REVELATION
SIMPLIFIED
CHAPTER 18.9
Gleanings from the Book of
Revelation:
A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series
The
REVELATION TO JOHN
Chapter
Eighteen
The Great Tribulation
Parenthesis
Mystery Babylon
(Political Babylon)
Review
After
the seizure of religious Babylon, the final judgment is about to commence upon the
political and economic capital of Antichrist’s world empire – Commercial
Babylon. Before Armageddon, God will give one last opportunity to anyone remaining
who has repented fleeing the city before its total devastation.
Scripture
forewarns:
Psalm 96:13 - Before the LORD:
for He cometh, for He cometh
to judge the earth: He shall judge the world with
righteousness, and the people with His truth.
Isaiah 14:27 - For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul (thwart, frustrate) it? and His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?
2 Thessalonians 1:6-8 - Seeing
it is a righteous thing with God to
recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed
from Heaven with His mighty angels, In flaming fire
taking vengeance on them that know not God, and
that obey not the Gospel of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
But,
blatantly with pride and prejudice the unrepentant kings under the Antichrist, as
well as the other kings of the world, remain boastful of their falsely
conceived indestructibility. As a result, in unbelief, the kings and merchants,
instead of mourning over their iniquity, bemoan for the loss of their sum material
wealth in such a short time.
1. The Pronouncement
of Babylon’s Punishment (Vv. 1-3)
2. The Plea to the
People of God (Vv. 4-5)
3. The Payment
Babylon Procures (Vv. 6-8)
4. The Profits
Babylon Forfeited (v. 9)
(Verse 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.
Kings of the Earth Lament
The kings or emperors of the earth mentioned are associated
with world rulers (cf. Daniel 7:21; Revelation 17:12) along with kings who rule
under them. These world leaders, well committed to Antichrist’s capital, have immorally
indulged both physically and spiritually with Babylon in rebellion against God.
Economics and power are their motivations. They lived deliciously (luxuriously) and in splendor with her.
Understand, John is viewing the fall of Babylon; not the rest
of the world. When the smoke of the city’s fiery destruction is in view,
subsequently the world’s economy has failed, thus reaping global anarchy. This
scenario effectuates the kings of the earth to bewail (i.e., to weep, sob or
cry out loud in pain and grief), and lament (literally, to beat one’s breast) in
horror for their losses.
Reminiscent is the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as
vividly witnessed by Abraham:
Genesis 19:28 - And he
(Abraham) looked
toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all
the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the
country went up as the smoke of a furnace. [See also Tyre:
Ezekiel 26:16; 27:30, 35]
So, supernaturally God, by natural means (possibly an
earthquake), will cause Babylon’s destruction by fire and smoke.
5. The People Affected by Babylon’s Pride (Vv. 10-19)
(Verse 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.
As the merchants of the city lament, not necessarily for the
city, but for the loss of their trade, luxury, and wealth, they stand afar off [meaning at a (long) distance]
in an attempt to escape doom upon themselves (again, possibly from an
earthquake). The phrase standing afar off
clarifies that the judgment is uniquely from the city rather than upon the
world.
Their utterance is one of extreme grief [alas, alas (ouai, ouai) is a Greek expression connoting,
Woe, Woe, Woe]. In inconceivable shock and awe, while safe and secure, they selfishly
marvel at Antichrist’s great city being devastated in one day (cf. Revelation
18:8).
(Verse 11)
And the merchants of the earth shall weep and
mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more.
Kings of the Earth Lament
Merchants or businessmen weep
out loud and mourn (cry over) their
financial losses and for their merchandise (wares, cargo, freight) as the city
is in collapse. No one can buy or sell for monetary gain.
Note: The grief is not for the city but for them.
The following two verses provide an itemized inventory of merchandise
or categories merchants of the world grieve over…
(Verse 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,
Riches of Commercial Babylon
1. Gold – A precious chemical malleable element used for coinage,
jewelry, and other arts. Golden vessels were employed by aristocrats and
royalty for Temple artifacts and ornamentations. Gold was one of three
gifts the wise men presented to infant Jesus at Bethlehem [cf. Matthew 2:11; (See also Revelation 3.18 Study)].
2. Silver - Another precious metal used for coins, statuettes, ornamental
artifacts, and tableware. Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (cf.
Matthew 26:15).
3. Precious stones – Popular for ornate jewelry, the diamond is the most
precious. Also included were emeralds, rubies, beryl, opals, sardonyx,
amethyst, and jasper stone. The high priest's breastplate consisted of twelve
precious stones. On each of the twelve gems was engraved the name of one of
the twelve tribes (cf. Exodus 39:15-31).
4. Pearls – The pearl is a lustrous concretion found in the shell of
mollusks. As a highly prized gem, it is widely used for fashion jewelry (cf. 1 Timothy 2:9). Jesus once compared a
pearl of great price to the Kingdom of God (cf. Matthew 13:46).
And fine linen, and purple, and silk, and
scarlet, and all thyine wood
5. Fine linen – Costly woven garments of the affluent, kings, and priests. The
finest linen produced was procured from Egypt. Joseph of Arimathea arranged for
Jesus' body to be wrapped in a clean linen cloth (cf. Matthew 27:59).
6. Purple – An expensive red-blue dye colour tediously extracted from a shellfish.
Garments for royalty and nobility were purple (cf. Proverbs 31:32; [see also Revelation study 2; 18a]). Jesus was given a purple robe to wear by Roman soldiers at
His crucifixion (cf. Mark 15:17, 20).
7. Silk – Scribed only four times in the King James Bible, silk was a
scarce costly fabric imported from China during the Roman era. Sēr
(silk) is the Greek word for China. Once forbidden by Tiberius Caesar, it was
notoriously stated, “A pound of silk sold at Rome for twelve ounces of gold.”
The “Proverbs 31 woman” made herself clothing of silk (cf. Proverbs 31:22).
8. Scarlet – Much sought-after bright red for dyeing fabrics, mainly
opulent coverlets for couches and curtains. Obtained from the dried body of a
crimson or scarlet [grub] worm (coccus
ilicus). Jesus’s death is identified with this worm (cf. Psalm 22:6). Other
than Tabernacle textiles, a line of
scarlet thread (cord) hung on Rahab’s window in Jericho which served as a
warning to Israelite spies (cf. Joshua 2:18).
And all
thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most
precious wood, and brass, and iron, and marble
9. Thyine wood – Used once in Scripture, thyine, citrus, or citronwood is a valuable
beautifully grained sweet fragrant, scented wood. Thyine was prized by the
Greeks and Romans for their tabletops and ornamented stately furniture (cf. 1
Kings 6:15). Ointments were also extracted from its bark and burned for
sacrificial purposes due to their aroma. It epitomized the luxury of Babylon.
10.
Vessels of ivory – Procured
from elephants, hippopotami, and other animal tusks, items made from ivory were
for sculptured statues and furniture inlays. King Solomon made a great throne
of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. (cf. 2 Chronicles 9:17).
11.
Vessels of most precious wood – Beautiful decorative wooden articles (such as teak, ebony,
and cedar) of great price were made to adorn magnificent palaces (cf. 2 Samuel
7:2).
12.
Vessels of brass – Fine
brass or bronze are a malleable long-lasting alloy of copper and zinc or tin.
Solomon’s Temple contained many items made from bronze. It is one of the
earliest known metals for money, artwork, and various items. For ceremonial purification,
God instructed Moses:
Exodus 30:18 - Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his (its) foot also of brass, to wash
withal
(them-Israelites): and thou shalt put it between the Tabernacle of the congregation and
the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.
13.
Vessels of iron – Taken
from iron ore, it was melted and refined by fire. Iron utensils and furniture eventually
became luxury items for the wealthy (cf. Ezekiel 27:12)
14.
Vessels of Marble – A
limestone capable of high polish for public buildings, flooring, column
structures, tables, and sculptures. The Book of Esther describes Xerxes’ royal
palace in Susa in this fashion:
Esther 1:6 - Where were white,
green, and blue, hangings,
fastened with cords
of fine linen and purple to silver
rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold
and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue (purple), and white, and black, marble.
(Verse 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.
Switching to articles of food, animate possessions, and souls
of men, the list of Babylon’s commercial goods mourned over by kings and
merchants continues…
15.
Cinnamon - A well
sought after aromatic spice imported from Egypt, Arabia, India, and China. Its
uses were not limited to but included:
1. Burning as a scent
2. Embalming and cremation
3. Flavorings for foods and wine
Roman banquet rooms carried the smell of cinnamon incense
after meals. Read and compare Exodus 30:22-25 (for anointing oil) to Proverbs 7:10
and Verse 17 (to perfume a harlot’s bed)
16.
Odours
– Fragrant
powders burned in religious or official commemoration services (cf. Revelation
5:8)
17.
Ointments
– By
implication Myrrh, perfumed oil (cf. Exodus 30:23). The gum from certain trees
is exuded and sometimes mixed with other ingredients.
Usages
included:
1. Anointing
the sick (cf. James 5:14)
2. Anointing
the dead (cf. Luke 23:56)
3. Anointing
Kings and priests (cf. 2 Kings 9:3)
4. As
a spice (cf. Song of Solomon 5:13)
5. As
a stimulant (cf. Mark 15:23)
6. As
an antiseptic (cf. Mark 15:23)
7. As
purification rites for women (cf. Esther 2:12)
18.
Frankincense
– One
of the gifts presented to Jesus by the Magi (cf. Matthew 2:11). Another gum resin for perfuming bodies,
flavoring wine, sacrificial incense, and lamp oil. Song of Solomon speaks of a hill of incense, alluding to Lebanon
(cf. Song of Solomon 4:6).
And wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat
19.
Wine
– In
antiquity, wine was the universal drink. Oftentimes wine was abused as an
intoxicant (condemned in Proverbs 4:17 through 31:6). Paul suggests Timothy use a little wine for
medicinal purposes (cf. 1 Timothy 5:23). The first miracle of Jesus was turning
water into wine at the wedding at Cana (cf. John 2:1-11)
20.
Oil
– Primarily
olive oil, used for bread dipping, anointing, and lighting. Oil was also the basic ingredient in soups
(cf. Jeremiah 2:22)
21.
Fine
flour – Making Bread, the minimum staple since Genesis 3:19. The
best and finest flour was significantly for grain offerings to God (cf. Numbers
28:12), also food for the rich. Barley was the common diet of the poor. Lot
used unleavened bread when he housed the angels for the night in Sodom (cf.
Genesis 19:3)
22.
Wheat
– A
common cereal grain that yields fine flour; another food staple. Heads of the
wheat plant were roasted and labeled parched
corn for snacking (cf. Ruth 2:14). Wheatfields are first mentioned when
Reuben went there to fetch mandrakes (an aphrodisiac) for his mother Leah (cf.
Genesis 30:14)
And beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves,
and souls of men
23.
Sheep
– Animals
most mentioned in the Bible - Used
for sacrifices, food, and tithes. Abel’s occupation was sheepherding (cf.
Genesis 4:2). An angel first
announced the birth of Christ to shepherds keeping
watch over their flock by night (cf. Luke 2:8)
24.
Beasts
– Identifiably,
beasts of burden, domestic animals, primarily cows, donkeys, or camels. The Good Samaritan helped a certain man by
placing him on a beast for travel (cf. Luke 10:34)
25.
Horses
- Purportedly
the first animals to be domesticated, horses were the pride of many empires for
hunting, travel, and military use. They were the sculptor's dream which
included statues, reliefs, and various artifacts. In Palestine, horses were useful
for farming and pulling cargo. Rich men’s steads were notorious for wearing
elegant riding clothes (cf. Mark 11:7). King Solomon had accumulated 12,000
horses and 1,400 chariots for his treasury (cf. 1 Kings 10:26)
26.
Chariots
(Rheda) – Unlike chariots for
games, racing, or military purposes, chariots
are properly translated: as four-wheeled silver-plated private carriages for
aristocrats. Rheda appears once in the New Testament
27.
Slaves
– The
Greek word is soma, also only used one time as body slaves. They are described as
men or maidservants for personal menial tasks, cupbearers. They supplied
athletic events or other entertainment such as prostitution and gladiatorial purposes.
These exacted a higher price at slave markets. At the time of John’s writing
there existed approximately 60,000,000 slaves in the Roman Empire. The word slave(s) is used once in the New, and one time in the Old Testament analogizing
Israel (cf. Jeremiah 2:14)
28.
Souls
of men – Distinctively three possible usages:
1. A
soul is translated, as the breath of life or a living being (male or female).
It can attain the highest goal --- that of eternal life. However, when souls
are indoctrinated with false doctrine and intentional cruel moral misuse, they
are enslaved and dependent upon Satan or Antichrist, thus dooming them to Hell.
Jesus taught:
Mark
8:35-36 - For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever
shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
For what shall it profit a man, if he
shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
2. Human
trafficking, becoming the property of the master for immoral purposes, namely
women, and children of both sexes, as in the merchandizing of Tyre (cf. Ezekiel
27:13)
3. Popery has derived its greatest gains from the
sale of masses for the souls of men after death, and of indulgences purchased
from the Papal chancery by rich merchants in various countries, to be retailed
at a profit [Mosheim, III, 95, 96]
So,
the city of Babylon was the world’s market hub for all commerce and trade. Of the
twenty-eight essential items – some formerly used for sacrifice and worship to
God -- all were diverted and mandated to the homage of the Antichrist. Recall, no one can buy or
sell any products without having the mark
of the beast during the Great Tribulation (cf. Revelation 13:17).
Now,
compare the riches of Babylon to the well-documented summation of Solomon’s
riches (cf. 1 Kings 10:14-29; 2 Chronicles 1:14-29).
Through
the centuries, the accumulation of listed materials determines a man, city, or
country's wealth. The economic backbone of the world to which the city of
Babylon blatantly and boastfully coveted was wiped out in one hour (cf.
Revelation 18:17, 19). Such was the materialistic world for which merchants were
grieving.
The lament of the merchants continues in the following study.
QUESTIONS:
1. Why does God need to execute His wrath upon the world?
2. Why do merchants grieve over Babylon’s riches?
3. Why is Babylon the center of world commerce?
4. What were some primary luxury items of Babylon?
5. Why did Babylon hold the world’s wine and wheat supplies?
6. What was the original intent for Babylon’s wealth?
7. How were slaves used in John’s day?
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