In Revelation 18, we are introduced to the fall of Babylon. Earlier in our study, we identified some characteristics of Babylon and the great harlot. Both, because of their characteristics, represented Rome. Christians no doubt were wondering, what is God going to do to Rome?
God had already told them to wait a while because He would avenge Rome. That vengeance was seen in the seven bowls discussed earlier in the book. God had promised that His vengeance would come. Now, God explains that Rome will fall, Christianity will live and rule forever, but Rome and its government will not.
John now sees another angel coming down from heaven and notice that this angel had great authority and was illuminated with splendour, Revelation 18:1. This angel shouts that Babylon the Great has fallen, Revelation 18: / Isaiah 28:9. This is a message of judgment.
Babylon takes our minds back to the image of Babylon in the Old Testament, which depicted Babylon as a great world power that conquered God’s people, Isaiah 13:19-22. Although Babylon of the Old Testament wasn’t a righteous force, God used it for His purposes.
But who is Babylon mentioned here? It is none other than Rome. Babylon is mentioned as a great city, Revelation 18:16 / Revelation 18:21. Revelation 18:3, and Revelation 18:9, both say that Babylon commits fornication with those of the world. This is much like the harlot who was committing fornication and living in ungodliness.
Revelation 18:16 says that Babylon dresses and lives luxuriously, which is quite similar to what is said of the harlot. Babylon is seen as having killed Christians, Revelation 18:24.
Babylon is a synonym for Rome, Revelation 17:5. If the harlot is Rome and if Babylon the Great is the mother of harlots, then that is a picture of Rome and her government. The harlot is Rome, Babylon the Great is Rome, which is the evil world force that is causing so much harm to Christians.
Notice that the angel’s message is written in the past tense, Revelation 18:2. Remember, at this time, Rome hadn’t fallen yet, so why write as though it had? It’s written in the past tense to demonstrate the certainty that Rome and her empire will fall.
Every evil activity we can think of was happening in Rome. There were demons and impure spirits, there were unclean birds and detestable animals. In other words, they were evil to the core and practising evil, Revelation 18:2.
It appears that their ungodliness had a huge effect on the nations around her; they too are involved in adultery, the merchants of the earth have prospered through the immorality of Rome, Revelation 18:3. History tells us that when the Roman Empire declined and eventually fell, several nations shared in that fate.
John now hears another voice from heaven saying, ‘come out of her, my people’, Revelation 18:4. This again takes our minds back to when God’s people were told to come out of Babylon after their captivity time was up, Jeremiah 50:8 / Jeremiah 51:6 / Jeremiah 51:9 / Jeremiah 51:45 / Isaiah 52:11.
They were to come out in order that they would not share in Rome’s sins, Ephesians 5:11 / 2 Corinthians 6:17, and not receive any of her plagues, Revelation 18:4. The warning is very clear: if any of God’s people don’t come out and separate themselves from the sins of the Roman Empire will suffer in her plagues.
It appears that Rome’s sins were so numerous and so evil that they piled up to heaven, Revelation 18:5. Notice that Rome will be paid back double for all the persecution, pain and suffering she inflicted upon God’s people, Revelation 18:6. They are going to reap what they sowed, Isaiah 47:7-9 / Matthew 7:2 / Galatians 6:7.
Notice how Rome glorified herself as a queen, and how they lived in luxury, Revelation 18:7. Oh, how Rome was full of herself, thinking that no one could touch her and destroy her, but oh, how wrong Rome was, Isaiah 13:3-23.
There will be no escaping God’s judgment, because when it comes, it’s going to be swift, severe and sure, Revelation 18:8. Rather than life and prosperity, the Roman empire will crumble into death, mourning, and famine.
Kercheville, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Revelation is not predicting that Rome fell in one day, just as the scriptures are not predicting other nations falling in one day, Isaiah 47:9. It is a symbol of the suddenness of the loss of power and authority. It would seem that the empire would never end, and suddenly the empire will be in trouble. It will lose its power and be destroyed. This is the imagery of the fire. Revelation is not predicting Rome literally burning, Isaiah 47:14. The fire is a symbol of judgment. Its time of glory and rule is over. The empire has fallen. Rome has lost her power.’
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following.
‘In the rest of this chapter, we have the dirges for Rome; the dirge sung by the kings, Revelation 18:9-10, the dirge sung by the merchants, Revelation 18:11-16, the dirge sung by the shipmasters and the sailors, Revelation 18:17-19. Again and again, we hear of the greatness, the wealth and the wanton luxury of Rome.’
All those surrounding nations who were involved with Rome and her evil practices now realise that Rome couldn’t keep them safe anymore; they can’t provide them with protection, Revelation 18:9. Their rich lifestyles are ripped away as nation after nation falls to invading conquerors of the Roman Empire.
It’s evident because of fear that the surrounding nations don’t want to share in what Rome is suffering, so they stand far off; they hated to see her fall, but not badly enough to go share in her fate, Revelation 18:10 / Jeremiah 51:9.
Many merchants the world over enjoyed great trade opportunities with Rome. The merchants of the earth are going to survive the onslaught against Rome; however, they’re not crying because Rome falls, they’re crying because their businesses are going to be affected, Revelation 18:11.
All the things mentioned are the things they bought and sold because of the trade coming in and out of Rome, Revelation 18:12-13, and it appears they were doing rather well; however, since Rome has fallen, they have lost it all, Revelation 18:14.
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The lament of the merchants is purely selfish. All their sorrow is that the market from which they drew so much wealth is gone. It is significant that both the kings and the merchants stand afar off and watch. They stretch out no hand to help Rome in her last agony; they were never bound to her in love; their only bond was the luxury she desired and the trade it brought to them.’
Those merchants who gained great wealth from Rome mourn her downfall, but they stay well clear of the city just in case they get caught up in her destruction, Revelation 17:18 / Ezekiel 27:29-36.
McGuiggan, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This is why the harlot was so popular, she made everyone rich. Alliances with her were money in the bank. The Harlot if Rome as a commercial leader. With whom to commit fornication was a promise of prosperity.’
‘In an hour’, refers to the suddenness and unexpectedness for which this all happened, Revelation 18:17 / Revelation 18:19. Notice once again, that those sea captains who traded with Rome stand at a distance and from a distance they see Rome’s destruction, Revelation 18:18. It’s clear they too don’t want to get caught up in Rome’s destruction.
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following.
‘First, the kings uttered their lament over Rome, then, the merchants, and now, the shipmasters, Ezekiel 27:28-30.’
There was no other city on earth that could compare to the great city of Rome, hence why they exclaimed, was there ever a city like this great city, and mourned her loss, Revelation 18:18.
The long wait for justice is now over, Revelation 6:9-11, and the heavens rejoice. The saints, apostles and prophets who had been slain by the Roman Empire finally saw judgment handed out for the slaughter, the pain, the suffering, and the persecution wrought on them by an evil empire that glutted herself in their blood, Revelation 11:18.
McGuiggan, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Heaven, but can’t rejoice at the death of such a monster. Apostles have every reason to. Prophets (Daniel or John) will have reason to smile. Their word has come true, and their fellow servants are now having rest from the ungodly empire.’
A mighty angel takes a boulder, the size of a large millstone and casts it into the sea, Jeremiah 51:63-64. While doing this, the angel says that Babylon has been thrown down with violence and will never be found again, Revelation 18:21 / Jeremiah 51:61-64.
Because Rome has been destroyed, seductive music won’t be heard again, Ezekiel 26:13; no trade will be done with her, and no millstone will be heard, Revelation 18:22. In other words, Rome has gone, along with all the things she was famous for; her light has gone out, Revelation 18:23 / Jeremiah 25:10.
The bridegroom’s voice and the bride will never be heard again in Rome, and her magic spell used to deceive the nations around to join in with her idolatrous worship, pagan ceremonies and lascivious lifestyles were gone. No more will they be able lead people astray, Revelation 18:13.
The faithful Christians refused to bow down to the emperors and the other false gods, and as a result, many Christians were slaughtered because of their faith, Revelation 18:24 / Revelation 17:6. This tells us that anyone, any nation who hurts God’s people in any fashion, will be punished, Deuteronomy 32:43 / Jeremiah 51:48.
History records that Rome was destroyed and that its evil ways came to an end. God’s kingdom, the church, however, is still reigning today. This is a powerful tribute to the Word of God, to the Book of Revelation, and to Jesus Christ.
Just as God promised, Rome was destroyed, but look at the Lord’s church today, it flourishes and grows. The Word of God, we learn from Acts 12:25, grew and multiplied, but Rome has long been forgotten. Meanwhile, the Lord’s church is still ruling and reigning in the hearts and lives of men and women today, Luke 17:20-21.
We must make sure that we’re a part of the most important kingdom of all, the kingdom of Christ. It’s not a kingdom that has a physical location or that is composed of physical things. Rather, it is a spiritual rule that reigns in the hearts and lives of men and women.
The Book of Revelation is about God, Christ, and His kingdom being victorious over all other kingdoms and especially, so far as first-century Christians were concerned, the Roman Empire. In Revelation 19-22, the battle is over, and God explains what will happen to the enemies of Christianity and the redeemed.