Revelation 18:1 Commentary and Bible Study

The angel comes down from heaven to earth, the great stage on which the drama of redemption is acted out. It is fitting that this announcement should be made by an angel of great authority, for the downfall of Babylon, which is about to be described in this chapter, is an event which signals the end of Satan’s long tyranny over the earth. This angel has great glory of his own so that the earth is illuminated by his presence. It is the language of vision; it represents the power of God delegated this ministering spirit. Some think this is the Lord, but he is distinguished from the speaker in verse 4 called ‘another voice’, who is evidently God himself, calling the church ‘my people’. In her destruction and in the deep mourning for her and for what is lost through her destruction, we learn more about the nature of the great harlot and of Babylon. Notice that the woman turns gradually into a city. The woman is Babylon. Why are there two pictures for the same thing? Because one alone is not enough to do justice to her. From the image of a harlot we learn that she uses seduction, influence, and cunning, and yet it is hard to clothe a woman with the idea of habitation. Therefore two images are joined together, and she is also a city providing solid endurance, fortress-like qualities, and the suggestion of protection.Of course this is happening right through the gospel age. Chapter 18 considers the whole of the age, building up to the final, bringing down of Babylon. It happens, particularly at the end, but all the way through there are times in history when Babylon is brought down. We learned in chapter 17 that Satan is divided against himself, and sometimes the beast (governments) actually turn against Babylon (delicacy, sexual adventure, riches, covetousness, possessions), and the two are in conflict.