K-18. THE BOOK OF REVELATION CHAPTER 18.

          Rev. 18:1. "And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory."

          Rev. 18:2. "And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird."

          Rev. 18:3. "For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, 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. 18:4. "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues."

          Rev. 18:5. "For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities."

          Rev. 18:6. "Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double."

          Rev. 18:7. "How much she has glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

          Rev. 18:8. "Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judges her."

         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,"

         Rev. 18:10. "Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is your judgment come."

         Rev. 18:11. "And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buys their merchandise any more:"

         Rev. 18:12. "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,"

         Rev. 18:13. "And cinnamon, and odors, 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."

          Rev. 18:14. "And the fruits that your soul lusted after are departed from you, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from you, and you shall find them no more at all."

          Rev 18:15. "The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,"

          Rev. 18:16. 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!"

          Rev. 18:17. "For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every ship master, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,"

          Rev. 18:18. "And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!"

           Rev. 18:19. "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."

           Rev. 18:20. "Rejoice over her, you heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets; for God has avenged you on her."

          Rev, 18:21. "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all."

           Rev 18:22. "And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in you; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in you; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in you;"

          Rev. 18:23. "And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in you; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in you: for you merchants were the great men of the earth; for by your sorcery were all nations deceived."

          Rev. 18:24. "And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth."

              Chapter 18 is a picture of the entire world AFTER the RAPTURE of the church has taken place and the WRATH of God is being poured out. The tribes of the earth MOURN at the loss of all the cities being destroyed by this great WAR of Armageddon.

              In other words, this great city Babylon is the entire world SYSTEM that is controlled by Satan the god of this present world.

              Let us begins with verse one and see what this chapter teaches us.

           Rev. 18:1. "And after these things I saw another angel COME DOWN from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his GLORY."

             I personally believe that this verse is speaking of Jesus at his SECOND coming. Keep in mind that the word "ANGEL" merely means MESSENGER and Jesus is God's MESSENGER to mankind.

             This angel or messenger may be a mere angel such as Michael the archangel, because certainly we are told the Michael will stand up and fight for his people. No matter which way you choose to believe, to ME, it is certain that this whole chapter teaches us about the SECOND coming of Jesus, the RAPTURE of the church and the WRATH of Almighty God. Let us continue with verses 2 and 3.

          Rev. 18:2. "And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and IS BECOME the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird."

          Rev. 18:3. "For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, 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."

             These two verses speak to me that the FULLNESS of WICKEDNESS has come to it's FULLEST point. We see that every nation in the world has become so lustful of the things of the WORLD that they have NO PLACE for God in their heart and lives any more. The WORLD has been DECEIVED by the abundance of riches and delicacies of this world.

          Rev. 18:4. "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, COME OUT of her, my people, that YOU be NOT partakers of her sins, and that you receive NOT of her plagues."

             This is the RAPTURE of the church where God's people are being called OUT of the earth up to the clouds to meet Jesus in the AIR so that we shall ESCAPE the WRATH of Almighty God which is about to be poured out upon that great city Babylon, the entire world who are disobedient to the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ. The Greek words translated as be not partakers means not to be JOINT partakers together with her.

         Rev. 18:5. "For her sins (The sins of the entire world) have reached unto heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities."

             You see, when the FULLNESS of the Gentiles be come to full and no more of the wicked will TURN to God, THEN Jesus will come again the catch up the RIGHTEOUS to himself and then pour out God WRATH upon the WICKED so that they may REPENT and turn to him. The Bible teaches us that SOME of the nations will call upon the name of the Lord and be LEFT alive to go into he millennium in the MORTAL bodies to be TAUGHT of the Lord.

              Now let us continue with the nest few verse where we see US the CHURCH helping Jesus executing the WRATH of God upon those that persecuted and shed the blood of the saints. This is the marriage supper of the Lamb and God tells us to do DOUBLE what the world did to us.

          Rev. 18:6. "Reward her EVEN AS she rewarded YOU, and DOUBLE unto her DOUBLE according to her works: in the cup which she has filled fill to her DOUBLE."

          Rev. 18:7. "How much she has glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she says in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow."

                            Rev. 18:8. "Therefore shall her plagues come in ONE DAY (speaking of a 1000 year is as a day and a day is as a 1000 years. Keep in mind that God remembers MERCY in his WRATH so as not to total destroy all of mankind, but at the END of the 1000 year Satan is loosed for a little season and he goes and DECEIVES the nations one final time to fight against God and his people and God will send down FIRE from heaven the conclusion of his WRATH to make and END of wickedness), death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who JUDGES her (speaking of the entire world)."

              It is interesting to note that in the King James Version of the Bible the word "WRATH is found exactly 198 times and the multiples of this number "198" are ALL DOUBLE digits. Observe: (11 x 18=198), (33 x 6=198), (66 x 3=198), and (99 x 2=198) where 11, 33, 66, and 99 are ALL DOUBLE digits. Also note that 1 in the number for God, and if you take God OUT of the picture you are left with 33+66+99 which equals 198 or the WRATH of God.

             But the main point is that we will help Jesus execute the wrath of God giving them DOUBLE what the Muslims and the rest of the world did to the Christians. Let us now continue with this study in God's word in this verse by verse study of the book of Revelation.

          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,"

             Those left alive in the WRATH of God will mourn at the lose of all the worldly material goods that have been destroyed in the WAR.

             

             Rev. 18:10. "Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one HOUR ( this WRATH of God is referred to as the HOUR of JUDGMENT or the HOUR of TRIAL that shall TRY all the world as we read in Revelation 3:10) is your judgment come."

                              Rev. 18:11. "And the merchants of the earth shall weep  and mourn over her (Jesus said the tribes of the earth shall MOURN when they see they WRATH of God coming upon them); for no man buys their merchandise any more:"

          Rev. 18:12. "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,"

          Rev. 18:13. "And cinnamon, and odors, 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."

          Rev. 18:14. "And the fruits that your soul LUSTED after are DEPARTED from you, and all things which were dainty and goodly are DEPARTED from you, and you shall find them NO more at all."

                                Rev. 18:15. "The merchants of these things (all the ELITE that are HIDING in the dens and underground bunkers), which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,"

             Let me pause here for a moment and WARN the ELITE that have conspired with Satan and say that even though you try to HIDE from the WRATH of God the word of TRUTH says that your covenant with death will be annulled. Please read Isaiah 28:15-23.

          "Because you have said, We have made a COVENANT with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the over flowing scourge shall pass through, it shall NOT come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we HID ourselves:

          16. Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believes shall not make haste.

          17. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the HIDING PLACE.

          18. And your covenant with death shall be DISANNULLED (or be made void, because this world is being taken back by it's rightful owner the Almighty who will give it to his Son Jesus), and your agreement with hell shall NOT stand; when the over flowing scourge shall pass through, then you shall be trodden down by it.

          19. From the time that it goes forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.

          20. For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.

          21. For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange (or his ALIEN) work; and bring to pass his act, his strange (or his ALIEN) act. (I believe that those in the world will see the coming of Jesus as an invasion from aliens. Please see the study ""WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT UFO'S?" ).

          22. Now therefore be you NOT mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.

          23. Give you ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech."

             For those of you who may not know there are reports of secret underground facilities that are designed to withstand an atomic war. There is a food and seed bunker for survivors. But the Bible teaches us that those who seek to save their own lives will lose their chance to receive ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come. Let us see what else happens.

          Rev.18:16. "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!"

                              Rev. 18:17. "For in one HOUR so great riches is come to nothing. And every ship master, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,"

          Rev. 18:18. "And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!"

                              Rev. 18:19. "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."

          Rev. 18:20. "Rejoice over her, you heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets; for God has AVENGED you on her.

          Rev. 18:21. "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all."

          Rev. 18:22. "And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in you; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in you; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in you;

                                 Rev. 18:23. "And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in you; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in you  (I see this as God's LAST and FINAL WARNING to REPENT. There will be NO MORE preaching of the gospel in this PRESENT world): for you merchants were the great men of the earth; for by your sorcery (DRUGS and PHARMACY) were all nations deceived."

          Rev. 18:24. "And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth."

              Meaning that is every part of the world that blood of the righteous has been shed. When the Bible say is ONE HOUR all this will take place it does not mean 60 minutes. The word "HOUR" here is figurative and describes the time that the WRATH of God is poured out. This is one of the ways that we can distinguish the DIFFERENCE between the time of GREAT tribulation form the WRATH of God. For a deeper understanding on this subject please read the study "WRATH of GOD VERSES the GREAT TRIBULATION".

               This brings us to the end of chapter 18 and into chapter 19.