Revelation 19:2-3; The Angel Cried Mightily

Revelation 18:2-3  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. 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. 

Herbert Lockyer observed well, “As a world centre of finance and commerce, Babylon will engage in an extensive sea trade. Ships loaded with all kinds of merchandise will travel to and from its ports. The pathetic cries of shipmasters and sailors are occasioned by the fact that the desolation of Babylon means the end of all seagoing traffic and, consequently their livelihood.

Revelation 18:18-19  And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! 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. 

No wonder all who made rich by ships in the sea weep and wail and cast dust on their heads! Their testimony is, “What city is like unto this great city!” To all the seafarers, nothing is equal to Babylon. It is the epitome of great world prestige and power. By policies, diplomacy, and unholy greatness is swiftly banished by Him who is able to cast the mighty from their seats of power.

Gathering together the lamentations of the monarchs, merchants, mariners, and musicians, we have an insight into the terror of Babylon’s judgment.

The double “alas” of the monarchs ends with “in one hour is thy judgment come” (Revelation 18:10). Here we have the swiftness of divine action. The stroke of vengeance from the hand of god is sudden and unexpected.

Revelation 18:10  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. 

The double “alas” of the merchants gives their viewpoint of Babylon’s ruin: “In one hour so great riches is come to nought” (Revelation 18:17), indicating the complete banishment of prideful material prosperity.

The double “alas” of the mariners gives us another of the anguish experienced over the city’s downfall: “In one hour is she made desolate” (Revelation 18:19). Loaded with riches one moment, in the next she is stripped bare of all her costliness.

Revelation 18:20-24  Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. 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. 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; 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. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. 

In the utter doom of the Babylon of Revelation 18, the violence of destruction caused by the mighty angel is expressed by the words, “Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all” (Revelation 18:21), a phrase occurring six times in Revelation. The obliteration of the city fulfils all prophetic statements as to its destruction. Two chapters, Jeremiah 51 and Revelation 18, should be studied carefully. By fire and earthquake, the city will be destroyed from centre to circumference, and that without warning.”

[Herbert Lockyer, Revelation – Drama of the Ages, Whitaker House, 2012, 286]