REVELATION STUDY 18 9-24

     a paraphrased study

         ~~  18:9-24  ~~

A key to the revelation vision is 13:1 - does a literal beastly creature with seven heads rise out of the sea of humanity? I’m highly doubting it. But! Does it have a literal meaning? Or is it written for entertainment purposes only? Rev.1:3 - Blessed is the reading [anaginóskó - knowing certainly, knowing again, to read] and (blessed is) the hearing [akouó - to hear and listen, root of acoustic surely?] (to) the words [logos - reasoning expressed in words, from lego - speaking to a conclusion] the prophecy [prophéteia] and (the) keeping [téreó - watching over, guarding, observing, keeping intact] what is written [graphó] for the season [kairos - season, opportune time] is near [eggus - near in place or time]. — So, the opportune time is always near, and the images used are not always literal, but their meaning is. 

18:9 - And the KINGS of earth, who committed sexual immorality (were in bed with $ity Babylon) and lived in luxury with her, will weep and mourn when they see the smoke of her burning. 10 They will stand afar off, in fear of ‘her’ torment, saying, “Alas! You great city! Mighty city! Babylon! Woe! In a single hour your judgment has come!” 11 And the MERCHANTS of the earth weep and lament, for no one buys their cargo anymore, 12 the cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple cloths, silk and scarlet cloths, all sorts of scented woods, all articles of ivory, of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, 13 cinnamon, spices, incense, myrrh, frankincense, oil, wine, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and the bodies and souls [psuché - breath, souls] (lives? of) man/anthropos/persons. 14 “The delicacies [opóra - late summer, ripe fruit] for which your soul longed has gone from you, and all your luxuries and your splendors are lost to you, not to be found again.” 15 The merchants of these wares, who profited from her, will stand afar off, in fear of her torment, weeping and lamenting aloud, 16 “Woe, woe, for the Great City that was clothed in the finest linen. In purple and scarlet, and gilded with gold. And with precious stones, and pearls! 17 But in a single hour, all this wealth, has been laid waste” (Rev.17:12,16,18). And all pilots, all sailors, all voyaging/traveling, and all who trade, stood afar off 18 and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, “Oh what city was like this great city!?” 19 And they threw dust and ashes on their heads as they wept and lamented, “Woe! woe! The great city! In which were made rich through her costliness, all those having ships to sea.” (When the vision was given, big business was done by sea). “For, in one hour, has come the desolation.” (Rev.17:12,16). 20 Be of good cheer over her, O heaven, saints, apostles and prophets, for God has decided judgment for you against [ek or ex - from, from out of, from the interior outward] (of) her.” 21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great miller’s stone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will you Babylon the great city be thrown down! With [horméma - a rush, impulse, violence]. And you will be found no more. 22 The sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will not be heard in you any more. Not a craftsman of any sort will be found in you any more, nor the sound of the mill/factory/industry. 23 The light of a lamp will not shine in you any more, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you. For your merchants were the great ones of the earth. And by your sorcery [pharmakeia - the use of medicine, drugs or spells, sorcery, enchantment, magic; from pharmakeuó - to administer drugs, drug related sorcery, magical arts (by which)] all nations were deceived. (Including by a false prophecy, which is implied by there being a “false prophet”.)

                         ~*~

The vision is told 3 times: 6:1-2 to 11:19; chap.12 w/ Mt.23:39; and 13:1 to 19:11.

Rev/Apoc Cast of Characters & Events ~ is pinned📌 in the side column.