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Revelation 18:2-4

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

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 18:2-4 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Revelation 18:2

Theological / Devotional

Cried mightily. In order that all might hear. The message of ch. 18 is to be proclaimed during the time of the loud cry of the third angel, and thus merits the most careful study.

Babylon the great. See on chs. 14:8; 17:5.

Is fallen. See on ch. 14:8. Her spiritual fall is now to be demonstrated and confirmed, and she is now to be punished. Compare Isa. 13:21, 22; 21:9; Jer. 51:8.

Devils. Literally, “demons” (see on Mark 1:23). “Babylon the great” is now wholly demon possessed (see on Rev. 17:5, 6, 14. cf. on Matt. 12:43–45). Perhaps, in a special sense, reference is here made to modern spiritism (see on Rev. 13:13; Rev. 13:13, 14).

Foul spirit. Literally, “unclean spirit” (see on Mark 1:23).

Unclean and hateful bird. Metaphor is graphically added to metaphor to intensify the description of Babylon’s utter perversion and apostasy. In literary form ch. 18 reflects the structure of ancient Hebrew poetry (see Vol. III, p. 23).

By SdaBc