Revelation 18:1-24

Revelation chapter 18 is part of what will occur after the opening of the seventh (7) seal of the book in heaven by the little-lamb which is representing the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 8:1). The seventh seal includes the implementation of judgments under seven trumpets (Revelation 8:7 - 14:20) including seven bowls as part of the seventh trumpet blowing (Revelation 15:1 - 18:24). The seventh trumpet with its seven bowls occur during the time of the great pressure of the completing together of the age - and will be followed by the Lord Jesus Christ's return on earth as recorded in Revelation chapter 19.

The details written in Revelation 16:1 - 18:24 pertain to effects or events taking place on earth as a result-of and corresponding-to the previous events which took place in heaven (Revelation 15:1-8). It records the implementation of the third woe on earth following the 7th angel blowing his trumpet in Revelation 11:15.

Revelation chapters 17 and 18 provide additional details regarding the interaction and fall of the wild-animal and Babylon referred to in Revelation 14:8 and 16:19.

Revelation 18:1-3:

^18:1After these-things I saw another angel descending out-from heaven having great authority, and the earth was lightened from his glory, ^.2and he shouted in a strong sound saying, "It fell, fell - Babylon the great, and it became a dwelling-down-place of devils, even a prison of every unclean spirit and a prison of every unclean bird and a prison of every unclean wild-animal, and having been hated², ^.3because out-from the wine of the rage of her fornication all the nations drank², and the kings of the earth fornicated with her, and the merchants of the earth were wealthy from the ability of her wantonness."

John writes: After these-things (following the events recorded in Revelation chapter 17) I perceived (knew with my mind)...

• another angel (he was not the same angel as in Revelation chapter 17)
  • descending out-from heaven (moving downwards, coming down from the sky above)
    • having great authority (large authoritative-power, permitted-right),
• and the earth was lightened (had light caused to shine on it, light was poured on it, light was given to it)
  • out from his glory (originating from this angel's importance, splendor, renown),

...and he cried-out in a strong sound (an inherently strong voice, an uttered-tone with strength) saying...

• "It fell, fell (in the Greek texts this verb is repeated twice at the beginning of the sentence to give added emphasis to the statement of this city having already fallen from its previous standing and status on earth, it collapsed) -
  • Babylon the great (large in importance, magnitude, degree, quality, eminence on earth),
• and it became (came to pass to be)
  • a dwelling-down-place (a permanent dwelling place, the settled-down housing, fixed habitation, inhabited-building)
  • of devils (the word translated "devils" is the Greek word daimonion, which was used in Greek mythology/falsehoods to describe supernatural intermediary beings between false-gods and men; in reality, these are the lower-ranking demons, evil spirits like "privates" which take their direction from the higher-ranking evil spirits daimon in the devil's "army" which take their orders and direction from the chief or top-ranking devil-spirit himself who is the devil/satan),
    • with emphasis - a prison (an imprisonment, a place where those inside it are watched and guarded)
    • of all/every unclean spirit (these spirits are not free from mixture of that-which is against the only true God, they are mixed with something else, having impurity from God's viewpoint mixed with them, referring to the spirits following the devil, demons, devil-spirits)
    • and a prison of all/every unclean bird (refer to Revelation 19:17, 18 and 21)
    • and a prison of all/every unclean wild-animal (some Greek texts omit this phrase),
      • and having been hated and continuing hated (active ill-will towards all/every one of them),
• because out-from the wine of the rage of her fornication (refer to Revelation 14:8)
  • all the nations (every group of people without reference to their background)
    • willingly drank and continue affected by it,
  • and the kings of the earth (those who reign as kings ruling certain portions of the earth/land)
    • willingly fornicated with her (committed fornication with her; in this context it is not referring to physical fornication which is wrongful sexual activity/relations, committing pornographic actions – but this is referring to the spiritual aspect of their behavior, they were being intimate with the devil and the things of the devil; refer to Revelation 17:2),
  • and the merchants of the earth (the traders, those who journey drumming up business, who are in business, who travel by boat/ship when necessary to carry-out their deals as in an emporium)
    • willingly were wealthy (rich)
    • out from the ability (originating from the able-power, the capability)
    • proceeding from her wantonness (being headstrong, strenuous on her own intentions)."

The physical city of Babylon caused and will cause corresponding effects on those interacting with her, including the city of Jerusalem. The spirit realm associated with the city of Babylon, which is the devil/satan/snake's realm of operation, causes corresponding effects on those who live on earth.

[Reference: Leviticus 11:27; Deuteronomy 14:11-20; Isaiah 13:19-22, 21:9, and chapter 34; Jeremiah 9:9-11, and chapters 50 and 51; Matthew 10:1; Acts 5:16, 8:7; Ephesians 2:22; I Timothy 5:11; James 4:13; Revelation 6:8, 9:20, 14:8, 16:13, 14 and 19, 19:17, 18 and 21. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (²) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]

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Revelation Chapter 19