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Revelation 18:1-4

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

1. And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Revelation 18:1-4 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Revelation 18:1

Theological / Devotional

After these things. This refers to the sequence in which chs. 17 and 18 were revealed to John, not necessarily to the sequence of events therein recorded. John does not mean that the events of ch. 18 take place subsequently to all of those referred to in ch. 17. See on ch. 4:1.

Another angel. That is, another than the angel of ch. 17. This angel unites with the third angel of ch. 14:9–11 in the proclamation of God’s final message to the world, and his message is a repetition of that of the second angel of ch. 14:8.

From heaven. The angel is represented as having come forth from the presence of God on a special mission, and in the act of descending to earth, at the time John saw him.

Power. Gr. exousia, “authority” (see on ch. 17:13). This angel comes forth from the throne room of the universe; commissioned to proclaim God’s last message of mercy and to warn the inhabitants of earth of the imminent fate awaiting “Babylon the great.”

Lightened. Or, “illuminated.” Despite satanic efforts to shroud the earth in darkness, God now sets it ablaze with the glorious light of saving truth (see on John 1:4, 5, 9).

Glory. Gr. doxa (see on John 1:14; Rom. 3:23). The “glory” may be thought of as representing the character of God (cf. Ex. 33:18, 19 ; 34:6, 7), here particularly as revealed in the plan of salvation.

By SdaBc