“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” (Revelation 18:3).

The reason that Babylon – that great city – the harlot – is filled with demons is now revisited (from chapter 17). In a myriad of ways God re-examines apostasy to unmask and then disclose why Satan is now controlling the “Christian world.”

“For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication,” (vs 3)

This comes from:

Revelation 13:3: The world wondered after Babylon’s leader and even worshiped her.

Revelation 14:8: “she made” (forced) all nations to drink.

The imagery is one of:

• The strength of sexual seduction (force)

• Providing enjoyment/fascination

• No limit to her methods

She is the mother of other harlots. She has a trade – a business. She replicates herself until the whole world is involved with her illicit behavior.

What is the standard against this labeling? God’s laws and His declarations. If anyone is involved with her, he is marked – by God. That is why the previous verse describes how she is “marked.” She is demon possessed. God has a response to this – He’ll make her drink of His wine! (cf. Jeremiah 25:15-18, 27-28; Isaiah 51:17; Zechariah 12:2).

Fornication/adultery/immorality = religious apostasy.

“For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD” (Hosea 4:10).

“Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness” (Jeremiah 3:2).

“and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her,” (vs 3)

This now refines the intensity of the illicit relationship. The leaders of the world have joined with her in acts of apostasy against God. This reviews:

1.      Revelation 17:12-13: Horns which will be kings to give their power and strength to the beast.

2.      Revelation 13:1: The horns have crowns – they now are kings.

That power is so great that it is over all kindreds and tongues, and nations (13:7)! Can you imagine world powers that are demon possessed? Then it notes that they make war against the remnant (12:17) or saints (13:7).

In the Old Testament God’s people are seen as a wife to God (Yahweh) [Leviticus 17:7, Numbers 14:33, Deuteronomy 31:16; cf. Jude 2:17 (apocryphal), I Chronicles 5:25, Psalm 73:27, Hosea 1:2]. Tyre is a metaphor for apostasy, described as a “prostitute” selling herself to the “kingdoms of the earth” for profit (Isaiah 23:17). That imagery, in turn, shows a commercial or financial benefit to Tyre. In Daniel 11:43 it is noted: “But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver.” In verses 9-19 of this eighteenth chapter the world grieves over Babylon when it comes into judgment. Much of that lament relates to loss of commercial interest!

“and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.” (vs 3)

These were wholesale dealers[1] referred to four times in this chapter. They dealt in large quantities of merchandise and grew wealthy from their trade (vss 15, 23).

In Roman history, merchants used wealth to control the world, much like armies. This became the elite class and part of the civil bureaucracy. Commerce – finances – became centered in Rome.

1.  The people of the world 2.   The leaders of the world 3.   The commerce of the       world

Associated with the Roman Church – the apostate woman

When she comes to her end, the economic center ceases; their wealth then vanishes.

Much of this prophecy relates to a lament found in Ezekiel 27 over Tyre. Thus, we have fascinating indictments from the divine Court.

The world supports some falsehood that the devil creates. Thus, a religious issue is promulgated. In this vast coalition – an economic network is established. There appears to be financial rewards that come to the earth – “delicacies” – from this global alliance. It is a bond of “common cause,” a new world order.

Since mankind is universally morally bankrupt, this verse sets the tone for the last call to repentance (vs 4) before destructive judgments (vss 5-6). The outcome? “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you” (James 5:1).

In ways that are not clear, the actual power of the woman Babylon or sea beast works to enrich merchants, kings and herself.[2] This is portrayed by the terms “lived deliciously.”

This lifestyle is self-indulgent and is insolently and luxuriously based on a religious bond that unites their coalition. God sees it as a lewd act, an adulterous accord. This chapter ties to an Old Testament metaphor likened to end-time Babylon: “And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin” (Hosea 12:8). He was an apostate whose tribe led to Israel’s fall.

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