The Fall of Babylon the Great
Chapter 18 picks up where Chapter 17 leaves off and continues the story of the fall of the great city known as Babylon the Great, which is a description of the city of Jerusalem after it comes under the rule of the Beast. The fall of Babylon the Great will take place at the Battle of Armageddon when the Great Earthquake and Severe Hailstorm will destroy the armies of the Beast. As described in the previous chapters, this same Great Earthquake will also destroy the city from which the Beast will rule known as Babylon the Great.
After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory. And 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. For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality.” Rev. 18:1-3
Prior to being destroyed by the Great Earthquake, the fallen city of Jerusalem will be completely given over to wickedness and will lead the nations into committing acts of immorality against God. In addition, the merchants of the world will flock to Babylon the Great and will grow rich by the wealth of her sensuality. As a result, God’s people are warned to come out from the great city in order to not participate in her sins or receive her plagues.
I 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; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Pay 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. To 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.’ For 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.” Rev. 18:4-8
The destruction of the Babylon the Great will be followed by three woes, which are reminiscent of the Three Woes that were pronounced over the Inhabitants of the Earth during the sounding of the Last Three Trumpets. (See Revelation Chapter 8) In this case, the three woes will be proclaimed over Babylon the Great by the kings, merchants, and sea captains who will mourn over her destruction.
“When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: “‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon! In one hour your doom has come!’ Rev. 18:9-10
The first woe to be pronounced over Babylon the Great will come from the kings of the earth who will share in her luxury. These kings will announce that in one hour her doom has come, which is a reference to how the great city will suddenly be destroyed by the Great Earthquake that will also destroy the armies of the Beast at the Battle of Armageddon.
The second woe will be pronounced by the merchants of the world, who will have gained great wealth from the city, and who will be terrified by her destruction.
The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn and cry out: “Woe! Woe to you, great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!” Rev. 18:15-16
Finally, the sea captains, who will also become rich from the wealth of the great city, will mourn and weep over her demise.
In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’ “Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’ They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: “‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth! In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’” Rev 18:17-19
The mention off sea captains and merchants who will be dismayed by the fall of the Babylon the Great reflects how the kingdom of the Beast will include the great port cities of the Mediterranean Sea, which will belong to the ten nations that will follow the Beast. (See Revelation Chapter 13 to read about the ten nations that will follow the Beast.) The sea captains and merchants who service these ports will become rich and will be filled with mourning when Babylon the Great is destroyed in one hour by the Great Earthquake.
After describing the mourning of the kings and merchants who will weep over the fall of Babylon the Great, God’s people are told to rejoice over the fallen city because in her was found the blood of the prophets and all who have been slaughtered on the earth.
In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people, of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.” Rev. 18:24
The above description of Fallen Jerusalem corresponds with the Lord’s description of Jerusalem who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her.
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Matt. 23:37
Jerusalem’s unwillingness to receive the prophets and those who were sent to her, including the Lord himself, will culminate with the Beast attacking Jerusalem and making it the center of his rule, which, in turn, will lead to the destruction of the fallen city at the Battle of Armageddon.
Order of Events of the Last Days
1. Wars, Rumors of Wars, Earthquakes, and Famines (Seals 1-4)
2. The Martyrs Pray for Judgment and Revenge (5th. Seal) – – The 144,000 are sealed
– 1/3 of earth is burned up in world-wide drought (1st. Trumpet)
– 1/3 of sea turns to blood, Satan’s kingdom defeated (2nd. Trumpet)
– 1/3 of waters are poisoned, Satan cast out 3rd. Trumpet)
– 1/3 of Israel is struck, the Attack on Jerusalem (4th. Trumpet)
3. The Great Tribulation – the full number of God’s people are killed
– The Plague of Locusts (5th. Trumpet)
– The Plague of Fire, Smoke, and Sulfur (6th. Trumpet)
– The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath (Bowls 1 -5)
– The kings and generals are gathered at Armageddon (6th Bowl)
4. The Great Earthquake and Severe Hailstorm – the Battle of Armageddon (6th. Seal, 7th. Trumpet, 7th. Bowl)
5. Silence in Heaven – the enemies of God are defeated(7th. Seal)
6. The Reign of Christ on Earth
Revelation Chapter 17
Revelation Chapter 19
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