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Added Details: The Judgment of Babylon
Revelation 17:1 – 19:10

Revelation 17:1 – 19:10. Having come again to the appearing of Christ at the end of ch.16, the Spirit of prophecy again returns to an earlier point (beginning of the week) to go over the events from a different viewpoint. We have had things from the viewpoint of the Western lands (ch.6-11), of Israel (ch.12-14), and of the Gentile nations (ch.15-16). In ch.17-19a we have the judgment of Babylon, from the beginning of the week up to the appearing of Christ. It is the last return. After this, we will resume the chronological events beginning with the appearing, and leading straight through to the eternal state.

Two Women. Really, what you have in this parenthesis is the comparison of two women, the harlot (false church) and the Lamb’s wife (true church). Both are looked at their highest form: one pure, the other corrupt. Both are looked at under two figures: a woman (harlot vs. bride) and a city (Babylon vs. New Jerusalem). However, Babylon is called ‘great’ whereas the new Jerusalem is never called ‘great’ but rather ‘holy’. As women, both the true and the false church have a religious character. As cities, both have an administrative character. However, the true church is not looked at as a city (reigning) until the Millennium, while the false church acts as a city presently, seeking to reign over the kings of the earth.

Preliminary events. One of the first things that will happen when the true church is raptured, is that the false church will begin to ride the beast. This may begin even before Daniel’s seventieth week commences.

Babylon. In subject of Babylon in Revelation is important, but also difficult to understand. Babylon in the Old Testament is the name of the great Chaldean civilization. The ancient city was made by the king of Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar) for his glory and power (Dan. 4), but was also known as the center of pagan idolatry (Jer. 51:7; 50:2). That city has been destroyed and will never be rebuilt (Isa. 13:19-22; Jer. 51:29, 37). God told Nebuchadnezzar, “you are the head of gold” referring to the image in the king’s dream. While other empires succeeded Babylon (Persia, Greece, Rome, etc.), they really are still in the place of Babylon, as holding the balance of power in the earth, but doing so in disregard for the claims of God.

Two Babylons. We find in Revelation that the term Babylon is used for a great power in the earth. There are two aspects of this power, one is religious(pictured as a harlot), and the other is political (pictured as a city).¹ In scripture we have always these two characters of evil. For example, in the book of Proverbs there are two dangers: the violent man and the corrupt woman. Go back into secular history as far as you like, you will find these two forms of evil linked together. Although the evidence is murky, we gather that when Nimrod built Babel as his first empire through violence (Gen. 10:10), his wife also founded an idolatrous religious system. We see the same with Ahab and his wife Jezebel. It was she that institutionalized the worship of Baal and Ashtaroth, while he tolerated it and led the nation administratively into ruin. We are looking at the final state of both forms of evil. We are warranted to distinguish between these two aspects: when Babylon is mentioned separate from the idea of the harlot, it is the political side, but when they are connected, it is the ecclesiastical side.²

	Religious Babylon	Political Babylon
In History	Literal, Historical Babylon
	Spreader of Idolatry (Jer. 51:7)	First World-Power (Dan 2:38)
	Judged (Isa. 13:19-22; Jer. 51:29, 37)
First 3 1/2 Years	The False Church
	As a harlot (Rev. 14:8; 17:1-18)	As a city (Rev. 18:1-20)
Last 3 1/2 Years		The Beast: Last World-Power (Rev. 16:19; 18:21-24)

Religious Babylon. Referred to in Rev. 14, and addressed primarily in Rev. 17-18, the religious aspect is usually what is in view. Babylon in this aspect is the false church headed up by the Roman system. We see in ch.17 several unmistakable features that identify religious Babylon with Rome.³⁴ Yet it is a mistake to limit the harlot to the Catholic Church. In many ways the whole of Western society has lived in sin, lived deliciously, under the banner of “Christian”, and therefore fits the description given in Rev. 17. In the first three and a half years of the prophetic week, the false church takes control of the Gentile powers. The false church therefore has the control religiously and politically. She is seen in Rev. 17 as the harlot, and in Rev. 18 as the city. “The woman which thou sawest is that great city”. Babylon becomes a whore in the New Testament under as the figure of the false church. She is a corrupt, independent woman. The closest thing to her in the Old Testament is Tyre (e.g. Ezekiel 27). Religious Babylon is judged once, and is completely destroyed, in the middle of the week. The destruction of the false church makes room religiously for the false prophet to institute the worship of the beast, in the last 3 1/2 years. Hence, the pronouncement that “Great Babylon has fallen, has fallen” in Rev. 14:8 before the 3 1/2 years of beast-worship.

Political Babylon. The false church is “fallen” in the middle of the week. This makes room politically for the personal beast to take control of the ten horns, in the last 3 1/2 years. The beast, or revived Roman empire, takes on the title of ‘Babylon, the great city’ in the last three and a half years. Political Babylon as a city continues to the appearing of Christ, and is judged in the seventh bowl.⁵ It isn’t that there are two judgments of religious Babylon, nor is it that the revived Roman Empire is in any way the same entity as the false church. They are distinct. Religious Babylon is judged once. But the beast takes on the role of political Babylon after the false church is gone. As an organization, she is completely destroyed at the middle of the week, but many of the persons within the system continue under the umbrella of “the beast” until the end of the week. The last four verses of Rev. 18 show the final destruction of Babylon at the appearing of Christ, which corresponds to Revelation 16:19; “And the great city was divided into three parts; and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon was remembered before God to give her the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath”. Isaiah 21:1-10 correspond with this: the judgment of political Babylon.

Note. Not all expositors agree with this position, but one feels that it makes the best sense of the chapter and of other scriptures concerning Babylon. One writer called the analysis of Babylon in Revelation “the most perplexing problem of the book”. Some see only religious Babylon all through Revelation, which leaves them with the problem of Rev. 16:19. Others see the two aspects of Babylon, and have the task of demonstrating the distinction from the scriptures themselves. One feels the latter is more accurate, because: (1) it takes into account the use of the name “Babylon” in the Old Testament scriptures as referring to the last Gentile power, (2) it resolves the issue of placing Rev. 16:19, and (3) it fits with the broader context and characters in Revelation, as well as the habit of the Spirit of God in laying out prophecies here, and elsewhere in scripture. However, I would not be dogmatic on this, and would welcome any light others might shed on the subject.

Contents

The Great Harlot (17:1-6)
The Beast: The Revived Roman Empire (17:7-18)
Details of the Fall of Babylon as a City (18:1-20)
The Final Destruction of Babylon as a City (18:20-24)
Two Celebrations in Heaven (19:1-10)

The Great Harlot (17:1-6)

A Detailed Description of the Great Harlot (vv.1-6)

CHAPTER 17

¶ And one of the seven angels, which had the seven bowls, came and spoke with me, saying, Come here, I will shew thee the sentence of the great harlot who sits upon the many waters;

v.1 Introduction to the Harlot. One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls of judgment now comes to show John a terrible sight. The system that will become religious Babylon is already on earth today: it is the false church. Further, it would appear from this chapter that the entire false church is headed up by the Roman system. She is the woman Jezebel, see Rev. 2:20. She will be largely what is left when the true church is raptured. “Whoredom” in scripture always speaks of idolatry, because idolatry is adultery in a spiritual sense. This woman is viewed by John as “sitting on many waters”, or dominating the masses. This the false church has done this for centuries. It would seem that, in the grand scheme, while the whore controls the beast for a short time, that perhaps her influence is invited at first, then resented. Perhaps the false church has some kind of trump card that the politicians need to bring the Roman empire together? It may be commercial ties, control of the masses, etc. Perhaps this influence is exploited in the first seal of Revelation 6.

2 with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication; and they that dwell on the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

v.2 Relative to the Kings. Religiously, this verse shows who the woman is. Which other religious organization is more guilty of leaving the true God and mixing in spiritual fornication; i.e. idolatry. How does it work? God has blessed the Christianized lands with external material blessings. Greedy for luxury and ease, the West indulges in pleasure. The kings of the earth come to her, bringing their goods, but also their pagan practices. She takes the goods, and adopts the pagan practices, developing a consumer mentality. All this is cloaked under the profession of Christ. The kings are thus able to sell their raw materials and products into the Christianized lands which makes the kings rich (e.g. Japan, Hong Kong, the oil lords). They get intoxicated with Western greed. Thus, they will weep when the woman is destroyed (Rev. 18:9). Note that it doesn’t say the peasants got rich!

3 And he carried me away in spirit to a desert; and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

v.3 Riding the Beast. John’s respective points of observation are: a wilderness for the harlot (Rev. 17:3) and a great and high mountain for the bride (Rev. 21:10). The one connects to a moral desert, the other to communion with God. The chief characteristic of the harlot is her control: “sitting upon” the European power “the beast”. We know this beast is the revived Roman empire because it is identical to the beast described in Daniel 7, which also speaks of the revived Roman empire. Scarlet is the glory of the political government of the world. But the horns are not crowned yet (c.p. Rev. 13:2). The horns are crowned at the middle of the week. The woman holds the power in the first 3 1/2 years.

4 And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and had ornaments of gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and the unclean things of her fornication;

v.4 Her Clothing and Cup. The woman is clothed luxuriously. The one color that is missing in her dress is white (purity). Contrast this with Rev. 19:8. Another color that is missing is blue: the heavenly character. Nor does she possess silver: the price of redemption. The cup is a bewitching cup, appearing on the outside to be righteous (gold), but containing all of her corruptions. The Lord will use this very cup to judge her (Rev. 18:6)!

5 and upon her forehead a name written, Mystery, great Babylon, the mother of the harlots, and of the abominations of the earth.

v.5 Her Name. In history, the Harlot’s evil has been hidden (Mat.13:33), the depths of Satan (Rev. 2:24). Here it is blatant and open, like a banner: “upon her forehead”. A counterfeit to the Mystery of God (Christ and the church), this is the mystery of Satan. She is a “mother” of harlots – and her children are the various systems that have come from Romanism; e.g. the Anglican church. Now she is gathering the children back under her control. There will be one sect of Christianity after the rapture. The first time you get the expression “great Babylon” is in Dan. 4:30, connected with the pride of man in opposition to God. Why is she called “Mystery, Great Babylon”? It isn’t a “mystery” that the civil power should become apostate. It is a mystery that the church should become apostate. The ecclesiastical side always takes the lead in evil.

6 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. And I wondered, seeing her, with great wonder.

v.6 Her Drunkenness. Historically, this further demonstrated who the woman is. Which other religious organization is more guilty of the blood of the martyrs of Jesus than the catholic church? This is the false church, headed up by the apocalyptic version of the catholic church. Jezebel is the old testament type. She is guilty of the blood of two distinct classes. First, she has killed “the saints”, the historical Christian martyrs (Ecc. 3:15). Second, she will kill “the martyrs of Jesus”, the future tribulation martyrs. John wonders with “great admiration”, which is what we would call in modern terms “shock” or “incredulity”. It is not a positive reaction. He is shocked that this is the result of what man has done with God’s House.

The Beast: The Revived Roman Empire (17:7-18)

An Explanation of the Beast From Start to End (vv.7-14)

7 And the angel said to me, Why hast thou wondered? “I” will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast which carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.

v.7 Interpretive Details to Be Given. The angel will now give interpretive details concerning the woman and the beast. It is important to see that the horns are not crowned until after they destroy the woman and give their power to the beast. There is as interesting relationship between the woman and the beast. The beast “carries her”, supporting her, while she controls the beast. Perhaps he supports the woman financially?

8 The beast which thou sawest ⁽¹⁾ was, and ⁽²⁾ is not, and ⁽³⁾ is about to come up out of the abyss and ⁽⁴⁾ go into destruction: and they who dwell on the earth, whose names are not written from the founding of the world in the book of life, shall wonder, seeing the beast, that ⁽¹⁾ it was, and ⁽²⁾ is not, and ⁽³⁾ shall be present.

v.8 The Roman Empire in Four Phases. John is told that the beast, which the woman rode, has and would pass through four great phases.

“It was” – referring to the old Roman empire.
“Is not” – currently there is no Roman empire since 476 AD.
“Is about to ascend out of the abyss” – the Roman empire will be revived, in one form at the beginning of the week, and in a Satanic form at the middle of the week.
It will “go into destruction” – the revived Roman empire will be destroyed at the Lord’s appearing!

Men will marvel at this beast, the old empire revived, and yet in a new form. They will be carried away in their admiration of it, and this will lead to the worship of the beast that we have in ch.13. Those who admire the beast are the earth-dwellers, i.e. those who rejected the gospel of the grace of God. It is interesting that the earth dwellers “marvel” for two reasons: once in ch.17 because the empire is historically revived after many years of absence (“is not, and yet is”, Rev. 17:8), and they marvel in ch.13 because the deadly wound of the seventh head is healed, at the middle of the week.

9 Here is the mind that has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains, whereon the woman sits.

v.9 Seven Heads, Seven Mountains. Next, John is given a key to the geographical center of power for both the harlot, and the beast “whereon the woman sits”. The mind that has wisdom will draw conclusions from the following statements, rather than descend into speculation. The seven heads of the beast represent “seven mountains” or hills. Geographically, this demonstrates who the beast is, and who the woman is. Rome is the city of seven hills. That city is not only the capital of the old empire, but also home to the Vatican! What other great religious organization has its headquarters in Rome? The false church therefore is headed up by the apocalyptic version of the Roman catholic church.⁶

10 And there are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes he must remain only a little while. 11 And the beast that was and is not, he also is an eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into destruction.

vv.10-11 Seven Heads, Seven (Eight) Kings. John is then given a second meaning of the seven hills. Politically, the seven heads are seven kings of the empire, not concurrent but successive. The catholic church has influenced the Roman empire through all forms of government. “Kings” in prophecy can represent forms of sovereignty (Dan. 8:21-22). Seven possible forms are given below. “The other”, or the seventh head, will begin when the Roman empire is revived (beginning of the week). This will be the revived imperial form, which is controlled by the harlot. The man leading the political side, though subject to the woman, is the first “he” of Daniel 9:27, not to be confused with the second “he” who is the little horn. In other words, there will be a prince that leads the Roman empire when it is first revived as ten kingdoms but controlled by the false church. We know this because there is a “he” in Daniel 9 that confirms a covenant with Israel for seven years. But that leader, and that form of government, will only continue “a short space”; i.e. for 3 1/2 years. There will be an eighth king: the final form of government in the West. The final form is of the seven, and yet it is somehow different. The seventh will fall and the eighth rise when the powers are shaken in the middle of the week, and the beast rises again from the abyss. This is when the deadly wound is healed (Rev. 13:8), when the False church falls; it is the satanically revived imperial form – controlled by the personal Beast under Satan’s power. He will be at the helm of the Western power when the appearing takes place.⁷

12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have not yet received a kingdom, but receive authority as kings one hour with the beast.

v.12 Ten Horns, Ten Kings. Having learned that the seven heads are ten kings in a consecutive sense, we now find that the ten horns also represent kings, but in the sense of ten concurrent kingdoms. The ten kings “have not yet received a kingdom” at the beginning of the week, but get their sovereignty at the middle of the week when the beast comes to power. This is the ten-nation western confederacy. The ten kings are probably nations that exist in Europe today, although they may not all be united yet; e.g. France, Germany, Spain, etc. They don’t get real power (crowns on the horns) until the woman is thrown off, and the personal Beast takes over.

13 These have one mind, and give their power and authority to the beast.

v.13 Ten Kingdoms United. The ten horns are seen acting independently until they give their power to the beast. This will be a truly unique form of government, which is why the eighth is of the seven, yet different (v.11). The ten kings will get their power, and then give it to the beast (v.13). This will not all be done willingly at first. After forcibly subduing three (perhaps the three strongest) of the ten horns (Dan. 7:8, 20, 24-25), the others will capitulate. But then, they become of “one mind” with the beast, and this is what gives him such terrible power. This is why the beast and antichrist are able to bring in a Satanic system worship of the beast’s image, to force every subject in their empire into a new religion.

14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them; for he is Lord of lords and King of kings: and they that are with him called, and chosen, and faithful.

v.14 The Horns Make War. Stirred up in Satanic energy, the ten kingdoms will be mad against the Lord Himself. This will happen at the end of the week. It is wonderful to know the outcome before the day arrives; “the Lamb shall overcome them; for he is Lord of lords and King of kings”. This is the first time we get that title of our Lord (see also 1 Tim. 6:15, and Rev. 19:16). It brings in the absolute and undisputed authority of Christ over every other authority! We have seen that there are “kings with the beast”, and now we find that there are “those with the Lamb”. Accompanying Christ are the heavenly saints; see Jude 14; Zech. 14:5; Rev. 19:14. They are those “with him called, and chosen, and faithful”. They are “called” in time (2 Tim. 1:9), “chosen” in eternity (Eph. 1:4), and “faithful” until the end (Matt. 25:21-23; Rev. 2:10). There is of course a remnant on earth that are also “with him”.

The Fall of Babylon as a Harlot (Not a City) (vv.15-18)

¶ 15 And he says to me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.

v.15 Controlling the Masses. The meaning of “waters” or “seas” in scripture is found in v.15; “peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues”. This is perhaps the clearest definition of that symbol found anywhere in scripture. Religious Babylon here is seen dominating the masses in the first 3 1/2 years. This is consistent with what Rome has tried to do throughout the church’s history.

16 And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall ⁽¹⁾hate the harlot, and shall ⁽²⁾ make her desolate and naked, and ⁽³⁾ shall eat her flesh, and shall ⁽⁴⁾ burn her with fire;

v.16 Judgment of the Harlot Through the Horns and Beast. At the middle of the week, God causes the ten kings to tire of the harlot’s domination, to cast her off, and consume her. This does not mean that individuals in her ranks will be killed, but rather that she will cease to be as she has been, and will be totally dismantled organizationally. This will make way for the rise of the Antichrist and the Satanic worship of the personal Beast. Not mentioned here is the forced cessation of Jewish worship (Dan. 9:27) which will also occur at this time. The persons within the false church will continue on as part of political Babylon to be judged at the end of the week. Four steps are given as to the eruption of animosity and violence toward the harlot. First, the horns will “hate the harlot”, or develop an evil disposition toward false Christianity. Second, they will “make her desolate and naked”, exposing her corrupt condition. Third, they will “eat her flesh”, or take away all support for the organization. Finally, they will “burn her with fire”, eliminating every last trace of Christianity. This is the most severe form of judgment on any of the enemies of God recorded in the book of Revelation. That which had the most light will come under the most severe judgment.

17 for God has given to their hearts to do his mind, and to act with one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

v.17 Character of the Confederacy. The judgment of religious Babylon is God’s will. However, God uses the beast to accomplish the work. It may be that God choses this method to judge her because of the character of the evil. It is evil in the name of Christ. Sometimes a dirty job may require the use of a tool, to keep the object at a distance. The destruction of the harlot is a dirty business, and God will use an instrument to accomplish that business. God will in turn destroy that instrument 3 1/2 years later. This is similar to how the Lord will judge Israel through the Assyrian, His “rod” (Isa. 10:5), and then destroy the rod. However, this verse gives us the key characteristic of the beast’s confederacy. What makes this form of government so unique is that there are ten kingdoms, but God puts it in them to act with one mind, and donate their power to the beast, in order to accomplish the word of God. We find in ch.13 that the power of Satan is also there, uniting the kingdoms in diabolical energy. Here we see God’s side: ultimately He is over everything, even using His enemies to accomplish His will!

The Link Between the Political and Religious Aspects (v.18)

18 And the woman which thou sawest is the great city, which has kingship over the kings of the earth.

v.18 Babylon: the Woman and City. Babylon has another aspect: she is a city as well as a harlot. How is she a city? Cities in scripture have to do with administration. So, the false church has a political aspect: “which has kingship over the kings of the earth”. During the first 3 1/2 years, she controls the kings of the earth, and therefore functions as a city. The next chapter deals with the “city” aspect of Babylon in two phases. In vv.1-20 it deals with the false church as the city, and her destruction, and in vv.21-24 it deals with the beast as the city which is judged at the very end by the Lord as His appearing. In this way, Babylon as a city (political aspect) continues until the end of the week. This is the key to understanding the seventh vial, and why Babylon comes into remembrance at the very end of the week. It answers what A.C. Brown called this “the most perplexing problem of the book”. The revived Roman empire is the spiritual continuation of Babylon as a city, because Rome is the final holder of gentile power.

Details of the Fall of Babylon as a City (18:1-20)

The City Babylon. As we previously mentioned, this chapter deals with the “city” aspect of Babylon. In vv.1-20 it deals with the false church as the city, and her destruction, as well as the lamentation of the kings, merchants, and carriers who profited from their relationship with her. Then, in vv.21-24 it deals with the beast as the city, which is judged at the very end by the Lord as His appearing.

The Viewpoint God: She Must Be Recompensed (vv.1-8)

CHAPTER 18

¶ After these things I saw another angel descending out of the heaven, having great authority: and the earth was lightened with his glory.

v.1 Another Angel. Another angel descends, which gives a change in narrators (a different angel speaks in ch.17). This, coupled with the words “after these things”, indicates a new chapter. In this new chapter we have two things. First, in vv.1-20 we are going back over the fall of the false church, not as a harlot but as a city. It seems the judgment is viewed more directly from the Lord (see v.8 and v.20). Revelation 17 and 18 give two different sides of the same events. This angel has “great authority”, and lights the whole earth with his glory. It must figure the Lord Himself! Often in Revelation when you get the expression “another angel” it is referring to Christ himself acting behind the scenes (Rev. 8:3, 10:1, 18:1).

2 And he cried with a strong voice, saying, “Great Babylon has fallen, has fallen” [Isa 21:9], and has become the habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hated bird;

v.2 Announcement of Babylon’s Fall. The fall is announced. Babylon is called “great” whereas the New Jerusalem is never called great. As a harlot she is destroyed, but as a city she is fallen: fallen into a state of demonic and satanic control. “Is fallen” describes her state after the “fall” in ch.17. The word “fallen” is emphasized here. It isn’t her final destruction yet. What a terrible thing, that what once was the house of God will then be the “habitation of demons”. Even today, the church has gotten mixed up in witchcraft, which is part and parcel with the pagan practices she has adopted. Matt. 13:32 shows the evil working began a long time ago. In Matthew, the birds came willingly to roost in the branches. But now they are held or bound up in the cage of Christendom. The birds (here linked with evil spirits, as in Matt. 13:4,19), who are the enemies of the good seed, are now the leaders of the church! But the true church is “the habitation of God by the Spirit” (Eph. 2:22)!

3 because all the nations have drunk of the wine of the fury of her fornication; and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have been enriched through the might of her luxury.

v.3 Babylon’s Indictment. Babylon is guilty of seducing three classes from their allegiance to God and Christ:

“all the nations” – the peoples of Christendom
“the kings of the earth” – the leaders of the nations in the prophetic earth (not excluding the ten kings, whose love for her turns to hatred)
“the merchants of the earth” – those who have profited commercially from relations with the false church.

¶ 4 And I heard another voice out of the heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people” [Jer. 51:45], that ye have not fellowship in her sins, and that ye do not receive of her plagues: 5 for her sins have been heaped on one another up to the heaven, and God has remembered her unrighteousnesses.

vv.4-5 A Call for Separation. A call goes out to the true believers associated with the harlot. This call is a quotation from Jeremiah 51 where. Specifically, it is to the believers of the gospel of the kingdom who are somehow mixed up with the religious organization prior to the beast taking full control. Perhaps there will be a very short vacuum when the church falls, before the beast begins to force the satanic religion on people. The vast majority will get sucked into the final form of Babylon, and be judged at the appearing. The consequences are judicial and governmental. Eternal security is not in question. The reason why they need to separate is given in v.5. We must take God’s viewpoint. Religious Babel has built a tower, “whose top may reach unto heaven” (Gen. 11:4)… a tower not of bricks but of sins. The sins are of such a character as to incur the outrage of heaven.

6 Recompense her even as she has recompensed; and double to her double, according to her works. In the cup which she has mixed, mix to her double.

v.6 A Double Recompense. The voice from heaven calls for sever judgment on Babylon. Perhaps it is Christ speaking, or the imprecatory prayer of the martyred remnant, although in a sense they stand in the place of all the martyrs of the false church. The “cup” is the same cup as Rev. 17:4. There is a solemn irony in this: the same cup that used for pleasure, and shared with her lovers, will be filled again with judgment. God takes it from her hand, fills it double (humanly impossible) with His judgment and forces her to drink it. “And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink” (Jer. 25:28).

7 So much as she has glorified herself and lived luxuriously, so much torment and grief give to her. Because she says in her heart, ⁽¹⁾ “I sit a queen, and ⁽²⁾ I am not a widow; and ⁽³⁾ I shall in no wise see grief:” 8 for this reason in one day shall her plagues come” [Isaiah 47:7-9], death and grief and famine, and she shall be burnt with fire; for strong is the Lord God who has judged her.

vv.7-8 Judgment on Her Impudence and Pride. Having been degraded from her public place by the ten kings of the Roman empire she still maintains her pride. Her spirit is unbroken. This is because of what she is in herself, not so much what she has done. She says three things in her heart:

“I sit a queen” – she thinks she is still in control (2 Kings 9:30).
“I am not a widow” – she false claims to still be in relation to Christ (His bride).
“I shall in no wise see grief” – she does not believe her time of pleasure has come to an end.

Her final destruction is stated in the future tense: “she shall be burnt, etc.” This is because the final judgment of Babylon as a city will take place at the appearing. But her judgment is at the middle if the week, past tense: “the Lord God who has judged her.” In ch.17 the horns are what turn on her, but in ch.18 the Lord takes credit for her judgment. Babylon is “burned with fire”, and one cannot help but think of the many saints who were burned at the stake. This is the recompense.

Viewpoint of the Kings: Lamentation (vv.9-10)

9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication, and lived luxuriously with her, shall weep and wail over her, when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing afar off, through fear of her torment, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! for in one hour thy judgment is come.

vv.9-10 Double Woe From the Kings. It seems likely that there will be a great increase in the influence of the false church in the world before her fall, beyond her current level of influence today. These “kings of the earth” are not exactly the ten horns (see v.3). They would be leaders within Christendom and across the prophetic earth that have profited by corrupt associations with the false church. They have benefited financially from the relationship, but it is a corrupt alliance between the church and the world, called “fornication”. The ten horns are the chiefs of the ten distinct kingdoms of the revived Roman empire.⁸ The kings lament the fall of Babylon, they “weep and wail”, yet stand “afar off, through fear of her torment”, but they are unaware that they have drunk a fatal dose from her cup, and will perish with final Babylon at the appearing (see notes on Rev. 19:19). Note that the city is mentioned seven times in the later half of Rev. 18: see v.10, 16, 18, 19, and 21. These kings are astonished at how quickly the great city has fallen from power. She seemed too great to fail, but it all came crashing down in a short time. Three times we hear, “Woe, woe, the great city” followed by particular interest of each group (v.11, v.16, and v.19). After all, the city is also a harlot, and these men are used to getting something from her.

Viewpoint of the Merchants: Lamentation (vv.11-17a)

11 And the merchants of the earth weep and grieve over her, because no one buys their lading any more;

v.11 Lamentations of the Merchants. The “merchants of the earth” are the next to take up the lamentation. It is very clear from this verse that the false church was their primary customer for their materials and goods. It is not genuine concern for the church, but a sorrow at the lost financial gain.

12 lading of ⁽¹⁾ gold, and ⁽²⁾ silver, and ⁽³⁾ precious stones, and ⁽⁴⁾ pearl, and ⁽⁵⁾ fine linen, and ⁽⁶⁾ purple, and ⁽⁷⁾ silk, and ⁽⁸⁾ scarlet dye, and ⁽⁹⁾ all thyine wood, and ⁽¹⁰⁾ every article in ivory, and ⁽¹¹⁾ every article in most precious wood, and ⁽¹²⁾ in brass, and ⁽¹³⁾ in iron, and ⁽¹⁴⁾ in marble, 13 and ⁽¹⁵⁾ cinnamon, and ⁽¹⁶⁾ amomum, and ⁽¹⁷⁾ incense, and ⁽¹⁸⁾ unguent, and ⁽¹⁹⁾ frankincense, and ⁽²⁰⁾ wine, and ⁽²¹⁾ oil, and ⁽²²⁾ fine flour, and ⁽²³⁾ wheat, and ⁽²⁴⁾ cattle, and ⁽²⁵⁾ sheep, and of ⁽²⁶⁾ horses, and of ⁽²⁷⁾ chariots, and of ⁽²⁸⁾ bodies, and ⁽²⁹⁾ souls of men.

vv.12-13 Catalog of Her Merchandise. Next we are given a catalog of the things the false church has trafficked in. There are twenty-eight (Darby Translation has twenty-nine) articles of merchandise listed here. The first in the list is gold, then silver (money), the last is the bodies and souls of men. The order shows where her primary concern is. However, the most fundamental currency of the false church is “the souls of men”. Without bringing men’s souls into legal bondage, none of her success would be possible.

Seven Categories
ornaments	(1) gold, (2) silver, (3) precious stones, (4) pearl
Clothing	(5) fine linen, (6) purple, (7) silk, (8) scarlet dye
furniture	(9) thyine wood, (10) ivory, (11) precious wood, (12) brass, (13) iron, (14) marble
Perfumes	(15) cinnamon, (16) amomum, (17) incense, (18) unguent, (19) frankincense
food	(20) wine, (21) oil, (22) fine flour, (23) wheat
Vehicles	(24) cattle, (25) sheep, (26) horses, (27) chariots
Persons	(28) bodies, (29) souls of men

14 And the ripe fruits which were the lust of thy soul have departed from thee, and all fair and splendid things have perished from thee, and they shall not find them any more at all.

v.14 Loss of Her Pleasures. The voice of the merchants is interrupted by a voice to Babylon from heaven. The pleasures that the false church sought rather than Christ have been taken away from her.

15 The merchants of these things, who had been enriched through her, shall stand afar off through fear of her torment, weeping and grieving, 16 saying, Woe, woe, the great city, which was clothed with fine linen and purple and scarlet, and had ornaments of gold and precious stones and pearls! 17a for in one hour so great riches has been made desolate.

vv.15-17a Double Woe From the Merchants. the merchants stand afar off… as if to separate themselves from her.

vv.16-17A three times you get, “Woe, woe, the great city” followed by particular interest of each group (v.11, v.16, and v.19)… she is a harlot, these men want something from her. Contrast with v.10. The kings of the earth were more shocked that her power has been taken away, but the merchants are more shocked that her material riches are taken away.

Viewpoint of the Carriers: Lamentation (vv.17b-19)

17b And every steersman, and every one who sailed to any place, and sailors, and all who exercise their calling on the sea, stood afar off, 18 and cried, seeing the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like to the great city?

vv.17b-18 Lamentation of the Freight Carriers. It is not only the kings and merchants that have profited by corrupt association with the false church, but the freight carriers that have transported the goods, etc. In modern terms these would be like brokers, banks, insurance companies, and shipping magnates. A similar lamentation is made over the city of Tyre (see Ezek. 27). Contrast the reasons the carriers give with the kings (v.10) and the merchants (v.16). These ones are more impressed with the sheer glory of Babylon.

19 and cast dust upon their heads, and cried, weeping and grieving, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, in which all that had ships in the sea were enriched through her costliness! for in one hour she has been made desolate.

v.19 Double Woe from the Carriers. Very clearly we see that the middlemen made their money off of the trade generated by the corrupt associations of the false church; they “were enriched through her costliness”. The lusts of the false church opened up a lot of opportunities for these carriers to get rich.

Viewpoint of Heaven: Rejoicing Over Babylon’s Fall (v.20)

¶ 20 Rejoice over her, heaven, and ye saints and apostles and prophets; for God has judged your judgment upon her.

v.20 The Rejoicing of Heaven. Finally, we get a fourth viewpoint… that of heaven! This is a total contrast to the lamentation of the kings, merchants, and freight carriers. Heaven had already passed sentence on her. Even when the apostles and prophets were on earth, they passed judgment on the corrupt religious system, although it was only in a seedling form at that time. Now God judges from heaven and He gives the same judgment. This should exercise us to pass judgment as well, and remain separate!

The Final Destruction of Babylon as a City (18:20-24)

21 And a strong angel took up a stone, as a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall Babylon the great city be cast down, and shall be found no more at all;

v.21 Final Destruction of Babylon as a City. We now have the final judgment of Babylon in the aspect of a city. We read about the her destruction as a harlot in ch.17. Not all expositors agree with this position, but one feels that it makes the best sense of the chapter and of other scriptures concerning Babylon. A new angel appears, and with it a new scene. Now we are going on the end of the prophetic week, to the final destruction of Babylon, which correlates with Rev. 16:19. A similar description of the overthrow of ancient Babylon is found in Jer. 51:60-64. Those verses are prophetic of the destruction of the last Gentile empire, so we are inclined to think Rev. 18:21-24 is speaking about the destruction of the political beast, the revived Roman empire. It is final because it says she “shall be found no more at all”. Compare this with the words of the Lord Jesus concerning the offenders of little ones, that “It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea” (Luke 17:2). With no ark (Christ) to lift her above the waters of judgment, she sinks beneath the waves, never to rise again!

22 and voice of harp-singers and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters shall not be heard any more at all in thee, and no artificer of any art shall be found any more at all in thee, and voice of millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee, 23a and light of lamp shall shine no more at all in thee, and voice of bridegroom and bride shall be heard no more at all in thee;

vv.22-23 Her Utter Desolation. Next we have a poetic account of Babylon’s utter desolation. There are five natural joys that will be taken away from her (compare with Jeremiah 25:10). The “flute and trumpet players” represent the natural joy of music, the “artists” are the natural joy of creativity, the “sound of a millstone” is the joy of everyday life, the “light of a lamp” is the warmth of family and friends, and the “voice of bridegroom and bride” is the natural joy of marriage. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with natural joys, but Babylon enjoyed them in association with evil.

23b for thy merchants were the great ones of the earth; for by thy sorcery have all the nations been deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all the slain upon the earth.

vv.23b-24 Two Reasons for Her Utter Destruction. The first of two reasons is given: she knowingly involved others in her corruption. A solemn warning for the nations. We see that demonic power is behind Babylon. The second reason is blood-guiltiness. It isn’t just the blood of the martyrs that she is responsible for. Babylon as the holder of gentile power has started most if not all of the wars in the prophetic earth (WWI, WWII, etc.). This expression (v.24) has similar wording to the Lord’s condemnation of the scribes and Pharisees. The false church is the same moral generation as the Sanhedrin rebuked by the Lord (Matt. 23:34-36).

Two Celebrations in Heaven (19:1-10)

vv.1-10 There are two celebrations in this section. and both are in heaven. the first is celebration that the false church has been finally destroyed – a backward look. The second is that the true church is ready for the marriage – a forward look. Often at a marriage we hear, “If there be any just cause why these two should not be joined together, let him speak now or forever hold his peace”. The Harlot’s false claim to Christ must be settled once and forever before the marriage can go forward.

Because the False Church Has Been Judged (vv.1-5)

CHAPTER 19

¶ After these things I heard as a loud voice of a great multitude in the heaven, saying, Hallelujah: the salvation and the glory and the power of our God:

v.1 The First Hallelujah. “After these things” tells us we have a new scene. There are two celebrations in this section, and both are in heaven. Our focus in Revelation will not come back to the earth until the Lord appears. John hears “a loud voice of a great multitude in the heaven”. In spite of there being a narrow way, heaven is filled! The deliverance (salvation) of the earth, and the manifestation of God’s glory and power are results of the judgment in Rev. 17-18 and a theme of praise in heaven! All of these things – the salvation of souls, glory, and power – were things that the false church claimed for herself, but they belong only to God!

2 for true and righteous are his judgments; for he has judged the great harlot which corrupted the earth with her fornication, and has avenged the blood of his bondmen at her hand.

v.2 Cause for Celebration. United heaven (every family in heaven, not specific) vindicate God in his righteous judgment of the great harlot. Two chief reasons are cited for her judgment: religious corruption for financial gain, and violence toward any who would speak the truth as servants of God. There is an allusion in this prayer to Psalm 19:9; “the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether”.

3 And a second time they said, Hallelujah. And her smoke goes up to the ages of ages.

v.3 The Second Hallelujah. This doxology begins and ends with Hallelujah, which means “praise Jehovah”. The Hebrew phrase is found four times in this celebration (vv. 1, 3, 4, 6) and nowhere else in the New Testament. Her smoke going up to the ages of ages (eternity) shows that the doom of Babylon is an everlasting witness to the righteous judgment of God (compare with Isa. 34:10).

4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and did homage to God who sits upon the throne, saying, Amen, Hallelujah.

v.4 Redeemed Saints Give Third Hallelujah. We have noticed four other triggers for the worship of the redeemed saints (see Rev. 1:5; 4:9; 5:8; 11:16), now we have a fifth: the public vindication of God in His righteousness (Rev. 19:4). This is the last mention of the twenty-four elders. From here, Revelation focuses on the church, the Lamb’s wife. However, notice that we saw in ch.5 that the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures were all redeemed men. The church is included within the elders, etc. though the elders is a broader group.

5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his bondmen, and ye that fear him, small and great.

v.5 The Throne Speaks. Now the throne – the symbol of God’s government – speaks, calling for all who recognize the sovereignty of God to worship Him.

Because the Reign of Christ and Marriage of the Lamb Is Come (vv.6-10)

¶ 6 And I heard as a voice of a great crowd, and as a voice of many waters, and as a voice of strong thunders, saying, Hallelujah, for the Lord our God the Almighty has taken to himself kingly power. 7 Let us rejoice and exult, and give him glory; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready.

vv.6-7 Fourth Hallelujah. The “great multitude” in v.1 included the bride as well as others. This multitude in v.6 is separate; it is the friends of the bridegroom. This is the moment anticipated in Rev. 11:15. There was a loud voice in v.1 because of the judgment of the false church, but here the voice is “a voice of many waters, and as a voice of strong thunders”. What is before us next is a greater theme of praise! This fourth “hallelujah” is the expression of heaven’s joy in the accomplishment of the mystery of Christ and the Church. This has two parts:

The glory of Christ is secured (v.6) – Christ has stepped to His throne, taking His “kingly power”.
The desire of His heart is fulfilled (v.7) – The marriage of the Lamb has come.

In these two things we see the fulfilment of all the counsels of God for Christ and His church (Eph. 1:9-11). It is the marriage of the Lamb. It is His joy that is especially in view. It is not the marriage of the bride (“her day”) but His… it is all about Him! It follows the Jewish (eastern) wedding tradition. Who is the wife? Eph. 5:32 shows it is the assembly, all saints between Pentecost (Acts 2) and the rapture (1 Thess. 4:17). Now that the wife has come into view, the term “elders” is never used again! The “marriage of the Lamb” is the time when Christ will present the Church “to Himself” (Eph. 5:27). It is a private affair that is for His joy, but the “marriage supper” is when He brings others in to share in that joy! Notice that Christ presents her to Himself. The mighty work of Calvary was all His own. She of bone of His bone, and He alone can present her to Himself!

Wife and Bride. The terms “wife” and “bride” are both used for the Church in Revelation. “Wife” has the thought of assisting Him in the administration of the kingdom. It is used for the church at the marriage (Rev. 19:7) and in the Millennium (Rev. 21:9). “Wife” as a name for the Church in Revelation is discontinued in the eternal state (Rev. 21:2) and “Bride” is used only, which speaks of the satisfaction of Christ’s heart. Opposite from earthly weddings, our “early years” are administrative as well as intimate, but our “honeymoon” is eternity!

8 And it was given to her that she should be clothed in fine linen, bright and pure; for the fine linen is the righteousnesses of the saints.

v.8 Her Wedding Garment. She has made herself ready by devotion to Christ throughout her pathway, and by receiving rewards at the judgment seat of Christ. The “fine linen” speaks of purity, hence it says “bright and pure”, just as the bride herself is “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:27). White is one color that the harlot never wore (Rev. 17:4), although she trafficked in it (Rev. 18:12). Notice it says “it was given to her that she should be clothed in fine linen”. That is God’s sovereignty. Not like the Harlot, who “arrayed herself”. But then we find “the fine linen is the righteousnesses of the saints”, which brings in man’s responsibility. It is the individual actions of the saints, what we have done for the Lord, that will make up the wedding dress! Is is one composite fabric, made of the many individual acts. The bride will not focus on her garment on that wedding day, yet it is God’s wonderous grace that anything we do will have a place in that glorious scene!

9 And he says to me, Write, Blessed are they who are called to the supper of the marriage of the Lamb. And he says to me, These are the true words of God.

v.9 The Marriage Supper: Two Messages for John. Who is the “he” in this verse? It cannot be Christ, because he forbids worship in v.10. One feels that it may be the same angel that spoke to John at the beginning of this section: one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls of judgment (Rev. 17:1). We next have two messages for John from the angel. The first concerns the marriage supper. We had the “marriage of the Lamb” in v.7, which is for the Lamb’s enjoyment, a private affair (Eph. 5:27), and now we have the “marriage supper” in v.9, which is for the guests’ enjoyment. “Blessed” or “happy” are those who are there to witness the occasion! The “friends of the Bridegroom” (John 3:29) will include every heavenly saint (except the Lamb’s wife) in that day. This will include the tribulation martyrs (Rev. 14:13), many babies who have died, the mentally handicapped, etc. No one will feel defrauded that they aren’t the bride, but rather “blessed”. The second message is: “These are the true words of God”. It is an affirmation of the grand truths of Rev. 19:1-9.

10 And I fell before his feet to do him homage. And he says to me, See thou do it not. I am thy fellow-bondman, and the fellow-bondman of thy brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Do homage to God. For the spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus.

v.10 Only Worship God. Overcome by these wonderful communications, John makes a human mistake, and falls at the feet of the angel to worship. To worship even the most exalted of God’s creatures is idolatry. Both angels and saints worship God and His Son, and this angel rightly doesn’t accept what is due to God alone. At the most basic level, saints and angels are “fellow-bondmen”. All intelligent creatures recognize that they owe all to God; “Do homage to God”. The last sentence of the verse brings out an important principle, that the object of prophecy is the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. According to those who know the Greek, the word “is” could be treated as an “=” sign, as it is a reciprocal expression. This means we can use the two expressions in two directions, concluding two things. In one direction, it means any true prophecy will be consistent with the Person of Jesus. In the other direction, it means that our Lord Jesus’ Person is the spirit of all the prophetic scriptures. All scripture, not just New Testament, is really about Jesus!⁹

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk

“Two Babylons” are to be distinguished in the Revelation: ecclesiastical Babylon, which is apostate Christendom, headed up under the Papacy; and political Babylon, which is the beast’s confederated empire, the last form of Gentile world-dominion. Ecclesiastical Babylon is “the great whore” and is destroyed by political Babylon (Rev.17: 15-18), that the beast may be the alone object of worship (Rev. 13:15). The power of political Babylon is destroyed by the return of the Lord in glory. – Scofield Bible.
I have supposed myself that there were two destructions of Babylon in the Revelation. But the examination of the question (to which I was led by circumstances entirely foreign to this discussion) has convinced me that it cannot be sustained. When the great city as a mere exterior thing is separated from the idea of great Babylon, as in chapter 16:19, then indeed I can make such a distinction. But the destruction of Babylon is her destruction. She is utterly burned, chapter 17:16, and chapter 18:8. Her plagues come in one day. The words here used are used in chapter 14:8,* and the same reason given. There, where an orderly series of events is given, it is evident that the fall alluded to is very near the close of the history of evil and of judgment. – J.N. Darby. An Examination of the statements made in the “Thoughts on the Apocalypse,” by B. W. Newton
For the essence of Babylon is the union of the world with the name of Christ. – W. Kelly. Lectures on Revelation.
… the beast and Babylon are not the same thing; for the beast destroys Babylon. And will Rome destroy itself? Certainly, the elements of Babylon are to be found there; but if the matter be looked at more closely, all cannot be found in Rome. For my own part, I believe that Rome, more than any other system, already is in a very true moral sense Babylon, and that it will yet contain and manifest all the elements of that vile corruptress. But for this very reason it cannot be the beast; for the beast it is which destroys Babylon, and after that the beast, falling into its own worst and open rebellion against God, perishes. The worst state of the beast is after Babylon has been destroyed; for then it exalts itself to heaven, only to be cast down to hell; but we shall have the fall of both fully by and by. – W. Kelly. Lectures on Revelation.
Babylon, as it was the first great power of the world that was raised up in God’s providence to chastise and carry away the ancient people of God because of their sins, so the judgment of Babylon sets forth the judgment of the world-power in its last shape. In this way, therefore, Cyrus in the prophecy of Isaiah is clearly viewed as a precursor on a small scale of a great deliverer who will come, the last act of the power of God at the end of the present dispensation being the fall of Babylon, followed by the coming of the Lord Jesus to take the kingdom. It is under the seventh vial that Babylon is finally judged, and then comes the Lord Jesus in the clouds of heaven to establish the people of God upon the earth, as well as to display the church and all the other heavenly saints above. – W. Kelly. Lectures on Ezra.
More than this, the literal Babylon in Chaldea was built on the plain of Shinar. Here the woman was seated on seven mountains; and all the world is aware that such is the well-known characteristic of Rome. In prose or in poetry, if any city were described as being seated upon seven hills, every one would say, That must be Rome. – W. Kelly. Lectures on Revelation.
Here the Holy Ghost, without entering into detail, refers to the various forms of government which were to succeed each other in the famous city Rome: seven heads or kings; but not contemporary: for five, as it is said, were fallen; one is, and the other is not yet come. This implies succession. Five different modes of government had already passed away. “One is,” namely, the imperial form then subsisting, when the apostle lived — the line of Caesars. Another of the seven was not yet come, which, when it did, must continue a short space. “And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into destruction” (verse 11). There is this peculiar character attributed to the beast here, that in one sense he would be of the seven, and in another he would form an eighth or extraordinary beast. It would in certain respects be a new form of power altogether, while in others it would be but a revival of what had gone before. – W. Kelly. Lectures on Revelation.
The ten horns are not once alluded to in Revelation 18, though the kings of the earth are. The difference is this. “In the kings of the earth,” I apprehend, are embraced all those rulers of Christendom with whom she had been on terms of bad intimacy, or who had had evil connection with her. The ten horns are the chiefs of the final divided state of the empire and the active instruments of her devastation, as we are told in Revelation 17. The kings of the earth are her mourners, not her burners. Here in chapter 18 her hour is come, and it is the Lord God that hath judged her. – W. Kelly. Lectures on Revelation.
John then, instead of paying homage to the angel (so natural to the heart), was to feel that the angel is the fellow-servant of himself and of his brethren that have the testimony of Jesus. All such homage is due to God. For we must also remember that the testimony of Jesus is not limited to Christianity, nor to the Spirit’s presence in the church. What He works as the Spirit of prophecy (and so He will work in the saints after our translation to heaven) is the testimony of Jesus as truly as what He gives us now as the power of our communion with the Father and the Son. – W. Kelly. Lectures on Revelation.