Illustrations

Rev 18:1

After all this I saw another angel come down from heaven with great authority, and the earth grew bright with his splendor.

Rev 18:2

He gave a mighty shout, "Babylon is fallen--that great city is fallen! She has become the hideout of demons and evil spirits, a nest for filthy buzzards, and a den for dreadful beasts.

Rev 18:3

For all the nations have drunk the wine of her passionate immorality. The rulers of the world have committed adultery with her, and merchants throughout the world have grown rich as a result of her luxurious living."

Rev 18:4

Then I heard another voice calling from heaven, "Come away from her, my people. Do not take part in her sins, or you will be punished with her.

 In one single moment God's judgment came on her."

Rev 18:5

For her sins are piled as high as Heaven, and God is ready to judge her for her evil deeds.

Rev 18:6

Do to her as she has done to your people. Give her a double penalty for all her evil deeds. She brewed a cup of terror for others, so give her twice as much as she gave out.

Rev 18:7

She has lived in luxury and pleasure, so match it now with torments and sorrows. She boasts, `I am queen on my throne. I am no helpless widow. I will not experience sorrow.'

Rev 18:8

Therefore, the sorrows of death and mourning and famine will overtake her in a single day. She will be utterly consumed by fire, for the Lord God who judges her is mighty."

Rev 18:9

And the rulers of the world who took part in her immoral acts and enjoyed her great luxury will mourn for her as they see the smoke rising from her charred remains.

Rev 18:10

They will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will cry out, "How terrible, how terrible for Babylon, that great city! In one single moment God's judgment came on her."

Rev 18:11

The merchants of the world will weep and mourn for her, for there is no one left to buy their goods.

Rev 18:12

She bought great quantities of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple dye, silk, scarlet cloth, every kind of perfumed wood, ivory goods, objects made of expensive wood, bronze, iron, and marble.

Rev 18:13

She also bought cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, and slaves--yes, she even traded in human lives.

Rev 18:14

"All the fancy things you loved so much are gone," they cry. "The luxuries and splendor that you prized so much will never be yours again. They are gone forever."

Babylon; all the fancy things you loved so much are gone!

Rev 18:15

The merchants who became wealthy by selling her these things will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will weep and cry.

Illustrate

Rev 18:16

"How terrible, how terrible for that great city! She was so beautiful--like a woman clothed in finest purple and scarlet linens, decked out with gold and precious stones and pearls!

Rev 18:17

And in one single moment all the wealth of the city is gone!" And all the ship-owners and captains of the merchant ships and their crews will stand at a distance.

Rev 18:18

They will weep as they watch the smoke ascend, and they will say, "Where in all the world is there another city like this?"

Illustrate

Rev 18:19

And they will throw dust on their heads to show their great sorrow. And they will say, "How terrible, how terrible for the great city! She made us all rich from her great wealth. And now in a single hour it is all gone."

Rev 18:20

But You, O Heaven, rejoice over her fate. And You also rejoice, O holy people of God and apostles and prophets! For at last God has judged her on your behalf.

Illustrate

Rev 18:21

Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder as large as a great millstone. He threw it into the ocean and shouted, "Babylon, the great city, will be thrown down as violently as I have thrown away this stone, and she will disappear forever.

Rev 18:22

Never again will the sound of music be heard there--no more harps, songs, flutes, or trumpets. There will be no industry of any kind, and no more milling of grain.

Rev 18:23

Her nights will be dark, without a single lamp. There will be no happy voices of brides and grooms. This will happen because her merchants, who were the greatest in the world, deceived the nations with her sorceries.

Rev 18:24

In her streets the blood of the prophets was spilled. She was the one who slaughtered God's people all over the world."

Babylon is fallen--that great city is fallen! She has become the hideout of demons and evil spirits, a nest for filthy buzzards, and a den for dreadful beasts. 
(Revelation 18:2)