Revelation 18

Revelation 18 – The Fall of the Old, the Rise of the Real

Revelation 18 presents the dramatic collapse of Babylon, a symbol not merely of a corrupt city, but of a spiritual system that once carried the name of God but had long since denied His heart. This chapter is not about the destruction of the world but the judgment of a religious structure that had forsaken grace for power, truth for tradition, and the Lamb for legalism.

Babylon is the false bride, a system of works, rituals, and control that mirrors the external beauty of religion but is inwardly full of compromise, pride, and spiritual adultery. She represents the Old Covenant system after it had rejected Jesus, the city that “kills the prophets” (Matt 23:37), that crucified the Lamb, and that continued offering sacrifices even after the final sacrifice had been made.

The voice from heaven calling, “Come out of her, My people,” is not just a command to leave physical Babylon, it’s a call to come out of dead religion, to leave behind the shadow and embrace the substance: Jesus crucified and risen.

Her fall is swift because the Cross has already judged her. The temple veil was torn. The sacrifice was offered once for all. Yet many still clung to the old wineskin, rejecting the new wine of the Spirit. Revelation 18 is the final exposure of that system, showing that what once seemed holy has become a habitation of demons, a cage of deception, and a marketplace of spiritual slavery.

This is not a future economic collapse, it’s a spiritual revelation. Babylon has fallen because Jesus already said, “It is finished.” And those who continue to trade in the currency of works, status, and religion will find their house has already been judged.

But for the Bride, the true Church this fall is liberation. The voices of heaven and earth begin to align. What falls is not hope, but everything that hindered hope. The system that enslaved is gone, and the way is now clear for the Marriage of the Lamb in chapter 19.

Revelation 18 is not about destruction for its own sake. It’s about clearing away the false so the true can fully shine. It’s about the fall of what man built, so the glory of what God built in Jesus can rise in fullness.

Chapter 18 — Jesus and Bride

Revelation 18 declares the sudden and total fall of Babylon, the corrupt religious system that traded God’s truth for power, profit, and worldly influence. The finished work of Jesus is the cause and the measure of this judgment: at the cross, the old order was exposed and rendered powerless. The Bride’s identity is clarified by the call, “Come out of her, My people,” urging God’s people to leave behind mixture, compromise, and spiritual adultery. The defeat of false religion is final, its pride, luxuries, and manipulations are brought to nothing in “one hour,” while heaven rejoices over the vindication of the saints and prophets.

Revelation 18:1

1. Jesus Come in Glory with Great Authority!

1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

Jesus came down from heaven, carried divine authority, and His light filled the earth.

“Another angel come down from heaven” 

Jesus, the Sent One

This “angel” (Greek: angelos, meaning messenger) is more than a created being,  it represents Jesus Himself-Holy Spirit, the divine Messenger from heaven. Throughout Revelation, divine “angels” often represent movements of Jesus "God's Spirit", or manifestations of His authority and message. In this case, Jesus comes as the Light of the world, shining truth on the corruption of Babylon.

John 3:13  “No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man…”

Malachi 3:1  “...the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come…”

Hebrews 1:1–2  “God... hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son…”

“Having great power” 

Jesus Authority refrence to the Cross victory.

This “great power” is not just brute strength, it is the spiritual authority Jesus received through His perfect obedience and atoning sacrifice. Just as Jesus who is the the four horsemen and the seven angels with trumpets and vials carry delegated authority, this same “Angel = Holy Spirit ” bears supreme power, because it is Jesus the Lamb, enthroned and executing judgment in righteousness.

Matthew 28:18  “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

Revelation 5:12  “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength…”

“And the earth was lightened with his glory”

Jesus, the Light of the World

This is the same glory that shone at His transfiguration, that radiated from the tomb, and that now fills the hearts of His people. This light reveals the true state of Babylon, it exposes sin, illuminates the truth, and invites all to come out and be separate.

John 1:9  “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”

John 8:12  “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness…”

2 Corinthians 4:6  “...the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Isaiah 60:1–3  “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee…”

Atonement: The Source of This Glory

Jesus’ glory isn’t worldly shine, it’s the radiance of His love poured out at the cross.

John 17:5  “Father, glorify thou me… with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”

Hebrews 2:9–10  “...that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man… to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”

The earth is lightened because the veil is torn. The finished work of Jesus has opened heaven, bringing revelation, grace, and glory to all who believe. The angel coming down from heaven represents Jesus, the divine Messenger sent by the Father to reveal truth and bring judgment to the corrupted religious system. This is not just any angel, it is a picture of Jesus in His heavenly authority, now acting as the Light of the World to expose the darkness of Babylon. The phrase “having great power” points to the authority Jesus received after His resurrection. As He declared in Matthew 28:18, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” This power is not only judicial but redemptive, He is now executing the full will of the Father in heaven and on earth. When the text says “the earth was lightened with his glory,” it reveals that the light of the gospel has gone out into the world. This glory is not just radiance, but the truth, presence, and power of Jesus’ finished work. It exposes the corruption of Babylon and calls God’s people out of deception and darkness into light.

The effect on mankind is universal. All are affected by this light, either drawn to the truth or hardened in rebellion. For those who believe, they are called into union with Jesus, and they share in His glory, just as He prayed in John 17:22:“And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them...”

And as confirmed in Romans 8:30, those whom He justified, He also glorified.

John 1:9  “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”

Isaiah 60:1  “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.”

Malachi 4:2  “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings...”

Revelation 18:2

2 . Babylon System with Great Influence Fall!

2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

he cried mightily with a strong voice:

He Cried Mightily With a Strong Voice = Jesus' Loud Cry on the Cross

Matthew 27:50 “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.”

Mark 15:37  “And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.”

Luke 23:46  “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”

Revelation 18:2  “He cried mightily with a strong voice…” is a direct spiritual mirror of the moment Jesus declared the end of the old system at the cross. The loud cry on the cross was not weakness,  it was a declaration of victory, the moment when the power of darkness was judged.

John 12:31  “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” At the moment of His loud cry, the veil was torn, the earth quaked, and Babylon (old Jerusalem system) began to fall, fulfilled later in Revelation 18.

Babylon is the religious-political system that opposed God, symbolic of legalism, corruption, and self-righteousness. The religious-political system gained financial profit using the temple offers; people paid money or gave livestock, and that was a booming business! “Fallen” twice for emphasis — both religious and worldly aspects are judged.

Isaiah 21:9  “Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.”

Jeremiah 51:8  “Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her...”

Matthew 23  Jesus denounces the corrupt religious order.

Hebrews 8:13  “Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.”

unclean and hateful bird:

“He cried mightily with a strong voice” = A Heaven-Backed Proclamation of Victory

This isn’t just an announcement, it’s a powerful war cry from heaven. The “strong voice” represents the authority of Jesus, who speaks final judgment over the religious system that once claimed to speak for God.

Matthew 28:18  “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

John 12:31 “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.”

“Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen”

 = The Spiritual System Is Defeated

The double declaration (“is fallen, is fallen”) shows complete, irreversible judgment. Babylon, which once looked powerful and religious, is now revealed to be a counterfeit, judged by the Light of Jesus.

Isaiah 21:9  “Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images… he hath broken unto the ground.”

Luke 10:18  “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” This shows the fall of spiritual pride, deception, and control, the same spirit that opposed Jesus and persecuted the prophets.

“Habitation of devils… every foul spirit… unclean and hateful bird” 

= Demonic Infiltration Exposed

Once Babylon’s outer beauty is stripped away, what is left is spiritual corruption:

“Habitation of devils” = It is no longer a house of prayer, but a den of demonic influence.

“Hold of every foul spirit” = Demonic doctrines and control held people captive.

“Cage of every unclean and hateful bird” = Like predators, false spirits nested in her, feeding on souls, manipulating minds, perverting truth.

Ephesians 6:12  “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against... spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Matthew 13:4, 19  Birds in the parable of the sower represent Satan snatching away the Word.

These “birds” were never meant to rest in God’s temple. Babylon became their cage but Jesus uncaged the truth and exposed them.

Victory Through Jesus Authority

Because of Jesus’ finished work, this demonic system is judged. His Church is now armed with His authority to walk in truth, light, and power:

Luke 10:19  “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy...”

2 Corinthians 10:4–5  “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds...”

We don’t just watch Babylon fall, we participate in its fall by preaching the truth, exposing lies, and living as light in a dark world.

Selah

Babylon fell because it was filled with spiritual darkness and deception.

Jesus light exposed and defeated every devil, false spirit, and manipulating voice.

The Church, through the Spirit, now tramples these works and calls people out of this cage.

Revelation 18:3

3 .Earth Kings Unfaithful!

3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

kings of the earth

Kings, Covenant, and Corruption – The Fall of Religious Babylon

From the beginning, God's intent was to raise up kings and priests (Exodus 19:6; Revelation 1:6) who would walk in covenantal intimacy with Him, ruling through righteousness and reflecting His nature on the earth. However, Revelation 18 reveals the tragic fall of what was once a pure temple-centered worship system. It had the appearance of holiness, but over time, it became corrupted through spiritual adultery and alliance with worldly powers. The fornication mentioned throughout Revelation (Rev 18:3, 9) symbolically speaks of this departure from covenant faithfulness. The religious system (what should have been a bride to God) left her Husband (Jeremiah 3:20; Hosea 2:2) and joined herself to Babylon, the system of power, idolatry, and compromise. She played the harlot like Israel of old, who “built high places for Baal” (Jeremiah 32:35) and even established secret rooms within the temple for occultism and idolatrous practices (Ezekiel 8:6–12). This is the spirit of Jezebel, not merely a woman, but a systemic corruption within the temple, leading God’s people astray through false prophecy, idolatry, and spiritual manipulation (Revelation 2:20). The same Jezebel spirit that infiltrated the temple in ancient Israel was now fully matured in the great harlot of Revelation, a religious system that uses God's name but is far from His heart.

Exodus 19:6 – “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.”

Jeremiah 3:6–9 – "Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart... she played the harlot also."

Hosea 2:2 – “She is not my wife, neither am I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms.”

Ezekiel 8:10–12 – “Every form of creeping things... abominable beasts... all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall.”

Revelation 2:20 – “That woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants...”

Revelation 18:3 – “All nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication...”

Religious Babylon seduced nations with a counterfeit gospel, mixing law and grace, mixing truth with man-made systems. Her “fornication” is spiritual adultery: abandoning Jesus for control and gain. The law kept people in condemnation and for them the money bank was full. Those who were supposed to represent God in the temple had the image of the beast already.

James 4:4 – “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?”

Galatians 1:6–9 – “Another gospel, which is not another…”

Jeremiah 2:20 – “...thou wanderest, playing the harlot.”

Isaiah 1:21 – “How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.”

Revelation 18:4

4 . Repent and Be Saved!

4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Come out of her, my people:

This has always been God’s plea. a call to return, to come out from corruption, and back into covenant intimacy.

“Come Out of Her, My People” – The Eternal Cry of a Jealous and Loving God

This is not a new voice, but the same voice that has echoed through the prophets, through the ministry of Jesus, and even back to the wilderness wanderings of Israel. It is the voice of a jealous, faithful, loving Husband, longing for His bride to leave the systems of religious compromise and spiritual adultery, and return to Him. God has always called His people to “come out” from corrupted worship, unclean alliances, and spiritual compromise. The voice in Revelation 18 is not only a warning,  it is a cry of love.

Isaiah 52:11  “Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.”

Jeremiah 51:6–9  “Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul... for her judgment reacheth unto heaven.”

Zechariah 2:6–7  “Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north... Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.”

2 Corinthians 6:17–18  “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord... and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you.”

The Cry of Jesus – The Gathering Heart of Jesus

Jesus echoed the same divine yearning in His earthly ministry,  not just to judge, but to gather, to restore, to bring His people back to the Father’s embrace: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets… how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”  Matthew 23:37  and Luke 13:34 Here we see the heart of the Lamb, who now calls from heaven in Revelation 18, calling out to His people not only to flee judgment but to return to His wings, His covenant, His safety. Revelation 18:4 isn’t just about leaving a physical city or a future event. It’s about leaving the system of dead religion, the Babylonian mixture of man’s pride and false worship, and returning to the simplicity and power of Jesus crucified. Babylon offers glory, riches, hierarchy, and control, but Jesus offers rest for your souls (Matthew 11:28–30). Babylon seduces, but Jesus gathers. This is a call for the true Church to separate from dead religion and legalism. To fully embrace Jesus finished work, the veil is torn, the old order is obsolete. The call to see the Messiah and understand the prophecies fulfilled right in front of their eyes.

2 Corinthians 6:17  “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord…”

Hebrews 13:13  “Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.”

Matthew 11:28–30  “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden...”

Jeremiah 51:6  “Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul...”

Isaiah 52:11  “Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence... be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.”

Revelation 18:5

5 . God Remember!

5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

God Hath Remembered Her Iniquities:

This is divine justice activated, not from a distant wrathful God, but from a grieved and long-suffering Father whose mercy was rejected again and again. The sins of this religious system are now fully matured and exposed. Her iniquities are not forgotten, not because God is harsh, but because she refused the covenant of grace.She had access to atonement and forgiveness, but chose ritual, pride, and power instead of repentance and love. Her sins are remembered because she rejected the blood of the Lamb (Hebrews 10:29)

Genesis 6:5–7  “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth… and it grieved him at his heart.” (The flood was a judgment born of sorrow.)

Genesis 9:15  “And I will remember my covenant… and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.”

Jeremiah 31:34  “For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (But Babylon rejected this promise.)

Hebrews 10:17  “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” (God forgets only when grace is received.)

Revelation 18:6

6. Reap What You Sowed!

6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

cup which she hath filled fill to her double:

This system was not like the Gentile nations without knowledge, it had the Law, the Prophets, and the shadow of Jesus in the temple. To betray that covenantal light brings greater judgment. Her double portion isn’t just wrath, it’s justice for leading others astray in God’s name. She was entrusted with divine things, and used them for control, wealth, and spiritual abuse. Therefore, her judgment is doubled.

Amos 3:2  “You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

Jeremiah 16:18  “And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double...”

Luke 12:47–48  “That servant, which knew his lord's will... shall be beaten with many stripes... For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.”

Romans 2:17–24 –“Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law... Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?... The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you.”

Revelation 18:7

7. They Disowned the Marriage!

7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

I sit a queen, and am no widow:

This is the most heartbreaking verse, the system once called to be the bride of the Lord now completely disowns the marriage. She is drunk with pride, seated like a queen, and denies any loss, she forgets her Husband, God, and lives as if she was never in covenant.To say “I am no widow” is to deny the relationship ever existed. It is spiritual amnesia rooted in pride, rejecting the very One who called and redeemed her. She forgot her first love (Revelation 2:4) and chose to glorify herself rather than her Lord. She outwardly refuse to acknowledge or maintain any connection with God, and what was the price? Divorce! 

Isaiah 47:7–9  “And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever… Therefore hear now this… thou that art given to pleasures… that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow…”

Jeremiah 3:8  “I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce… yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not...”

Hosea 2:2  “She is not my wife, neither am I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms…”

Matthew 23:37  “O Jerusalem… how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”

Revelation 18:8

8. Judgement at the Cross!

8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

plagues come in one day:

Judgment that fell at the cross, One Day = The Day of the Cross

The phrase “in one day” speaks to the suddenness and totality of judgment, and prophetically, this points to the one great day when Jesus bore the full judgment on behalf of mankind. That day didn’t just redeem, it also judged the old religious system. On the cross, Jesus became the judgment for sin, and in doing so, exposed and condemned Babylon’s counterfeit system (religion without Spirit).

Zechariah 3:9  “…and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.”

Hebrews 10:10  “We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Death, Mourning, Famine = Fruit of Rejecting the Lamb

Babylon, though once rich in symbols, is now empty, because it rejected the One who fulfills it all. These are covenant curses that fall on the system that rejects Jesus:

Death – Spiritual death (Rom. 6:23), the wages of rejecting the Life-giver

Mourning – The sorrow of losing God's presence (Matt. 23:37–38)

Famine – Not of food, but of the Word of God (Amos 8:11)

death, and mourning, and famine:

Seen through the lens of the cross, it mirrors the sorrow of Calvary, when the Bread of Life was broken, the Lamb was slain, and the earth mourned the death of its King. Death indicate, The Death of Jesus. The judgment falling on Babylon reflects what Jesus took upon Himself first, He bore the death that was meant for us. This death was the beginning of judgment for the religious system that rejected Him, and it fulfilled the very justice of God. Romans 5:8 “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ”Isaiah 53:8  “He was cut off out of the land of the living…”

Mourning indicate The Grief of the Disciples and the World.

 When Jesus died, the world experienced a moment of deep mourning. The women wept at the cross. The disciples hid. Creation responded. Mourning was both natural and spiritual, because the Light seemed to be extinguished, and hope buried. Luke 23:48 “And all the people that came together to that sight... smote their breasts, and returned.” Luke 24:17 – “...they stood still, looking sad.” and in Matthew 9:15 – “...The days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.”

Famine indicate to The Bread of Life Was Taken:

 Jesus said in  John 6:35  “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger.” When He died, it was as if famine came upon the land. The source of spiritual nourishment, hope, and life was broken like bread, just as He said at the Last Supper: Luke 22:19 – “This is my body which is given for you.” Babylon is left in famine because she rejected the true Bread. Without Him, the religious system is empty, no matter how decorated. Amos 8:11  “Behold, the days come... that I will send a famine... not a famine of bread... but of hearing the words of the Lord.”

What Babylon Receives, Jesus First Bore:

The death, mourning, and famine are not just punishments, they are the mirror image of what Jesus experienced on our behalf, but where Jesus took it in innocence, Babylon receives it in rebellion. Where Jesus was mourned and raised, Babylon is mourned and burned.

Death = Jesus died as judgment fell on sin

Mourning = The world and His disciples grieved His loss

Famine = The Bread of Life was broken, and for a moment, the earth hungered

In rejecting Jesus, Babylon inherits the very emptiness she chose, no life, no comfort, no food.

“Burned with fire” 

= Symbol of God’s Final Judgment

Babylon is not just refined, she is consumed, because she clung to hypocrisy, not repentance. Fire in Scripture often symbolizes purifying judgment.

Malachi 3:2–3  “…He is like a refiner’s fire…”

Hebrews 12:29  “For our God is a consuming fire.”

“For strong is the Lord God who judgeth her”

This is the same strong Lord who was crucified in weakness (2 Cor. 13:4), yet now reigns in resurrected strength. He judges not from revenge, but from righteous justice, the same justice poured out at the cross.

John 5:22  “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.”

"Even They That Pierced Him" 

The Cross Seen in Revelation

Revelation 1:7: “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him…”

This verse connects the judgment in Revelation directly to those who rejected and crucified Jesus. Babylon is judged because she pierced the Truth, and her fall is tied to the exposure of her guilt at the cross.

Selah

The judgment “in one day” = The cross, where sin, Satan, and false religion were judged.

“Death, mourning, famine” = The fruit of rejecting Jesus life, joy, and Word.

“Burned with fire” = The consuming judgment of God against hypocrisy and spiritual harlotry.

“Strong is the Lord who judges her” = Jesus the crucified and risen Judge who executes truth in power.

Revelation 1:7 connects it: “They who pierced Him” now see His glory, and feel the weight of rejection.

Revelation 18:9

9 . End of Her Unfaithfulness!

9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,

“Committed fornication and lived deliciously with her” 

= Unfaithfulness and Corruption

The “kings of the earth” represent both political powers and spiritual authorities who partnered with Babylon, the false religious system,  to gain power, luxury, and influence. They chose the system over the Savior. The priesthood, Herodians, Roman authorities, and others all participated in enriching themselves at the expense of truth and righteousness.The Kings Lament because of the Fall of Corrupt Power!

Fornication = Spiritual unfaithfulness (turning from God to idols and fleshly systems)

Lived deliciously = They enjoyed her benefit, the riches, prestige, and control she offered.

1 John 2:16  “For all that is in the world... the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life...”

James 4:4  “Know ye not that friendship of the world is enmity with God?”

Shall see the smoke of her burning:

= Final Judgment Made Visible

The smoke represents the evidence of total judgment,  just as Sodom’s smoke rose as a witness to divine wrath (Genesis 19:28). It symbolizes that Babylon’s system, once exalted, is now fully consumed. They see the judgment, but do not repent — they mourn their loss, not their sin.

Isaiah 34:10 – “It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever…”

Revelation 14:11 – “The smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever…”

70 AD Fulfillment: Temple and Jerusalem Burned

In 70 AD, Jerusalem was invaded, the temple destroyed, and the city burned. The physical smoke rising was a visible picture of the fall of the old covenant system. Rome itself also experienced burning and upheaval, especially under Nero and in the following decades, symbolic of corruption consuming itself. The kings who aligned themselves with that system stood back and wept, not because of repentance, but because their source of gain and power was gone. The glory of man will fall, but the Kingdom of Jesus endures forever (Hebrews 12:28).

Matthew 23:37–38  “O Jerusalem… your house is left unto you desolate.”

Luke 21:20  “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.”

Selah

Fornication = Betraying God for influence and riches.

Delicious living = Feeding the flesh through false religion.

Smoke = The witness of judgment, Babylon is no more.

70 AD = Historical fulfillment, the temple burned, the city fell, and the system collapsed.

Revelation 18:10

10 . In One Hour Judgement Came!

10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

Revelation 18:10 in your teaching style and connect it directly to Jesus’ “last hour”, showing how both judgment and mercy meet in the cross.

“Standing afar off for the fear of her torment” 

= Acknowledging God’s Hand in Judgment

The kings and merchants now stand at a distance, not because they love Babylon, but because they fear the torment she receives. They are afraid, because they see the justice of God,  and it reminds them they were part of it. This is a picture of conviction without repentance. They knew it was wrong, they feared God’s judgment, but they still chose to stand at a distance, rather than fall in humility. Jesus entered into judgment for us during His final hour. Babylon faces her own hour of judgment, because she rejected His. Those who stood afar off at His cross (Luke 23:49) are mirrored by those who stand afar off in Revelation 18:10 , both groups witness a fall, but only some will be saved by grace.

James 2:19  “The devils also believe, and tremble.”

Luke 23:48–49  “And all the people… smote their breasts… And all his acquaintance… stood afar off.”

“In one hour is thy judgment come” 

= A Prophetic Parallel to Jesus Last Hour

The phrase “one hour” is significant, it appears repeatedly in Revelation 18 to show the suddenness and divine appointment of Babylon’s fall. Spiritually, it also points to Jesus’ final hour, where judgment and salvation met at the cross.

Jesus and “His Hour”

John 12:23–24 – “The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified… unless a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die…”

John 12:27 – “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.”

Luke 22:53 – “This is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

John 13:1 – “Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father…”

John 17:1 – “Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son…”

Revelation 18:11-17

11-17 . From Riches to Rags!

See Addendum- Father's house of merchandise Rev 18

11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

16 And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

trade by sea, stood afar off:

Revelation 18:11–17 paints a vivid picture of economic and spiritual collapse- the heart of the symbolism: the temple worship, which was meant to be a place of holiness and communion with God, had become a system of trade, not just physically, but spiritually corrupted into a marketplace of manipulation, greed, and control. This system once holy became a religious economy and was judged in one hour. Babylon’s spiritual system was built on commerce, control, and religious manipulation. The weeping of the merchants shows their sorrow is not repentance,  it’s the loss of profit. They sold not just goods, but religion, rituals, forgiveness, and status.

Matthew 21:12–13 “My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

Jesus cleansed the temple because it had become a marketplace, the same system now fully judged in Revelation 18. In v.12–13 “The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones... and souls of men.” This is a religious economy. Gold and incense were used in the temple, but now they are for profit, not worship, and most tragically, the system even trades in “the souls of men”  a reference to how people were spiritually enslaved by legalism, fear, and false promises.

Micah 3:11 “The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire... yet will they lean upon the Lord...”

False religion exploits people for gain, claiming God’s authority while denying His heart. v.14 “And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee... and thou shalt find them no more at all.” Babylon lusted after luxury, status, and power, not God. The “fruits” symbolize spiritual experiences that once looked real but were actually self-indulgent and man-centered. Now, those flesh-driven experiences are gone. There is no more anointing, no more presence.

Isaiah 5:4 “What could have been done more to my vineyard...? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?”

God sought true fruit, but Babylon brought wild, bitter fruit. We see in v.15–16 “The merchants of these things... shall stand afar off... saying, Alas... for in one hour so great riches is come to nought!” The collapse is instant and total. This speaks to how quickly spiritual systems built on man can fall when God withdraws His presence. Religious empires can appear strong, but they collapse in a moment when they’re built on flesh, not Spirit.

1 Corinthians 3:13 “Every man’s work shall be made manifest... because it shall be revealed by fire...”

Verse 17 “For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster... stood afar off.” The sea trade is symbolic of the worldly flow of influence and control. Those who depended on Babylon’s system, for power, spiritual authority, or wealth are now left distant and afraid.
They stood afar off, just like the religious leaders stood afar off from Jesus at the cross,  unwilling to be associated when truth was revealed.

Psalm 1:4–5 – “The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away... the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment...”

The House of Prayer Became a Marketplace. Babylon took the temple, the sacred place of worship and turned it into a trading system. What was meant to be relationship with God became religious performance for profit. This is why Jesus cleansed the temple in His ministry and in Revelation 18, He cleanses the whole system permanently.

Revelation 18:18-19

18-19. Promise Made- Promise Kept!

18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

for in one hour is she made desolate:

This verse paints a vivid image of grief and shock, a dramatic, instantaneous judgment. They mourn not the people but the fortune of the city, built on wealth and corruption. The emphasis on “one hour” highlights the suddenness and completeness of the fall of what was once a glittering spiritual-cultural stronghold.

Jesus Says: “Not One Stone Left on Another”

Jesus, speaking about Jerusalem and the temple, said: “Do you see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left on another, that shall not be thrown down.” In we read Matthew 24:2 “And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, and There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

Mark, Luke, and Matthew further record this warning:

Mark 13:2 “And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

Luke 19:44 “And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee;and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.”

This was not prophecy about a distant future, but a near-future event,  fulfilled in AD 70, when Jerusalem and the temple were completely destroyed by the Romans. Prophetic Echo: “In That Hour” The prophets also warned of swift destruction: In Daniel 9:26  we read “…the people of the prince… will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood…” The city’s fall is compared to a sudden flood, echoing the brevity and inevitability of judgment. In Revelation 18, the one-hour collapse echoes Jesus’ and Daniel’s warnings, a covenant city destroyed suddenly when God removes His protection. Let us look at the symbolic Meaning for Babylon - the parallel is unmistakable:

Symbol-Meaning

“One hour” destruction- Instantaneous and total judgment (Rev 18:17–19)

“Not one stone left”- Fulfillment of Jesus’ warning about a temple-city built on false trust

Prophetic flood imagery-Daniel’s warning of overwhelming desolation

Babylon - Jerusalem thought it was secure, built on wealth, religious confidence, and political power. But Jesus had already warned: such systems are vulnerable when God withdraws His presence. Now, in Revelation, the judgment comes in one final, decisive act. The dust on their heads and their mourning reflect their shock, not over lost lives, but over lost pomp. In conclusion we see, Jesus’ “not one stone” prophecy, grounded in the historical fall of Jerusalem in AD 70. This anchor the “one hour” language in both Daniel’s flood imagery and the Revelation account of Babylon, and emphasize that this is not merely physical judgment, but symbolic of the collapse of any religious system built on tradition, commerce, or pride even when it wears a temple robe.

Matthew 23:13  “Woe unto you... for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men…”

1 Timothy 6:5  “Supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”

Ezekiel 27:27–36  Description of the fall of Tyre, a parallel to merchant mourning.

Zephaniah 1:11  “Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down…”

Revelation 18:20

20.Prophets -Avenged!

20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

God hath avenged you:

Early in Revelation 16 we are introduced to the question of when will you avenge us Lord? In chapter 18 we find the answer.

Revelation 6:10  “And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?”

Revelation 18:20 is the divine turning point, Heaven rejoices not in destruction, but in the vindication of truth, the justice of God, and the faithfulness of His witnesses who were long rejected and martyred. This verse brings closure to the pain endured by prophets and apostles throughout history.

Revelation 18:20, with Jesus’ words and Old Testament history included, showing how Babylon silenced God's voice, but Heaven rejoices because truth and righteousness are finally vindicated.

The fall of Babylon is not just a judgment, it is a vindication of every prophet who was mocked, every apostle who was killed, and every voice of truth that was silenced by a religious system that claimed to serve God but rejected His messengers. We know Jesus' had a Heartbroken Lament in Matthew 23:3 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee...” Jesus stood weeping over the city, not just a location, but a religious identity that resisted truth. The very system that was entrusted with the oracles of God persecuted those who carried His Word.

There was a long history of rejected and killing of God messengers:

 God has always sent prophets to call His people back, but they were ignored, imprisoned, or killed,  often by the religious establishment. We hear the voices of the prophets, they where the true voice of God and Babylon silenced them, claiming to speak for God while rejecting the very Spirit of God.

2 Chronicles 36:15–16  “And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers... but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words... until the wrath of the Lord arose...”

Jeremiah 7:25–26  “Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt... I sent unto you all my servants the prophets... yet they hearkened not unto me...”

Nehemiah 9:26  “Nevertheless they were disobedient... and slew thy prophets which testified against them...”

Acts 7:52 (Stephen's rebuke)  “Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One...”

Hebrews 11:36–38  “...others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings... they were stoned, they were sawn asunder... of whom the world was not worthy...”

Rejoice over her

Rejoices because truth is no longer trampled. The testimony of the saints is honored, and the harlot system that pretended to represent God while persecuting His people is now exposed and judged. This is not carnal vengeance, it is divine justice. Babylon’s final crime was She silenced the voice of God in the name of God. She killed the prophets while quoting Scripture. She exalted her throne while crucifying the Lamb. She demanded ritual while rejecting relationship.

Luke 11:49–51  “I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute... that the blood of all the prophets... may be required of this generation.”

thou heaven
The heavens (those in Jesus) rejoice. The false is destroyed, the true shines. Grace, truth, and liberty in Jesus now prevail over the old, decaying system.

Luke 10:20  “Rejoice… because your names are written in heaven.”

Revelation 12:10  “Now is come salvation… and the kingdom of our God…”

Psalm 96:11–13 “Let the heavens rejoice... before the Lord: for he cometh to judge the earth.”

Revelation 18:21

21.Jesus Rock of Ages!

21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

Euphrates=river of life=Jesus

Like a Great Millstone

Jesus Himself used this image in Matthew 18:6 and Luke 17:2: "Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea." In that moment, “little ones” didn’t only mean children, it also referred to His disciples, His humble messengers, sent without worldly power to carry the Kingdom. To “offend” them meant to entrap, persecute, or silence them, the same way Old Testament prophets were treated (Acts 7:52). Rejecting His apostles was rejecting Him (Luke 10:16). Just as Jerusalem persecuted the prophets, the Babylon system of Revelation persecuted His sent ones, fulfilling Matthew 23:34–35 and Luke 11:49–51. The millstone judgment in Revelation 18:21 is the prophetic fulfillment of Jesus’ warning.

Babylon’s Offense

Babylon here represents the corrupted Old Covenant order, the temple system mixed with worldly power, legalism, and self-righteous religion. She was entrusted with the truth but traded it for control. She silenced prophets, crucified Jesus, and persecuted His apostles. She claimed to be a bride, yet said, “I am no widow” (Rev 18:7). This “millstone” scene echoes Jeremiah 51:63–64 Babylon tied to a stone, cast into the waters, never to rise again. It marks the permanent removal of the old religious order through Jesus finished work.

The Stone = Jesus

The stone is not just a symbol of judgment, it is Jesus Himself, the Cornerstone rejected by the builders (Matthew 21:42–44; Isaiah 8:14–15; Luke 20:17–18).

Daniel 2:34–35, 44–45  A stone “cut without hands” destroys the kingdoms of men and fills the earth.
Matthew 21:44  Those who fall on this stone are broken; those on whom it falls are ground to powder.

The millstone judgment is Jesus overthrowing all false religious foundations.

With Violence

The “violence” is not carnal warfare but Jesus righteous judgment through the Cross,  a spiritual assault on deception. It parallels the Four Horsemen (Revelation 6:1–8) as symbols of His victory:

White Horse — Truth conquering false doctrine.
Red Horse — Removing false peace, exposing division in Babylon.
Black Horse — Weighing with just scales, revealing spiritual famine.
Pale Horse — Exposing the death of a corrupt system.

This is Jesus at war, not against flesh, but against the powers that corrupted His house.

Thrown Down

This phrase recalls Matthew 24:2  “Not one stone shall be left upon another.”
Babylon’s fall is:

Hebrews 8:13  The Old Covenant vanishing away.
Hebrews 10:9–10  The first taken away so the second may be established.
Matthew 21:12–13  The den of thieves driven out forever. No more sacrifices, no more veil, no more hereditary priesthood. In its place: the New and Living Way, where Jesus is both High Priest and sacrifice.

Prophetic Layers: Millstone, Winepress, Refining

These three images share one meaning, separation and purification through Jesus finished work:

Millstone, Separates wheat from chaff; Jesus crushes false religion. (Matthew 3:12)
Winepress, Reveals what has true life; Babylon’s fruitless vine is trodden down. (Revelation 14:19–20)
Refining Fire, Burns away dross; only true righteousness remains. (Malachi 3:3; Zechariah 13:9)

Selah
The great millstone cast into the sea in Revelation 18:21 is Jesus Himself, the Rock of Ages bringing permanent judgment to Babylon’s corrupt system. The sea represents final separation and removal. Just as Jesus warned, those who offended His messengers now face the irreversible fall of their house. The old religious order sinks forever, and the New Covenant Bride rises, purified, and free.

and shall be found no more at all:

This ties beautifully into your symbolic vision of Revelation 18, where Babylon, the great harlot, and Jerusalem’s corrupted temple system all fall together at the Cross, never to rise again. This final phrase “found no more at all” is incredibly powerful and speaks of absolute finality. This marks the permanent end of the Old Covenant system, the temple, sacrifices, priesthood, and all that stood opposed to the finished work of Jesus.

“Found no more at all” = The Old Covenant system is gone forever

This phrase reveals the irreversible judgment and removal of the Old Covenant temple order. It is not just destruction, it is non-recovery. What once stood (priests, rituals, offerings, veil, Ark) will never be restored, because Jesus fulfilled and replaced it all. “Found no more at all” declares the eternal removal of the temple system and the Old Covenant. It is not asleep. It is not paused. It is not coming back. It is fully abolished in Jesus, replaced by a new covenant built on better promises, with a heavenly High Priest, and a spiritual temple made of living stones.

Hebrews 10:9 “He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.”

Matthew 27:51 “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain…” 

 John 4:21–24 “The hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father…” 

Galatians 4:30 “Cast out the bondwoman and her son…”

Revelation 18:22

22. Worship now in Spirit and Truth!

22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

This verse doesn’t just describe silence,  it describes the complete and final absence of God’s presence, worship, offering, and function in what was once a religious system. It’s the divine pronouncement that Babylon's temple is no longer His.

And the voice of shall be heard no more at all in thee:

No More Worship – “Voice of Harpers, Musicians, Pipers, and Trumpeters”

These were not casual entertainers, in Jewish tradition, music was integral to temple worship (2 Chron. 5:13–14, Psalm 150). This line speaks of the complete removal of genuine praise and worship. The outward show may have continued for a time, but now even that is stripped away. 2 Chronicles 5:13–14  “...as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound... then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord...” Now it no longer happens in the Old Temple, there is no glory, no cloud, no song. This verse is filled with temple language, but in reverse. It's the description of a forsaken sanctuary, a system abandoned by God. The Old Temple once appeared alive with ceremony, sound, movement, and “holy” things, but now it is utterly silent, spiritually dead. Now it is the silence of Old Temple!

no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee:

No More Craftsmen – “Whatsoever Craft He Be”

This points directly to those who worked in the temple: artisans who made candlesticks, bowls, tabernacle veils, and incense altars (Exodus 31:1–11). Their work supported the function of the presence of God. Now, all craftsmanship, symbolic of spiritual building and preparation is gone. Exodus 31:3–5 “And I have filled him with the spirit of God... in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works...” But Babylon’s works are now ended. The system is no longer Spirit-built.

sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee:

The silence of the millstone = End of grain offerings and old temple worship

The millstone was used to grind grain for offerings in the temple, separating chaff (worthless) from grain (valuable). The sound stopping signifies that the old system of grain offerings and sacrifices, which was never perfectly pure and has ceased forever. This reflects the end of the Old Covenant worship, based on imperfect sacrifices that had to be continuously repeated. The millstone in Scripture was used to grind grain and grain was central to daily offerings to God (Leviticus 2:1–16). The grain offering (meat offering) symbolized thanksgiving, dependence, and communion with God. Leviticus 2:4–5 – “And if thou bring an oblation... of fine flour... it is a meat offering.” Now the sound of grinding is gone. No more bread, no more offering, no more presence. The spiritual implication is Jesus the Bread of Life, is no longer in her midst (John 6:35). She rejected the grain, and the millstone is now cast into the sea. Jesus perfected the separation and purification on the cross, there is no longer any need for the millstone’s grinding, His sacrifice is complete and sufficient.

Hebrews 10:10 “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

1 Corinthians 5:7 “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.”

John 4:23–24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

1 Peter 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house…”

2 Timothy 3:5 Babylon had the form of religion, but denied the power
1 Samuel 4:21 “The glory has departed”

Revelation 18:23

23-24. The Light and Life Departed!

23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee:

The candlelight = The natural, earthly temple light in the Old Covenant temple, lamps and candles provided physical, natural light in the sanctuary (Exodus 27:20–21). This light symbolized God’s presence but was limited and temporary, dependent on human tending and natural materials (oil, wick). When we look at the spiritual meaning we see the ceasing of candlelight means the end of all natural, earthly means of God’s presence in the temple worship system. It points to the replacement of that limited light by the eternal, divine Light, Jesus. Jesus is the true Light of the world who shines eternally and spiritually, not dependent on physical lamps (John 8:12).

John 1:4–5  “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness…”

John 8:12  “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness…”

Exodus 27:20–21  “And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn always.”

Revelation 21:23  “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it.”

The Light of a Candle Shall Shine No More is the loss of true spiritual life and worship in Babylon:

The candle or lampstand is a profound symbol of God’s presence and His people shining in the world.

Revelation 1:12–13  Jesus stands among seven golden candlesticks, representing the churches as light-bearers.

Matthew 5:14  “Ye are the light of the world.”

Luke 8:16 “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place...” The candlelight going out means God’s presence has departed; the living church, the spiritual, Christ-centered body of believers, no longer shines within Babylon. It is spiritually dark and dead.

the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee:

The Bridegroom and Bride = God’s true presence and His pure people.

The voice of the bridegroom and bride represents the joyful worship and intimate fellowship between God and His people. The veil torn at Jesus’ crucifixion (Matthew 27:51) symbolized that God’s presence was removed from the temple, no longer confined to a physical building. The Bride now is the Church, made pure and holy, those God acknowledges as His own (2 Corinthians 11:2). The old temple system (Babylon) loses this intimate presence and joy, no bridegroom’s voice Jesus and no bride’s response (true believers) are found there anymore.

When we look at this in a spiritual light we see a great example in the wedding supper invitation (Matthew 22:1–14) shows many invited to the old covenant worship and kingdom rejected the call. So, the kingdom opens to others “in the streets,” representing the Gentiles and all true believers, who become the Bride of Jesus. The phrase means the old system is abandoned, losing God’s presence and the worship of a pure bride. The bridegroom and bride imagery is central to the New Testament’s understanding of God’s relationship with His people. Song of Solomon beautifully illustrates the intimate voice of love between bridegroom and bride. In Babylon, this voice is silenced, no true worshipers, no intimate relationship with God remains. The genuine, Spirit-led worship that flows from this union is gone, replaced by empty rituals and deception.

Matthew 27:5  “The veil of the temple was rent in twain...”

2 Corinthians 11:2  “I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

Matthew 22:1–14  “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a marriage…”

John 14:23  “If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him…”

John 3:29  “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom...”

Ephesians 5:25–27  Christ loves the church as a bride.

Revelation 21:2  The New Jerusalem is described as a bride adorned for her husband.

For Thy Merchants Were the Great Men of the Earth:

Babylon’s strength was in its wealth, political power, and influence. The merchants symbolize the worldly, materialistic systems that thrive on control and greed rather than God’s truth.

Revelation 18:3  “For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication...”

James 5:1–6  The condemnation of wealthy oppressors.

For By Thy Sorceries Were All Nations Deceived:

The word “sorceries” (Greek: pharmakeia) often refers to witchcraft, enchantments, and false teachings. It points to spiritual deception, Babylon’s power to deceive nations spiritually, politically, and economically. False doctrine, idolatry, and manipulation are the tools of Babylon, masquerading as holiness while leading souls away from Jesus.

No candlelight = No true presence of God or Spirit-led church.

No voice of bridegroom/bride = No authentic worship or covenant relationship.

Merchants = worldly power and greed dominating.

Sorceries = spiritual deception and false teaching enslaving nations.

Babylon is a dead religious system, hollow and powerless without the living God, marked by pride, deception, and spiritual blindness.

Revelation 18:24

24. The Prophets blood calls

24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

So we find in Revelation 18:24 is a solemn and profound declaration of the spiritual murder carried out by Babylon, and the true sacrifice of the prophets and saints whose blood cries out for justice and vindication. We will look at the connection to Abel’s blood and the contrast with Cain’s offering aswell.This verse powerfully indicts Babylon as the spiritual murderer, the persecutor who killed God’s messengers and faithful followers. The blood of these martyrs is not forgotten; it is a sacred testimony and a sacrificial offering that calls out for divine justice.

And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints:

Babylon’s guilt for shedding true believers’ blood

Babylon (the corrupted religious system) is charged with the blood of the prophets and saints, those who faithfully called out God’s truth but were rejected, persecuted, and slain. This blood represents the genuine sacrifices and cries for justice that God honours, unlike the empty ritual sacrifices of the temple system, which He does not acknowledge or accept.

The Deeper spiritual message is the blood of Abel (Genesis 4:10) is a key Old Testament example of God acknowledging the innocent blood of the righteous. Similarly, the blood of prophets and saints in Babylon’s hands cries out to God for justice, exposing the system’s violence and hypocrisy. God does not see or accept the blood of animals or empty offerings made in false worship, but He honors the blood of those who truly seek Him and bear witness.

Abel’s Blood: The Archetype of Vindicated Sacrifice

Genesis 4:10  “The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.”

Abel’s blood was the first recorded righteous blood that God acknowledged and vindicated, contrasting with Cain’s unacceptable offering. Abel offered a true, Spirit-led sacrifice, pleasing to God. Cain’s offering was not accepted because it lacked faith and obedience. The prophets and saints in Revelation are like Abel’s blood, their martyrdom is a holy offering, a witness against the corruption of Babylon’s false worship.

Contrast with Cain’s False Offering

Hebrews 11:4  “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain...” Babylon’s temple offerings were empty and hypocritical, like Cain’s,  a form without the power of true relationship (2 Timothy 3:5).

Genesis 4:10  “The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.”

Matthew 23:34–35  “I send unto you prophets... and ye shall kill them... That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth.”

Hebrews 12:24  “The blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”

Isaiah 1:11–17  “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me?... Bring no more vain oblations…”

Selah

Babylon is held guilty for the blood of true prophets and saints it shed, whose cries for justice God honors, just like Abel’s blood cried out to Him.
God does not recognize or accept the blood of animal sacrifices or temple offerings performed without faith and truth. The true cost of rejecting God’s messengers is recorded and condemned, showing the spiritual violence behind Babylon’s fall. The blood of the saints is not wasted; it is a testimony that condemns Babylon. Their suffering is part of God’s redemptive plan, vindicated at the final judgment and  Babylon’s fall is the divine response to this cry. God did not forget about them, and He will never forget about you!

To My Bride

The Church is called to hear God’s invitation to leave dead religion and find true life in union with Jesus. As the Bride, we overcome by separating ourselves from Babylon’s ways, refusing to participate in empty rituals, self-serving spirituality, or compromise with worldly power. Our calling is to live in the freedom, purity, and joy of the New Covenant, rejoicing in the downfall of every system that opposes the finished work of Jesus, and shining as a Bride made ready for her King.