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The Vision of the Fall of Babylon

18 After these things, I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority,[a] and the earth was made bright by his splendor. He cried out in a powerful voice,

“Fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen!
    She has become a home for demons.
She is a prison for every unclean spirit,
    a prison for every unclean bird,
    and a prison for every unclean
        and hated beast.
For all the nations have drunk
    from the wine of her sexual immorality,
and the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her.
The world’s businesses have become rich
    from her luxurious excesses.”

The Warning to Leave Babylon

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,

“Come out of her, my people,
    so that you don’t participate in her sins
        and also suffer from her diseases.
For her sins are piled as high as heaven,
    and God has remembered her crimes.
Do to her as she herself has done,
    and give her double for her deeds.
Mix a double drink for her in the cup she mixed.
Just as she glorified herself and lived in luxury,
    inflict on her just as much torture and misery.

In her heart she says,
    ‘I am a queen on a throne, not a widow.
        I will never see misery.’
For this reason, her diseases that result in death, misery, and famine
    will come in a single day.
She will be burned up in a fire,
    because powerful is the Lord God who judges her.”

The kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality with her and lived in luxury with her, will cry and mourn over her when they see the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her.[b] 10 Frightened by the torture that she experiences,[c] they will stand far away and cry out,

“How terrible, how terrible it is for that great city,
    the powerful city Babylon,
        because your judgment arrived in a single hour!”

11 The world’s businesses cry and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo anymore— 12 cargo of gold, silver, gems, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all articles made of ivory, all articles made of very costly wood, bronze, iron, marble, 13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, and slaves (that is, human souls)—

14 “The fruit that you crafted has abandoned you.
    All your dainties and your splendor are lost,[d]
        and no one will ever find them again.”

15 Frightened by the severity of her punishment, businesses that had become rich because of her will stand at a distance, crying and mourning:

16 “How terrible, how terrible it is for the great city
    that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet
        and was adorned with gold, gems, and pearls,
17 because all this wealth has been destroyed in a single hour!”

Every ship’s captain, everyone who traveled by ship, sailors, and everyone who made a living from the sea stood far away. 18 When they saw the smoke rising from the fire that consumed her,[e] they began to cry out, “What city was like that great city?” 19 Then they threw dust on their heads and shouted while crying and mourning:

“How terrible, how terrible it is for the great city,
    where all who had ships at sea became rich from her wealth,
        because it has been destroyed in a single hour!
20 Be happy about her, heaven, saints, apostles, and prophets,
    for God has condemned her for you!”

The Vision of the Powerful Angel with the Millstone

21 Then a powerful angel picked up a stone that was like a large millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,

“The great city Babylon will be thrown down violently—
    and will never be found again.
22 The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters
    will never be heard within you again.
No artisan of any trade
    will ever be found within you again.
The sound of a millstone
    will never be heard within you again.
23 The light from a lamp
    will never shine within you again.
The voice of a bridegroom and bride
    will never be heard within you again.
For your merchants were the important people of the world,
    and all the nations were deceived by your witchcraft.
24 The blood of the world’s prophets, saints,
    and all who had been murdered
        was found within her.”

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 18:1 Or tremendous power
  2. Revelation 18:9 Lit. from her fire
  3. Revelation 18:10 Lit. by her torture
  4. Revelation 18:14 Lit. lost to you
  5. Revelation 18:18 Lit. from her fire

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.