Apocalipse 18
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Apocalipse 18:1-3
18:1 "I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory" This was a tremendously powerful angel. The term "authority" (exousia) is not used for any other angel in the book. In John 5:27, it is used of God's authority given to Jesus. In Rev. 22:16 Jesus says He sent an angel to speak for Him as a representative. Special Topic: Authority (exousia 18:2 "'Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!'" This is one example of the difficulty in interpreting the book of the Revelation. A piece of information is brought in at one point in the vision, partially developed at another point, and fully developed in yet another vision (e.g., cf. Rev. 11:8; 14:8; and 16:19-20 or this may be another example of recapitulation between the seven literary units). This is an allusion to Isa. 21:9 and/or Jer. 51:8. ▣ "She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird" This is an allusion to the ruins of ancient cities: Babylon (cf. Isa. 13:21-22; 14:23; Jer. 50:39; 51:37) Edom (cf. Isa. 34:10-15) Nineveh (cf. Zeph. 2:14) In the OT animals are often said to roam about in ruined cities. This is a symbol of both destruction and the presence of evil spirits (cf. NEB). Many of these birds represented demons. John's writing is very fluid. This verse describes the city as desolate and indwelt with the demonic, while Rev. 19:3 describes it as burnt and smoldering. 18:3 "all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality" This phrase is an allusion to the OT prophecy of the destruction of Babylon (cf. Jer. 51:7). Jeremiah specifically uses drunkenness (i.e., "a golden cup") as a symbol of lust for wealth. ▣ "passion" This is literally "anger" (thumos). See full note at Rev. 7:14. ▣ "the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality" This is an allusion to the major problem of fallen mankind embodied in the self-centeredness and materialism of an end-time, anti-God world system. There are three groups of humans who mourn the fall of the great whore: businessmen (cf. Rev. 18:3,11-16) kings of the earth (cf. Rev. 18:3,9-10) merchant sailors (cf. Rev. 18:3,17-19) These three represent worldwide human economic systems. Special Topic: Wealth Special Topic: Human Government
Apocalipse 18:4-8
18:4 "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues" This is an OT allusion to Isa. 48:20; 52:11; Jer. 50:8,28; 51:6,9,45 or Zech. 2:6-7. It is an AORIST ACTIVE IMPERATIVE which speaks of the urgency of God's people not being caught up in this fallen world system. 18:5 "for her sins are piled up as high as heaven" This is an allusion to Gen. 18:20-21 or Jer. 51:9. God's patience was used as an excuse to sin more instead of repenting (cf. Rev. 2:21; Rom. 2:4). ▣ "God has remembered" Often in the Bible, when God remembers the acts of the wicked it results in judgment (cf. Rev. 16:19; Ps. 79:8; Isa. 64:9; Jer. 14:10; 17:1-4; 44:21-23; Hos. 7:2; 8:13; 9:9; Amos 8:7). 18:6 "Pay her back even as she has paid" This is an allusion to the truth that we reap what we sow (cf. Gal. 6:7; for full list see www.freebiblecommentary.org). This truth is presented in many different forms in the Bible (cf. Ps. 137:8; Jer. 50:15,29; Matt. 7:2; Rev. 13:10). ▣ "give back to her double according to her deeds" This is an allusion to Jer. 16:18 and 17:18, but the truth is expressed in many contexts (cf. Exod. 22:4-9; Ps. 75:7-8; Isa. 40:2). This idiom speaks of complete and full judgment, as does the next phrase. This verse would have been very encouraging to persecuted Christians. ▣ "the cup which she has mixed, mix twice for her" "Cup" is an OT metaphor for the judgment of God (cf. Ps. 11:6; 60:3; 75:6-8; Isa. 51:17,22; Jer. 25:15-16,27-28). 18:7 "for she says in her heart 'I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning'" This specifically relates to Zeph. 2:15 and Isa. 47:7-8. It alludes to the self-sufficiency and pride, which may have been the source of Satan's fall (possibly alluded to in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28), mankind's fall (cf. Genesis 3), and this end-time world system. The problem is arrogant independence! Special Topic: Heart 18:8 "for this reason in one day her plagues will come" This is a specific allusion to Isa. 47:9. The concept of grief overtaking her in a single day is repeated in Rev. 18:17-19, where the Johannine term "hour" is used. This was a major encouragement to persecuted Christians. ▣ "she will be burned up with fire" This may be an allusion to Lev. 21:9. See Special Topic: Fire ▣ "for the Lord God who judges her is strong" This is an allusion to Jer. 50:34. Special Topic: Judgment in the NT
Apocalipse 18:9-10
18:9-10 "the kings of the earth" These must be different from the kings mentioned in Rev. 17:12,16, who participated in the destruction and fall of the great whore. These kings were apparently merchant nations who benefitted from commercial trade with the anti-God world system. This is an allusion to the powerful commercial city of Tyre and its prideful king in Ezekiel 26-28. The remainder of chapter 18 deals with the intoxicating commercial power associated with all fallen world systems.
Apocalipse 18:11-20
18:11-19 "the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her" This is similar to Ezekiel 27: Rev. 18:11 – Ezek. 27:31,36 Rev. 18:12-13 – Ezek. 27:12,13,22 Rev. 18:15 – Ezek 27:31,36 Rev. 18:17 – Ezek. 27:26-30 Rev. 18:18 – Ezek. 27:32 Rev. 18:19 – Ezek. 27:30-34 It describes international trade: silver from Spain fine linen from Egypt silk from China citron wood from North Africa ivory from Africa iron from Spain or the Black Sea cinnamon from India the universal practice of slave trading 18:13 NASB, NKJV, NRSV, NJB, REB, Peshitta "chariots" "carriages" This refers to private, four-wheeled, luxury chariots, not war chariots. 18:14 "luxurious and splendid" This is a word play on the Greek terms lipara (luxury) and lampra (splendid). 18:17 This is an allusion to Ezekiel 26-28 (city of Tyre), where those employed in the transportation of these luxuries mourned because their own livelihoods had been affected. 18:19 "threw dust on their heads" See Special Topic: Grieving Rites 18:20 "Rejoice over her" This is an allusion to Jer. 51:48, although some see it as referring to Deut 32:43 (in the Septuagint). As the economic partners' grief over the fall of Babylon, so believers rejoice! ▣ "God has pronounced judgment for you against her" Throughout the book, God's judgments are connected with the prayers of His children (cf. Rev. 6:10).
Apocalipse 18:21-24
18:21 "Then a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea" This is an allusion to Jer. 51:63-64. It is a strong passage showing that Babylon will never, never rise again. As a matter of fact, in Rev. 18:21-33, there are six DOUBLE NEGATIVES, "certainly not," "not under any circumstances," and "never, no, never." ▣"and will not be found any longer" This shows total, permanent destruction (cf. Ezek. 26:21). 18:22-23 These were the sounds of everyday life in the Ancient Near East. God's judgment brings an end to this godless society (cf. Isa. 24:8; Jer. 7:34; 25:10; Ezek. 26:13). 18:23 "all the nations were deceived by your sorcery" This is an allusion to Nahum 3:4. Notice that in Rev. 18:23-24 there are listed three reasons for the fall of the great city. pride and wealth ( cf. Isa. 23:8) idolatry and sorcery (cf. Lev. 19:26,33; Deut. 18:9-12) persecution of the people of God (cf. Rev. 16:6, 17:6). 18:24 This is an allusion to Jer. 51:49.