Chapter Eighteen

Rome is finished. Revelation chapter 17 tells of her destruction at the hands of those who once served her.

In chapter 18, God pronounces judgment against Babylon, the economic power of Rome. In chapter nineteen we will see the fate of the sea beast and the earth beast, or false prophet. As we have mentioned before, the enemies of God's people will exit in reverse order of their appearance.

The first verse of chapter 18 shows another angel coming down from heaven. Once again, the origin of this messenger shows that God is in control. The angel has such great authority that the earth is illuminated.

His announcement is that Babylon is fallen. No matter what date is selected for the writing of the book of Revelation, Rome is still very much in power. But God's judgments are generally spoken in the present or past tense. When He says something, it is as good as done. Notice the use of past tense in verses two and three.

"And Babylon, the beauty of kingdoms, the glory of the Chaldeans' pride," the prophet proclaims in Isaiah 13:19-22, "will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

"It will never be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation; nor will the Arab pitch his tent there, nor will shepherds make their flocks lie down there.

"But desert creatures will lie down there, and their houses will be full of owls, ostriches also will live there, and shaggy goats will frolic there.

"And hyenas will howl in their fortified towers and jackals in their luxurious palaces. Her fateful time also will soon come and her days will not be prolonged."

Similar language is used in verse 23 of the next chapter.

Did the early Christians have any trouble understanding the language of Revelation 18:2, where it says that Rome, the new Babylon, "has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird"?

The following verse points out that we are dealing with the corrupting influence that Rome has had on other nations, especially through her economic power.

In verse four we hear a call for God's people to separate themselves from this deadly influence.

"Wander away from the midst of Babylon," God calls to His people in Jeremiah 50:8 as He prepares to carry out His judgment, "and go forth from the land of the Chaldeans."

"Flee from the midst of Babylon," He repeats in Jeremiah 51:6, "and each of you save his life! Do not be destroyed in her punishment, for this is the Lord's time of vengeance." The warning is repeated in verses nine and 45 of the same chapter.

"Depart, depart, go out from there," Isaiah 52:11 urges, "touch nothing unclean; go out of the midst of her, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the Lord." This last passage has a New Testament counterpart in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.

Early in the book of Revelation we were dealing with seals and trumpets. We noticed that the things revealed and announced there were limited. But now we are dealing with cups. So verse 6 orders that Babylon be paid back double according to her deeds. She is to have twice as much mixed for her in the cup that she prepared for others.

Verse seven reveals an attitude that is the total opposite of repentance. God has announced and warned of the coming judgment.

"I sit as a queen and I am not a widow," this proud one replies in verse 7, "and will never see mourning."

In Isaiah 14:13-21 we have a description of Babylon's proud attitude.

"But you said in your heart," this passage reveals in verses 13 and 14, "' I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'"

"Yet you say, 'I shall be a queen forever, '" God notes of Babylon's attitude in Isaiah 47:7-10. "These things you did not consider, nor remember the outcome of them.

"Now, then, hear this, you sensual one, who dwells securely, who says in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one besides me. I shall not sit as a widow, nor shall I know loss of children.'

"But these two things shall come on you suddenly in one day: loss of children and widowhood. They shall come on you in full measure in spite of your many sorceries, in spite of the great power of your spells. And you felt secure in your wickedness and said, 'No one sees me,' your wisdom and your knowledge, they have deluded you; for you have said in your heart, ' I am, and there is no one besides me.'"

This same message is repeated in Zephaniah 2:15.

We have seen God's discussion with Babylon. We have seen His discussion with Rome. What would He have to say to us?

Revelation 18:9 begins a section of lamentation over the fate of the fallen queen. This kind of lamentation is common in the book of Ezekiel, starting in chapter 26. Take the time to read those chapters of Old Testament prophecy and this passage in Revelation will take on a richer meaning.

In Revelation, the kings of the earth are weeping over the destruction of the great city. Standing at a distance because of fear of her torment, these leaders who have trusted in her great power are amazed that this strong one has fallen so quickly.

The merchants of the earth take up the lamentation beginning with verse 11. The main reason for their sorrow is that their source of great wealth is gone. From the list of goods, we learn that great profit has been made by dealing in items of luxury. Verse 13 adds an interesting twist by noting that they had dealt in slaves and human lives. This literally says that they have dealt in the bodies and souls of men.

How often do we take time to stop and take a close look at the things we consider to be luxuries? What kind of things are we really dealing with? All we can see is the glitter and the sweet smell of perfume. But what are we really doing?

Are those who deal in these things interested in our welfare, or are they interested in making a dollar?

"The merchants of these things, who become rich from her," verse 15 explains, "will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning."

Are the merchants of our luxuries at our sides when we need them, or are they standing at a safe distance and crying because they can no longer make a profit?

Who is there to pick the mangled body up off the highway? Is it the one who produced the liquor that caused the tragedy? Who is there to comfort the victim of sexual abuse? Is it the publisher who produced the pornography that deformed the mind of the abuser?

"My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent," the wise man advises in Proverbs 1:10-16. "If they say, 'Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause; let us swallow them alive like Sheol, even whole, as those who go down to the pit, we shall find all kinds of precious wealth, we shall fill our houses with spoil; throw in your lot with us, we shall have one purse'; my son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your feet from their path; for their feet run to evil, and they hasten to shed blood."

"For they cannot sleep unless they do evil," Solomon says in Proverbs 4: 16, "and they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble."

While the merchants weep over the destruction of the immoral great city, verse 20 tells God's people to rejoice because of the judgment that has been pronounced.

How do we react to evil practices? Do we join in and give our support, or are we glad when they are eliminated?

A strong angel picks up a large millstone in verse 21 and tosses it into the sea, proclaiming that sounds of happiness and prosperity would no longer be heard in the great city.

"Moreover, I will take from them the voice of joy and the voice of gladness," God says of Babylon in Jeremiah 25:10, "the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp."

Verses 23 and 24 of Revelation 18 explain why this judgment has been carried out against the great city.

"Because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery," it reveals, "and in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth."

God has tried to teach them. God has tried to warn them. God has tried to cause them to repent. But they have rejected God and killed His followers. And now they must pay the price for failing to accept the truth that could have set them free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."