Revelation Chapter 18

THE DECLINE AND FALL OF BABYLON (Rev 18:1-24)

Introduction to This Chapter, continued

Verse 20: A statement about how the saints rejoice because they know the good that is to follow.

Chapter 13 in Volume Four covers this. Only here does the order of Volume Four differ from the order of Revelation 18. Whether Brother Russell was cognizant that his Volume Four was a detailed explanation of Revelation 18 is questionable. What does not seem questionable is that God, through the Revelator, prophesied eighteen centuries in advance that this “voice from heaven” would detail these things.

Verses 21-24: A statement detailing the final, total collapse of the apostate church.

Chapter 11 of Volume Four (along with the 1916 Foreword) covers this event.

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When Do Some of These Verses Apply?

Verses 9-19 detail the disappointments of several classes.

Do these disappointments PRECEDE or FOLLOW the final overthrow of Babylon?

It seems beyond credulity to say that they follow the final overthrow. Once Babylon has gone through the winepress (14:20; 16:19; 17:16) NO ONE will be mourning for her. God’s wrath will be ended, and that pronouncement, “Be still and know that I am God” will have been proclaimed. (Psalm 46:10.)

Therefore, Verses 9-19 certainly come BEFORE Babylon is destroyed.

Are these disappointments PROLONGED since 1914 (the beginning of the plaguing), or are they JUST PRIOR to the final overthrow?

Both interpretations work. But the prolonged disappointments of kings, merchants, and others fit better with the Scriptural evidences as well as with the philosophy of Volume IV which shows and predicts the gradual economic collapse of Babylon and the nations.

Note the following parallels:

Chapter 18 seems well to parallel the plagues (Chapter 16). As each plague is added, the ability of the old order to function as it used to is severely curtailed. That seems to be the reason for the mourning of the various groups in Verses 9-19 — the way things used to work is now gone. This is the SLOW BURN of Babylon, taking the greater part of the 20th Century and part of the 21st. Chapter 18 seems also to parallel Chapter 14. Indeed, Rev 14:8 is a virtual duplicate of 18:2. In Rev 14:10, 11 we have the SLOW BURN documented. This slow burn tests the “patience of the saints” (Rev 14:12). Finally, (14:19-20) we have the RAPID BURN — the total destruction of Babylon as happens in Rev 16:19 and 17:16 and 18:21.

Chapter 18 also has a fascinating parallel to Isaiah 23. Isaiah deals, likewise, with ships and merchants. Isa. 23:8 refers to Babylon’s being the “bestower of crowns” — a function which meaningfully ended in 1914. It is at this time (Isa 23:14) that the “ships” WAIL because their stronghold is “destroyed.”

But, IS IT DESTROYED?

Not at all! It is “forgotten” for 70 years (Isa 23:15). Bible students now comfortably acknowledge the fulfillment of this 70 years in the period from the late teens to the late 1980’s when Communism dominated Eastern Europe, and the Papacy was no longer able to stimulate the economic interchange with that part of its old dominion. Now, however, she begins again to “play the harlot” (See Rev. 17:16-18) until (Isa. 23:18) the Lord will take doctrinal control from her and write “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” on the bridles. (See Zech. 14:20 margin and Rev. 14:20.)

These parallels seem to confirm that Rev 18:9-19 refers to the SLOW BURNING of the old order since about 1914 — ever increasing in intensity. It destroys the confidence of the kings and the “merchants” of the world who long for the old-time stability of the pre-1914 world. This gives Revelation 18 a very logical construction. It begins in 1874 and 1878, proceeds through the century, and ends with Babylon’s total destruction. If one reads from Verse 4 to the end of the chapter, this smooth flow of prophetic history is evident. Nothing needs to be forced.

Also see our study of Ezekiel Chapter 26 which parallels Isaiah Chapter 23 in regards to Tyre (Babylon).  

With this background, a verse-by-verse consideration is now made easier.

Continued with next post.