Revelation 14:8

The fall of Babylon 14:8

The fact that separate and succeeding angels make these announcements stresses their importance and their sequential relationship. A second angel followed the first with the message that Babylon had fallen. This is another proleptic message, in this case given before Babylon falls. It anticipates that event (ch. 18; cf. Revelation 11:7 and Revelation 13:1-8). [Note: Newell, p. 235.] The repetition of "fallen" is for emphasis, and the aorist tense of this verb stresses the imminence of Babylon’s fall.

One popular view concerning the identity of "Babylon" is that it is a code word (atbash) for Rome, which the Christians used to disguise references to Rome, especially when Rome was persecuting Christians. That use occurs elsewhere in the New Testament (cf. 1 Peter 5:13). The other view is that "Babylon" is literal Babylon on the Euphrates River. The second option is better in Revelation because in this book place names describe literal locations (cf. Revelation 1:9; Revelation 2:1; Revelation 2:8; Revelation 2:12; Revelation 2:18; Revelation 3:1; Revelation 3:7; Revelation 3:14) unless specifically identified as figurative (e.g., Revelation 11:8). Furthermore "the great," Nebuchadnezzar’s description of Babylon (cf. Daniel 4:30), always modifies the literal Babylon elsewhere in Revelation. Viewing this place as literal Babylon does not exclude further implications of the religious and political systems that have arisen from the city, which become the focus of the revelation later (chs. 17, 18). [Note: Thomas, Revelation 8-22, p. 207; Walvoord, The Revelation . . ., p. 218.] "Babylon" will epitomize ungodliness in the world during the Tribulation, as it has throughout human history since the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). Like "Hollywood" the name represents the world system as well as being the name of a particular city.

The angel personified Babylon as a temptress who gives wine to a man to seduce him to commit fornication (cf. Revelation 17:2; Revelation 17:4). The man would not choose to drink this wine without her influence. [Note: Robert Wall, Revelation, p. 185.] However what this man drinks comes ultimately from the cup of God’s wrath that He gives, through Babylon, to those whom He will punish (cf. Revelation 14:10; Psalms 60:3; Psalms 75:8; Isaiah 51:17; Isaiah 51:22). This wine not only leads all who drink it to commit sexual licentiousness but every kind of excess that expresses unfaithfulness to God (cf. Revelation 17:1-2; Revelation 17:5; Revelation 17:15-16; Revelation 18:3; Revelation 18:9; Revelation 19:2). [Note: Hughes, p. 162.]