Revelation 18 - "How Can We Be In the World But Not of the World!"

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Lament Over Fallen Babylon

18 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 2 With a mighty voice he shouted:

“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’

    She has become a dwelling for demons

and a haunt for every impure spirit,

    a haunt for every unclean bird,

    a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.

3 For all the nations have drunk

    the maddening wine of her adulteries.

The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,

    and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”

We see the great influence Babylon had over so many entities in the world at that time. The word "haunt" means "dwelling place" or "prison". Included in these haunts were: demons, impure spirits, unclean birds, unclean animals and birds, that nations, kings of the earth, and merchants of the earth. You can see the all encompassing effect Babylon has had over the world, which points to its pervasive and corrosive efffect. 

Some scholars differ on whether the Babylon described in chapter 17 is different than the one in chapter 18. My inclination is that unless there is clear evidence that John meant them to be different, we should assume they are the same. They are just different aspects of the same place/system. 

"Good scholars see the issue differently. Some point to two manifestations of Babylon, one religious and one commercial or material. Others see the two as one, both being judged at the same time.

There are definite similarities between Babylon as described in Revelation 17 and Revelation 18. Both are under the rule of Antichrist, and have ruling queens; both are filled with blasphemy; both hate the saints, and shed their blood; both are associates with kings in fornication; and both are under judgment and destroyed." 

Some have thought it to be a future rebuilt Babylon on the Euphrates River in the Middle East. This is now a desolate desert in modern day Iraq. Many years ago, Saddam Hussein was outspoken in his desire to resurrect the ruined city of Babylon in all of its glory. He obviously failed, but it is conceivable that a rebuilt Babylon could be a world economic center, especially with the wealth of Mideast oil. But so far, Hussein or any other leader has not made good on the dream to rebuild Babylon. (Guzik)

But most likely, commercial Babylon is symbolic, like religious Babylon. “When the Lord was here on earth He spoke of the great hatred that ‘the world’ had for Him and His own (John 15:18,19). What is this world but a combination of religion, government and commerce? In other words, Babylon in all its parts stands for that which Christ called ‘the world.’” (Barnhouse)

Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment

4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“‘Come out of her, my people,’

    so that you will not share in her sins,

    so that you will not receive any of her plagues;

5 for her sins are piled up to heaven,

    and God has remembered her crimes.

6 Give back to her as she has given;

    pay her back double for what she has done.

    Pour her a double portion from her own cup.

7 Give her as much torment and grief

    as the glory and luxury she gave herself.

In her heart she boasts,

    ‘I sit enthroned as queen.

I am not a widow;

    I will never mourn.’

8 Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her:

    death, mourning and famine.

She will be consumed by fire,

    for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

John hears a voice from heaven telling God's people to come out of her. This implies a close connection. If they do not disconnect from Babylon, they will undergo the consequences Babylon will go through as a result of her wickedness. John even tells them to fight back and pay back Babylon for all she has done to them.  

 It is inconceivable that a child of God could be a part of religious Babylon (though elements may creep in). But commercial Babylon, with its materialistic lure, is a constant threat to be guarded against.

Lest you receive of her plagues: The warning is focused towards saints who are in the position Lot was in while he lived in the city of Sodom (Genesis 19). These are God’s people in a place they shouldn’t be, a place ripe for destruction.

Come out of her: The call to depart from Babylon and the worldliness that it represents is a theme repeated frequently in the Scriptures.

Paul gives this admonition to the churches in Ephesus and Corinth as well in the New Testament. These same worldly systems and values are present all throughout the 1st Century. 

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? (2 Corinthians 6:14)

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. (Ephesians 5:11)

Threefold Woe Over Babylon’s Fall

9 “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,

    you mighty city of Babylon!

In one hour your doom has come!’

 "So great is the heat and smoke of her burning that these kings must stand at a distance." (Guzik)

“Whether this is to be understood of the literal destruction of the city of Rome by fire, is surely doubtful, considering the mystical character of the whole prophecy.” (Alford)

11 “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore— 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; 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.

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 will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn 16 and cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,

    dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,

    and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!

17 In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’

The tribulation has consequences for all of the earth, even its economic system. Most people don't stop to give God thanks for the blessing that businesses bring to so many people. All of the items mentioned in the verses are all part of God's creation. We take so many things for granted until they are taken from us. Though we don't know if Babylon is a literal city, there are many analogies to this city in present day life. 

“The combined picture is one of complete abandonment to the wealth of this world and complete disregard of the God who gave it.” (Walvoord)

The profits of commercial Babylon have come through cruelly using others. They sold the bodies and souls of men. This idea has many applications, none less so than today’s widespread human trafficking, prostitution, and pornography. You shall find them no more at all: Those who lived for the luxuries of commercial Babylon will be tormented their eternal absence of those luxuries all the more: you shall find them no more at all. Ultimately, hell will be a place of unfulfilled desire.

For me I think of Las Vegas with its hotels, casinos, downtown, and houses of prostitution. Many people go to Vegas to win money playing Blackjack, Craps, or with the slot machines. As you know, there is a reason all of those buildings have been built. They are financed with all of money wagered and lost by amateur gamblers. But at of the day all of the glitz, glamour, and blinking lights of Vegas will be all be brought to ruin in the end. 

Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. 18 When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’ 19 They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,

    where all who had ships on the sea

    became rich through her wealth!

In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’

Even the sea captains will look at the burning city and mourn the loss of their own businesses.

Again, little comment needs to be made on this, other than to notice that their sorrow at commercial Babylon’s fall is selfish.

20 “Rejoice over her, you heavens!

    Rejoice, you people of God!

    Rejoice, apostles and prophets!

For God has judged her

    with the judgment she imposed on you.”

The scene quickly changes from the lament of those who are experiencing loss to the rejoicing in heaven. The rejoicing comes from the defeat of evil and the eventual retribution for what Babylon had inflicted on God's people. 

Should God’s people rejoice when judgment comes? Yes, but we don’t rejoice in the destruction in judgment. Rather, we rejoice in the righteous resolution God’s judgment brings.

The Finality of Babylon’s Doom

21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said:

“With such violence

    the great city 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.

No worker of any trade

    will ever be found in you again.

The sound of a millstone

    will never be heard in you again.

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.

Your merchants were the world’s important people.

    By your magic spell all the nations were led astray.

24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people,

    of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”

The judgment of Babylon will be like a large millstone thrown into the sea, which quickly sank to the bottom. The worst punishment given to a criminal was to tie a millstone around them and throw them overboard. I can't think of a worse way to die. 

But it also reminds us of what Jesus said in Matthew 18:6: But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. This applies to Babylon in Revelation 18, because she led others into sin. It is a terrible thing to sin unto yourself; it is even more terrible to lead others into sin.

b. The great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore: Some day, this world system will pass away, like a great stone falls to the bottom of the sea. Will this fall hurt us? We will only be hurt to the extent that we invest ourselves in the mentality of commercial Babylon’s materialism and worldliness.

A question we might ask ourselves as believers is how do we dabble in the world's values and systems of lust, power, and greed. We are told to be "in the world" but not "of the world". 

Paul tells the believers in Rome, "Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." 

Getting caught up too much in the world starts with our attitude and how we think. Do you we think through the lens of the bible, or of the world values as promoted by the media, on the internet, and throughout our culture. We can be sure the world is still ruled by the evil one. When we see all of the bad things happening in the world right now and in our own country we should not be surprised. 

But God has set us apart and tells us like the 1st century church to come out from the world!  We are called to be the salt and light of Christ to a world that needs it more than ever!