Welcome back, fellow eschatologists! It’s time to start a new series. This series will be on Revelation chapter 18 which contains the vision of the destruction of the whore of Babylon. In past studies, we know the whore of Babylon is the city of Jerusalem. I like to refer to chapter 18 as the Lord’s indictment against Jerusalem, for her many sins of idolatry and the like. You could say this chapter is the Lord’s legal case against Jerusalem and the reason why she is to be destroyed. Without any further ado, let’s get into this!

Chapter 18: The Whore of Babylon Is Judged

First of a Three-Part Series
By Karen Thompson

BABYLON IS JUDGED

Rev. 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 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 are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

Chapter 18 is what I refer to as the Lord’s “indictment” against Jerusalem. The way this indictment is laid out is both interesting and enlightening. It’s a clear insight into God’s view of Jerusalem’s sin and why it is so offensive to Him. You could say chapter 18 is a presentation of God’s legal case against Jerusalem.

It all begins with a new scenario. John starts out by saying he saw another angel come down from heaven. This angel has great power, and the glory that was upon him was so intense that it lit up the earth. He was charged with making the indictment, or accusation, against Jerusalem, explaining why she is to receive judgment.

The angel cries out with a strong voice, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen.” This is the second time we see this announcement being repeated twice. I believe this expression is meant to symbolize that Jerusalem will receive a double punishment for her sins. In fact, that’s what verse six actually says: “…double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.” Jerusalem will, indeed, receive a double punishment. Not only will she be ripped apart by a powerful earthquake, but she will be burned with fire by the ten kings that have aligned themselves with the Antichrist beast.

The angel continues the indictment against Jerusalem in the last half of verse two saying Babylon had become “the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” The symbolism of “devils” “foul spirit” and a “cage of every unclean and hateful bird” is another way of commenting on Jerusalem’s spiritual condition of uncleanness and sinfulness.

Then in verse three, the angel tells us what it was that made her become a habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird: “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 are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.” Herein is God’s complaint against Jerusalem. Jerusalem’s relationship with the kings and merchants of the earth had drawn her away from her devotion and commitment to God. Jerusalem was supposed to be set apart from all the nations of the earth. She was not to be like other nations.

God Warns His People

Rev. 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

After the luminous angel announced, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen,” John said he heard another voice coming out of heaven. And this time, the voice is God the Father Himself saying, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” God is calling to His people to come out of the city because He doesn’t want them to experience the final judgment that is about to take place.

There are other places in the Word when God spares the righteous from having to experience a coming judgment. That’s what happened to Noah and his family. In Genesis chapter six, it says the earth had become corrupt and filled with violence, so much so that God regretted having created mankind. He decided to make an “end of all flesh.” But he spared Noah, the only righteous man left on the earth. Then there are the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah that had become so corrupt that God decided to destroy both cities and their inhabitants. But the Lord sent two angels into Sodom to gather up Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and his family to lead them out of the city before it was destroyed (Gen. 19). Lastly, when God sent the plagues to Egypt when the Pharaoh would not release His people, He made sure that none of the plagues touched the children of Israel. In this same way, God will issue a call to gather His people out of harm’s way before the final and ultimate destruction comes to Jerusalem.

God Remembers the Whore’s Iniquities

Now let’s look at the last part of verse five when the voice said, “God hath remembered her iniquities.” God remembers. This is the second time we’ve read that phrase. The first time was in Revelation 16:19 right after the seven plagues were poured out and the great earthquake took place. It says, “And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.” Of course, we know the great city is Jerusalem. The great and terrible earthquake will split Jerusalem into three parts. This earthquake will be so powerful and far reaching that it will affect not only Jerusalem but “the cities of the nations” as well.

The Whore Receives Double Punishment

Rev. 18:6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. 7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 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 judgeth her.

In this section of scripture, God, the Great Judge, hands down His final sentencing for Jerusalem. After the angel gave the indictment against Jerusalem, he then pronounced the judgment. Upon reading the judgment, you notice something unique about it: “Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double” (v. 6). The unique thing about Jerusalem’s judgment is that she is being judged “double” according to her works, her works meaning sins of idolatry and abomination.

If you recall at the beginning of chapter 17, John said the whore had a cup in her hands and the cup was “full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication” (v. 4). Here in verse six, it says “in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.” So the judgment she will receive for the abominations and filthiness of her fornication will be double.

This judgment is unique. It’s unique because God’s usual way of judging is “measure for measure.” The Lord expresses this measure-for-measure judgment throughout the Bible. One example is in Revelation 2:23 when He said, “I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” Whatever you do unto others, that is what you will receive as judgment. Measure for measure is reflected in the statement “an eye for an eye.” For instance, if you stole someone’s cow, a measure for measure judgment would be that you had to repay that person a cow of equal age and condition. But this judgment is unusual in that the whore is to get a double portion: “and double unto her double according to her works.” She is to receive twice for her sins.

The phrase “Babylon is fallen, is fallen” (Rev. 14:8, 18:2) is repeated twice in Revelation, and the fact that it is repeated twice is symbolic of her receiving a double-portion judgment. Both prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah prophesied about Jerusalem receiving a double-portion judgment. Isaiah said, “Speak tenderly to the heart of Jerusalem, and cry to her that her time of service and her warfare are ended, that [her punishment is accepted and] her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received [punishment] from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins” (Isa. 40:2 Amp.). Jeremiah prophesied, “And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things” (Jer. 16:18). Isaiah said Jerusalem would receive from the Lord’s hand “double for all her sins.” Then the Lord said through Jeremiah, “I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double.”

Israel Receives a Double Reward

Yes, Jerusalem will be made to drink a double portion of the cup of God’s wrath. But when His judgment comes to an end, the time of reconciliation and restoration will begin. That’s when God will again “render double to His people.” The Lord will restore everything His people have lost and then He doubles it.

The prophet Zechariah prophesied the Lord would do just that. In Zechariah chapter nine, after the Antichrist has been defeated, Zechariah prophesied about the prisoners being set free from the pit. Then we read more about the prisoners in verse 12: “Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee.” The prisoners of hope are told to turn to the stronghold. The stronghold, of course, is the Lord of their covenant. And look what happens when they return to the stronghold: “…even today do I declare that I will render double unto thee.” When the Jewish people return to Messiah, He will give them double, meaning He will pay them double for all they lost. And when it says “return to the stronghold,” it’s referring to all of Israel returning to her faith and worshiping the one true God exclusively.

Isaiah chapter 61 confirms that Messiah will reward His people a twofold recompense. Messiah tells them, “Instead of your [former] shame you shall have a twofold recompense; instead of dishonor and reproach [your people] shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double [what they had forfeited]; everlasting joy shall be theirs” (Isa. 61:7 Amp.).

The Whore Has No Shame

In verse seven, the angel talked about the whore having no shame: “How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.” Let’s break this verse down and look at its different parts. Let’s start with the phrase that says the whore “glorified herself and lived deliciously.” The word deliciously is the Greek word streniao and it means to be wanton.¹ A wanton life is a life without regard for what is right, or just, or humane. It also means to live sexually unrestrained, to be loose, lascivious, lewd. Again, according to this description, the term “whore” for the woman is aptly used.

The phrase, “I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow” is also very revealing. Lamentations 1:11 speaks about Jerusalem’s widowhood: “How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow!” Why is Jerusalem called a widow? According to Jeremiah 3:8, when Jerusalem committed adultery the Lord said, “I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce.” God divorced Jerusalem, therefore, she is without a husband and that makes her a widow.

When it says she “sees no sorrow,” it means that she feels no guilt and is unrepentant of her sins. In other words, she feels no guilt or shame. For that reason, Jeremiah said she has a whore’s forehead, because she refuses to be ashamed (Jer. 3:3). Ezekiel 16:30 calls her an “imperious whorish woman.” The old English meaning for the word imperious is to be regal, or imperial, of an empire.² This reflects the whore’s statement: “I sit as a queen.”

Final Destruction Is by Fire

Finally, in verse eight, the angel reveals what will be Jerusalem’s final judgment: “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 judgeth her.” The city’s final destruction will be fire—the city will be burned down. The people that did not leave the city will experience mourning, famine, and death. Jerusalem’s two-fold judgment will include a devastating earthquake that will split her into three parts and then being destroyed with fire.

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