Revelation 18:9-13 (NKJV) The World Mourns Babylon’s Fall
9 “The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning. 10 Standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.”
11 “And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 12 merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men.
V9 “The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning…”Committed fornication carries the idea of their love of money (1 Timothy 6:10). Matthew 6:24 (NKJV) “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” These kings knew these judgments were from God, but they rush forward continuing in sin, deceived into thinking they will win the war with Jesus (Revelation 6:15-17, Psalm 2:2, and John 3:36). The fire is an appropriate judgment for such an evil city, for fire cleanses sin (Malachi 3:2-3), Ezekiel 22:19-20, and Isaiah 4:4).
V10 “…standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.” They fear, but it is not a fear that brings repentance, for they love their sin too much. The heavenly city, Jerusalem (not the earthly which will be rumble and then rebuilt by Jesus upon His return), lasts forever. Note that judgment brings torment. Instead of being sorrowful because of their sins, they mourn because of their financial loss.
Keathley writes: “But there is only one who is Mighty and Great, and that is the Lord!!! This warns us to never put our trust in what man can build, for no matter how great, God can destroy it in less than an hour (Rev 18:10 b, cf. Rev 18:8; Rev 18:17).”
V11 “And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore…” They mourn and wail for their income is lessened, thus their power and secular glory is lost. They trusted in riches instead of God (Proverbs 11:28, Psalm 49:6, and 1 Timothy 6:17).
Revelation 18:11 (Holman Commentary) “Their mourning—like that of the kings—is basically selfish. As traders, they were especially addicted to the rush of buying and selling. Now that no one buys their cargoes anymore, they, too, are in withdrawal. They are ruined forever.”
V12 “…merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble…” Quite the list of riches. Nothing is held back from these elite, rich people.
V13 “…and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men.” Notice the bodies and souls of humans. The buying and selling of bodies is slavery. It might be slavery for working, sex, etc. The souls are the result of abuse and propaganda. Their minds are enslaved as well. One of the things that Jesus came for was to set at liberty slaves (Isaiah 61:1, Romans 8:21, and 2 Corinthians 3:17). These monsters even control and monitor everything about them, perhaps knowing their basic thoughts.
We learn:
- Money cannot buy escape from judgment.
- Those who worship money and power will lose everything.
- God is strong and cannot be defeated.