Revelation Chapter 18

Verse 1

I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority - This angel represents a final message sent from heaven just before the judgment of Babylon. (Compare with the Three Angels of Rev. 14:6-12). This angel’s message will be given with great authority through the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). This is the time of the Latter Rain (Hosea 6:3, Joel 2:23).

The earth was illuminated with his glory – In the proclamation of this message, God’s character will be revealed to the world (Isaiah 60:1-3). (SOP 1)

Verse 2

Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen - This angel repeats the message of the Second Angel with greater power, and adds a description of the elements that have entered Babylon since her original fall in 1844.

And has become a dwelling place of demons – Due to her rejection of God and His word, Babylon is controlled by demons.

A prison for every foul [unclean] spirit – At the time God’s people are filled with the Holy Spirit (Verse 1), Babylon is filled with every foul spirit.

A cage for every unclean and hated bird – This refers to the wicked that have grown rich through deceit and oppression (Jeremiah 5:26-29). (SOP 2)

Verse 3

The angel explains why Babylon is fallen. She has forced the world to accept her false teachings through her alliances with the political and economic leaders of the world. By an economic embargo and a death decree, they have enforced the mark of the beast. (SOP 3)

Verses 4,5

The angel is interrupted by a voice from heaven. Some of God’s true people are still in Babylon, and God Himself urgently calls them to come out of Babylon before she is punished. (SOP 4)

Verses 6-8

Next, the divine sentence is pronounced upon Babylon. Babylon’s punishment will be according to her crime (Jeremiah 50:29).

For she says in her heart, “I am a queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow” – This boast of end-time Babylon evokes the arrogant boasting of ancient Babylon (Isaiah 47:7-9).

Therefore her plagues will come in one day – death and mourning and famine – The “day” referred to here is the day of the Lord (Isaiah 13:1,6,9-13).

She will be utterly burned with fire – See Rev. 19:20.

Verses 9,10

The kings of the earth are the political powers that supported Babylon. They weep and lament over Babylon’s punishment from a distance, fearful of their own impending fate.

Verse 11

The merchants of the earth are the business leaders who have supported Babylon. They lament over the economic loss they are suffering because of Babylon’s punishment.

Verses 12,13

This list of merchandise is comprehensive, including nearly everything pertaining to luxurious living and worldly display. Notice particularly the last items on the list:

Bodies…of men – This refers to slavery in its various forms.

Souls of men – The souls of men may be included in this list because many will be lost from the materialism, pride of display and envy that result from trade in this merchandise.

Verse 14

In this verse, the angel speaks directly to Babylon. Everything that she has desired has been permanently taken from her.

Verses 15-17a

Like the kings of the earth (verse 9), the merchants also stand at a distance, fearful of their own impending fate. Notice the merchant’s description of Babylon in their lament (verse 16). The harlot has adorned herself with items from their list of merchandise to attract the kings of the earth (see Rev. 17:4).

Verse 17b-19

The shipmasters represent the leaders of commerce. They also stand at a distance, casting dust on their heads (a sign of extreme grief) as they lament Babylon’s punishment.

Verse 20

Rejoice over her, O heaven – Heaven will be the first to rejoice in the triumph of Christ (Rev. 12:10,12, 19:1-3).

And you holy apostles and prophets – These all endured persecution in former times because of their fidelity to God, patiently awaiting the promise (see Hebrews 11:32-38, 10:32-39).

Verse 21

This symbolic illustration of Babylon’s downfall comes from Jeremiah 51:60-64. See also Matthew 18:6.

Verses 22,23

The desolation of Babylon is vividly portrayed in the cessation of all the city’s activities. The arts and crafts, everyday business and domestic activities have all ceased (Jeremiah 25:9-11). There may be another spiritual application to the description in verse 23. The lamp may refer to the Bible, and the bridegroom and bride may refer to Christ and His church.

Your merchants were the great men of the earth – In the eyes of the world, greatness is measured by power and wealth. In contrast to this, God considers character to be the measure of greatness.

For by your sorcery all the nations were deceived – The satanic forces have worked in league with Babylon to deceive the entire world (Rev. 9:21, 13:13,14, 16:13,14).

Verse 24

The angel concludes this indictment of Babylon by finding her responsible for killing all the prophets and saints (compare with 17:6, 18:20, Jeremiah 51:49).

Spirit of Prophecy Quotations

1 “The angel who unites in the proclamation of the third angel's message is to lighten the whole earth with his glory. A work of world-wide extent and unwonted power is here foretold. The advent movement of 1840-44 was a glorious manifestation of the power of God; the first angel's message was carried to every missionary station in the world, and in some countries there was the greatest religious interest which has been witnessed in any land since the Reformation of the sixteenth century; but these are to be exceeded by the mighty movement under the last warning of the third angel.

“The work will be similar to that of the Day of Pentecost. As the "former rain" was given, in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the opening of the gospel, to cause the upspringing of the precious seed, so the "latter rain" will be given at its close for the ripening of the harvest.” – The Great Controversy, page 611.

2 “This scripture points forward to a time when the announcement of the fall of Babylon, as made by the second angel of Revelation 14 (verse 8), is to be repeated, with the additional mention of the corruptions which have been entering the various organizations that constitute Babylon, since that message was first given, in the summer of 1844. A terrible condition of the religious world is here described. With every rejection of truth the minds of the people will become darker, their hearts more stubborn, until they are entrenched in an infidel hardihood. In defiance of the warnings which God has given, they will continue to trample upon one of the precepts of the Decalogue, until they are led to persecute those who hold it sacred. Christ is set at nought in the contempt placed upon His word and His people. As the teachings of spiritualism are accepted by the churches, the restraint imposed upon the carnal heart is removed, and the profession of religion will become a cloak to conceal the basest iniquity. A belief in spiritual manifestations opens the door to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and thus the influence of evil angels will be felt in the churches.” – The Great Controversy, page 603.

3 “The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power--all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like these. In amazement they hear the testimony that Babylon is the church, fallen because of her errors and sins, because of her rejection of the truth sent to her from heaven.” – The Great Controversy, page 607.

4 “Revelation 18 points to the time when, as the result of rejecting the threefold warning of Revelation 14:6-12, the church will have fully reached the condition foretold by the second angel, and the people of God still in Babylon will be called upon to separate from her communion. This message is the last that will ever be given to the world; and it will accomplish its work. When those that "believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thessalonians 2:12), shall be left to receive strong delusion and to believe a lie, then the light of truth will shine upon all whose hearts are open to receive it, and all the children of the Lord that remain in Babylon will heed the call: "Come out of her, My people."” – The Great Controversy, page 390.