“How much she hath 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” (Revelation 18:7).

After a judicial edict in the last verse, God now critiques what He means by sin or iniquity. He now discloses the basis of the judgment He will execute.

“How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously,” (vs 7)

The glory of “herself” contrasts with the saints who glorified God [part of the last invitation to the world (14:7 – “give glory to him; cf. 15:4, 19:1)]. This is a divine issue and draws on many similar
Biblical notices:

• “I [Satan] will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:14).

• He shall stand up against the Prince of princes” (Daniel 8:25) (antichrist – little horn).

• “He shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god” (Daniel 11:36) (antichrist – vile person).

• “Exhalteth himself above all that is called God” (II Thessalonians 2:4) (antichrist – man of sin).

Living “deliciously” (estreniasen) alludes to her living in luxury and unlimited indulgence in sensory desires. By other intimations, fornication and immorality are suggested. Opulent living, having all she wants and a life of indulgence represent the deepest of spiritual issues. They belie the sin of self-sufficiency and pride. In Christ’s parable of the sower, He noted the seed that fell among thorns.

“And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,  And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful” (Mark:4:18-19).

Babylon – a “harlot” – has a lust for things besides God – though she is portrayed as religious. It’s all a facade. Now we see that her love of the world and its “treasures” has a disastrous end. This institution/city/Rome is a stunning metaphor for apostasy, and belies the sad commentary of ancient Israel and the Christian church at the end.

“Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts” (Isaiah 3:16-17). Everything is open to God. There are no secrets.

All her acts are found to be the “antithesis of holiness.”[1]

Now God, acting on His previously noted judicial principle, says:

“so much torment and sorrow give her:” (vs 7)

This echoes “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled” (Luke 14:11; cf. II Samuel 22:28; Job 40:11; Proverbs 3:34, 29:23; Isaiah 2:12, 17; I Peter 5:6). Throughout the book, this punishment becomes the outcome of those who oppose God. “Torment” tells us that the judicial response will bring pain over a period of time. This draws on another parallel in the third angel’s message: “tormented with fire and brimstone” (14:10) on those who have the “mark of the beast” (enforcement of a false sabbath – addressed in chapters 10 and 13).

Grief – sorrow – is her end. Again, the “eye for an eye” and “tooth for a tooth” retribution rule is expressed (Matthew 7:2, Galatians 6:7-8). This unveils a distinct ethic or standard within Christianity.[2]

•  A follower of Christ never repays evil for evil (Romans 12:14, 17; I Thessalonians 5:15; II Timothy 4:14; I Peter 3:9).

• What we are being introduced to is God’s judicial right to rule against (sentence) apostasy and execute judgment (punishment) on wrong
  (Romans 12:19).

The wicked must be viewed as crossing over a line, never to return. Probation is closed. Repentance is no longer an option. The suffering in the end gives an incredible contrast to her luxury.

To illustrate the arrogance of Babylon – a symbol of the false trinity – God permits John to record one of her quotations. This is inserted to teach us exactly what God means when talking of sin, iniquity and pride of heart.

“I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.” (vs 7)

This expression is in John’s oft-used trilogy pattern or three phrases to reinforce the imagery. This is fascinating because it introduces contrast – a prostitute as a queen, a church that claims control of the world who is about to face torment! This focus on self is presented as self-deification.[3]

“Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God” (Ezekiel 28:2). This spirit is as the soliloquy of Nebuchadnezzar before his fall.

In the ancient world widowhood was often a fearful state. Some cultures didn’t permit remarriage. Others forced the widow to live with the parents of the deceased. This harlot – truly ruling the world for a time – is noting that she has no want for intimate friends. She has lovers so close she functions as if she were married – “no widow.” Fascinating is this spirit of Babylon which alludes to the Laodicean church. “I am rich and increased in goods and have need of nothing” (Revelation 3:17).

Christianity tried to change these selfish bonds. “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27; cf. I Timothy 5:3-16).

Stunning is this arrogant queen of Babylon. It echoes again: “And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.... Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know” (Isaiah 47:7, 11)!

As with Babylon of old, latter-day Babylon sees herself as mother to all her inhabitants. She has confidence that she will never be without the support of her children. As with the arrogant, God-defying ancient city/empire, the final metaphor will come to its end suddenly. Her proud security will be seen as a delusion (Jeremiah 50:31-32).[4]

Most provocative are the many first through third century writings that allude to either Isaiah 47 or Revelation 18, associating Babylon directly with a woman and Rome![5]

A provocative question has been raised: “Who executes God’s administrative justice? The wrath of God is a defined theme in many places (i.e., Daniel 8:19, Revelation 14:10). A peek into the final cause/ effect was given to us in 17:16: “And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.”

Here, God permits the molding of circumstances where the wicked execute His vengeance. “Even though vengeance is the prerogative of God alone (Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19, Hebrews 10:30) (Card), God may choose His enemies to implement it.”[6] He had used Cyrus (Isaiah 44:28, 45:1) and Nebuchadnezzar to execute His will. They serve as a model of what is ahead.

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Who Is Mother Babylon with Power Over All?

“Holy Mother Church, like the loving mother she is, has provided us with the necessary guidelines on how to think and behave.... These are provided for us in what is called her teaching Magisterium.... The Church, which is the ‘Body of Christ,’ is as it were the presence of Christ in the World.”

http://holyromancatholicchurch.org/rama/church.html

“In regard to the Bible – Old and New Testaments – scholarly study of the texts is not sufficient, it must be interpreted within the tradition of the Church, since both are equally inspired by the Holy Spirit.” Divine Holy Teachings of Mother Church from Vatican II.
http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=33332 

“Here and elsewhere the conciliar documents affirm the language of the Church as Mother – even to those estranged from her visible communion. It is because they are true members of Christ’s Body that Mother Church constantly prays for their entrance into the fullness of the Catholic Church.”

http://covenantcommunion.net/index.php/features/mother_church_and_christian_unity

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