Babylon Is Fallen
This chapter contains seven poetic responses to the...
This chapter contains seven poetic responses to the fall of Babylon (or Rome; see study note on 17:5).
The angel’s powerful taunt song is the first...
The angel’s powerful taunt song is the first poetic response. Ancient taunt songs derided a defeated enemy (see Isa 13:19–22; 34:10–17). In these taunts, the fall of Babylon (or Rome; see study note on Rev 14:8) is portrayed as a traumatic event for subservient kingdoms and especially for those who had profited from her luxury. The sacking of Rome by the Goths and Visigoths (AD 400s) brought the prosperous empire to an end.
1After this I saw another angel descending from heaven with great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his glory. 2And he cried out in a mighty voice:
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!†She has become a lair for demonsand a haunt for every unclean spirit,every unclean bird,and every detestable beast.†3All the nations have drunk† the wineof the passion of her immorality.The kings of the earth were immoral with her,and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthyfrom the extravagance of her luxury.”
This second poetic response (see study note on...
This second poetic response (see study note on 18:1–24) is a warning from heaven to flee the doomed city.
4Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
“Come out of her, My people,†so that you will not share in her sinsor contract any of her plagues.5For her sins are piled up to heaven,and God has remembered her iniquities.6Give back to her as she has done to others;pay her back double for what she has done;mix her a double portion in her own cup.7As much as she has glorified herself and lived in luxury,give her the same measure of torment and grief.In her heart she says, ‘I sit as queen;I am not a widow and will never see grief.’8Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and grief and famine—and she will be consumed by fire,for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.”Lament over Babylon
The kings of the world lament as they...
The kings of the world lament as they mourn the loss of the luxury they had obtained from alliance with the wicked city.
These three laments highlight the grief of those...
These three laments highlight the grief of those who profited most from the wicked city’s rich lifestyle (cp. Ezek 27).
9Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her.† 10In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out:
“Woe, woe to the great city,the mighty city of Babylon!For in a single houryour judgment has come.”
The merchants of the world sing the second...
The merchants of the world sing the second lament (18:14; see study note on 18:9–19). They profited from the Roman economy (18:12–13), but their trade ceased as the great city was swiftly destroyed.
11And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo—
This cargo list suggests the extent of the...
This cargo list suggests the extent of the wealth Rome pillaged from the rest of its empire (cp. Ezek 27:12–24). Some of the most expensive products in the ancient world are mentioned in this indictment of ostentatious materialism and pride.
12cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and carriages; of bodies and souls of slaves.
The merchants would lament the fall of Rome...
The merchants would lament the fall of Rome (see study note on 18:1–3) because it would forever end their accustomed luxuries. Material goods can be swept aside in a single moment.
14And they will say:†
“The fruit of your soul’s desirehas departed from you;all your luxury and splendor have vanished,never to be seen again.”15The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand at a distance, in fear of her torment. They will weep and mourn, 16saying:
“Woe, woe to the great city,clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet,adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!
all the captains: Seafarers sing the third lament...
all the captains: Seafarers sing the third lament (see study note on 18:9–19). Their mourning focuses on the breakdown of communication and transportation. During the reign of Julius Caesar, the Mediterranean was cleared of pirates and trade blossomed under the region’s Roman law enforcement. The swift loss of Roman authority would upset the system of trade.
Every shipmaster, passenger, and sailor, and all who make their living from the sea, will stand at a distance 18and cry out at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. “What city was ever like this great city?” they will exclaim.
19Then they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out:
“Woe, woe to the great city,where all who had ships on the seawere enriched by her wealth!For in a single hourshe has been destroyed.”20Rejoice over her, O heaven,and you saints and apostles and prophets,because God has pronounced for youHis judgment against her.The Doom of Babylon
The songs responding to Babylon’s fall (18:1–24) conclude...
The songs responding to Babylon’s fall (18:1–24) conclude with a portrayal of the city’s doom.
21Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying:
“With such violencethe great city of Babylon will be cast down,never to be seen again.22And the sound of harpists and musicians,of flute players and trumpeters,will never ring out in you again.Nor will any craftsmen of any tradebe found in you again,nor the sound of a millstonebe heard in you again.23The light of a lampwill never shine in you again,and the voices of a bride and bridegroomwill never call out in you again.For your merchants were the great ones of the earth,because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.”24And there was found in her the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who had been slain on the earth.