Bible Commentaries
Revelation 18

Verses 1-24

The vision of the destruction of Babylon as directly resulting from the government of God is now given. It is announced, "Fallen is Babylon." Her condition is described as that of a habitation of demons, the prison of unclean spirits. Nations, kings, and merchants who have lived and ruled and traded on the principles of Babylon are involved in her fallen condition. A remnant is called out from Babylon before the destruction comes. The angel pronounces a retributive sentence, "As she rendered . . . according to her works."

The fall of the city produces entirely opposite effects on earth and in heaven. The earth is plunged into mourning. The heavenly and spiritual world rejoices. From the beginning, Babylon had been in opposition to heaven. It had lived under the impulse of things seen, while denying the unseen things. At last it is overthrown, and there is rejoicing of the righteous.

A symbolic act follows, the casting of a great millstone into the sea by an angel. The result is that Babylon "shall be found no more." The overthrow is to be absolute, irrevocable. The reason for this is stated as threefold, first, "Thy merchants were the princes of the earth"; second, 'With thy sorceries were all the nations deceived"; finally, "In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that have been slain upon the earth."