Revelation 18 Mystery Babylon

18:1.. And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was made bright with his glory. 18:2.. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of demons, and the haunt of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

In Revelation 17:5 it says... And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. So this mystery city, the harlot, has come to the lowest of lows. It is fallen and the degree of the fall is emphasized by repeating "is fallen". Demonic activity, a lair for every foul spirit, a hangout for every unclean and hateful individual. Mystery, Babylon indicates that literal Babylon is not necessarily the intended reference. The activity in the city does resemble that of ancient Babylon, only worse.

Revelation 17:6 says... And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus:

In Matthew 23:37 Jesus says... O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is lift unto you desolate. There is no indication that this mystery Babylon is not Jerusalem. If this is the case, we would expect to see a shift in the center of world power and commerce to Jerusalem.

18:3.. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich through the abundance of her luxury. The harlot city convinces the world to put it's trust in the beast. If the harlot city is the center of commerce and trade, then it controls the world economy. What better way to convince the world to trust in the beast than to have the capacity to cancel or grant participation of buying and selling.

18:4.. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues. So those that are trusting in the Lord are instructed to leave the city. They are not to receive of her plagues.

18:5.. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 18:6.. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she has filled, fill to her double.

18:7.. So much as she has glorified herself, and lived luxuriously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she says in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 18:8.. Therefore 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. The amount of time it takes to destroy the city is contrasted by the boast, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

18:9.. And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived in luxury with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning. So the kings who hated her are now bewailing her. Probably because they are getting a glimpse of their own fate. 18:10.. Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour is your judgment come. 18:11.. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buys their merchandise any more:

18:12.. The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all citron wood, and all manner of vessels of ivory, and all manner of vessels of most precious wood, and of bronze, and iron, and marble, 18:13.. And cinnamon, and incense, and myrrh, and frankincense, and wine, oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and slaves, and souls of men.

18:14.. And the fruits that your soul lusted after are departed from you, and all things which were luxurious and splendid are departed from you, and you shall find them no more at all. 18:15.. The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 18:16.. And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! The woman sitting on the beast in chapter 17 was arrayed in purple, a sign of royalty.

18:17.. For in one hour such great riches is come to nothing. And every shipmaster, and all seafarers, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, 18:18.. And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

18:19.. And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, in which we were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her wealth! for in one hour is she made desolate.

Now quite a different response from the saints, heaven, apostles and prophets.

18:20.. Rejoice over her, you heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets; for God has avenged you on her. 18:21.. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

18:22.. And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of flutists, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in you; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he may be, shall be found any more in you; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in you; 18:23.. And the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in you; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in you: for your merchants were the great men of the earth: for by your sorceries were all nations deceived. 18:24.. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Through her sorcery and deception, she caused people to accept the mark of the beast. She is responsible for the death of the prophets and saints and of all that were slain upon the earth. Her destruction is complete and ever lasting.