Revelation 18:9 - Meaning and Application

Here we see a sad lament over Babylon’s fall, made by her friends. The mourners are the kings and merchants of the earth, the very people who had been drawn in by her sexual sin and her rich trade. The kings had been flattered into idolatry, and the merchants had grown rich through their dealings with her, such as selling indulgences, pardons, dispensations, and church offices. Now they mourn because the source of their wealth is gone.

Their mourning is marked by fear and sorrow. They stand far away, because even Babylon’s friends do not want to come near her ruin. Though they shared in her sins, her pleasures, and her profit, they do not want to share in her punishment. They cry out, “Alas, alas, that great city, Babylon, that mighty city!” They weep and throw dust on their heads (Revelation 18:19). Sin’s pleasures last only for a time, and then they end in bitter grief. Those who rejoice when the church’s enemies seem to win will also share their downfall.

What troubles them is not sin itself, but punishment. They do not grieve because Babylon fell into idolatry, luxury, and persecution. They grieve because she has lost her trade, wealth, and power. The spirit of antichrist is a worldly spirit, and their sorrow is only worldly sorrow. They do not mourn God’s anger against them, only the loss of outward comfort. The city’s riches and merchandise, listed in detail in Revelation 18:12-13, are suddenly gone and gone forever (Revelation 18:14). “All things that were dainty and fine have gone from you, and you will find them no more at all.” God’s people may fall for a time, but they will rise again. Babylon’s fall is different, it is a total overthrow, like Sodom and Gomorrah. Godly sorrow can help a person bear suffering, but worldly sorrow only makes the pain worse.

We also see joy and triumph in heaven and on earth at Babylon’s final ruin. While her own people are mourning, God’s servants are told to rejoice over her (Revelation 18:20). This joy would be shared by both heaven and earth, by angels and believers. What brings joy to God’s people on earth also brings joy to the angels in heaven.

This joy is right and fitting. Babylon’s fall was an act of God’s just judgment. God was avenging the cause of his people. They had handed their case over to him, the one who has the right to punish wrong, and now the time of repayment had come for Zion’s troubles. Believers do not take pleasure in anyone’s suffering, but they do rejoice when God’s justice is clearly shown.

It is also right because Babylon’s ruin was final. She would never trouble them again. This was shown by a strong sign: an angel from heaven took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying that Babylon would be thrown down in the same way, with great force, and found no more at all (Revelation 18:21). The city would no longer be lived in, no work would be done there, no comfort would remain, and no light would be seen there. Her end matches her great sin, first in deceiving the nations with her sorceries, and then in destroying and murdering those she could not deceive (Revelation 18:24). Such terrible sins deserved such a terrible ruin.