RELB 413: Revelation Name Theodore Zirkle

Exegesis Paper, #6 Date: 5/18/17

Chosen Passage: Revelation 18:21-24

Context:

Revelation 18:21-24 occurs at the end of Revelation 18. This portion of the book of

Revelation, including the description of the harlot and the marriage scene, is preceded by

the vision of the seven bowls plagues. After this section, Revelation transitions into the final

battle between Christ and the beast as well as 1,000 years reign.

The chosen passage is specifically preceded by descriptions of Babylon’s fall. An

angel comes from heaven and proclaims that Babylon has fallen because the kings and

merchants of earth have colluded with her. Another voice then calls people out of Babylon

and to repay the injustices done to them by Babylon twofold. Subsequently, those that had

lain with her and committed fornication with her mourned. The kings of the earth wept and

lamented. The description of the merchant’s displeasure was long and drawn out. Those

that benefited financially and became rich because of Babylon were devastated and

lamented her fall.

The chosen passage is followed by chapter 19. Chapter 19 begins with a heavenly

throne room scene where the great multitude, 24 elders, and four living creatures are

giving praise to the Lord because judged the harlot and avenged on her the blood of the

saints. Following the praise are allusions to the heavenly marriage between the Lamb and

his chosen people. Finally, the hosts of both heaven and the beast come together. The

ultimate result of this altercation is that the beast and the false prophet who performed

signs to deceive people were cast into the lake of fire. The reset of the armies of the beast

were killed by the sword that comes out of the leader of heaven’s armies who sits on the

white horse.
RELB 413: Revelation Name Theodore Zirkle
Exegesis Paper, #6 Date: 5/18/17
Meaning:

The chosen passage is full of vibrant imagery of Babylon’s fall. First, a great

millstone is thrown into the sea as a representation of the finality of Babylon’s demise.

Subsequently, the complete desolation of Babylon is conveyed by declaring that music,

culture, business, or industry would ever be heard in Babylon again. Furthermore, the light

of the lamp and the bride and bridegroom express their displeasure also forsake the harlot.

Lastly, the reason for this ghastly future is explained through the description of the sorcery

and murder of the saints that occurred in Babylon.

The first thing that stands out is the millstone imagery. During his ministry, Jesus

said that anyone that caused one of the children to sin should be tied to a millstone and

throne into the sea. The millstone imagery used in this part of Revelation suggests that

Babylon caused others to sin and must suffer the fate that Jesus prescribed. Following this

is the conspicuous absence of musicians and craftsmen. All of the individuals missing from

Babylon are involved in the creative process, suggesting that those in Babylon have

forsaken the Creator and his people. The importance of recognizing the Creator and the

Seventh Day is highlighted throughout the book of Revelation and is emphasized here as

well.

The light of the lamp and bride and bridegroom must be representative of the Word

of God, God’s people, and the Lamb. Their absence reveals that the fate of Babylon has been

sealed. Through Babylon’s “great men” merchants, sorcerous deception, and murder of the

saints, Babylon has managed to alienate the ones that came to save it from the horrendous

future that awaits it because of its actions. Overall, the chosen passage outlines the who and

why of Babylon’s complete destruction.

RELB 413: Revelation Name Theodore Zirkle
Exegesis Paper, #6 Date: 5/18/17
Dialogue:

As usual, Stefanovic was very useful in dissecting the more obscure allusions to

other portions of the Bible in the chosen passage. For example, on page 545, Stefanovic

relates the sailor mourning group back to Ezekial’s vision of the fall of Tyre. Through this

relation, he successfully argues that all of the grievers are purely selfish as they gained

wealth and power through Babylon.

Stefanovic relates the millstone imagery to Jesus’ ministry as well, but also relates it

to Jeremiah’s personal experience with Babylon. On page 546, Stefanovic highlights that

God told Jeremiah to cast a book with the description of Babylon’s destruction into the

Euphrates tied to a millstone. Jeremiah was told to do this to symbolize that Babylon will

ultimately be cast down never to raise again.

On page 547, Stefanovic once again references Ezekial’s prophesy against Tyre. The

ending of normal city activities such as music and buying and selling is reminiscent of the

language used to denounce apostate cities in the Old Testament. Interestingly, Stefanovic

only briefly mentions the light of the lamp and the bride and bridegroom and doesn’t

mention any relation to the often used symbolic meanings for the lamp, bride, and

bridegroom found throughout the New Testament and Revelation.

The last part of the chosen passage is the reasoning for the destruction of Babylon.

Stefanovic dissects this on page 547 in a similar way to the one presented in the Meaning

section. The “great men” language reaffirms the arrogant and naïve attitude of those

working with the beast. The sorcerous magic highlights the demonic acts that Babylon has

taken part in. Finally, the murdering of the saints is the nail in the coffin. The language is

clearly negative as Babylon manages to become drunk on the blood of the innocents.
RELB 413: Revelation Name Theodore Zirkle
Exegesis Paper, #6 Date: 5/18/17
Questions:

The types of work that stops in Babylon is very specific, but Stefanovic only quickly

mentions it. Do other commentators put any more significance in this language?

The chosen passage specifically mentions that the sounds of all these different musicians

and craftsmen have stopped. Revelation has put significance on the difference between

hearing and seeing, can this same interpretation be allied her? And if so, how?

Stefanovic related much of the chosen passage back to Ezekial’s prophesy of Tyre. What

was the ultimate fate of Tyre and could it have any importance to the chosen passage?

What are the ethical implications of rejoicing over the destruction of anything? Even if that

thing was evil?

There is a lot of emphasis put on the merchants that benefited from Babylon, even more so

than the kings. Why is this? It doesn’t seem representative of Revelation as a whole.