Revelation 18:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues;

NIV: Then I heard another voice from heaven say: " ‘Come out of her, my people,’ so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues;

NASB: I heard another voice from heaven, saying, 'Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive any of her plagues;

CSB: Then I heard another voice from heaven: Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins or receive any of her plagues.

NLT: Then I heard another voice calling from heaven, 'Come away from her, my people. Do not take part in her sins, or you will be punished with her.

KJV: And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

NKJV: And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.

Apparently, saved Jews and Gentiles will live and work in Babylon and other major cities. This would not be without difficulty, given restrictions imposed by the False Prophet (Revelation 13:16–17). The apostle John heard a voice from heaven summoning believers to exit Babylon. There was the danger of becoming part of the problem instead of part of the solution. If the believers stayed in Babylon, they might succumb to the temptation to partake of its cultural and religious life.

Genesis 13 relates the story of Lot separating himself from his uncle, Abraham, and settling near Sodom. He did this despite the city's reputation for immorality (Genesis 13:13). Eventually, Lot became so complacent that he moved into Sodom. Just before God destroyed the city, two angels urged Lot to evacuate. When he lingered, they physically dragged him and his family out of the city (Genesis 19:1–22). Obviously, he and his wife and two daughters had found Sodom somewhat attractive. Nevertheless, the attraction ended for Lot when the Lord turned the city, all its residents, and contents into heaps of ashes (Genesis 19:23–29).

God has never commanded His people to be a part of the evil world system. His command is to be apart from the evil world system. Living "in" a fallen world does not mean living "like" those who are unbelievers (1 Corinthians 5:9–11). Second Corinthians 6:14 asks: "What partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?" Sharing the sins of the evil world system, or being in close contact with it, leads to the tragedy of sharing its judgment.

Revelation 18:1–8 contains a glorious angel's pronouncement of doom on Babylon. This Babylon here appears to be a literal physical city, whereas the Babylon described in chapter 17 is a corrupt religious system. The Babylon of chapter 17 was associated with a political system but was not the political power. The Babylon of chapter 18 is the center of a demonic political, commercial, and economic system. The fall of Babylon parallels what happened to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:1–29). Religious Babylon falls in the middle of the tribulation to the delight of kings. Commercial Babylon falls at the end of the tribulation, and kings lament her fall.

A glorious angel announces the fall of Babylon, here used to name a dwelling place for demons and the source of corrupt commercialism. Another angel summons believers to get out of Babylon and avoid being caught up in the judgment for her sins. God is ready to punish Babylon for extensive wickedness. He promises to burn the city with fire. The kings of the earth mourn Babylon's demise, and they keep a safe distance from her as she burns. Merchants, too, weep because no one can purchase cargo from her and profit from selling her goods. Like the kings, the merchants try to put distance between themselves and Babylon for fear of sharing her destructive fate. Their mourning is intense. They throw dust on their heads, weep, mourn, and lament how quickly she fell from prominence and prosperity to a wasteful state. A mighty angel announces Babylon's doom and desolation. The city that once included renowned merchants, deceived the nations, and martyred believers, is now shattered into silence and desolation.

The word ''revelation'' means ''an unveiling or disclosure.'' This writing unveils future events such as the rapture, three series of judgments that will fall on the earth during the tribulation, the emergence of the Antichrist, the persecution of Israel and her amazing revival, as well as Jesus' second coming with His saints to the earth, the judgment of Satan and his followers, and finally, the eternal state. This content, combined with the original Greek term apokalypsis, is why we now refer to an end-of-the-world scenario as ''an apocalypse.''