Bible Commentaries
Revelation 18

Introduction

REVELATION 17-18

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (from "A Guide to Good Bible Reading")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired but it is the key to following the original author's intent which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph

2. Second paragraph

3. Third paragraph

4. Etc.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS TO Revelation 17:1-24

A. These two chapters describe in detail the destruction of Babylon whose fall was mentioned earlier in Revelation 14:8 and Revelation 16:19, as well as Revelation 18:2, Revelation 18:21. Each of these occurs in a separate literary unit (12-14), (15-16), and (17-19). This could be another example of parallelism or recapitulation.

B. The Old Testament background of these two chapters is found in the funeral dirges written to applaud the fall of ancient godless cities:

1. Babylon (cf. Isaiah 13:14, Isaiah 13:21 and Jer. 50-51)

2. Tyre (cf. Isaiah 23:0 and Ezekiel 26-28)

3. Nineveh (cf. Nahum)

4. wicked Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 1:1-26; Ezekiel 16:51-52)

C. This concept of a fallen world system that is antagonistic to God is presented in Psalms 2:0, Daniel 2:0; Daniel 7:0; Daniel 9:24-27; Matthew 24:0: Mark 13:0; Luke 21:0; and 1 John 2:15-20.

D. Revelation uses OT funeral dirges to describe the fall of Rome, the anti-God world empire of Johns' day. However, this same independent, arrogant, materialistic, anti-God world system is present in every age (cf. 1 John 2:18). It will also ultimately manifest itself as an end-time ruler and world empire (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:0). The details that will help John's last generation readers identify the end-time Antichrist may reappear in the last days. The problem has been that every generation of believers has tried to force Revelation into its day!

This book has first-century relevance, every-century relevance, and last-century relevance. It is best not to push the details. They had meaning (first hearers); they will have meaning again (the last generation). But for the great majority of the generations of believers, they are mysteries. It is much better to assert the central truths of the seven literary units. These are eternally relevant! If the details become strictly literal for the last generations of persecuted believers they will not need a commentator to tell them!

E. William Hendriksen, More Than Conquerors, asserts the parallelism of all seven sections of Revelation (see note C. p. 10). In so doing he asserts the parallel of the fall of believers' enemies (Satan; two beasts; and Babylon, anti-God, anti-Christ world system). Although their destruction is dealt with separately (Satan, Revelation 20:7-10; the two beasts, Revelation 19:17-21; and Babylon, Revelation 18:1-4), they are really simultaneous, just like the seals, trumpets, and bowls.

In many ways this is an attractive interpretive structure that extends the obvious parallelism of the seals (Rev. 4-7), trumpets (Rev. 8-11), and bowls (Rev. 15-16) to Rev. 17-19 and Rev. 20-22.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.

1. Are Revelation 17:0 and 18 a literary unit? If so, why?

2. Why is it so difficult to interpret when Babylon fell?

3. Who does Babylon, the great whore, refer to in John's day? In our day? In the end-time?

4. What is the immorality and wine referred to in Revelation 14:8; Revelation 17:2; Revelation 18:3 in connection with this world system?

5. Please explain your interpretation of Revelation 17:10-11.

6. From what OT book are most of John's allusions taken?

Verses 1-3

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Revelation 18:1-3 1After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory. 2And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. 3"For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committedacts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality."

Revelation 18:1 "I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory" This was a tremendously powerful angel. The term "authority" (exousia) is not used for any other angel in the book. In John 5:27, it is used of God's authority given to Jesus. In Revelation 22:16 Jesus says He sent an angel to speak for Him as a representative.

Revelation 18:2 "'Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!'" This is one example of the difficulty in interpreting the book of the Revelation. A piece of information is brought in at one point in the vision, partially developed at another point, and fully developed in yet another vision (e.g., cf. Revelation 11:8; Revelation 14:8; and Revelation 16:19-20 or this may be another example of recapitulation between the seven literary units). This is an allusion to Isaiah 21:9 and/or Jeremiah 51:8.

▣ "She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird" This is an allusion to the ruins of ancient cities:

1. Babylon (cf. Isaiah 13:21-22; Isaiah 14:23; Jeremiah 50:39; Jeremiah 51:37)

2. Edom (cf. Isaiah 34:10-15)

3. Nineveh (cf. Zephaniah 2:14)

In the OT animals are often said to roam about in ruined cities. This is a symbol of both destruction and the presence of evil spirits (cf. NEB). Many of these birds represented demons.

John's writing is very fluid. This verse describes the city as desolate and indwelt with the demonic, while Revelation 19:3 describes it as burnt and smoldering.

Revelation 18:3 "all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality" This phrase is an allusion to the OT prophecy of the destruction of Babylon (cf. Jeremiah 51:7). Jeremiah specifically uses drunkenness (i.e., "a golden cup") as a symbol of lust for wealth.

▣ "passion" This is literally "anger" (thumos). See full note at Revelation 7:14.

▣ "the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality" This is an allusion to the major problem of fallen mankind embodied in the self-centeredness and materialism of an end-time, anti-God world system. There are three groups of humans who mourn the fall of the great whore:

1. businessmen (cf. Revelation 18:3, Revelation 18:11-16)

2. kings of the earth (cf. Revelation 18:3, Revelation 18:9-10)

3. merchant sailors (cf. Revelation 18:3, Revelation 18:17-19)

These three represent worldwide human economic systems.

Verses 4-8

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Revelation 18:4-8 4I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; 5for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her. 7To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, 'I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.' 8For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong."

Revelation 18:4 "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues" This is an OT allusion to Isaiah 48:20; Isaiah 52:11; Jeremiah 50:8, Jeremiah 50:28; Jeremiah 51:6, Jeremiah 51:9, Jeremiah 51:45 or Zechariah 2:6-7. It is an aorist active imperative which speaks of the urgency of God's people not being caught up in this fallen world system.

Revelation 18:5 "for her sins are piled up as high as heaven" This is an allusion to Genesis 18:20-21 or Jeremiah 51:9. God's patience was used as an excuse to sin more instead of repenting (cf. Revelation 2:21; Romans 2:4).

▣ "God has remembered" Often in the Bible, when God remembers the acts of the wicked it results in judgment (cf. Revelation 16:19; Psalms 79:8; Isaiah 64:9; Jeremiah 14:10; Jeremiah 17:1-4; Jeremiah 44:21-23; Hosea 7:2; Hosea 8:13; Hosea 9:9; Amos 8:7).

Revelation 18:6 "Pay her back even as she has paid" This is an allusion to the truth that we reap what we sow (cf. Galatians 6:7; for full list see www.freecommentary.org). This truth is presented in many different forms in the Bible (cf. Psalms 137:8; Jeremiah 50:15, Jeremiah 50:29; Matthew 7:2; Revelation 13:10).

▣ "give back to her double according to her deeds" This is an allusion to Jeremiah 16:18 and Revelation 17:18, but the truth is expressed in many contexts (cf. Exodus 22:4-9; Psalms 75:7-8; Isaiah 40:2). This idiom speaks of complete and full judgment, as does the next phrase. This verse would have been very encouraging to persecuted Christians.

▣ "the cup which she has mixed, mix twice for her" "Cup" is an OT metaphor for the judgment of God (cf. Psalms 11:6; Psalms 60:3; Psalms 75:6-8; Isaiah 51:17, Isaiah 51:22; Jeremiah 25:15-16, Jeremiah 25:27-28).

Revelation 18:7 "for she says in her heart 'I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning'" This specifically relates to Zephaniah 2:15 and Isaiah 47:7-8. It alludes to the self-sufficiency and pride, which may have been the source of Satan's fall (possibly alluded to in Isaiah 14:0 and Ezekiel 28:0), mankind's fall (cf. Genesis 3:0), and this end-time world system. The problem is arrogant independence!

For "heart" see Special Topic at Revelation 2:23.

Revelation 18:8 "for this reason in one day her plagues will come" This is a specific allusion to Isaiah 47:9. The concept of grief overtaking her in a single day is repeated in Revelation 18:17-19, where the Johannine term "hour" is used. This was a major encouragement to persecuted Christians.

▣ "she will be burned up with fire" This may be an allusion to Leviticus 21:9. See SPECIAL TOPIC: FIRE at Revelation 16:8.

▣ "for the Lord God who judges her is strong" This is an allusion to Jeremiah 50:34.

Verses 9-10

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Revelation 18:9-10 9"And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning, 10standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.'"

Revelation 18:9-10 "the kings of the earth" These must be different from the kings mentioned in Revelation 17:12, Revelation 17:16, who participated in the destruction and fall of the great whore. These kings were apparently merchant nations who benefitted from commercial trade with the anti-God world system. This is an allusion to the powerful commercial city of Tyre and its prideful king in Ezekiel 26-28. The remainder of chapter 18 deals with the intoxicating commercial power associated with all fallen world systems.

Verses 11-20

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Revelation 18:11-20 11"And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more 12cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble, 13and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives. 14The fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and men will no longer find them. 15The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, 16saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls; 17for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!' And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood at a distance, 18and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What city is like the great city?' 19And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!' 20Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her."

Revelation 18:11-19 "the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her" This is similar to Ezekiel 27:0:

Revelation 18:1. Revelation 18:11 Ezekiel 27:31, Ezekiel 27:36

Revelation 18:2. Revelation 18:12-13 Ezekiel 27:12, Ezekiel 27:13, Ezekiel 27:22

Revelation 18:3. Revelation 18:15 Ezekiel 27:31, Ezekiel 27:36

Revelation 18:4. Revelation 18:17 Ezekiel 27:26-30

Revelation 18:5. Revelation 18:18 Ezekiel 27:32

6. Revelation 18:19 Ezekiel 27:30-34

It describes international trade:

1. silver from Spain

2. fine linen from Egypt

3. silk from China

4. citron wood from North Africa

5. ivory from Africa

6. iron from Spain or the Black Sea

7. cinnamon from India

8. the universal practice of slave trading

Revelation 18:13

NASB, NKJV, NRSV, NJB"chariots" TEV"carriages"

This refers to private, four-wheeled, luxury chariots, not war chariots.

Revelation 18:14 "luxurious and splendid" This is a word play on the Greek terms lipara (luxury) and lampra (splendid).

Revelation 18:17 This is an allusion to Ezekiel 26-28 (city of Tyre), where those employed in the transportation of these luxuries mourned because their own livelihoods had been affected.

Revelation 18:19 "threw dust on their heads" See SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES at Revelation 1:7.

Revelation 18:20 "Rejoice over her" This is an allusion to Jeremiah 51:48, although some see it as referring to Deuteronomy 32:43 (in the Septuagint) as the economic partners' grief over the fall of Babylon, so believers rejoice!

▣ "God has pronounced judgment for you against her" Throughout the book, God's judgments are connected with the prayers of His children (cf. Revelation 6:10).

Verses 21-24

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Revelation 18:21-24 21Then a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer. 22And the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer; and no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer; and the sound of a mill will not be heard in you any longer; 23and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery. 24And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth."

Revelation 18:21 "Then a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea" This is an allusion to Jeremiah 51:63-64. It is a strong passage showing that Babylon will never, never rise again. As a matter of fact, in Rev. 18:21-33, there are six double negatives, "certainly not," "not under any circumstances," and "never, no, never."

▣ "and will not be found any longer" This shows total, permanent destruction (cf. Ezekiel 26:21).

Revelation 18:22-23 These were the sounds of everyday life in the Ancient Near East. God's judgment brings an end to this godless society (cf. Isaiah 24:8; Jeremiah 7:34; Jeremiah 25:10; Ezekiel 26:13).

Revelation 18:23 "all the nations were deceived by your sorcery" This is an allusion to Nahum 3:4. Notice that in Revelation 18:23-24 there are listed three reasons for the fall of the great city.

1. pride and wealth ( cf. Isaiah 23:8)

2. idolatry and sorcery (cf. Leviticus 19:26, Leviticus 19:33; Deuteronomy 18:9-12)

3. persecution of the people of God (cf. Revelation 16:6, Revelation 17:6).

Revelation 18:24 This is an allusion to Jeremiah 51:49.