Revelation 18 opens with this statement, “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. “ Chapters 17 and 18 are more detailed accounts of Revelation 16:17 - 21.

Revelation 16:17 - 21

    17. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of          heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
    18. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not          since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
    19. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came          in remembrance before God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
    20. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
    21. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men          blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

     As we examine Revelation 18, please remember that we are still dealing with Babylon, but from a different perspective. In this chapter, Babylon represents all that is involved with political power. John tells the reader that he sees a different angel coming down from heaven having great power. The word “power” means authority and jurisdiction over something. So what is it that this angel has power over? It is found in that same verse; it is the earth. He is also given the ability to illuminate the earth with his glory. Do you remember what the fifth angel poured out in Revelation 16:10? It states: “And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain.” Therefore, these lost people are in full darkness when this angel shows up.

    Therefore, when this angel appears on the scene all will see him, which means they will also hear what he is saying to all. What he says with his powerful and fierce voice is in verse 2. Before moving on, take a moment to think about the scene. It is so dark that they cannot see their hands before their faces and they can feel the weight of the darkness. Amazingly, they see this illuminated angel coming from heaven and proclaiming a message with such power that they can feel it. These are the words that they will feel:

    “…Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of demons, and the hold of every foul spirit, 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 are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. “ Revelation 18:2,3

    Before we fully examine these verses, it is important to review a little history.

    Nimrod, in Genesis 10:8 – 10, founded Babylon, as stated earlier in lesson 32. It is stated in Isaiah 14:21 - 23 what would be the punishment for Babylon. So, in Revelation 18:2 - 3, it is stated that she has fallen not once but twice. Remember what we read in Isaiah 14:21 – 23 and how she will be destroyed. This is thought to be the first fall, which means at some point she will be rebuilt. As we read more of this chapter, we get a picture of the size and location of Babylon. Babylon has become the dwelling place of demons and the hideout of every unclean spirit. Along with these demons and unclean spirits, there are unclean birds (Leviticus 11:12 – 19) and detestable birds. Do not think of these birds as seen today, these are any animal that has wings and flies.

    Please remember that Revelation 18:4 - 6, is being stated during the time of Babylon’s judgment. Why is this important? Up until the rapture, the Church (the Body of Christ or the saints) is to go into all the world carrying and sharing the gospel (Matthew 28:19, 20). There are some who think that Christians are to remove themselves from the issues and concerns of the world. If this is the case, then how can we be the light of the world when we are not out there for the world to see Jesus in us? (Matthew 5:14 – 16)

Matthew 5:14 – 16

    14. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
    15. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a close vessel, but on a candlestick: and it giveth light to          all that are in the house.
    16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in          heaven.

    We cannot hide in our homes or build walls around ourselves and our families so that the world will not affect us. In addition, if this is what God wanted for His saints, then why did God send His Son into this world? In fact, Jesus gave the best answer to this kind of thinking in John 17:14 – 18.

John 17:14 – 18

    14. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I          am not of the world.
    15. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the          evil.
    16. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
    17. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
    18. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

    With these things in mind, lets move forward with the study of Revelation 18:4-6. There is a voice, and not an angel, delivering this commandment. Some think this is the voice of God commanding some action to be taken. Before examining the action, think about the location in which it is to occur. The location is Babylon. Babylon represents all that is involved with political power and it is the mother of ALL false churches (spiritualism). The action that this voice commands is for His people to come out of her. The question is, why are there saints in this place? As stated earlier, saints are called to be light in the world and light works best in darkness. Can you picture the kind of commitment to God that these people must have to keep themselves pure from all the evil that is in this place? Also, they know that they could die at any time, because they do not have the mark of the beast and do not worship the image of the beast. When they leave Babylon, they will be walking in the light and the safety of God.

    God even tells why they must leave Babylon. He does not want His people to have any fellowship with Babylon’s offenses and He does not want them to experience any of her heavy plagues (affliction, wounds, or beatings). Babylon’s sins and iniquities were so heavy that they reached heaven. In other words, God is saying that it is time for her to pay. Not only will she pay for her sins and iniquities, but also He will make the penalties twice as much as she did unto His saints. Read Jeremiah chapter 50 & 51; God allows Jeremiah to prophesy about the judgment of Babylon.

    From Revelation 18:7 – 19, we see that Babylon has great wealth and that in her were ports that gave her control over the sea trade. Yet within a very short time, all of this ended quickly. Those that made themselves rich and powerful cried over her as she went up in smoke. In Revelation 18:20 – 24, it reads as follows:

Revelation 18:20 – 24

    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.

    All of heaven is rejoicing over the downfall of Babylon. She has done so much to stop God and His people from bringing others home to Him. She has twisted and polluted the word of God. Do you remember reading in Revelation 6:9 –11,

    “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given to every one of them; and it was said to them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”

    Well, at this moment it is complete.