Here we have commercial Babylon, which represents the great worldwide stem of the latter days. Of course, religious Babylon (the apostate church centered at Rome) will have a great part to play in the economics of the nations, just as Rome has played in the centuries past. When the religious system collapses, it will be the beginning of the end of the whole empire of the Beast, although he will have 3 1/2 years to reign. It is comforting to read (17:17) and realize that all of this fulfills the Word of God! Note in this chapter four different voices:

 

I. THE VOICE OF JUDGMENT (18:1-3)

This angel announces the fall of Babylon, an event that has already been announced (14:8 and 16:19). The repetition of "is fallen, is fallen" suggests the dual judgment of the two chapters (religious and commercial Babylon), as well as the statement in (vs. 6) that she would receive double for her sins. This "great city" (10), the center of the world economic system, will finally get what she deserves from the hand of God! It has become a habitation of demons (see Eph. 2:22, where the church is a habitation of the Spirit), and a haven for foul spirits (see 16:13-14). Satan is often pictured as a bird (Matt. 13:14,19,31-32). Verse 3 indicates that her influence over the nations of the earth has been as though men had become drunk on wine. She made them rich and that is all that mattered to them.

 

II. THE VOICE OF SEPARATION (18:4-8)

Some of God's people are in this city, and God wants them to come out for two reasons:

[1]. The city will be destroyed and He wants them saved;
[2]. The city is Satanic and He does not want them defiled.

"Come out!" has always been God's call to His people, for salvation means separation from the world unto the Lord (2 Cor. 6:14ff). God's people do not belong to the world or in the world. The world glorifies itself (7); the Christian seeks to glorify God. The world lives for the "delicious pleasures of sin," while the Christian lives for the pleasures of Christ. Look at Babylon's pride in (vs. 7) - "I sit a queen… and shall see no sorrow! " But (vs. 8) indicates that she will exchange in one day her joys for sorrow, her riches for famine! There is a lesson here for God's people today: "Be not partaker of other man's sins (I Tim. 5:22).

 

II. THE VOICE OF MOURNING (18:9-19)

We see two groups lamenting the fall of Babylon: the kings of the earth (9-10), and the merchants of the earth (11-19). They had "committed fornication" with Babylon by rejecting the true God and going after idols, money in particular. Their luxurious living was now at an end! Note the repetition of "Alas, alas!" in 10, 16, and 19. Babylon is judged in one day (8) and one hour (10, 19).

Why do the merchants and kings lament? Because their merchandise is now gone! Verses 12-13 indicate the vast wealth of the merchant system-including as slaves and the souls of men.'' There will be an increase in slavery in the last days, for Satan has always wanted to enslave the souls and bodies of men. The rich will get richer, the poor will get poorer. Both luxuries and necessities will be destroyed when God judges Babylon. Shipping will be destroyed and the shipping industry brought to ruin. Men today depend on the economic system to care for them, protect them, and satisfy them; but ultimately it will fail them.

 

IV. THE VOICE OF REJOICING (18:18, 20-24)

The men of the earth never have the same viewpoint as the people of God. When Satan was cast out of heaven, heaven rejoiced but earth mourned (12:1012). Now that Babylon has been destroyed, heaven rejoices but earth laments.

The main reason for heaven's rejoicing is that the blood of the martyrs has been avenged by God. The Babylonian system is Satanic, and from the very beginning (Gen 4) has been responsible for the death of God's faithful people. The souls under the altar in (Rev. 6.9-11) had asked, "How long, 0 Lord?" Now their prayer is answered: God has avenged their blood. (See Rom 12:19).

The casting down of the millstone indicates the suddenness of God's judgment on the empire of the Beast. Some students see in this millstone the return of Christ, the Smiting Stone, as pictured in (Dan. 2:34,35,44-45). Just when the world thinks is getting along beautifully without Christ, He will return to smash their systems and destroy their works.

Note the repeated "no more's" in this chapter, and read (Jer. 25:9-11). When God says "No more!" there is nothing man can do to change it. You may want to read (Jer. 51).

We have seen then, the destruction of the Beast's empire. economically and religiously. All that remains is for Christ to destroy his armies, and this we see in chapter 19.