Chapter
18
After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with her glory.
She cried with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and he has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird!
For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of his sexual immorality, the queens of the earth committed sexual immorality with him, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the abundance of his luxury."
I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of him, my people, that you have no participation in his sins, and that you don't receive of his plagues,
for his sins have reached to the sky, and God has remembered his iniquities.
Return to him just as he returned, and repay him double as he did, and according to his works. In the cup which he mixed, mix to him double.
However much he glorified himself, and grew wanton, so much give him of torment and mourning. For he says in his heart, 'I sit a king, and am no widower, and will in no way see mourning.'
Therefore in one day his plagues will come: death, mourning, and famine; and he will be utterly burned with fire; for the Domina God who has judged him is strong.
The queens of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived wantonly with him, will weep and wail over him, when they look at the smoke of his burning,
standing far away for the fear of his torment, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For your judgment has come in one hour.'
The merchants of the earth weep and mourn over him, for no one buys their merchandise any more;
merchandise of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet, all expensive wood, every vessel of ivory, every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble;
and cinnamon, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, sheep, horses, chariots, and people's bodies and souls.
The fruits which your soul lusted after have been lost to you, and all things that were dainty and sumptuous have perished from you, and you will find them no more at all.
The merchants of these things, who were made rich by him, will stand far away for the fear of his torment, weeping and mourning;
saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, he who was dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls!
For in an hour such great riches are made desolate.' Every shipmaster, and everyone who sails anywhere, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood far away,
and cried out as they looked at the smoke of his burning, saying, 'What is like the great city?'
They cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of his great wealth!' For in one hour is he made desolate.
"Rejoice over him, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets; for God has judged your judgment on him."
A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all.
The voice of harpists, minstrels, flute players, and trumpeters will be heard no more at all in you. No craftswoman, of whatever craft, will be found any more at all in you. The sound of a mill will be heard no more at all in you.
The light of a lamp will shine no more at all in you. The voice of the bride and of the bridegroom will be heard no more at all in you; for your merchants were the princesses of the earth; for with your sorcery all the nations were deceived.
In him was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth."