Revelation 18:9; The Kings of the Earth

Revelation 18:9  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, 

This lengthy section contrasts the wailing of those who are doomed and the rejoicing of those who are redeemed. It can be divided into four parts:

• the kings of the earth lament the doom of Babylon (v9–10);

• the merchants weep and mourn over the loss of sales and wealth (v11–17a);

• the sea captains and sailors bemoan the ruin of the great city (v17b–19);

• the saints and apostles in heaven respond by rejoicing over God’s judgment (v20).

John displays a cyclical approach in this chapter. In verse 3, he mentioned the kings of the earth who had committed adultery with the great prostitute and the merchants who became rich from her luxuries. And in verses 9 and 11 he mentions these kings and merchants again. Also, the second angel who addressed the saints (v4–8) apparently continues his message in the next section (v9–20).

 Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 492). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

When the glorious centerpiece, the head of Antichrist’s empire, is judged and destroyed, there will be worldwide dismay and mourning.

The first mourners introduced are the leaders, the kings of the earth. This group includes the ten kings who rule Antichrist’s kingdom under his authority (Revelation 17:12), as well as the rest of the world’s leaders under them. They will greet the news of Babylon’s destruction with shock and dismay. The destruction of the seat of Antichrist’s political and economic power will strike a fatal blow to his empire. The fall of Babylon will be a symbol of the fall of that entire evil world system.

These leaders are the same ones who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her (v3). Once again, Babylon is pictured as a harlot (cf. Revelation 17:1, 15, 16), whose death causes her lovers to weep and lament over her.

Revelation 17:1  And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 

Revelation 17:15-16  And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 

Some of those crossing the Euphrates on their way to Armageddon (Revelation 16:12) may actually see the smoke rising from the burning city (cf. Genesis 19:28; Joshua 8:20–21; Isaiah 34:10).

Genesis 19:28  And he 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. 

Joshua 8:20-21  And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers. And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai. 

Isaiah 34:10  It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever. 

The rest will watch Babylon’s destruction through the world’s media. All will be careful to keep their distance from the stricken city. They will be powerless to help and will fear that they may share her torment. This fearful scene supports the idea that Babylon is an actual city, not a symbol for the entire world system. Obviously, the entire world is not destroyed at this point, since those watching Babylon burn are safe for the moment. Babylon’s destruction is, however, a precursor to the doom that will soon fall on the entire world.

 MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2000). Revelation 12–22 (pp. 186–187). Chicago: Moody Press.