Chapter 18 of Revelation describes the impending end of dominant (symbolic) Babylon. The thorough and, above all, final destruction of the earthly henchmen of God’s adversary.
Inhalt / Content
Babylon will be destroyed
DChapter 8 in the book of Revelation deals with the “Judgment of Babylon.” A prophecy about the final fate of God’s adversary ruling on earth. The Babylon mentioned is a combination of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet (more info).
The individual verses of Revelation, Chapter 18 are explained below. This chapter contains relatively little symbolic language, but rather calls things by their name. A list of the symbols contained in Revelation and their meanings can be found here.
The verses in Revelation 18
| Verse number | Verse | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. | Here Jesus Christ is depicted as an angel. He has all power in heaven and on earth (great authority). His message goes out to humanity. |
| 2 | And 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. | The Roman Catholic Church and fallen Protestantism are definitively of the true gospel apostatized and spreading heresies and following spiritualism. “Like” is pronounced twice, thus closing it ecclesiastical as well as political part. Based on Book of Daniel 5: "Mene, mene, tekel upharsin!" (The origin of the expression: Menetekel) At that time, Nabonides (religious) and his son ruled Babylon Belshazzar (political). The empire then passed through Medo- Persians under (539 BC). |
| 3 | For 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. | "Fornication" means the package of heresies, a false gospel that the whole world has accepted. Rome controls the economy and those who comply Henchmen are rewarded accordingly. Big corporations are grabbing all assets together. |
| 4 | 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. | The finale of the so-called “Loud Call”. Warning to all people to leave the Babylon system, let alone to benefit from it. Otherwise, “hung along, caught up” applies. |
| 5 | For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. | The measure of sins is overflowing. The barrel has overflowed. |
| 6 | Reward 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. | Babylon's "hot wine of fornication" is answered by "the unmixed wine of the wrath of God." |
| 7 | How 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. | Pride and arrogance fall at the feet of the Roman Catholic Church. “She is not a widow” means she is not alone. She is accompanied by her daughters (other churches) and the economy sucking on her. |
| 8 | Therefore 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. | The end of Rome comes very quickly and thoroughly. |
| 9 | And 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, | Verses 9 and 10: The compliant governments will have to watch helplessly as everything goes down the drain. |
| 10 | Standing 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. | |
| 11 | And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: | The equally compliant companies or corporations will also standing in front of a large pile of broken glass. They are ruined. |
| 12 | The 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, | List of trade goods at that time. For today to be understood accordingly with current goods (luxury goods, riches) and technologies. |
| 13 | 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. | List of other trade goods and also human trafficking and modern slavery |
| 14 | And 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. | The ostentation and pomp of the church is over. None of it remains. |
| 15 | The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, | The large corporations and their managers that are subordinate to the papacy will not be able to believe their end. |
| 16 | And 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! | The great city of Rome and the Roman Catholic Church residing in it with its immeasurable wealth. Everything will pass. |
| 17 | For 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, | International trade is collapsing so surprisingly quickly that the actors are completely taken by surprise. |
| 18 | And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! | Nothing earthly was equal to Rome or the papacy |
| 19 | And 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. | General disbelief at the sudden end on a global level. Hardly anyone would have expected this given their power, size and wealth. |
| 20 | Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. | Announcement of God's justice and His corresponding action. |
| 21 | And 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. | Rome or the ecclesiastical and political papacy becomes velvet Pomp and ostentation will be completely wiped out. Note that the "merchants" were in the hands of Rome. |
| 22 | And 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; | Continuation verse 21: Nothing will remain of Rome or the Vatican. |
| 23 | And 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. | Re-emphasizing economic power. Everything destroyed. Interesting detail: There is a Greek word behind the word “sorcery”. “pharmakaia”, i.e. pharmaceuticals or pharmaceuticals. |
| 24 | And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. | Renewed reference to the countless murders committed by Rome against people who adhered to the Word of God. |
Bible verses from King James Version
