Revelation 18:20; God Hath Avenged

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Revelation 18:20 (KJV)  Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. 

This verse is not part of the seafarers’ lament. Looking at the collapse of Babylon and their own lack of income, they certainly would not urge the saints in heaven to rejoice over this calamity. In verse 20 we hear the voice of the second angel, who began speaking to John in verse 4. This angel exhorted the people of God (v4–5); then addressed God and his people (vv. 6–8); afterward he prophesied that kings, merchants, and seafarers would lament the doom of Babylon (vv. 9–19); and last he called on the saints, apostles, and prophets to rejoice.

The call to those dwelling in heaven to rejoice was also issued earlier by a heavenly voice: “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them.” (Revelation 12:12; Jeremiah 51:48).

Jeremiah 51:48 (KJV)  Then the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing for Babylon: for the spoilers shall come unto her from the north, saith the LORD. 

Once again the redeemed are told to be glad in the victory over God’s enemies. But who are these heavenly dwellers? They are the saints, the apostles, and the prophets. The saints are the holy ones, whom John mentions thirteen times in the Apocalypse. They are in heaven and now rejoice over God’s righteous judgment pronounced on the wicked. The word apostles is a technical term that refers to the Twelve (Revelation 21:14); for the sake of Christ the apostles had suffered persecution. The prophets are all those who revealed and proclaimed God’s Word (Ephesians 2:20; 3:5; 4:11).

Revelation 21:14 (KJV)  And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 

Ephesians 2:20 (KJV)  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 

Ephesians 3:5 (KJV)  Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 

Ephesians 4:11 (KJV)  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 

The last clause in this verse literally reads, “because God has judged judgment of you from her.” The term judgment to mean a verdict handed down by a judge (Revelation 17:1), then a smooth reading is as follows: because God has pronounced on her the judgment she wished to impose on you. In effect, this is the law of retaliation (Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Matthew 5:38). The wicked passed verdicts of punishment on God’s people, but now God has passed the same verdict on them (Jeremiah 51:49).

Exodus 21:24 (KJV)  Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 

Leviticus 24:20 (KJV)  Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again. 

Matthew 5:38 (KJV)  Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

Jeremiah 51:49 (KJV)  As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth. 

Verse 20 has been properly placed at the end of the angel’s instructions, prophecies, and exhortations. It forms a triumphant conclusion to the dreary scene of Babylon’s fall, which could not be concluded without a joyful response of the martyrs. God heard the plea uttered by the saints under the altar to avenge their blood and now passed judgment on their adversaries (Revelation 6:9).

 Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, pp. 500–501). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.