benefit spiritually from a relationship with the LORD God Almighty! They will rejoice in the judgment of God for in it His holiness and justice are vindicated. This chapter can be divided into three parts as follows: • The HEAVENLY SHOUT of Victory (verses 1-8) • The EARTHLY REACTION to Babylon’s fall (verses 9-19 ) • The HEAVENLY REACTION to Babylon’s fall (verses 20-24 )

REV. 18:1
AN ANGEL DESCENDS AND ILLUMINATES THE EARTH WITH HIS GLORY [1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory .]

After John has seen the rise of the anti-Christ and False Prophet, the blessedness of the redeemed, the angels with the last seven BOWLS OF GOD ’S WRATH , the seven awful last judgments poured out and the amazingly attractive woman riding on the back of a scarlet colored beast with seven heads and ten horns; he now sees another angel that comes down out of heaven having glory ( the earth being illuminated 1 by his splendor ) and authority 2 ( power ).

We have already seen how prevalent angels have been in the administration of the judgments of God. In chapter 14 there are six unique angels associated with the pronouncements of God’s impending judgments and in chapters 15 and 16 there are seven angels which are given the seven BOWLS OF GOD ’S WRATH .

Here there is another angel (of the same kind) but this one is distinguished as having great authority —he appears to be higher in rank than most of the other angels. This is further exemplified in the fact that this angel’s presence lights of the earth with his glory.

The appearance of this angel will have a very dramatic effect, especially in regards to the anti-Christ’s kingdom which was plunged into darkness after the 5TH BOWL OF GOD ’S WRATH is poured out { Rev. 16:10 }.

The arrival of this angel will probably make the inhabitants of the earth somewhat anxious – what else is going to happen now?

1 illuminated [5461 photizo (fo-tid'-zo)] to shed rays; to shine or to brighten up (literally or figuratively). 2 authority [1849 exousia (ex-oo-see'-ah)] having privilege or jurisdiction, strength, force, power or capacity; having competency or mastery. Revelation 18 -1- Copyright  2008 K. G. Schiessel REV. 18:2-3
THE SHOUT OF A MIGHTY ANGEL : BABYLON IS FALLEN , FALLEN ! [2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury .]

3 4 So what does this angel do? He shouts or cries out with a mighty voice the fall of ‘BABYLON THE GREAT ’.

• The nations will be made “drunk” by her wine of idolatry. Jer. 25:15-26; 51:5-10 . • The peoples of the world will be seduced and intoxicated by Babylon’s materialism. Rev. 16:8; 17:2 . • Merchants will grow rich from her excessive or arrogant luxuries. See James 5:1-6.

At this point it may be helpful to review what is meant by ‘BABYLON THE GREAT ’. The description of the church at Laodicea provides insight on some of the characteristics of this entity or system, which are: (a) lukewarm to the things of God, (b) wealthy, (c) arrogant and having a self-sufficient attitude but (d) in reality it is wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked {refer to Rev. 3:15-17 }.

‘BABYLON THE GREAT ’ represents the blending of religion, politics and economics on a global scale.

APPLICATION : Christians need to guard against the commercialism of Christianity and repackaging it into a sterile and useless spiritual entity. Within this system the pastor becomes the ‘CEO’ of the congregation, the leaders of the church become the ‘corporation’, the church members serve only as a ‘production line’ and converts are the ‘products’. ‘Church’ becomes an organization whose sole purpose is drive its members to increase productivity.

Verse 2 is an extension of Rev. 14:8 where we have already seen a foretaste of the destruction of the global religio-political and economic system referred to here as ‘BABYLON THE GREAT ’: “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication ”. Now the details of that devastation will be filled in.

Here (as in Rev. 14:8) the words ‘……. fallen, fallen ’ in the Greek grammar [future aorist tense] speaks of coming events as though they have already happened. In other words, the destruction of BABYLON THE GREAT is a “done deal”.

3 shouted [2896 krazo (krad'-zo) ] a primary verb; properly, to "croak" (as the cry of a raven) or scream, i.e. (genitive case) to call aloud (shriek, exclaim, intreat): to cry out aloud or pray for vengeance, to speak with a loud voice. 4 The description here is very similar to that of Jeremiah describing the destruction of ancient Babylon during the time of Daniel. Revelation 18 -2- Copyright  2008 K. G. Schiessel J. Vernon McGee writes in his notes on this passage that the physical location of Babylon the Great will become a place where demons and unclean birds { Lev. 11:13-19; 20:25’ Duet. 14:12- 18 } are incarcerated during the Millennium. These verses seem to indicate that is very possible.

There is also another, figurative, meaning for ‘ unclean bird ’ and that is a reference to (a) the devil (and his demons) who snatch the Word of God away from those who have heard it and (b) those who come in after a ministry has grown prominent and take advantage and exploit that which is holy and good. Jesus gives an example of this in two parables; that of the Sower [where ‘the birds’ are a reference to the ‘wicked one’] and of the Mustard Seed in Matt. 13:4, 19 and 31-32 , respectively.

Note that there will be no nation impervious to the allure of this corrupt religio-political system. All nations will be 'intoxicated' with BABYLON THE GREAT ’S power and unrighteous pleasures. The political leaders are ‘intoxicated’ with the ‘wine of her fornication’; greed and the pleasures of unrighteousness.

There will be an unholy alliance between government [‘kings’] and business [‘merchants’]. The word for ‘merchants’ used here refers to ‘ those who travel ’. It is not a reference to the producers of goods or the manufacturers of products [although they will also be negatively impacted by the destruction of the world’s economic system] but rather to those who are brokers and salesmen who engage in business trade and sales on a global scale. These have heaped up wealth because of the overwhelming abundance of BABYLON THE GREAT ’S luxuries. {Some translations use the word ‘delicacies’}.

It is interesting to note that one of the foremost excuses for having no time for God is; “I don’t have the time—I have business to attend to”!

REV. 18:4-8
HEAVENLY VOICE OF CONDEMNATION UPON BABYLON [4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6 Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. 7 In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, 'I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.' 8 Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges he r.”]

Whereas BABYLON THE GREAT is condemned to destruction, to reap what she has sown, God’s people are here admonished to come out of a lifestyle that is of the world. For the sins of this godless world system has reached into Heaven and God will remember her evil practices.

APPLICATION : This is a common exhortation we see throughout God’s Word: For the people of God to leave separated lives dedicated to Him. The fancy word for this is ‘sanctified’. We are to live our life as set-apart for the use of God. We are to love the LORD God and not this world—MYSTERY BABYLON . If we choose not too, then because we are God’s children we can expect discipline, taken to the ‘wood shed’ where the ‘board of education’ is applied to the ‘seat of learning’. See Heb. 12:1-11 .

Revelation 18 -3- Copyright  2008 K. G. Schiessel This serves as a reminder that Jesus said about His disciples being in the world but not part of it. See for example:

“If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you .” – John 15:19 .

“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world .” – John 17:14 .

“They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world .” – John 17:16 .

In Matthew 16:24-27 Jesus tells us:

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

Also, in the Parable of the Soil and Seed (see e.g., Mark 4:14-20 ), Jesus tells us

“Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

This is an exhortation to a sanctified or set-apart life. Set-apart from the world to God. As Christians we are to make Jesus our life, to be conformed into His image, day by day, moment by moment. The apostle Paul has this in mind when he is inspired by Exodus 39:45; Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 51:45 and Ezekiel 37:27 in writing

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty .” – 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 .

Jesus tells us that one cannot serve two ‘masters’; God and materialism at the same time. One or the other will always be given preference for our affection.

“ No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon .”—Luke 16:13 .

Verse 8 says that God judges ‘Babylon’ and utterly burns her with fire because ‘….. strong is the Lord God who judges her ’. But in Rev. 17:16 we are told that the ten kings that are part of the anti-Christ’s kingdom will hate the prostituted church, make her desolate and burn her with fire. Is this a contradiction of God’s own Word?

Revelation 18 -4- Copyright  2008 K. G. Schiessel Not—absolutely not! For the very next verse, Rev. 17:17 , tells us that it is God who puts this desire in their hearts to fulfill HIS purpose and so judge MYSTERY BABYLON . It will be the Word of God that prevails. So indeed; “ Strong is the Lord God who judges her .”

At first the rulers and leaders of the world will have an intimate relationship with false religious system and benefit from the power to control the people and the financial gain and prestige it brought. But Rev. 17:16-17 tells us that eventually these kings will hate this ‘woman’ with the same passion they had ‘loved’ her and because God is strong, He will use them to judge BABYLON THE GREAT . These ungodly world rulers will actually be made to do the will of God!

There are some who believe this kind of judgment is too harsh and radical. But we need to remember that God is doing this in response to those who have exploited the natural resources He created, for the good of mankind, without regard for the consequences of their greed and arrogance.

In Rev. 11:18 we are told that, “ God will destroy those who destroy the earth .” Here we see the fulfillment of that warning. Not only that, but the destruction of Babylon the Great will constitute a major judgment on ‘big business’ which, as a whole, rejects God’s authority and moral standards.

REV. 18:9-10
THE KINGS OF THE EARTH LAMENT THE DESTRUCTION OF ‘BABYLON ’ [9 “The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come’ .”]

The kings, i.e., politicians, who have enjoyed and indulged in an idolatrous relationship with the world’s materialistic system, will weep and mourn over Babylon’s destruction. They will be afraid 5 of her torment and stand-off (in the distance) and cry and lament over “ the city of power ” whose judgement 6 has come!

Those who have benefited from the wealth and power of the ‘Babylonian’ system will not dare come near her smoldering ruins. The world leaders will be in anguish and grief wailing over Babylon’s demise—in just one hour the destruction occurred.

5 terrified/fear [5401 phobos (fob'-os) ] from a primary phebomai (to be put in fear); alarm or fright: 1) fear, dread, terror; what strikes terror. 6 judgment [2920 krisis (kree'-sis) ] a decision (subjectively or objectively, for or against); by extension, a tribunal; by implication, justice (especially, divine law): accusation, condemnation, damnation, judgment.

Revelation 18 -5- Copyright  2008 K. G. Schiessel REV. 18:11-17a
THE MERCHANTS OF THE EARTH LAMENT THE DESTRUCTION OF ‘BABYLON ’ [11 “And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 12 merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. 14 The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17 For in one hour such great riches came to nothing’ …..”]

Verses 12 and 13 comprise a “grocery list” of items bought, sold or traded by the merchants of the earth as part of the Babylonian socio-economic world system. You can think of these items located inside a large, multi-storied retail store with six floors plus the basement. Starting at the top and riding the ‘elevator’ down we have:

• The SIXTH FLOOR is the jewelry department [“…gold and silver, precious stones and pearls …”]. The FIFTH FLOOR is the clothing department [“…fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet …”]. The FOURTH FLOOR is the furniture/home improvement department [“…every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble …”]. • The THIRD FLOOR is the cosmetic/perfume department [“…cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense …”]. • The SECOND FLOOR is the “food court” [“…wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep …”]. • The FIRST FLOOR is the transportation or automotive department [“…horses and chariots ...”]. • The SEVENTH FLOOR and final department finds room in the BASEMENT [“….. and bodies and souls of men ”]. It represents the trafficking in human beings. It perhaps represents the most disgusting and vile perversions of the Babylonian system – the ‘under belly’ of society so to speak. The merchandising of human bodies and souls is harder to justify so these items tend to be ‘hidden’ from ‘polite society’. But for those seeking cheap, ‘bargain basement’ merchandise, this is the place to come. This is probably talking about both physical and spiritual prostitution including (a) slavery and child prostitution like that which proliferates in Indonesia and other parts of the world as well as (b) the enticement of false religions and cults [‘ spiritual pornography ’].

Note that this list of merchandise covers just about everything of value including the most valuable of all – “ the bodies and souls of men ”. This of course is an obvious reference to human slavery. But I believe it is more than that because men’s souls are involved……..

Revelation 18 -6- Copyright  2008 K. G. Schiessel This ‘ BASEMENT ’ then, contains the most frightfully evil and grossly immoral of all MYSTERY BABYLON system commodities , [“……. bodies and souls of men .”]. This refers to all forms of human slavery affecting both the body and mind. This includes (a) the slave trade, (b) prostitution, (c) homosexuality, (d) pornography, (e) murder for hire, (f) drug trafficking and (g) financial fraud. These are the things that the world as a whole will never repent of, even after six Trumpet Judgments { Revelation 9:20,21 }:

But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders [Gk. “pheno” ] or their sorceries [Gk. “pharmakeia” ] or their sexual immorality [Gk. “porneia” ] or their thefts [ Gk. “klemma” ].

Jesus explains in Matthew 15:17-20 that these things proceed from the desires of an unconverted, non-believing heart.

It was Nimrod who first built an ‘edifice’ to man’s ingenuity, a pyramidal tower or ziggurat , in ancient Babylonia at Babel, the work of which God judged { Genesis 10:8-10; 11:1-9}. It is then interesting to note that one of the attributes of Nimrod was that he was “…a mighty hunter in the face of Jehovah… ”. Besides the literal meaning, this has been interpreted 7 to mean that Nimrod gathered and/or hunted men’s souls and bodies since he was a chief instigator in organizing men in a project that was in direct rebellion against GOD! Thus, Babylon is from the beginning associated in competition with the LORD for people’s allegiance and worship.

How are men’s souls bought and sold? The real battlegrounds are not physical they are emotional, psychological and spiritual. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places .

Finally, the [“… bodies and souls of men .”] could also be a reference to the realm of belief systems which lead to specific attitudes and behaviors, i.e., false religions/Satanic cults. These include the philosophy of Darwinistic evolution and Humanism, New Age philosophy, Hedonism, Communism/Atheism, pagan cults and false religions. To which Christianity stands by itself in stark contrast; as a diamond stands unique amongst a handful of pebbles.

The fruit of the earth’s pleasures, its physical riches 8 and splendor 9 are now vanished – never to be recovered! This present world system, the Stock Market, international communications, goods and services have all come to an end. God has deleted all the “old” files and is getting ready to “reboot” the world system in preparation for the glorious appearing and return of the King of kings and Lord of lords to the earth. Christ Jesus will reign in Jerusalem with a “rod of iron” and justice will prevail.

7 This is the view of Matthew Henry, Josephus and the Jewish Targumists, who unite in regarding Nimrod as the originator of a systematic opposition to the true God. 8 riches [3045 liparos (lip-ar-os') ] from lipos (grease); fat, i.e. (figuratively) things which pertain to a sumptuous and delicate style of living. 9 splendor [2986 lampros (lam-pros') ] radiant, bright, shining, brilliant. Figuratively: magnificent, gorgeous or sumptuous (in appearance; that is, luxurious accommodations or elegance’s in dress or style). From lampas = lamp. Revelation 18 -7- Copyright  2008 K. G. Schiessel Babylon had been glittering 10 (‘ bedecked’ – KJV) with gold but in just one hour this is all gone! Note the other occurrences of the destruction happening “ in one hour ”: Revelation 18:10, 19 .

Many have had trouble believing that such a massive world system to come to such a dramatic end in just one hour, however the events of September 11, 2001 have shown on a small scale that it can happen! Especially if God’s power is behind it. During the dedication ceremonies of the Twin Towers it was said that these two towers would either be a monument to the ingenuity of man or become his tombstones.

The greatness and costliness of the Babylonian system will become man’s ultimate tombstone.

REV. 18:17b-19
THE SEA CAPTAINS OF THE EARTH LAMENT THE DESTRUCTION OF ‘BABYLON ’ [17 “…..Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance 18 and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like this great city?' 19 They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate’.”]

Here we have the reaction of ‘shipmasters’ and sailors to Babylon’s destruction, those who used the seas to transact international business and accumulate wealth.

The maritime system is gone and those that plied their trade on the high seas will also be afraid to come near but stand afar off—there is nothing they can do except weep and wail. It is a pathetic ending to those who have put their trust in the ‘arm of man’ rather than ‘mighty outstretched arm of the LORD’.

REV. 18:20-24
HEAVEN REJOICES OVER BABYLON ’S FALL [20 “Rejoice over her, O Heaven and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!” 21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. 22 The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. 23 The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.” 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth .]

Here is the sad description of the end of this present world religious, economic and political system; Babylon the Great. These words of warning are reminiscent of those that the LORD gave to His people on a local scale through the prophets:

Isaiah 24:5-9; Jer. 7:34; 16:9-12; 25:8-10; Hos. 2:11-13

10 glittering [5558 chrusoo (khroo-so'-o) ] to gild with gold, i.e. bespangle with golden ornaments: to adorn with gold, to gild; used of a woman ornamented with gold so profusely that she seems to be gilded.

Revelation 18 -8- Copyright  2008 K. G. Schiessel

God will perform a spiritual autopsy . In the end, the full extent of the devastation that the world’s evil religio-political and economic system [BABYLON THE GREAT ] has wrought is revealed. The corrupt and perverse world system will be held accountable for the blood of all those who where killed or slaughtered because of their faith and testimony to the One True God.

Bibliography (1) New Unger's Bible Dictionary , Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright © 1988 . (2) Thru the Bible With J. Vernon McGee, 1 Corinthians-Revelation, Vol.5; The Book of Revelation , J. Vernon McGee, pp. 876-1080, copyright © 1982 (3) The Apocalypse: Exposition of the Book of Revelation , by Joseph A Seiss, Copyright © 1998. (4) Bible Knowledge Commentary/New Testament , Cook Communications Ministries; Copyright © 1983, 2000 . (5) Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary , Thomas Nelson Publishers, Copyright © 1986 . (6) Jon Courson’s Application Commentary , New Testament, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tenn., Copyright © 2003 .

Revelation 18 -9- Copyright  2008 K. G. Schiessel