Greetings! Welcome back to our second installment of our three-part series on chapter 18. In the last post, we saw how God was going to judge Jerusalem for her sins, where she will receive a double portion of His wrath. But then we read how when the punishment is over, Jerusalem will be rewarded with a double reward for all she has gone through. Her double portion of destruction will be to experience the most powerful earthquake that ever was on the earth. It will split the city into three parts. The second portion of destruction will be that she will be set on fire. That is her double portion of judgment. We saw that before God poured out His wrath on the city, He first called out His people out of the city so they would escape the destruction. In this second post, we’re going to study an allegory which conveys Jerusalem’s relationships with the kings, the merchants, and the shipmasters of the earth. Are you ready? Let’s begin!

Chapter 18: The Whore of Babylon Is Judged

Second in a Three-Part Series
by Karen Thompson

An Allegory Symbolizing Jerusalem’s Relationships

In the rest of chapter 18, the angel tells John an allegory which conveys Jerusalem’s relationships with the Gentile nations versus her relationship with her own people. In this allegory, we see three groups of Gentiles—kings of the earth, merchants of the earth, and the shipmasters. We are told about the favorable, symbiotic relationship these three Gentile groups have with Jerusalem. They all share the same story: 1) they all got rich off Jerusalem, 2) they all lament and mourn Jerusalem’s destruction, 3) they all call her “that great city,” 4) but when she was being destroyed, they all stood afar off—none came to her aid.

In addition to the three Gentile groups, we see other groups of people that had a relationship with Jerusalem—the prophets, apostles, and saints. But unlike the three Gentile groups, these groups did not have a favorable experience with Jerusalem. In the following allegory, we see an expanded view of the phrase, “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” (Rev. 18:3). It is because of these relationships that Jerusalem is judged so harshly.

The Kings of the Earth Lament Jerusalem’s Destruction

Rev. 18:9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 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 thy judgment come.

We read about the first group of Gentiles in verses 9–10: the kings of the earth. But not all the kings of the earth are in this group. It’s just those kings with which Jerusalem had an improper relationship and committed fornication. The phrase “and lived deliciously with her” is a reference to these specific kings of the earth profiting off of Jerusalem, making them wealthy.

When these kings see the smoke of her burning, they “bewail her, and lament for her.” They will lament her destruction crying out, “Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour is thy judgment come.” However, when the city is set on fire, they stand “afar off for fear of her torment.” Notice, these kings all praise the “great city,” but they don’t come to her aid.

We see the four elements: 1) the kings got rich off Jerusalem, 2) they bewailed and lamented Jerusalem’s destruction, 3) they called her “that great city, that mighty city,” 4) but when she was being destroyed, they all stood afar off—none of them came to her aid. Lastly, verse 10 makes note about her sudden destruction: “for in one hour is thy judgment come.”

The Merchants of the Earth Weep and Mourn Jerusalem’s Destruction

Rev. 18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, 13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. 14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing. 16 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! 17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought.

Now let’s look at the second group of Gentiles mourning over Jerusalem’s demise: the merchants of the earth. Verse 11 tells us the merchants weep and mourn over the city’s destruction because no one will buy their merchandise anymore. Then verse 12 gives a long list of the things that Jerusalem bought from them: “gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, and cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men” (vv. 12–13).

The first thing that jumps out at you when you read this list of goods is that you immediately realize this is not a modern-day list of imports for Jerusalem. This list of luxury items purchased by Jerusalem belongs in her ancient past when she lived luxuriously and when she was the wealthiest city among her peers. This list of luxury items belongs to the time when King Solomon ruled over the undivided kingdom of Israel.

During Jerusalem’s ancient past, God prospered and increased Jerusalem in such a way that her fame was known throughout the lands. First Kings chapter 10 talks about how the fame of Solomon’s wealth and wisdom enticed the Queen of Sheba to make a special trip to Jerusalem to see with her own eyes the things about which she had been hearing. Most rulers would have sent emissaries to check it out, but she herself came. When she saw Solomon’s wealth, she said, “Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard” (1 Kings 10:7).

It goes on to describe the vast wealth of Solomon. He had so much gold that silver wasn’t even considered valuable. During this wealthy period, Solomon established Israel’s first navy. In addition to that, he had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen.³ When you consider the total population of the world at that time, the number of his chariots and horsemen was significant. His throne was an ostentatious display of wealth. It was made out of ivory and overlaid with gold. There were six enormous steps leading up to the throne. Lions overlaid with gold were created to sit on each side of the six steps, totaling 12 lions (1 Kings 10:18–20).

Solomon spared no expense when he built the temple, his home, and other buildings as well. During this time of building, merchants came from far and wide to sell their goods to Solomon. King Hiram of Tyre brought to Israel almug trees and precious stones. Israel traded with Ophir, a country from the east (no one knows its location). It took three years to travel to this place, but they brought back gold, spices, ivory, ebony, trees, and exotic animals like apes and peacocks. The word “spices” included such things as fragrant gums such as myrrh, roots and barks, cassia, cinnamon, scent of flowers and other perfumes. The things Solomon purchased matches very closely to the merchants’ goods in verses 12 and 13.

Verse 14 is speaking to Jerusalem saying, “the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee….” Using the words “lusted after” tell us the desire to acquire luxurious things had become a fleshly obsession. The rest of the verse says, “and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.” Clearly, the luxurious lifestyle had become an unhealthy focus. God is not against His children having nice things. He just doesn’t want nice things to “have them.” The inordinate obsession to acquire things is a telltale symptom that one’s spiritual life is not right.

The phrase “are departed from thee” means that Jerusalem will no longer enjoy these “fruits.” The old Jerusalem will no longer enjoy these fruits because it will be destroyed; however, the new Jerusalem will enjoy the Lord’s prosperity because the inhabitants will not be filled with a lust for such things. They will be a people wholly dedicated to God.

Just like the kings, the merchants got rich off Jerusalem. Verse 15 says, “The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing.” The merchants weep and wail at her demise, but just like the kings, they “stand afar off for fear of her torment.” Notice, they, too, do nothing to come to her aid.

We see a reminder of Jerusalem’s true calling in verse 16: “Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!” Does a city have clothing? Yes, this city does. As already noted before, the city’s clothing described as purple and red fine linen, decked out with gold and precious stones is a description of the materials and adornments used in the temple and the garments of the temple priests. This is a reminder of Jerusalem’s true calling and purpose. She had strayed very far from her calling.

The merchant group has the same elements as the kings of the earth: 1) the merchants got rich off Jerusalem selling their merchandise, 2) they weep and wail and mourn at Jerusalem’s destruction, 3) they call her “that great city,” 4) and like the kings, when Jerusalem was being destroyed, the merchants all stood afar off—none of them came to her aid. In verse 17, Jerusalem’s sudden destruction is noted again: “For in one hour so great riches is come to nought.”

The Shipmasters of the Earth Weep and Wail Jerusalem’s Destruction

Rev. 18:17 … And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, 18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! 19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

Now we come to the third group of Gentiles to mourn the city’s demise—the shipmasters. Verses 17–18 tell us the shipmasters and their crews watched the city burn, crying out, “What city is like unto this great city!” Verse 19 tells us that just like the kings and the merchants, the shipmasters wept and wailed and said, “Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness!” Notice, the shipmasters also got rich from Jerusalem. In their despair, they “cast dust on their heads….” Putting dust, or ashes, on one’s head is a ritual of mourning. Just like the kings and the merchants, as the shipmasters watched the city burn, they “stood afar off” (v. 17). Like the kings and merchants, they did nothing to come to the city’s aid.

The Gentile group of shipmasters has the same elements as the kings and merchants of the earth: 1) the shipmasters got rich off Jerusalem, 2) they weep, wail, and cast dust on their heads at her destruction, 3) they call her “that great city,” 4) and like the kings and merchants, when Jerusalem was being destroyed, the shipmasters all stood afar off—none of them came to her aid. And, lastly, verse 19 again makes note of Jerusalem’s sudden destruction: “for in one hour is she made desolate.”

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