The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Revelation 18
1 After these things, I saw another angel
coming down out of the sky, having great
authority. The earth was illuminated with
his glory.
2 He cried with a mighty voice, saying,
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and
she has become a habitation of demons, a
prisonof everyuncleanspirit, and a prison
of every unclean and hated bird!
3 For all the nations have drunk of the
wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality,
the kings ofthe earth committed sexual
immorality with her, and the merchants of
the earth grew rich from the abundance of
her luxury.”
4 I heard another voice from heaven,
saying, “Come out of her, my people, that
you have no participation in her sins, and
that you don’t receive of her plagues,
5 for her sins have reached to the sky,
and God has remembered her iniquities.
6 Return to her just as she returned, and
repay her double as she did, and according
to her works. In the cup which she mixed,
mix to her double.
7 However much she glorified herself
and grew wanton, so much give her of
torment and mourning. For she says in her
heart, ‘I sit a queen, and am no widow, and
will in no way see mourning.’
8 Therefore in one day her plagues will
come: death, mourning, and famine; and
she will be utterly burned with fire, for the
Lord God who has judged her is strong.
9 The kings of the earth who committed
sexual immorality and lived wantonly
with her will weep and wail over her,
when they look at the smoke of her burning,
10 standing far away for the fear of her
torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city,
Babylon, the strong city! For your
judgment has come in one hour.’
11 The merchants of the earth weep and
mourn over her, for no one buys their
merchandise any more:
12 merchandise of gold, silver, precious
stones, pearls, fine linen, purple, silk,
scarlet, all expensive wood, every vessel of
ivory, every vessel made of most precious
wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble;
13 and cinnamon, incense, perfume,
frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour,
wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, and
people’s bodies and souls.
14 The fruits which your soul lusted after
have been lost to you. All things that were
dainty and sumptuous have perished from
you, and you will find them no more at all.
15 The merchants of these things, who
were made rich by her, will stand far away
for the fear of her torment, weeping and
mourning,
16 saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she
who was dressed in fine linen, purple, and
scarlet, and decked with gold and precious
stones and pearls!
17 For in an hour such great riches are
made desolate.’ Every ship master, and
everyone who sails anywhere, and mariners,
and as many as gain their living by sea,
stood far away,
18 and cried out as they looked at the
smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like
the great city?’
19 They cast dust on their heads, and
cried, weeping and mourning, saying,
‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who
had their ships in the sea were made rich
by reason of her great wealth!’ For she is
made desolate in one hour.
20 “Rejoice over her, O heaven, you
saints, apostles, and prophets, for God has
judged your judgment on her.”
21 A mighty angel took up a stone like
a great millstone and cast it into the sea,
saying, “Thus with violence will Babylon,
the great city, be thrown down, and will be
found no more at all.
22 The voice of harpists, minstrels, flute
players, and trumpeters will be heard no
more at all in you. No craftsman of whatever
craft will be found any more at all in
you. The sound of a mill will be heard no
more at all in you.
23 The light of a lamp will shine no more
at all in you. The voice of the bridegroom
and of the bride will be heard no more at
all in you, for your merchants were the
princes of the earth; for with your sorcery
all the nations were deceived.
24 In her was found the blood of prophets
and of saints, and of all who have been
slain on the earth.”