Revelation 18

Daily Devotion in Revelation 18

Daily Nugget:
In Revelation 18, an angel makes a shocking announcement. He announces that “… Babylon the great is fallen…” (Revelation 18:2). In one hour, the city was decimated. All she sold and made were lost. Twenty-seven products (Revelation 18:12-13) she was noted for selling to the world will all be destroyed. Losses most likely will bankrupt many business people. The financial world will be devastated, and many will mourn their financial loss (Revelation 18:18-19).

Many commentators have tried to answer the question, “Where is this financial Babylon?” The reasoning is that spiritual Babylon was destroyed by those who hated her (Revelation 17:16). The “Babylon” that is destroyed in one hour may be another city.

Many writers and preachers believe it most likely is the restored, original Babylon currently found in Hillah, Iraq. Many have tried to rebuild the once enormous city that was at least 15 miles on each of its four sides throughout history.

The most recent attempt to restore Babylon was by Saddam Hussein. Although new buildings were added to the site, it is not very large or used much. It certainly is not the trade center pictured in Revelation 18. It could, however, be reconstructed in the end days.

My thought is that it may be the same Babylon spoken of in Revelation 17. Although spiritual Babylon had her headquarters destroyed by fire (Revelation 17:16), the destruction may also have affected her financial investments. Also, note that the Babylon of chapter 18 was destroyed by fire (Revelation 18:8).

Chapters 17 and 18 may be grouped to describe the same event. It was noted in Revelation 14:8, way ahead of where this detailed account is depicted, that Babylon was destroyed. Parts of Revelation are not chronological. Sometimes an event is prophesied earlier in the Book and discussed later. That may be what is happening here.

I am also inclined to believe it is not a second “Babylon” destroyed in Revelation 18 because of another detail revealed in verse 12. The list of losses, particularly verse 12, includes many of the items that the “Harlot” had (Revelation 17:4): purple, scarlet, gold, precious stones, and pearls. These valuables were part of the spiritual “Harlot’s” religious pomp and formality. Also, if it were a different Babylon, God could have easily distinguished the “two.” He did not, so it is quite possible there are not two Babylons but one.

Again, this matter will only be known when the end times spoken of here occur. However, the important point revealed is not which city is involved, but how the people will react to God’s judgment on their monetary losses.

Everyone and everything will be affected by God’s wrath in those days. Millions will perish in those last times, and even the wealthy who thought they could still prosper during God’s wrath will be affected. No one will be safe from the wrath of God.

Today’s Thought:
“No one gets away with any sin! One will reap a harvest from what they plant!”

Words to Understand:
Frankincense: a sweet, smelling tree resin used in incense, worship, and embalming
Thyine wood: wood burnt in worship for its fragrance

Today’s Reading:
Revelation 18
1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
3 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 are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
9 ¶ And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the 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 decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;
23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.