Revelation Chapter 18

As was stated at the beginning of Chapter 17:

In this study as usual we will be consulting our two primary sources on the book of Revelation, viz., the “New Albany Notes on Revelation” along with excerpts from Brother Frank Shallieu’s work “The Keys to Revelation”, any other sources of information including the Reprints will be duly noted.

Our first view entertained will generally be from the New Albany notes as that is our preference, followed by others.

PART I (Verses 1 – 3)

VERSE 1 “After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory.”

AFTER THESE THINGS I SAW: This is one of those places that CLEARLY proves that “After these things” refers to when John saw the vision and NOT to when the vision takes place. Chapter 18 clearly does not take place after the events of Chapter 17! We simply now are ready to share ANOTHER of John’s visions (another perspective) of Harvest-time events.

ANOTHER ANGEL: The last angel we saw was the one in Rev 17:1 — Brother Russell (The Seventh Messenger). “Another” distinguishes this angel of Rev 18:1 from the one in Chapter 17 and from the “strong angel” of Rev 18:21. The angel of 18:1 is our returned Lord.

COMING DOWN FROM HEAVEN: This phrase seems consistently to mean something coming literally from the spirit realm or from Divine ordination. Here it represents the literal return of Jesus at the Times of Restitution (Acts 3:20, 21).

HAVING GREAT AUTHORITY: — the authority of judgment (Matt. 28:18)

AND THE EARTH WAS ILLUMINED WITH HIS GLORY: (Note the following texts.)

“And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory.” (Ezek 43:2)

“His lightnings light the world; The earth sees and trembles.” (Psa 97:4)

It is VERY CLEAR from the next verse that THIS lighting of the earth is AT JESUS’ RETURN — prior to the casting off of Babylon. Sometimes we fail to appreciate the EVIDENCE of the supernatural IN THE NATURAL.

This phrase tells us without apology or without qualification that Jesus’ GLORY has been evident in the earth for over a century. No matter how much some of us may wish to postpone the “glory” until it meets OUR standards, we cannot do so. This text says we cannot. We are here forced to acknowledge that the seemingly “natural” increase of knowledge is not natural at all; it is the reflection of HIS PRESENCE. (Dan. 12:1, 4.)

From Brother Shallieu’s study:

“This different angel seen by John descending from heaven with an effulgence of power proceeding from his person, the effect of which causes the illumination of the earth, is none other than Jesus, the Messenger of the Covenant, in whom Christian’s delight (Mal. 3:1). Verse 1 refers to the Second Advent of Christ in the year 1874.

The earth being “lightened with his glory” alludes to the blessings promised to those who waited patiently for the expiration of the 1,335 days (years) spoken of by the Prophet Daniel (Dan 12:12). The blessings include the secret, invisible initial presence of the Master himself and the attendant increase of spiritual knowledge and understanding of God’s Word that has unfolded since 1874, as well as the great strides in medicine, science, communication, travel, and the manufacture and sale of laborsaving devices for the farm, the home, and industry.

This text does not pertain to the manifestation of Jesus’ glory to the nations because the enlightenment of Verse 1 precedes both the fall of Babylon (Verse 2) and the exercise of Jesus’ great power, yet future, which is treated in more detail in the next chapter.”

VERSE 2 “And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!”

AND HE CRIED OUT: There is no mistaking the cry toward the end of the 19th Century which questioned the legitimacy of Babylon’s claims. It came from science, from philosophy, and from thoughtful theologians who could no longer swallow dark-age superstitions. But THEIR cries were not so loud as the prophecies behind them:

WITH A MIGHTY VOICE: (Compare verse 4 carefully.) The voice in verse 4 (the Seventh Messenger’s) REFLECTS the proclamation of Jesus’ MIGHTY voice. The “mighty voice” he used was the prophecies (time prophecies as well as non-chronological prophecies) which condemned Babylon greatly.

SAYING, FALLEN, FALLEN IS BABYLON THE GREAT! (Compare with Rev 17:5.) “FALLEN” is stated twice. This, in itself, may be symbolic of the fact that this is a partial fall — a fall from favor, but not a total ruin. Totality is usually expressed by a three-fold expression as in Rev 4:8 and Rev 6:13.

The emphasis is on the Roman church system. There ARE daughters, and they are an important part of the picture. But we must never lose sight of the Lord’s emphasis on THE GREAT HARLOT. The fall from favor here is much like Israel’s fall as recorded in Matt. 23:37, 38. In both cases, the destruction comes later.

AND SHE HAS BECOME A DWELLING PLACE OF DEMONS:

Note the gender reference.

The beast of Rev 13:3 is masculine. The strange beast of Rev 17:11 is masculine. But the woman of Chapter 17 and “Babylon the Great” are feminine. We frequently refer to the church-state COMBINATION as Babylon. We have some reason to do so in that separation is not always clear. Nevertheless, the Scriptures ARE clear that, strictly speaking, Babylon IS THE HARLOT CHURCH. When we begin to interpret detail, this kind of distinction is important.

The condemnation of her as the “dwelling place of demons” is both sobering and scary! Paul (I Tim. 4:1) clearly identifies DOCTRINES of demons (the immortality of the soul, hell-fire, and etc.) of which we are all well aware. This, however, seems to go beyond just demonic doctrines.

It suggests strongly the active participation of demons in the governance of the Roman church. Perhaps this is what brings about the dramatic climaxes mentioned in Rev 16:14 and in places like Matt. 24:23-25 and 2 Thess. 2:9-12. “Dwelling place” seems to indicate a comfortability — an at-home-by-choice kind of feeling — for these demons. If demons feel comfortable there, True Christians surely should not!

AND A PRISON OF EVERY UNCLEAN SPIRIT: We encountered “unclean spirits” in Rev 16:13. They were teachings — demon-inspired teachings.

Why are unclean spirits IMPRISONED in Babylon?  

Apparently, the teachings of Babylon have become so irrational, so out-of-touch with the real world, that NO OTHER PLACE is willing to house them! Therefore, the spirits (teachings) are CONFINED TO (i.e., imprisoned in) Babylon — that is, without the ability to function elsewhere.

AND A PRISON OF EVERY UNCLEAN AND HATEFUL BIRD: Again, Babylon is a PRISON because these birds cannot find anywhere else to function. They are held (captive, imprisoned) in Babylon because it alone satisfied their needs. Unclean birds represent selfish profiteers — just like buzzards which constantly search for “easy” meals, food already killed for them. Thus, Babylon provides ready “customers” for those (professed) “Christians” who build their business schemes on their fellow parishioners.

The birds are described as “hateful.” Their attitude is hatred, the very opposite of the true Christian. Jer. 5:23-29 provides an additional understanding for this verse. “Men” (Jer 5:26) are the trapped and caged birds. The poor race of nominal (professed) Christians have been made into birds of prey, skeptics who selfishly feed on whatever will get them through life comfortably and profitably.

We continue with Verse 3 in our next post.