Commercial Babylon's Judgment

The Babylon of ch.18 is the Satanic world system in its godless commercial and economic aspects. This system honeycombs all phases of the life of unregenerate mankind organized as a system under Satan. Chapter 17 highlights the religious aspects of Babylon, but its ramifications are cultural, scientific, educational and governmental as well. The Satanic world system of Babylon is mentioned in more than 30 NT passages. Satan is its directing head (Jn 12:31; 14:30: 16:11; 1 Jn 5:19; Rev 2:13). The system is pronounced by God as wholly evil (Gal 1:4; Col 1:13; 2 Pet 2:20; Jas 4:4; 1 Jn 4:3). It is shown to be limited and temporary (1 Jn 4:4), as Rev 17-18 proves. It is doomed to destruction at Christ’s second advent (1 Jn 2:17; Rev 17-18; 19:11-16; 20:1-3). It is characterized by greed, pride and war(Jas 4:1-4), and is a perpetual snare to God’s people (1 Jn 2:16; Rev 18:4-5). 

Unger, Merrill F.; Unger, Merrill F. F. (2005-04-01). The New Unger's Bible Handbook (Kindle Locations 20593-20600). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition

After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. And he called out with a mighty voice,
 

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast. For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.” Revelation 18:1-3

After “this”-- the destruction of ecumenical Babylon (the false church) by political/commercial Babylon.  The surviving secular structure will thrive for a few years. The false religious system called Babylon, the great whore, will have been destroyed about the middle of the tribulation. The commercialism which supports the political structure will be able to thrive without her and sharing  power with her is no longer in the interest of the one world government under Satan’s control. Religion has always been a ruse perpetrated by Satan, to entertain mankind and lull him into thinking he could do something “good” and pleasing to God, thereby gaining God’s approbation and somehow making points for eternal reward. Human  viewpoint calls it “inspiration” and pats itself on the back while amassing “do good” projects and pretending to “love” all mankind, while totally disregarding the truth of Jesus’ atonement for our sins. His sacrifice means nothing to them, who prefer to meet the final judge in their own filthy rags of human good.

Well, Satan-controlled commercial Babylon has no use for religion past the mid-point of the tribulation. “Thanks for bringing in the sheep for slaughter, Jezebel, we can take it from here. Your job is done.” Ah, but NOW, the secular Babylon has arrived at judgment. Fallen, she is completely fallen! It’s been a great ride, Babs, but this is where you get off. Bid goodbye to your fellow fornicators and the merchants you’ve made rich. They are not going to be needing you anymore, either, though they'll mourn your death. They didn’t mind the demise of religion, but the merchandising has been their very life. They are not far behind, however.

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,

“Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed. As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see'. For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.” Revelation 18:4-8

Politico-commercial Babylon has been riding high on the backs of the people she enslaved in her economic system. She is not concerned about her sins, but God is, and the score is about to be settled. She is at ease in her false security of riches and mercenary partnerships.  Her death will come in a day. That can happen. It has happened before. Any remaining people of God must depart from her. What we see in these tribulational  events are judgments on institutions and corporations. Individuals can believe on Christ at any time and thereby be separated from the system of evil. 

And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, “Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.” And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls. Revelation 18:9-13

Who weeps and wails for Babylon? Kings, who took advantage of her depraved arrogance and lusts for their own pleasure. Merchants, for whose goods there is no longer a market. A major commodity of their trade is human souls.

Verses 14-20 describe a major metropolis totally flattened by a sudden event. It looks very much like a nuclear blast. The city is laid waste in one hour. The merchants of the earth watch and mourn.

Then a mighty angel took up 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;

In verses 22-23 we see a totally flattened and devastated city in which there is no life. It is dark, silent and still. Nothing lives there anymore. Verses 23-24 tell us why:

your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.
And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.”

Sovereign God, the omniscient, omnipotent One, the righteous and just One, has remembered Babylon.