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18 And after these things, I saw another angel come down from Heaven, having great power, so that the earth was lightened with his glory,

And he cried out mightily with a loud voice, saying, “It is fallen! It is fallen! Babylon, that great city, has become the habitation of demons, and the prison of all foul spirits, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird!

“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 have grown rich on the abundance of her pleasures!”

And I heard another voice from Heaven say, “Come out of her, my people, so that you are not partakers of her sins, and that you do not receive her plagues.

“For her sins have come up into Heaven. And God has remembered her iniquities.

“Reward her, even as she has rewarded you. And give her double according to her works. And in the cup that she has filled to you, fill her double.

“Inasmuch as she glorified herself, and lived in pleasure, give her the same in torment and sorrow. For she says in her heart, ‘I sit, being a queen, and am no widow. And I shall see no mourning.’

“Therefore, her plagues shall come in one day: death and sorrow and famine. And she shall be burnt with fire. For God, who condemns her, is a strong Lord.

And the kings of the earth who have committed fornication, and lived in pleasure with her, shall bewail her and lament for her when they shall see the smoke of her burning.

10 And they shall stand at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, “Alas, alas, that great city Babylon; that mighty city! For in one hour has your judgment come!”

11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and wail over her. For no one buys their wares anymore.

12 The wares of gold and silver and of precious stone and of pearls and of fine linen and of purple and of silk and of scarlet and of all manner of citron wood and of all vessels of ivory and of all vessels of most precious wood and of brass and of iron and of marble

13 and of cinnamon and odors and ointments and frankincense and wine and oil and fine flour and wheat and beasts and sheep and horses and chariots and servants and souls of man.

14 “And the ripe fruits that your soul lusted after, have departed from you. And all things which were fat and excellent, have departed from you. And you shall find them no more.”

15 The merchants of these things (who had grown rich) shall stand at a distance from her for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing.

16 And saying, “Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and gilded with gold and precious stones and pearls!

17 “In one hour so great riches have come to desolation!” And every shipmaster, and all the people who occupy ships, and shipmen, and whoever traffics on the sea, shall stand at a distance

18 and cry when they see the smoke of her burning, saying, “What city was like this great city!?”

19 And they shall cast dust on their heads and cry, weeping and wailing, and say, “Alas, alas, that great city wherein were made rich all who had ships on the sea by her coastlines! For in one hour she was made desolate!

20 “O Heaven, rejoice over her; and you, holy Apostles and Prophets! For God has punished her and judged against her for your sakes!”

21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone, like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, “With such violence shall that great city Babylon be cast, and shall be found no more!

22 “And the voice of harpers and musicians, and of pipers and trumpeters, shall be heard no more in you. And no craftsman, of whatever craft he is, shall be found anymore in you. And the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more in you.

23 “And the light of a candle shall shine no more in you. And the voice of the bridegroom, and of the bride, shall be heard no more in you. For your merchants were the great men of the earth. And all nations were deceived with your enchantment.

24 “And in her was found the blood of the Prophets, and of the saints, and of all who were killed upon the earth!”

Lament Over Fallen Babylon

18 After this I saw another angel(A) coming down from heaven.(B) He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.(C) With a mighty voice he shouted:

“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’[a](D)
    She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,(E)
    a haunt for every unclean bird,
    a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.(F)
For all the nations have drunk
    the maddening wine of her adulteries.(G)
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,(H)
    and the merchants of the earth grew rich(I) from her excessive luxuries.”(J)

Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment

Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“‘Come out of her, my people,’[b](K)
    so that you will not share in her sins,
    so that you will not receive any of her plagues;(L)
for her sins are piled up to heaven,(M)
    and God has remembered(N) her crimes.
Give back to her as she has given;
    pay her back(O) double(P) for what she has done.
    Pour her a double portion from her own cup.(Q)
Give her as much torment and grief
    as the glory and luxury she gave herself.(R)
In her heart she boasts,
    ‘I sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow;[c]
    I will never mourn.’(S)
Therefore in one day(T) her plagues will overtake her:
    death, mourning and famine.
She will be consumed by fire,(U)
    for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

Threefold Woe Over Babylon’s Fall

“When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her(V) and shared her luxury(W) see the smoke of her burning,(X) they will weep and mourn over her.(Y) 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off(Z) and cry:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,(AA)
    you mighty city of Babylon!
In one hour(AB) your doom has come!’

11 “The merchants(AC) of the earth will weep and mourn(AD) over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore(AE) 12 cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble;(AF) 13 cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.(AG)

14 “They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’ 15 The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her(AH) will stand far off,(AI) terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn(AJ) 16 and cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,(AK)
    dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,
    and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!(AL)
17 In one hour(AM) such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’(AN)

“Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea,(AO) will stand far off.(AP) 18 When they see the smoke of her burning,(AQ) they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city(AR)?’(AS) 19 They will throw dust on their heads,(AT) and with weeping and mourning(AU) cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,(AV)
    where all who had ships on the sea
    became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’(AW)

20 “Rejoice over her, you heavens!(AX)
    Rejoice, you people of God!
    Rejoice, apostles and prophets!
For God has judged her
    with the judgment she imposed on you.”(AY)

The Finality of Babylon’s Doom

21 Then a mighty angel(AZ) picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea,(BA) and said:

“With such violence
    the great city(BB) of Babylon will be thrown down,
    never to be found again.
22 The music of harpists and musicians, pipers and trumpeters,
    will never be heard in you again.(BC)
No worker of any trade
    will ever be found in you again.
The sound of a millstone
    will never be heard in you again.(BD)
23 The light of a lamp
    will never shine in you again.
The voice of bridegroom and bride
    will never be heard in you again.(BE)
Your merchants were the world’s important people.(BF)
    By your magic spell(BG) all the nations were led astray.
24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people,(BH)
    of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”(BI)

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 18:2 Isaiah 21:9
  2. Revelation 18:4 Jer. 51:45
  3. Revelation 18:7 See Isaiah 47:7,8.