Revelation 18:1-3 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. 2 And he called out with a mighty voice,
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
She has become a dwelling place for demons,
a haunt for every unclean spirit,
a haunt for every unclean bird,
a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
3 For all nations have drunk
the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality,
and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her,
and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”
Chapter 18 continues the theme of wrath and judgment upon the people of earth but focus shifts to Babylon. This passage is similar to lament over Tyre found in Ezekiel 27. The angel has great authority and glory shown in brightness. Historically, the city of Babylon fell by the conquests of Cyrus discussed in Isaiah 21:9. The past tense is used as a prophetic future showing something is certain to happen. It is as good as done. You can count it. It is for sure. Babylon is condemned because it has become a place for evil things and creatures: demons, unclean spirits, unclean birds, unclean beasts. These creatures are attracted to Babylon because of its immorality. Babylon falls partially because of the inner crumbling and wickedness. Its immorality was its downfall. The nations of the earth have been negatively influenced. “Drunk” symbolizes the saturation and influence of tis immorality. The immorality shows its rejection of God and God’s ways. Babylon has a lavish lifestyle that has made the merchants of the world rich.
The temptations of wealth and immorality are big problems today. The consumer debt of the average US citizen stands currently at $58,000. Many people get to older age with huge debt. Immorality is rampant on multiple levels. Any group of people or nation with these behaviors is bound to end up like Babylon. This chapter of Revelation is a strong warning to flee immorality and materialism lest they destroy us as individuals and as a nation.
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