Revelation 18:12

10 standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ^a‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! ^bFor in one hour your judgment has come.’

11 “And ^athe merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore:

12 ^amerchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble;

13 and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and ^asouls of men.

14 The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have¹ gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all.

15 The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

16 and saying, ‘Alas, alas, ^athat great city ^bthat was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!

17 ^aFor in one hour such great riches¹ came to nothing.’ ^bEvery shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance

Commentaries:

Forerunner Commentary
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Revelation 18:13 >>

What Does Revelation 18:12 Mean?

Revelation 18:9-13

Revelation 18 is not describing a church, but a city/nation involved in massive, worldwide merchandising, shipping, and manufacturing. It is a prophetic picture of globalism. What church has sufficient economic power that, when it ceases to exist, worldwide trade quickly comes to a grinding halt, throwing hardheaded businessmen into a panic? Except possibly as an investor, the Catholic Church has never been involved in manufacturing. Revelation 18 provides no information whatsoever tying the Woman riding the Beast to religion.

John W. Ritenbaugh
The Beast and Babylon (Part Five): The Great Harlot

Revelation 18:11-13

The merchants, who gained wealth and perverse pleasures from this world's system of religion and commerce, cry and lament because it satiated their greed for materialistic acquisition and their lust for self-pleasure. As the Babylonian system incorporates every expression of corrupt government, so its prostitution includes every corrupt economic system and idolatry. Even human beings are reduced to cargo, traded as slaves to drive the engines of production, prosperity, and sinful pleasures.

Sadly, the modern descendants of Israel have promoted and become part of this self-serving, perverse world system. Sin inevitably brings its own punishment, and there are always consequences to disobedience. Thus, when today's Israelites go into captivity in the last days, they will have no excuse for their sin and no freedom whatsoever.

Martin G. Collins
Slavery and Babylon

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What Does Revelation 18:12 Mean?

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