ISB ~ Revelation 18 v1 - 24

A dirge over the death of the harlot city Babylon.

• Several images and expressions in this chapter are taken from the judgment oracles of the Prophets, especially Jeremiah’s condemnation of ancient Babylon in Jer 50-51. The cry that Babylon is fallen (18:2) recalls Jer 51:8; the charge that nations have drunk her wine (18:3) recalls Jer 51:7; the call to come out of her (18:4) recalls Jer 50:8 and 51:45; the vision of her sins heaped high as heaven (18:5) recalls Jer 51:9; the judgment by fire (18:8) recalls Jer 50:32 and 51:30; the rejoicing of heaven (18:20) recalls Jer 51:48; the image of a stone hurled into the sea (18:21) recalls Jer 51:63-64; and scenes of the slain (18:24) filling the city recalls Jer 51:49.

• Babylon and the harlot, whose smoke goes up forever, are none other than the lustful, the adulterous, and the arrogant. If you wish to escape such punishments, have no desire to commit such grave sins. For in the present age, Babylon is always going to destruction and burning up in part (St. Caesarius of Arles, Exposition of the Apocalypse, homily 18).