Revelation 18

Revelation 18

Weeping When Babylon Falls

1After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and his glory lit up the earth.

2With a mighty voice he shouted,

“ ‘Fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen!’

She has become a place where demons live,

a den for every evil spirit,

a home for every unclean bird,

a home for every unclean and untouchable animal.

3All the nations have drunk

the strong wine of her terrible sins.

The kings of the earth took part in the wrong things she did,

and the traders of the world grew rich from her great wealth.”

Warning to Run From Babylon’s Judgment

4Then I heard another voice from heaven that said,

“ ‘Come out of her, my people,’

so that you don’t take part in her sins

and you don’t suffer from any of her plagues.

5Her sins are piled up to heaven

and God has remembered her crimes.

6Do to her what she has done to others;

pay her back double for what she has done.

Pour her a double dose of what she has poured out for others.

7Give her as much pain and suffering

as she gave glory and wealth to herself.

She brags in her heart,

‘I rule on a throne like a queen.

I’m not a widow;

I’ll never mourn.’

8But she’ll be plagued by death, sadness, and hunger.

In a single day she’ll suffer all these plagues.

She’ll be burned up by fire,

because the Lord God who judges her is mighty.

Three Woes for the Fall of Babylon

9“When the kings of the earth who committed terrible sins with her and shared in her riches see the smoke rising as she burns, they’ll weep and mourn.

10They’ll be terrified by her suffering, and they’ll stand far away from her and cry out,

“ ‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,

you mighty city of Babylon!

In just one hour you’ve been destroyed!’

11“The traders of the world will weep and mourn over her, because everyone will stop buying what they have for sale:

12“Gold, silver, jewels, and pearls;

fine linen, purple, silk, and bright red cloth;

every kind of citron wood;

all sorts of things made out of ivory, valuable wood, bronze, iron, and marble;

13cinnamon, spices, incense, myrrh, and frankincense;

wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat;

cattle, sheep, horses, wagons, and human beings sold as slaves.

14“The merchants will say, ‘The pleasures you longed for have left you. All your luxuries and comforts have disappeared forever.’

15The traders who sold these things became rich because of Babylon. They’ll stand far away, terrified by her suffering, and they’ll weep and mourn

16and cry out,

“ ‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,

dressed in fine linen, purple, and bright red,

and gleaming with gold, jewels, and pearls!

17In just one hour your great wealth has been destroyed!’

“Every sea captain and passenger, every sailor and merchant, will stand far away.

18When they see the smoke rising as Babylon burns, they’ll ask, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’

19They’ll throw dust on their heads and weep and mourn and cry out,

“ ‘Woe! Woe to you, great city!

All who had ships on the sea

became rich because of her wealth!

In just one hour she has been destroyed!’

20“Celebrate this, you heavens!

Celebrate, people of God!

Celebrate, apostles and prophets!

God has judged her

with the same judgment she passed against you.”

Babylon’s Judgment Is Final

21Then a mighty angel picked up a giant rock the size of a large millstone. He threw it into the sea and said,

“The great city of Babylon

will plunge to its ruin just like that,

not leaving any trace.

22The music of harps, flutes, and trumpets

will never be heard in you again.

No worker of any kind

will ever be found in you again.

The sound of a millstone

will never be heard in you again.

23The light of a lamp

will never shine in you again.

The voices of brides and grooms

will never be heard in you again.

Your traders were among the world’s most powerful people,

and by your magic spell, all the nations were led astray.

24You were guilty of the murder of prophets and saints.

You were guilty of the blood of all who’ve been killed on the earth.”

Radiate™ New Testament Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014, 2020 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Published by: Biblica, Inc.