| 1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. | Here we have another angelic announcement. The angel has a very significant message. Notice that he comes with great power, and that the whole earth is illuminated with the light that emanates from the glory that surrounds him. | |
| 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. | His declaration announces the destruction of political Babylon - the Antichrist's government and power base. Some commentators believe this to be the destruction of Rome, but it is better just to say that it is wherever the Beast has his headquarters. It is likely to be somewhere in Europe, though some suggest we keep an eye on Iraq (the original Babylon). Will Antichrist move his headquarters there in the last seven years before the Millennium? She is the earthly throne of Satan himself. It is from here that he will rule the earth through the Antichrist. The descriptions in this verse speak of every level of demonic spirits. | |
| 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. | By this time every nation will have been influenced by Babylon. We now this is certainly true of Europe's power today, and it will continue through Antichrist's Europe in the future (see previous chapter). Once fallen, hardly any nation will not feel the effect of it. So many will be controlled by Babylon that the financial markets will collapse when God deals out His judgement. | |
| 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. | Now is the time to come out from Babylon's influence. This is true for both religious and political Babylon. We cannot unite will the Great Whore, and neither should we become friends of the world. " Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you" (2 Corinthians 6:17), "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." (James 4:4). Whoever unites with Babylon will be judged along with her. | |
| 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. | The wickedness of Babylon has reached its highest level, so God must act against her. God remembers her sins. This includes everything from Nimrod's Babel to Antichrist's Babylon, both religious and secular. | |
| 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. | Her judgement will meet the wickedness. She will deserve the highest level of God's wrath. This is what is meant by "double". | |
| 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. | This has been true of all world empires. They have thought that they will continue forever. The Antichrist's empire will be no different. Hitler thought of a thousand year Reich, but the Beast will be going for an eternal Reich. Antichrist is the "king" and Babylon his "queen". This is what he will live for - the glorification of his kingdom! | |
| 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. | Babylon's judgement will come suddenly, but it will be completed in a single day. Political, economic and environmental disaster will send Antichrist's empire into a tailspin to destruction. His headquarters will be burned to the ground in an instant. He thought he could get away with defying and ridiculing God! | |
| 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, | Leaders of all nations will look on in amazement as they watch the Antichrist System burning to the ground. This could only be true in the age of the television. | |
| 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. | There will be great weeping, not just for her but also for themselves. Remember, all the nations involved in the Beast's kingdom will have invested everything into it, so they are judged along with him. | |
| 11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: | Never again will Babylon (religious or political) influence the world. Her years of glory are ended in a moment. This is why it is always foolish to trust in the world's riches and political strength. | |
| 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, | This verse is symbolic of the vast wealth and treasures of Babylon. It reveals just how economically powerful she will be in the last days. Again, this is especially true today in Europe as it gears up for the Antichrist's takeover and incorporation into his own European empire. | |
| 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. | This verse carries through with the same idea of the previous. The last statement should be noted. This is what it is all about. Not earth's riches or glory, but the souls of men. Satan simply wants the souls of men. This is what his war with God has always been about. | |
| 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. | The glory of Babylon is over. All she hoped for will never happen. Antichrist's eternal kingdom will be over in seven years (just like Hitler's thousand year Reich). | |
| 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, | For a time the world leaders will be allowed to weep. We know that Christ's Kingdom is about to appear, but to them it is the end of the world. In a sense they will be right. Finally the world will be free from all Babylonish influences. | |
| 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! | This verse has lead some commentators to say that the Antichrist is the pope of Rome and his kingdom will be ruled from the Vatican. But we see from our reading of these last few chapters that there is a political as well as religious Babylon. The Vatican exists until the Beast takes it over. This is why the destruction of both arms of his kingdom appear very similar. | |
| 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, | Again the fall of the financial markets is reiterated. | |
| 18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! | Again the devastating effect of her fall is noted. It is obviously worldwide even though it is unlikely that Antichrist will rule the entire planet. Britain is not ruled by Japan, but we feel the pressure when her money market goes through a tough time. | |
| 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. | Can we ignore the extent of God's judgement upon Antichrist and his empire? Several times in this chapter we see how it will affect the world. But as the world mourns ..... | |
| 20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. | Heaven will erupt in joy! All who have ever perished or were persecuted by Babylon throughout the ages will rejoice to see her final day. Do we not rejoice at the fall of evil empires? So too will Heaven. | |
| 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. | What happens to a rock thrown into the sea? It sinks. So it will be with Babylon. She will sink to rise no more. | |
| 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; | Never again will she hear the sound of entertainment or industry. | |
| 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. | No light will shine in her streets or the noise merriment. Nobody will ever be influenced by her wickedness again. | |
| 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. | Why? Why is Babylon judged so severely by God? Because she has always been the enemy of God. She has sought the souls of men, and those who instead submitted to God she persecuted and killed. She is responsible for the blood of all who have been slain on the earth. This indicates that God is dealing with Babylon from Nimrod to Antichrist. It has been the same system throughout the ages. In fact her foundation was first laid when Cain slew Abel. He religiously rebelled against God. It is from him that Nimrod came. So "all that were slain upon the earth" is no exaggeration. |