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Revelation Chapter 18
Summary
Revelation chapter 18 is an additional passage that is speaking about the desolation of the church organization. God speaks of the church organization as a woman in Revelation chapter 12. Then He indicates that the woman has become "the great whore" in Revelation chapter 17. Here in Revelation chapter 18 He speaks of the church organization as Babylon.
Verse 1
"And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory."
The Greek word translated as “angel” here is aggelos, and is also translated as “messenger” elsewhere in the Bible. The Bible sometimes speaks of God as an angel (see Study on Michael the Archangel). The only messenger that can be described as having great power and lighting the entire earth with His glory is Christ.
Verse 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 church organization is called Babylon during the Great Tribulation because God uses the king of Babylon to typify Satan, and it is during the Great Tribulation that Satan rules within the churches. This is deeply saddening language God is using to describe the churches: “the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” We find similar language in Jeremiah 5:27:
"As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich."
Their houses (the churches) are full of deceit in that nearly everyone is fooled. The pastors have been convinced that what they are teaching is the truth. The members are also convinced it is truth because they are hearing and reading Scripture under the assumption that the teaching itself is accurate. This is why we read everyone deals falsely:
"For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely." (Jeremiah 6:13)
Verse 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."
The “kings of the earth” is a reference to those in the churches in this context (see Study on Revelation 17).
Verse 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."
When we realize that Satan is ruling within the churches we are commanded to leave them (see Study on Judgment on the Church). This is reiterated here by the statement, “Come out of her, my people.”
Verse 5
"For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities."
The statement, “God hath remembered her iniquities,” is a reminder of the fact that the church organization is under God’s wrath. When we become saved it is as if God no longer remembers our iniquities:
"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8:12)
"And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 10:17)
The fact that God is remembering the iniquities of the church organization is language to indicate that He is no longer bringing salvation within it.
Verse 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."
This language identifies with that of making payment for trespassing the law:
"For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour." (Exodus 22:9)
It’s used in the context of destruction:
"Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction." (Jeremiah 17:18)
And it’s used in the context of the penalty for defiling the land:
"And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things." (Jeremiah 16:18)
The double payment in view identifies with eternal destruction. The penalty for sin is death:
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
Many human beings have physically died throughout time. We've learned that on the day of the Rapture a mighty earthquake will break open the graves, exposing the remains of the dead (see Study on The Sixth Seal). This will be done in preparation for the last day when the world will be destroyed by fire. That day is the lake of fire, which is the second death:
"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." (Revelation 20:14)
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)
The remains of the unsaved will be completely destroyed on that day and God calls that everlasting destruction the second death. This is what God is speaking of when He speaks of a double payment, a second death. In other words, Revelation 18:6 is reminding us that those who remain in the churches until the Rapture are still under God’s wrath. Though they may be moral people, if they continue to refuse to leave their churches they are unknowingly indicating that they are probably not saved.
Verse 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."
The church’s statement, “I am no widow," is indicative of the fact that it believes it is the bride of Christ. In Matthew chapter 25 we read about ten virgins going forth to meet the bridegroom (Christ). Five of them were wise and properly prepared themselves to meet the bridegroom, but five of them were foolish and were not prepared when the bridegroom came. The bridegroom shut the door so that the foolish virgins could not enter the marriage chamber. They tried to get in:
"Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not." (Matthew 25:11-12)
This parallels what we read in Matthew chapter 7 about the end when many who believed they were saved will not be brought into Heaven:
"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:22-23)
The above passage isn't speaking of those out in the secular world who want nothing to do with God. It's speaking of those who identify themselves with Christ, those who read and teach from the Bible, those who believe they have lived their lives in obedience to God. In other words, it's speaking of the kinds of people we find in the churches.
The church’s statement, "I shall see no sorrow," is like what we read in Jeremiah chapter 5 where the rebellious people who identified themselves as God's people believed that they were safe from evil and famine:
"For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the LORD. They have belied the LORD, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine" (Jeremiah 5:11-12)
We know that the book of Jeremiah is actually focused on the churches of our day (see Study on Book of Jeremiah). We find the above warning restated in Amos chapter 9:
"All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us." (Amos 9:10)
Those in the churches who identify themselves as God's people have been seduced into thinking they are safe in the churches. They think there is peace there when there is no peace:
"Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:" (Ezekiel 13:10)
We find that the above crying of, "Peace," when there is no peace identifies with everyone in the churches from the least of them to the priests and prophets:
"For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace." (Jeremiah 6:13-14)
They are identified as not being ashamed of the abomination that they have committed:
"For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD." (Jeremiah 8:11-12)
And when we read this in light of everything else in the Bible we know that the abomination in view is the false doctrines. Those who insist on following them are further blinded by God so that they do not realize they are believing a lie (2 Thessalonians 2:10-11).
Sadly, we read that most will remain in their churches thinking that there is peace and safety there until inescapable destruction comes upon them:
"For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." (1 Thessalonians 5:3)
Verse 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 “one day” is Judgment Day, which will begin on May 21, 2011, and will end on October 21, 2011 (see Study on The Timing of Events). Even though Judgment Day is actually a 153-day period of time, God speaks of it as one day just like He speaks of the Creation week as one day:
"These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens" (Genesis 2:4)
In verse 4 we saw that God warns the believers to “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” The plagues in view are the wrath of God being poured out during the final five months of this world’s existence after the Rapture. Those who remain in the churches will be left behind and remain on Earth to experience some aspect of God’s wrath. Some will die that first day and others will survive throughout the entire 153 days, but only to be destroyed by fire on October 21, 2011.
Verse 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,"
As discussed earlier, “the kings of the earth” here is a reference to those in the churches. When the Rapture does occur on May 21, 2011, the whole world is going to see it. The disciples saw Christ when He ascended (Luke 24:51). Elisha saw Elijah ascend in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:11-12). Likewise, when millions of bodies are raptured, those who are left behind will see it. At that point, those in the churches will know the message they were mocking was actually the truth. They will quickly realize that the churches are not in good standing with God and that He has abandoned them. Unfortunately, by that point it will be too late, and we will learn as we examine additional passages that they will then get very angry with God.
Verse 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."
Verse 11
"And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:"
The word “merchants” is another word God uses in reference to those who are responsible for bringing the Gospel. As with the phrase “kings of the earth,” we have to examine the context to know whether God is referencing true believers or those in the churches who look like true believers but are actually not saved. Spiritual merchandising is what is in view here. We read about ships going out to gather gold and silver:
"For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks." (2 Chronicles 9:21)
The gold and silver represent the believers:
"The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts." (Haggai 2:8)
The ivory, apes and peacocks represent unsaved individuals. Ivory comes from elephants which were viewed as unclean animals. Peacocks were also viewed as unclean animals. Since we know the ship represents the church, these animals in this context specifically represent those in the churches who believe they are saved, but actually are not.
It is the role of the believers to go into the world with the Gospel. We find this activity identified with the merchandising of God’s law:
"For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold." (Proverbs 3:14)
This is why we sometimes find that those who are teaching from the Bible are referred to as merchants. In the case of Revelation 18:11 it is referring to the unsaved in the churches weeping and mourning when they realize they have been left behind.
When the world sees that those in the churches have been left behind the world will then know that those in the churches were not saved. According to the 2008 World Almanac, about 2.2 billion people in the world identify themselves as Christians. The world is going to quickly realize that God has left behind over 2 billion people who all claimed to be His people. Some may recognize that the churches were under God's judgment while many others will probably not understand why those in the churches were left behind. In either case, the people in the secular world will not be running to the churches for help because it will be evident that, whatever it is they do and believe, it wasn't sufficient to save them. This is illustrated by the statement, “no man buyeth their merchandise any more.”
In Ezekiel chapter 27 we read about the destruction of the ships of Tarshish:
"The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market: and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of the seas. Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas. Thy riches, and thy fairs, thy merchandise, thy mariners, and thy pilots, thy calkers, and the occupiers of thy merchandise, and all thy men of war, that are in thee, and in all thy company which is in the midst of thee, shall fall into the midst of the seas in the day of thy ruin." (Ezekiel 27:25-27)
This is a historic parable about the destruction of the church organization. We read that those in the ships will cry bitterly when they discover that their ships have been destroyed:
"And all that handle the oar, the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea, shall come down from their ships, they shall stand upon the land; And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust upon their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes: And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird them with sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of heart and bitter wailing. And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea?" (Ezekiel 27:29-32)
This will be the situation after the Rapture when those in the churches discover that the church organization has in fact been spiritually destroyed. They will cry bitterly.
Verse 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,"
Verse 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."
Verse 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."
This parallels what we read in Ezekiel chapter 27 about the destruction of the ships of Tarshish. We read that their merchandise will fall when they are destroyed:
"When thy wares went forth out of the seas, thou filledst many people; thou didst enrich the kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and of thy merchandise. In the time when thou shalt be broken by the seas in the depths of the waters thy merchandise and all thy company in the midst of thee shall fall." (Ezekiel 27:33-34)
The Greek word translated as “goodly” in Revelation 18:14 is lampros, which is normally used in connection with some aspect of God’s Kingdom. It is translated as “bright” in Revelation 22:16 in reference to Christ as the bright and morning star. It is translated as “clear” in Revelation 22:1 in reference to the clear water of life. It is translated as “gorgeous” in Luke 23:22 in reference to the robe which Christ wore. It is translated as “white” in Revelation 15:6 in reference to God’s angels and in Revelation 19:8 in reference to the true believers. The picture being painted in this verse is of a time when these things can no longer be found by the unsaved. The Gospel, true believers, and salvation have all departed from this world. It is a picture of the final five months after the Rapture.
Verse 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 language of the next five verses is very similar to that of Ezekiel chapter 27. God makes it clear that both of these passages are speaking of the same event. Here we are reading that the merchants of these things (those in the churches) were made rich by her (the church organization). In Ezekiel chapter 27 we read that the kings of earth (those in the churches) were made rich by the ships (the church organization):
"When thy wares went forth out of the seas, thou filledst many people; thou didst enrich the kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and of thy merchandise." (Ezekiel 27:33)
Verse 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!"
Here the merchants are deeply saddened by the destruction of their great city (the church organization). Likewise, in Ezekiel chapter 27 those in the ships are deeply saddened by the destruction of their great city:
"And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea?" (Ezekiel 27:32)
Verse 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,"
In this verse everyone in the ships is standing afar off because they realize that their ships have been destroyed. Likewise, in Ezekiel 27 those in the ships stand on land (afar off), aware of the destruction of their ships:
"And all that handle the oar, the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea, shall come down from their ships, they shall stand upon the land" (Ezekiel 27:29)
Verse 18
"And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!"
Again, their weeping over the destruction of their great city is similar to the language of Ezekiel 27:
"And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea?" (Ezekiel 27:32)
Verse 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."
Here we read about the merchants casting dust on their heads and weeping. We find the same language in Ezekiel 27:
"And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust upon their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes" (Ezekiel 27:30)
Verse 20
"Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her."
This verse serves as additional confirmation that God is speaking about the situation that will follow the Rapture. In Revelation chapter 6 we read about the believers being “killed” (removed from the churches) for the beliefs that they hold. They ask, “How long dost thou not judge and avenge our blood?” They are told to rest for a little season (the Great Tribulation) until the rest of the believers are also removed from the churches:
"And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled." (Revelation 6:9-11)
When Judgment Day arrives the churches’ lies will be exposed. Those in the churches will learn where truth was all along and that it wasn’t in the church organization. In that sense, the blood of the saints will be avenged.
Verse 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."
This is additional language that identifies these events with Judgment Day because the church organization is still going strong today. It has become Babylon, the habitation of foul spirits, and the great whore, but it is still going strong in the world’s eyes. It has not yet been thrown down. That will take place once the Rapture occurs. That is when it will lose its integrity and positive reputation.
Verse 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;"
Verse 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."
Verse 24
"And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth."
The language of this verse reminds us of Jeremiah chapter 25. There God indicates that He would allow the king of the enemy nation to rule over His people for a period of time in order to bring desolation because of their rebellion:
"Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations. Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle. And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years." (Jeremiah 25:9-11)
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