The World Mourns Babylon’s Fall
February 23, 2019
Commentary
The fall of commercial Babylon is covered in this passage. The context of chapter 18 with its many references to the kings and merchants and commerce shows that, in this setting, Babylon is viewed in her political, economic, and commercial character, rather than in her religious role (vv. 11-19). It is a place of much wealth and luxury. Because of greed, the more they had the more they wanted to hold on to it.
The angel’s message is that “Babylon the great is fallen” (v. 2). This will bring a loud protest from the earth’s political and economic powers. The kings of the world were grieved because of the lifestyle they had lost (vv. 9-10) and the merchants (vv. 11-16) and ship masters (vv. 17-19) lamented about the city’s downfall since they would no longer be able to carry on commerce with the city. All of this will happen within one hour (vv. 10, 17, 19). It is interesting to note that neither the kings, merchants nor ship masters stretch out their hand to help Babylon in her last agony. They never really had any love for her; the only real interest they had was the luxury she provided and the trade it brought them. Babylon symbolizes the harlot and the whole godless world system that caters to the appetites of sinful men and women. It is apparent that Babylon was a place of great luxury and wealth. This differs greatly from the previous chapter which was a religious situation rather than the economic and political situation that we have here (v. 3). Slavery will return (v. 13).
Application
This shows that when we are financially secure like the people of Babylon it is easy to become complacent and deluded by the myth of self-sufficiency. Lord, help me to not depend on what I have but on who you are? “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.” I John 2:15-16.
Revelation 18:9– 19 (NET)
9 Then the kings of the earth who committed immoral acts with her and lived in sensual luxury with her will weep and wail for her when they see the smoke from the fire that burns her up. 10 They will stand a long way off because they are afraid of her torment, and will say, “Woe, woe, O great city, Babylon the powerful city! For in a single hour your doom has come!”
11 Then the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn for her because no one buys their cargo any longer— 12 cargo such as gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all sorts of things made of citron wood, all sorts of objects made of ivory, all sorts of things made of expensive wood, bronze, iron and marble, 13 cinnamon, spice, incense, perfumed ointment, frankincense, wine, olive oil and costly flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and four-wheeled carriages, slaves and human lives.
14 (The ripe fruit you greatly desired has gone from you, and all your luxury and splendor have gone from you— they will never ever be found again!)
15 The merchants who sold these things, who got rich from her, will stand a long way off because they are afraid of her torment. They will weep and mourn, 16 saying, “Woe, woe, O great city— dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet clothing, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls—
17 because in a single hour such great wealth has been destroyed!”
18 and began to shout when they saw the smoke from the fire that burned her up, “Who is like the great city?” 19 And they threw dust on their heads and were shouting with weeping and mourning, “Woe, Woe, O great city— in which all those who had ships on the sea got rich from her wealth— because in a single hour she has been destroyed!”