What does Revelation 18:24 mean?

George Orwell was a writer best known for book such as Animal Farm and 1984. In one of his more well-known quotes, he stated "The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it." By the time of the tribulation, the world's opposition to truth—especially Christian truth—will be at an all-time high. So, too, will be its hatred for those who dare stand up for what is moral and right.

End-times Babylon will have no tolerance for God's people. The beast and his followers hate them so much they kill them and leave their blood stains on the streets (Revelation 11:7–8). The evil system (Revelation 17:1–3) led by the beast is described in John's vision as martyring believers wherever it found them (Revelation 13:7; 12:16–17). Babylon's goal will be to rid the earth of those who follow the Lamb and refuse to bow to the beast.

Even today, in countries opposed to Christianity, followers of Jesus are laying down their lives for the sake of the gospel. Jesus did not promise His followers a placid life; rather, He predicted that true believers would often suffer persecution. He said, "If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:19). He also predicted, "Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God" (John 16:2), and promised, "In the world you will have tribulation" (John 16:33).

The overthrow of Babylon will partially avenge these martyrs.