Rev 18:18 | KingComments | STEP | . The economic world has become dependent on her in such a way that with her collapse all prosperity disappears. From all over the earth merchants have traded with her. “The merchants of the earth” may include top executives of international companies. They owe their riches also to their merchandize with the Vatican. . The fabulous riches of the Vatican have been gained through a fabulous extent of cargoes or merchandize. A summary of twenty eight kinds of cargoes follows that are roughly to be divided in seven market areas: 1. mineral resources as a basis of all securities = the market for investments; 2. fine clothing materials = the textile market; 3. precious objects of wood, metal and stone = the (luxurious) housing market; 4. spices and incenses = the market of luxurious goods; 5. drinks and food = the food market; 6. means of transport = the transport market 7. slaves and human lives = the labor market. In the summary “slaves and human lives” are mentioned the last. That is typical for the value that men had in the eyes of Rome. They were considered to be less than all previous merchandize. With the merchandize in “human lives” we can think of the selling of indulgences. . Of Rome itself there is nothing left, but also of any other thing she owned nothing is left. Everything her soul was desiring, “the fruit you long for” has gone from her. She has lost control over it, she cannot grasp it anymore. She has also lost everything in which her eyes found pleasure, “all things that were luxurious and splendid”, she no longer sees it. Any effort, if there could be one, to find it back, will be in vain, “[men] will no longer find them”. It has all been evaporated, vanished, uncollectable. Everything she had longed for and what she has enjoyed has been taken away from her. She has lost everything, forever. This is what happens with all riches of a person who uses these riches for his own pleasure and honor. We may think of private aircrafts, luxurious yachts, large villas, expensive cars. . With “the merchants” we may think of the directors and supervisory boards of the multinationals who had the monopoly “of these things”. The reaction of these folks is like that of the kings ( ). Even their sorrow, “weeping and mourning”, is purely selfish ( ). From the judgment on Babylon comes fear. They no longer dare to approach her because they realize that it is not a natural disaster, but an intervention from on High. . The merchants cry out a double “woe”, because they absolutely have not expected it. After all, it was “the great city”. They thought that nothing could go wrong with it. She survived every economic recession. Her supplies seemed inexhaustible. The city was not only great and mighty, but she was also attractive. Her total appearance was glamorous. Now everything has turned into ashes. All of a sudden everything has disappeared, the riches have made themselves wings ( ) and those who have profited from it are the losers. . They are amazed that everything happened so fast. There had been no time to prepare an assistance plan. Unlike the judgment on the harlot, which happens in stages ( ), the judgment on the city happens at once, in one hour. The merchants are very sorry that the great city has been destroyed, but only because of the downfall of “such great wealth”. There are still other categories that were struck by the collapse of the city. Not only the merchants, but also all transportation companies of the materials of the city see their profit disappear. The consequences of God’s judgment on the city will be noticed to the ends of the earth. . Despite the fact that these merchants see the result of the judgment, they cry out their uncovered admiration for the city (cf. ). The profits that this city has brought them are not to be compared with any other city. Harbors like Rotterdam and New York are in the shadow of the Vatican as an economic power center. . They express their despair in the old habit of throwing dust on the head ( ; ; ). The symbolic meaning of dust is death. And that is indeed the only thing that has left for them. The cause of their mourning does not go further than mourning about the loss of profit and riches. They speak about “her wealth”, which means that this city had the most precious things that the world may harbor. They are also amazed about the rapid and radical judgment that has struck the city. From the mourning the great power becomes apparent of this degenerated Christian system in the present world. Kings ( ), merchants ( ) and sailors ( ) from all over the world have had relations with her. . It is not said who is talking in this verse. It is plausible that Christ Himself makes this call to burst forth into joy. In contrast to the lamentation over the destruction of the city by those who have profited from her, is the joy of those who suffered from her. They see that God has done justice. The exercise of justice is God’s business, not ours ( ). God’s right will one day appear for all those saints who have suffered injustice on earth ( ). That happens here. The “prophets” are the New Testament prophets. Apostles and prophets are the founders of the church ( ). In that way all who have been built up together as church by their teachings in the Scripture and have behaved as strangers on earth, have thereby incurred the wrath of Rome. They have kept distance from her pursuit of riches and therefore did not contribute to it. Therefore Rome raged against them. . For the third time you read about “a strong angel”. The first time it is in relation to the book with the seven seals ( ). There it is about the judgment on the Roman empire. The second time is in relation to the little book ( ). There it is about the judgment on Israel. This third time it is about the definite judgment on the great Babylon ( ). Babylon is compared to “a great millstone”. That reminds us of a warning of the Lord addressed to someone who causes a little child to stumble in his faith. He says that it would be better for such a person to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea ( ). Babylon has caused a lot of people to stumble in their faith by threatening and murdering those who tried to escape her control by faith in the Lord Jesus. Her deceiving practices are definitely over by this judgment that is being executed with violence. . With the downfall of the city all elements of culture and merchandize, which have made the residence in the city so pleasant, have definitely disappeared. In that place of entertainment and noise a dead silence has risen that will never be broken. There will never ever be seen a sign of life again, no such system of wickedness will never arise again. The music has been brought to silence. Once a descendant of Cain introduced music into the world to make the world a pleasant place without God ( ). It has become an industry, the entertainment industry, where big money was made. The artists or craftsmen have decorated Rome and have made it a magnificent and attractive system. The sound of a mill is that of a hand mill used to grind grain to bake bread. But even that sound is not and never be heard again. There will no longer be any household activity. These consequences of the judgment on Babylon are also the consequences of the judgment that will strike the unfaithful Jerusalem ( ). . Beside dead silence there is also pitch black darkness. The light will never shine there again, for Babylon is shrouded in darkness forever. Neither will there be any mention of marriage ceremonies she held nor the joy that went together with it. She has always falsely represented marriage as the relation that she herself had with Christ. But an end is made to this appearance with the false joy that was included. The merchants are here called “your merchants”. She got involved with the bank directors, with those who controlled over the financial markets and in that way steered the economy and exerted her deceiving influence on it. In that way she has ruled in and over the world that has the hallmark of having rejected Christ and living in rebellion against Him. To exercise her influence she even made use of occultism by consulting demons. . This verse gives once again the clear ground for her judgment. In her judgment her history will be visible for all. All the crimes that she has committed will then be found in her, will be brought to the surface and be exposed. Up to that moment she has exercised through the ages her murderous practices under a Christian mask. Then the blood will be revealed that she has shed of those who have been slain by her. Now read Revelation 18:11-24 again. Reflection: What lessons can you draw from the destruction of the wealth of the city of Babylon?

‏ Revelation of John 18:18

The Wealth of Babylon Destroyed

Rev 18:11. The economic world has become dependent on her in such a way that with her collapse all prosperity disappears. From all over the earth merchants have traded with her. “The merchants of the earth” may include top executives of international companies. They owe their riches also to their merchandize with the Vatican.

Rev 18:12-13. The fabulous riches of the Vatican have been gained through a fabulous extent of cargoes or merchandize. A summary of twenty eight kinds of cargoes follows that are roughly to be divided in seven market areas:

1. mineral resources as a basis of all securities = the market for investments;

2. fine clothing materials = the textile market;

3. precious objects of wood, metal and stone = the (luxurious) housing market;

4. spices and incenses = the market of luxurious goods;

5. drinks and food = the food market;

6. means of transport = the transport market

7. slaves and human lives = the labor market.

In the summary “slaves and human lives” are mentioned the last. That is typical for the value that men had in the eyes of Rome. They were considered to be less than all previous merchandize. With the merchandize in “human lives” we can think of the selling of indulgences.

Rev 18:14. Of Rome itself there is nothing left, but also of any other thing she owned nothing is left. Everything her soul was desiring, “the fruit you long for” has gone from her. She has lost control over it, she cannot grasp it anymore. She has also lost everything in which her eyes found pleasure, “all things that were luxurious and splendid”, she no longer sees it. Any effort, if there could be one, to find it back, will be in vain, “[men] will no longer find them”. It has all been evaporated, vanished, uncollectable.

Everything she had longed for and what she has enjoyed has been taken away from her. She has lost everything, forever. This is what happens with all riches of a person who uses these riches for his own pleasure and honor. We may think of private aircrafts, luxurious yachts, large villas, expensive cars.

Rev 18:15. With “the merchants” we may think of the directors and supervisory boards of the multinationals who had the monopoly “of these things”. The reaction of these folks is like that of the kings (Rev 18:9). Even their sorrow, “weeping and mourning”, is purely selfish (Rev 18:10). From the judgment on Babylon comes fear. They no longer dare to approach her because they realize that it is not a natural disaster, but an intervention from on High.

Rev 18:16. The merchants cry out a double “woe”, because they absolutely have not expected it. After all, it was “the great city”. They thought that nothing could go wrong with it. She survived every economic recession. Her supplies seemed inexhaustible. The city was not only great and mighty, but she was also attractive. Her total appearance was glamorous. Now everything has turned into ashes. All of a sudden everything has disappeared, the riches have made themselves wings (Pro 23:5) and those who have profited from it are the losers.

Rev 18:17. They are amazed that everything happened so fast. There had been no time to prepare an assistance plan. Unlike the judgment on the harlot, which happens in stages (Rev 17:16), the judgment on the city happens at once, in one hour. The merchants are very sorry that the great city has been destroyed, but only because of the downfall of “such great wealth”.

There are still other categories that were struck by the collapse of the city. Not only the merchants, but also all transportation companies of the materials of the city see their profit disappear. The consequences of God’s judgment on the city will be noticed to the ends of the earth.

Rev 18:18. Despite the fact that these merchants see the result of the judgment, they cry out their uncovered admiration for the city (cf. Eze 27:32). The profits that this city has brought them are not to be compared with any other city. Harbors like Rotterdam and New York are in the shadow of the Vatican as an economic power center.

Rev 18:19. They express their despair in the old habit of throwing dust on the head (Job 2:12; Lam 2:10; Eze 27:30). The symbolic meaning of dust is death. And that is indeed the only thing that has left for them. The cause of their mourning does not go further than mourning about the loss of profit and riches. They speak about “her wealth”, which means that this city had the most precious things that the world may harbor. They are also amazed about the rapid and radical judgment that has struck the city.

From the mourning the great power becomes apparent of this degenerated Christian system in the present world. Kings (Rev 18:9), merchants (Rev 18:11) and sailors (Rev 18:17) from all over the world have had relations with her.

Rev 18:20. It is not said who is talking in this verse. It is plausible that Christ Himself makes this call to burst forth into joy. In contrast to the lamentation over the destruction of the city by those who have profited from her, is the joy of those who suffered from her. They see that God has done justice. The exercise of justice is God’s business, not ours (Rom 12:19). God’s right will one day appear for all those saints who have suffered injustice on earth (Rev 17:6). That happens here.

The “prophets” are the New Testament prophets. Apostles and prophets are the founders of the church (Eph 2:20). In that way all who have been built up together as church by their teachings in the Scripture and have behaved as strangers on earth, have thereby incurred the wrath of Rome. They have kept distance from her pursuit of riches and therefore did not contribute to it. Therefore Rome raged against them.

Rev 18:21. For the third time you read about “a strong angel”. The first time it is in relation to the book with the seven seals (Rev 5:2). There it is about the judgment on the Roman empire. The second time is in relation to the little book (Rev 10:1). There it is about the judgment on Israel. This third time it is about the definite judgment on the great Babylon (Jer 51:58 ; 61-64).

Babylon is compared to “a great millstone”. That reminds us of a warning of the Lord addressed to someone who causes a little child to stumble in his faith. He says that it would be better for such a person to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea (Mt 18:6). Babylon has caused a lot of people to stumble in their faith by threatening and murdering those who tried to escape her control by faith in the Lord Jesus. Her deceiving practices are definitely over by this judgment that is being executed with violence.

Rev 18:22. With the downfall of the city all elements of culture and merchandize, which have made the residence in the city so pleasant, have definitely disappeared. In that place of entertainment and noise a dead silence has risen that will never be broken. There will never ever be seen a sign of life again, no such system of wickedness will never arise again. The music has been brought to silence. Once a descendant of Cain introduced music into the world to make the world a pleasant place without God (Gen 4:21). It has become an industry, the entertainment industry, where big money was made.

The artists or craftsmen have decorated Rome and have made it a magnificent and attractive system. The sound of a mill is that of a hand mill used to grind grain to bake bread. But even that sound is not and never be heard again. There will no longer be any household activity.

These consequences of the judgment on Babylon are also the consequences of the judgment that will strike the unfaithful Jerusalem (Jer 25:10-11).

Rev 18:23. Beside dead silence there is also pitch black darkness. The light will never shine there again, for Babylon is shrouded in darkness forever. Neither will there be any mention of marriage ceremonies she held nor the joy that went together with it. She has always falsely represented marriage as the relation that she herself had with Christ. But an end is made to this appearance with the false joy that was included.

The merchants are here called “your merchants”. She got involved with the bank directors, with those who controlled over the financial markets and in that way steered the economy and exerted her deceiving influence on it. In that way she has ruled in and over the world that has the hallmark of having rejected Christ and living in rebellion against Him. To exercise her influence she even made use of occultism by consulting demons.

Rev 18:24. This verse gives once again the clear ground for her judgment. In her judgment her history will be visible for all. All the crimes that she has committed will then be found in her, will be brought to the surface and be exposed. Up to that moment she has exercised through the ages her murderous practices under a Christian mask. Then the blood will be revealed that she has shed of those who have been slain by her.

Now read Revelation 18:11-24 again.

Reflection: What lessons can you draw from the destruction of the wealth of the city of Babylon?