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REVELATION - Behold, I am Coming Soon
Studies in the Book of Revelation
BOOK 6 - BABYLON THE HARLOT AND THE WORSHIP OF GOD(REVELATION 17:1 - 19:10)
PART 6.1 - THE JUDGMENT OF GOD UPON THE HARLOT BABYLON (REVELATION 17:1 - 18:24)

9. Lamentations Over the Fall of Babylon (Revelation 18:9-19)


REVELATION 18:9-19
9 The kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived wantonly with her, will weep and wail over her, when they look at the smoke of her burning, 10 standing far away for the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For your judgment has come in one hour.’ 11 The merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise any more; 12 merchandise of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet, all expensive wood, every vessel of ivory, every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, sheep, horses, chariots, and people’s bodies and souls. 14 The fruits which your soul lusted after have been lost to you, and all things that were dainty and sumptuous have perished from you, and you will find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, will stand far away for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning; 16 saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17 For in an hour such great riches are made desolate.’ Every ship master, and everyone who sails anywhere, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood far away, 18 and cried out as they looked at the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like the great city?’ 19 They cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her great wealth!’ For in one hour is she made desolate.

The Lament of the Kings (v 9-10): The downfall of brilliant world cultures causes deep convulsions both in nations and in individuals; when it happens their view of life falls apart. The carpet is pulled out from under their feet. They see how their hopes and the meaning to their life are smashed. They’re left with nothing, and suspect God's judgment upon them.

The kings, represented as the seven heads and ten horns of the Antichrist, who had continuously fornicated with Babylon the Great, now turned on her. With a single smashing blow they brought the great city into a frenzy of self-gratification, freeing her of her coercive influence and dividing up her wealth among themselves. But suddenly they realized: What have we done! We have destroyed the basis of our own existence. We have robbed ourselves of the source of our inspiration, the center of our world-wide coordination and the starting point of all our rotten compromises. The carefully cemented- together power balance of our world lies before us as a heap of ruins. The cunning and deceit, that held everything together, has gone up in smoke (Revelation 18:9).

The emotional shock and the self-pity of the kings were so great that they cried and sobbed out loud. In unison they began wailing, taking the form of a funeral. Their great distress was not primarily brought on by the sudden destruction of Babylon, but by their own financial loss and their imminent demise. They recognized that their wealth had come to an end, that their economic wonder had been a fleeting dream, and that their investments had dissolved like a vapour. They understood that their crowns and decorations had become worthless symbols of bygone days. They had allowed themselves to be duped and deceived by the clever harlot and the glow of the great city. By weeping over the burning city, they were, in reality, mourning for themselves. In hell there will be no pity or compassion for others who are burning.

Neither did the rulers hurry to send fire-brigades or helpers to Babylon to rescue survivors from the inferno raging in the great city. No, they stood far back, watching safely from a distance, as the brain-trust of the world, along with her tall skyscrapers, came crashing down (Revelation 18:10). Perhaps it had been a neutron or a hydrogen bomb that had devastated and contaminated the culture center of the Antichrist, so that no one more could enter it, or maybe a billow of poisonous gas had settled over the burning city with its thick clouds of smoke. From a distance the kings were crying crocodile tears. They became fearful when they saw the agony of the million-plus city.

Together, they stuttered in amazement at what they had done: Woe to you, you mighty metropolis! Woe to you, you center of might and intelligence! In only one hour you have been crushed and annihilated! It is neither logical nor comprehensible; it has to be a judgment of God. Your downfall into Hades is the beginning of your residence in hell.

The lovers of the adulteress were paralyzed by the terrible thought that they might be infected with the spirit and sicknesses of the harlot, and the recognition that they, too, might meet with the judgment of God! They suspected that, measured against God, all human strength is of no avail. The high and the mighty sensed their own lost condition, saw chaos approaching, and mourned for themselves in the dying city.

The Lament of the Merchants (v 11-17a): Perhaps the verses conveying the lamentation of the merchants over the downfall of Babylon reflected John's own experience of economic life in the provincial capital city of Ephesus. Its relation to the world trade center, “Babylon” (Rome), would, were something similar to happen, be affected. He imagined what the downfall of this great city would mean to the merchants and wholesalers. He listed thirty different materials that had become worthless through the downfall of the great city. One bankruptcy followed the other. The judgment over Babylon affected the world economy in its entirety.

At first, John listed the precious jewelry articles of the kings, the princes and their wives (Revelation 18:12a): sparkling gold, that doesn't oxidize, valuable silver, precious stones, in all colors and shades, as well as exceedingly valuable pearls from the shells of the sea. Of note: with the exception of silver, the same precious valuables are again mentioned later by John to emphasize the glory of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:11, 15, 19, 21). God Himself is there alluded to, using the transparent sparking crystal (jasper) and the red precious ruby (sardius) (Revelation 4:3; 21:20). The precious stones, the gold and the pearls, are not, in themselves, objectionable. The sight of them does not hinder man from worshiping God in His creative power. But here they are worthless, because they had been misused by the esteemed wealthy only in interest of showing off their respectable office or position.

In the list of debased goods the patriarch next named the precious materials of his time: fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet (Revelation 18:12b). In all countries the motto is valid: “Clothes make the man (or the woman)”. A person wants to be prettier and more attractive than he or she really is. In fact, it is the saints of God who will appear more beautiful than they actually are by nature. In the visions of John they are arrayed in fine fabric, for the fine linen is the symbol of their God-given righteousness (Revelation 19:8). The Bride of the Lamb will be adorned with this “white linen”. It also represents the attire of the heavenly host (Revelation 19:4). The listed purple materials are color-fast and non-fade. At one time to produce just one gram of this pinkish-red color 10,000 purple snails had to lose their lives. The price of purple, therefore, climbed enormously. At that time silk came from China, and was transported on the back of camels thousands of kilometers through the deserts and mountains of the Middle East via the “Silk Road”. On the other hand, scarlet-red materials were dyed, on location, with the juice of an insect. This color had an even greater intensity than purple, yet its glimmering red faded with time.

Among the goods that were imported to Babylon from foreign countries John listed every kind of citron wood (Revelation 18:12c), which found usage in wood inlays and house paneling. Other sorts of valuable wood were also imported, including fragrant cedar wood from Lebanon. Valuable ivory carvings were also offered. Influential and leading citizens, in efforts to demonstrate their status as leading citizens of the most important city of the world, tried to outbid each other for elegant furniture, artistic paneling and carved sculptures.

Without doubt, iron and marble belonged to the elementary materials of this great city (Revelation 18:12d). Villas, palaces and castles were cast in pure Carrara-marble in energetic building projects. Magnificent columns, made of the pinkish-red granite from Assuan, weren’t lacking. Alabaster and onyx stone served to decorate exquisite buildings. Ore was melted and artistically fashioned into iron. The atmosphere of the city served to radiate riches, but also security and stability, as if she would outlast endless generations. In just one hour, however, everything was burned up and destroyed.

In just the same way, in only “one” hour both the skyscraper towers of the World Trade Centers in New York collapsed in a fire-inferno – a warning sign for all residents of the countless “Babylons” of today.

John was also familiar with the cosmetic branch (Revelation 18:13a). Orientals often love individually selected aromatic substances. Included in these, at that time, was cinnamon, gained from the bark of the Chinese Cinnamon Tree. This spice was not only used in the kitchen, but also to freshen-up beds and clothing. The Omomo ointment, gained from an Indian spice-plant, was used to scent and curl hair. Of special prominence were incense and myrrh from southern Arabia, in great demand for burning in both sacral and mundane settings, as well as for its use in medicine. In the better families of Babylon fragrant substances of every form could not be lacking. Ironically, as the merchants began singing their mournful song of the downfall of Babylon, stinking billows of smoke were passing through the eternal city (Revelation 18:9).

Dominating the kitchen were Olive Oil and noble wines from the vineyards of the sub-tropics (Revelation 18:13b). In addition to kiln-dried corn and pulled wheat, fine white flour and long-eared rice were also used. Culinary pleasures were celebrated. Everything was to be found in Babylon: Tee from China, Pepper from South India, yoghurts from Bedouin tents, ice from Lebanon – everything the world had to offer. But in the hour of her doom, no one could even find a glass of cool, fresh water.

Trade flourished, and business was good. All sorts of meat were offered in the mega-city (Revelation 18:13c). Sheep meat was preferred over beef. Camel and pork meat were not lacking. Turkey and all kinds of fish stood available for buyers to choose. But when Babylon was scorched, even the bodies of her residents were roasted and charcoaled to ash.

Race horses were also present in the vibrant great city (Revelation 18:13d). Chariots decked with fine silver and gold rolled over the great stone slabs of smoothly laid streets. To ride in a carriage pulled by more than one horse was a status symbol. Just as today, certain makes of cars classify their owners, so too, at that time, the pedigree line of the horses was an indicator of the financial class of the owners. Yet none of these fast- and- comfortable luxury carriages could outrun the sudden downfall of Babylon.

In painful rage, the patriarch wrote lastly of “bodies” that were sold and bought in the great city (Revelation 18:13d). This disparaging word at that time described slaves. They were not sold as human beings, but as laborers, or for carnal pleasure. Respect for human dignity reared up in John, so that he wrote to clarify: Those are souls of men – not just muscles and bones!

In John's day and age it was inconceivable not to have slaves in the life of the great city. Poor families could only afford two or three workers. The middle class held in every home 10 to 20 slaves. Patricians bought up to 200 slaves for their villas and gardens. Large property owners or factory directors held thousands of slaves, who as booty from “justified” wars were squeezed together and transported on cargo ships. Babylon would have collapsed had it not been for the work of slaves. From time-to-time their numbers were even greater than those of the free. At the same time, a subliminal fear crept over the ruling class, that one day the rage of the oppressed and exploited would overflow in revenge.

Even today, in West Sudan, hundreds of thousands of people are enslaved and sold, primarily women and children. In comparison, in our technically advanced countries, we brag that slavery has been officially abolished. In return, every family possesses hundreds of modern “energy-slaves”, in the form of kitchen and household appliances, cars, televisions and computers. It goes without saying - we use our plumbing and gas lines! Few there are who would be ready to do dirty or hard work. Modern robots are on their way to replacing expensive personnel. But should electricity, gas, water and gasoline suddenly be cut off, we will soon and with great perplexity grasp how dependent we’ve become on these energy-slaves. Babylon is everywhere!

Finally, in their lamentation over Babylon, the merchants praised the fresh fruit that ripened all times of the year in the sub-tropics (Revelation 18:14). Oranges and bananas, water melons and grapes, figs and dates, peaches and apricots, almonds and strawberries, every type of fresh fruit was continuously available – until the city suddenly went up in flames.

Just like the kings before them, the merchants, too, stared from a distance at the burning, perishing city (Revelation 18:9-10, 15-17a). A fiery-hell had overtaken the residents of Babylon. No one wanted to approach those who were burning. The merchants, who had become rich on this city, showed no trace of pity over the corpses of the charcoaled rich, or the slaves reduced to ashes. Their suffering and burned bodies were of little interest to the merchants. Much more, they lamented the loss of batiste, purple, scarlet materials, gold, precious stones and pearls! They were horrified that in one hour the entire wealth of Babylon had been destroyed.

The merchants mourned more over the lightning-like loss of their business connections than over the downfall of the great city. Their puffed up pride and snobbery over their wealth and splendor yielded to shudder and weeping. They suspected, too, that their end was inevitably approaching, and that they would be able to take nothing from the honor of man or earthly riches into eternity.

Jesus prophesied absolutely clearly to the entire world (Luke 6:24-25): “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full, for you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.”

Does this warning of the Son of God have special significance to the rich countries of the world today? What consequences do we draw from it?

The Lament of the Shipmasters (v 17b-19): In the third obituary notice over Babylon the rulers and newly become millionaires do not speak. But their representatives, employees and workers do. Perhaps the Babylon of John's vision lay on the sea coast, where the families of the millionaires bought the ships and placed them into service. Their captains, helmsmen, officers and crews, in seeing Babylon on fire, suddenly grasped that they were unemployed (Revelation 18:17b-19). No one would pay them their outstanding wages, and no new ship owner would hire them.

The grief of the workers was great. They had lost the basis of their existence. They cried out and, as a sign of their deep sorrow, tossed sand over their heads. “Woe, woe” they cried out in their complaint, not out of sympathy for the great city, but because, with one stroke, all their ability to earn a livelihood had been smashed to pieces. Perhaps they had never thanked God for their job, and had trusted more in Babylon than in Him. Now, hopelessness gripped their hearts.

Countless numbers of both great and small had become rich through the economic monster Babylon. Now, in one hour, it had grown slack and been annihilated. Whether lord or servant, whoever lives without or against God is doomed for time and eternity.

PRAYER: Holy Father, we thank You from the bottom of our hearts for the daily bread, fresh water, fruits, meat and all kinds of the nourishments of Your grace. Forgive us if You found that, for the sake of Your justice, You had to destroy the riches of the countries of our world and the merits of our society, to the point that even money lost its value. Help us to return, to learn to be thankful and praiseful for food and clothing, and to satisfy ourselves with what You give us daily. Amen.

QUESTION:

  1. Which of the things ruined in Babylon do you consider as necessary and which do you consider as unnecessary for living?

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