Revelation Chapter 18 It is interesting to note that Isaiah 24 parallels Rev 18:21-24 even as Isaiah 23 paralleled the earlier verses. Rev 18:22, 23 describe desolation. “The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore.” “The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the…
Revelation Chapter 18 PART III (Verses 21-24) Verse 21 seems no longer to be the “voice from heaven,” but a continuation of John’s vision. The third and final section of this chapter shows the final and total destruction of Babylon AFTER the “smoke of her burning” — the SLOW BURN since 1914. There will be NO MOURNING for her after THIS total FINAL destruction. This is the seventh plague, the winepress, the burning her up with fire (Rev 17:16), Armageddon…
Revelation Chapter 18 — THE SAINTS — At this point the “voice from heaven” (Verse 4) — the seventh messenger — turns to the saints to rejoice with them over what is happening. The parallel of Revelation Chapter 18 to Volume 4 (viz., Volume 4 of the “Studies in the Scriptures” series entitled, “The Battle of Armageddon”), is most remarkable. Even in that volume, after having described the economic woes to come on Babylon, Brother Russell turns at the…
Revelation Chapter 18 Brother Shallieu’s thoughts on Verses 15-19 as taken from the “Keys of Revelation” “The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and saying, alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to naught. And every shipmaster,…
Revelation Chapter 18 VERSE 15 “The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing…” THE MERCHANTS OF THESE THINGS: SOMEONE had to supply Babylon’s appetite. The capitalists were more than willing to have her as their primary client. What other international concern kept them so well in business? WHO BECAME RICH FROM HER: Read history! Cooperation with the harlot brought great temporal advantages. Those who reliably…
Revelation Chapter 18 VERSE 14 “The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all.” AND THE FRUIT OF YOUR SOUL’S DESIRE (margin): Just as the kings directly addressed Babylon in Verse 10, so also the merchants directly address her, but NOT regarding judgment. The capitalists don’t care about moral issues like judgment! They pity Babylon’s loss…
Revelation Chapter 18 — THE KINGS — VERSE 9 “The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning…” AND THE KINGS OF THE EARTH: — not necessarily crowned kings, but those in the political seats of the mighty (heads of government). WHO COMMITTED IMMORALITY: — who had cooperative agreements with Babylon. AND LIVED LUXURIOUSLY WITH HER: — because their cooperation brought them temporal advantages….
Revelation Chapter 18 Brother Shallieu’s thoughts on Verse 8 “Therefore, shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judges her.” Immediately there comes to attention a listing in the reverse order of what might be expected: “death, and mourning, and famine.” Normally, death might be seen as the logical culmination of this sequence. But, on second thought, the order as…
Revelation Chapter 18 VERSE 7 “In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’” TO THE DEGREE THAT SHE GLORIFIED HERSELF AND LIVED LUXURIOUSLY: Clearly, she exalted herself to the top and spared no expense for her comforts or in bragging about her wisdom. TO THE SAME DEGREE GIVE HER TORMENT AND MOURNING: Truths…
Revelation Chapter 18 VERSE 5 “For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” FOR HER SINS HAVE PILED UP (Literally = JOINED TOGETHER) AS HIGH AS HEAVEN: The thought seems to be that heaven (God) can no longer overlook the accumulation of sins. They are past excusing or cleansing. AND GOD HAS REMEMBERED HER INIQUITIES: God tends to forget iniquities if things are going in the right direction. (See Ezek. 18:21, 22.) The fact that God is…