Revelation 18
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Another Angel Says, Babylon The Great Fell, It Fell!
18 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority. And the earth was illuminated by his glory. 2 And he cried-out with a strong voice, saying “Babylon the great fell, it fell! And it became a dwelling-place of demons, and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean bird, and a prison of every unclean and hated wild-beast. 3 Because all the nations have drunk from[a] the wine of the passion[b] of her sexual-immorality, and the kings of the earth committed-sexual-immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth became-rich by the power of her luxury”.
A Voice Says, Come Out of Her, My People. Babylon’s Judgment Comes In One Day
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying “Come out of her, my people, so-that you will not participate in her sins, and so that you will not receive of her plagues, 5 because her sins reached as far as heaven, and God remembered her wrongs. 6 Render[c] to her as indeed she herself rendered, and double[d] the doubles in accordance with her works. Mix double for her in the cup in which she mixed. 7 To the degree she glorified herself and lived-luxuriously[e], to that degree give her torment and mourning. Because she says in her heart that ‘I sit as queen and I am not a widow, and I will never see mourning’, 8 for this reason her plagues will come in one day— death[f] and mourning and famine— and she will be burned-up with fire, because the Lord God, the One having judged her, is strong[g].
The Kings of The Earth Weep
9 “And the kings of the earth having committed-sexual-immorality with her and lived-luxuriously will weep and beat-their-breasts over her when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 while standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city— because your judgment came in one hour’.
The Merchants of The Earth Weep
11 “And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargo[h] anymore— 12 cargo of gold and of silver and of precious stone and of pearls, and of fine-linen and of purple and of silk and of scarlet, and everything made-of-citron wood, and every object made-of-ivory, and every object from very-precious wood and brass and iron and marble, 13 and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense, and wine and olive-oil and fine-flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and of horses and of carriages, and of bodies[i]— even[j] souls of people. 14 And[k] the fruit of [l] the desire of your soul departed from you; indeed all the rich things and shining things perished from you, and people will never find them anymore. 15 The merchants of these things, the ones having become-rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, 16 saying ‘Woe, woe, the great city, the one having been clothed-with fine-linen and purple and scarlet, and having been gilded with gold, and with precious stone and pearl— 17 because so much wealth was desolated in one hour!’
All Who Work The Sea Weep
“And every helmsman[m] and everyone sailing to a place and sailors and all-who work the sea stood at a distance, 18 and were crying-out while seeing the smoke of her burning, saying ‘What city is like the great city?’ 19 And they threw dirt on their heads and were crying-out, weeping and mourning, saying ‘Woe, woe, the great city by which all the ones having ships at sea became-rich because-of her preciousness[n]— because she was desolated in one hour!’
Saints Celebrate
20 “Celebrate[o] over her, heaven and saints and apostles and prophets— because God judged your judgment[p] from her!”
A Strong Angel Says Babylon Will Never Be Seen Again
21 And one strong angel picked-up a stone like a large millstone and threw it into the sea, saying “In this manner, Babylon the great city will be thrown-down with violence and never found again. 22 And a sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will never be heard in you again. And every craftsman of every craft will never be found in you again. And a sound of a mill will never be heard in you again. 23 And a light of a lamp will never shine in you again. And a sound of a bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. Because your merchants were the princes of the earth. Because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery, 24 and in her the blood of prophets and saints was found, even of all the ones having been slain upon the earth”.
Footnotes
- Revelation 18:3 Some manuscripts say, fallen because-of.
- Revelation 18:3 See 14:8.
- Revelation 18:6 This may be addressed to God’s agents for Babylon’s destruction (17:16-17); or, this may be a prayer to God by the voice in v 4.
- Revelation 18:6 That is, give back to her double for the things she doubled to others.
- Revelation 18:7 Or, lived-sensually.
- Revelation 18:8 Or, pestilence.
- Revelation 18:8 Or, mighty, powerful.
- Revelation 18:11 Or, freight.
- Revelation 18:13 That is, slaves, human livestock.
- Revelation 18:13 Or, bodies, and.
- Revelation 18:14 Here the voice of v 4 addresses Babylon directly.
- Revelation 18:14 That is, sought by.
- Revelation 18:17 That is, pilot of a ship.
- Revelation 18:19 Or, costliness. That is, because of the costly nature of Babylon’s things.
- Revelation 18:20 The voice directly addresses believers again, as in v 4.
- Revelation 18:20 That is, exacted your verdict.
Hisgalus 18
Orthodox Jewish Bible
18 After these things I saw another malach (angel) coming down out of Shomayim having great samchut (authority); and ha’aretz (the earth) was illuminated by the splendor of him. [YECHEZKEL 43:2]
2 And he cried in a kol gadol, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Bavel Hagedolah. It has become a habitation of shedim (demons) and a beit hasohar of every ruach temei’ah (unclean spirit) and beit hasohar of every unclean bird and a beit hasohar of every unclean beast. And has become detestable, [YESHAYAH 13:21, 22; 34:11,13-15; YIRMEYAH 50:39; 51:37; TZEFANYAH 2:14,15]
3 Because of the yayin (wine) of the wrath of her zenut (fornication) all the Goyim (Nations) have drunk, and the melachim (kings) of ha’aretz committed zenut with her, and the merchants of ha’aretz by the resources of her luxury became rich." [YECHEZKEL 27:9-25]
4 And I heard another kol (voice) out of Shomayim saying, "Come out of her, my people, so that you may not participate in the chatta’im (sins) of her, and some of her makkot (plagues) you may not receive, [YESHAYAH 48:20; YIRMEYAH 50:8; 51:6,9,45; BERESHIS 19:15],
5 “Because her chatta’im (sins) have piled up reaching up to Shomayim, and Hashem has remembered the unrighteousnesses of her. [2Ch 28:9; Ezra 9:6; Jer 51:9]
6 “Render to her as also she herself rendered; serve up double according to her ma’asim, in the kos (cup) which she mixed. [Ps 137:8; Jer 50:15,29; Isa 40:2]
7 “As she gave kavod (glory) to herself and lived in luxury, so give her an equal measure of torment and agmat nefesh (grief), because in her lev (heart) she says, ‘I sit as a malkah (queen) and not an almanah (widow), and I will never see agmat nefesh (grief).’ [Ezek 28:2- 8; Ps 10:6; Isa 47:7,8; Zeph 2:15]
8 “Therefore in one day will come the makkot (plagues) on her, Mavet (Death) and Avel (Mourning) and Ra’av (Famine), and with eish (fire) she will be burned up, because Chazak is Hashem Adonoi, the Shofet of her. YESHAYAH 9:14; 47:9; YIRMEYAH 50:31,32]
9 “And the melachim (kings) of ha’aretz, the ones having committed zenut (fornication) with her and having lived in luxury, when they see the smoke of her burning, will weep and wail over her. [YIRMEYAH 51:8; YECHEZKEL 26:17,18]
10 “They will stand afar off, because of the fear of her torment, saying ‘Oy, oy to the Ir Hagedolah, Bavel the strong city, because in one hour came the mishpat of you.’
11 “And the merchants of ha’aretz (the earth) cry and have agmat nefesh (grief) over her, because the cargo of them no one buys any more; [YECHEZKEL 27:27, 31]
12 “Cargo of gold and of silver and of precious stone and of pearls and of fine linen and of purple and of silk and of scarlet, and every kind of scented wood and every kind of ivory article and every kind of article of valuable wood and of bronze and of iron and of marble [YECHEZKEL 27:12-22]
13 “And cinnamon and spice and incense and myrrh and frankincense and yayin (wine) and oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and kevasim (sheep), and of susim (horses) and of chariots and of slaves and nefashot (souls) of men. [YECHEZKEL 27:13]
14 “And the p’ri (fruit) for which your nefesh longed has departed from you, and all the luxurious things and the splendorous things have become lost for you, and never again shall they be found!
15 “And the merchants of these things, the ones having become rich from her, will stand afar off because of the fear of her torment, and they will be weeping and wailing, [YECHEZKEL 27:31]
16 “Saying, ‘Oy, oy, the Ir Hagedolah, the one having clothed herself with fine linen and purple and scarlet and having been gilded with gold and precious stone and pearl,
17 ‘Because in one hour such great wealth, was laid waste.’ “And there stood afar off every steersman, and everyone sailing the sea, and sailors and all who commerce on the sea. [YECHEZKEL 27:28-30]
18 “And they were crying out, seeing the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What Ir (City) is like the Ir Hagedolah?’ [YECHEZKEL 27:32]
19 “And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and wailing, saying, ‘Oy, oy, the Ir Hagedolah, by which from her wealth, all the ones having ships in the sea became rich, because in one hour she was laid waste.’ [YEHOSHUA 7:6; EKHAH 2:10; YECHEZKEL 27:30,31]
20 "Have lev same’ach over her, O Shomayim! You Kadoshim and Shlichim and Nevi’im, for Hashem has given mishpat for you against her." [YIRMEYAH 51:48]
21 And a malach chazak (strong angel) lifted up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus will Bavel the Ir Hagedolah be violently thrown down, and never would it be found any longer. [YIRMEYAH 51:63]
22 “And the sound of harpers, those playing the nevel (harp), and of musicians and of flutists and of trumpeters will be heard in you no more and every oman (artist) of every craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of a mill, would be heard in you no more. [YESHAYAH 24:8; YECHEZKEL 26:13; YIRMEYAH 25:10]
23 “And the ohr of a menorah would shine in you no more, and the kol (voice) of a choson (bridegroom) and of a kallah (bride) would be heard in you no more; because your merchants were the gedolim (the great) of ha’aretz (the earth), because by your kashefanut (sorcery) were all the Goyim deceived, [YIRMEYAH 7:34; 16:9; 25:10; YESHAYAH 23:8; NACHUM 3:4]
24 "And in her were found the dahm of Nevi’im (prophets) and of Kadoshim and of all the ones having been slain al Kiddush ha-Shem on ha’aretz." [YIRMEYAH 51:49]
Revelation 18
New King James Version
The Fall of Babylon the Great
18 After(A) these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, (B)and the earth was illuminated with his glory. 2 And he cried [a]mightily with a loud voice, saying, (C)“Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and (D)has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and (E)a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3 For all the nations (F)have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, (G)and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the [b]abundance of her luxury.”
4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, (H)“Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 (I)For her sins [c]have reached to heaven, and (J)God has remembered her iniquities. 6 (K)Render to her just as she rendered [d]to you, and repay her double according to her works; (L)in the cup which she has mixed, (M)mix double for her. 7 (N)In the measure that she glorified herself and lived [e]luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as (O)queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’ 8 Therefore her plagues will come (P)in one day—death and mourning and famine. And (Q)she will be utterly burned with fire, (R)for strong is the Lord God who [f]judges her.
The World Mourns Babylon’s Fall
9 (S)“The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her (T)will weep and lament for her, (U)when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, (V)‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! (W)For in one hour your judgment has come.’
11 “And (X)the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 12 (Y)merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and (Z)souls of men. 14 The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have [g]gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 and saying, ‘Alas, alas, (AA)that great city (AB)that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17 (AC)For in one hour such great riches [h]came to nothing.’ (AD)Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance 18 (AE)and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, (AF)‘What is like this great city?’
19 (AG)“They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! (AH)For in one hour she [i]is made desolate.’
20 (AI)“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you [j]holy apostles and prophets, for (AJ)God has avenged you on her!”
Finality of Babylon’s Fall
21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, (AK)“Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and (AL)shall not be found anymore. 22 (AM)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. 23 (AN)The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, (AO)and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For (AP)your merchants were the great men of the earth, (AQ)for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. 24 And (AR)in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who (AS)were slain on the earth.”
Footnotes
- Revelation 18:2 NU, M omit mightily
- Revelation 18:3 Lit. strengths
- Revelation 18:5 NU, M have been heaped up
- Revelation 18:6 NU, M omit to you
- Revelation 18:7 sensually
- Revelation 18:8 NU, M has judged
- Revelation 18:14 NU, M been lost to you
- Revelation 18:17 have been laid waste
- Revelation 18:19 have been laid waste
- Revelation 18:20 NU, M saints and apostles
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
