Revelation 18. Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great… (18:2)

Most great victories in scripture (and in the ancient Near East) were celebrated with victory songs that recounted the battle and how good triumphed over evil. After crossing the Red Sea and watching God defeat Egypt, the Israelites sang Miriam’s song on the seashore (Exodus 15). After Deborah and Barak defeated Israel’s enemies, a song of heroism was sung that gave credit where it was due (Judges 5). In addition to victory songs, there were also songs of lament and sorrow – there are many laments over the fall of Jerusalem and God’s people being taken hostage in the texts of the prophets.

Revelation 18 begins with the angel announcing, “Fallen is Babylon the great”, this kingdom driven by the pride and lust of humankind, this rebellious kingdom that has waged war on God’s people – it has finally been destroyed. The text is a lament, a prophetic doom song where all the kings of the earth and all the merchants of the earth who were tied to this great (and awful) kingdom lament their losses.

The kingdom of Babylon has made war on the Lamb and the Lamb will conquer them, for He is the king of kings and the Lord of Lords and those with Him are called and chosen and faithful (17:14). The victory is sure.

There are only two sides in this cosmic war, the side of the Slain Lamb or the side of Babylon the Great and the empires of humankind. Did you notice all the marking of people and their foreheads in Revelation? God’s people were sealed in this way (7:3, 9:4) and the servants of the Lamb were marked similarly (14:1, 22:4). This is an Old Testament reminder of the command for God’s people to write his commands on their foreheads (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ). On the other side, the same is true for those who follow the beast (13:16,14:9, 20:4). And now the character of the great prostitute Babylon the Great is displayed on her forehead for all to see (17:5). You are either hot or cold, there is no lukewarm in between.

The lament of the fall of Babylon in Revelation 18 ends with great certainty. John writes the song: “Rejoice over her, O heaven and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her. Then a mighty angel took a stone, like a great millstone, and threw it into the sea saying, “So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence and will be found no more.” (18:20-21)

Heaven rejoices in Revelation 19.