CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

There is a marked change in emphasis between chapter seventeen and chapter eighteen. In verse one, John saw an angel come down from heaven, and the earth was lightened with his glory. He cried mightily with a strong voice and announced Babylon's doom. He said that she had become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit and a cage for every unclean and hateful bird. (These are thought to be descriptive terms for demons.) The reason for her destruction is because of her fornication (idolatry) with the merchants of the earth. They have been enriched through the abundance of her delicacies.

From early times, the Roman Catholic Church revered religious relics. They aren't the only ones who fancy 'christian' objects. Notice the abundance of religious items that are offered for sale in "christian bookstores" today. People want to buy "christian records", "christian pictures", "christian pencils", ad infinitum.

There isn't such a things as a christian (music) record or a christian picture. Though there is religious records and pictures, they are not Christian! But the merchants attach the name of Christian to their merchandise and make lots of money from it. According to this chapter, such traffic and the world economic system is going to cease. It reminds one of the time that Jesus ran the money changers out of the Temple in Jerusalem.

A voice from heaven bids God's people to come out of Babylon. God doesn't want His people to be involved with her delicacies. Why? Lest they be partakers of her plagues. She is going to 'get it!' If God's people remained in her, and partake of her sins, they would get the same treatment, because everyone there shall receive it. This is more evidence that God delivers His people OUT of (not in the midst of) judgment. When Babylon falls, it's going to cause a CRASH like the world has never known. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

Before the Revelation progresses to chapter seventeen, God has been dealing with the world on the basis of personal sins. But after that, He shall remember Babylon, to deal with the iniquities of the system. She claimed that she is a queen, and will never be a desolate widow. But she will become desolate within one hour! She is going to fall because of her sorceries also, and for the great abundance of her enchantments. Modern enchantments can be ouija boards, the horoscope, seances, and other demonic activity. Christians ought NOT to have anything to do with any of them, lest they incur God's judgment.

The Kings of the earth (obviously, kings other than the ten) who have committed fornication with her, are going to bewail her and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning. But they will stand a long way off from her, for fear of her burning. The city of chapter 17:18 is going to be burned.

They say, Alas, alas, for that great CITY Babylon, that mighty CITY! Her judgment occurs in one hour. Notice how John interchangeably calls her a woman and a city. In Isaiah 47 God said, "one day" for the literal city of Babylon in those days; here He says "one hour" for both the literal city and also the system. This reminds that in Revelation 3:10, Jesus promised to keep the Church of Philadelphia out of the hour of temptation. In the Lord's mind, the seven year Tribulation time is regarded as an hour.

Revelation 18:11, the merchants weep and mourn over her for no one buys their merchandise any more. From here onward in the chapter, John itemizes their merchandise. It is all the things of commerce from ancient times, and up till the hour of her judgment. Verses 12-13.

In verse 14 God says that the things that people's souls lust for; all the good and dainty (sumptuous) things shall depart from her, and she will never have them again. Because people's souls lusted for her dainties, the merchants had gotten rich by selling those things. They are going to stand far off from the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing and saying, Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in gorgeous clothing and jewels. In one hour all of it is brought to nothing. The merchant marines and sailors and shipping companies that trade by sea also stand afar off and cry when they see the smoke of her burning. They say what city is like this great city! Therefore, it is definitely a physical city.

They get so carried away that they cast dust upon their heads, crying, weeping and wailing, saying again, Alas, alas, that great city in which all that had ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her costliness. In one hour she is made desolate.