Chapter
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Verse
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Revelation 18:3
ESV For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living."
NIV For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries."
NASB For all the nations have fallen because of the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich from the excessive wealth of her luxury.'
CSB For all the nations have drunk the wine of her sexual immorality, which brings wrath. The kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from her sensuality and excess.
NLT For all the nations have fallen because of the wine of her passionate immorality. The kings of the world have committed adultery with her. Because of her desires for extravagant luxury, the merchants of the world have grown rich.'
KJV 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.
NKJV For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”

What does Revelation 18:3 mean?

This verse cites the reason for Babylon's judgment: it corrupted the nations, their rulers, and their merchants. Like Babylon, the nations, their heads of state, and their businessmen became immoral. Because of their covetousness and corrupt business practices they became materially rich and pursued a luxurious lifestyle, but they were morally and spiritually bankrupt. They cared only about themselves. Greed was their creed, and gold was their god. Here, as in other passages of Scripture, sexual immorality is used as both a reference to literal bodily sin and a metaphor for spiritual infidelity (Ezekiel 16:16).

Jesus told the story about a rich man who lived a selfish and lavish lifestyle (Luke 16:19–31). The rich man wore the most expensive clothes and feasted daily on the most expensive food. But his eyes never focused on anything except what might satisfy his fleshly cravings. If he was aware of Lazarus, a poor, emaciated, hungry beggar outside his house, the selfish rich man did nothing to help him. However, the day arrived when the rich man and his lavish lifestyle ended. He died and went to Hades, where he suffered and thirsted, and it was too late to change his fate.

Likewise, the lifestyle of the wicked rich and powerful will abruptly end when Babylon falls.
Expand
Expand
Expand
What is the Gospel?
Download the app:
BibleRef.com is part of Got Questions Ministries

For answers to your Bible questions, please visit