The Collapse of Civilization

The Fall of Babylon

1I saw another angel come from heaven. This one had great power, and the earth was bright because of his glory. 2 The angel shouted,

“Fallen! Powerful Babylon

has fallen

and is now the home

of demons.

It is the den

of every filthy spirit

and of all unclean birds,

and every dirty

and hated animal.

3 Babylon's evil and immoral wine

has made all nations drunk.

Every king on earth

has slept with her,

and every merchant on earth

is rich because of

her evil desires.”

4 Then I heard another voice

from heaven shout,

“My people, you must escape

from Babylon.

Don't take part in her sins

and share her punishment.

5 Her sins are piled

as high as heaven.

God has remembered the evil

she has done.

6 Treat her as she

has treated others.

Make her pay double

for what she has done.

Make her drink twice as much

of what she mixed

for others.

7 That woman honored herself

with a life of luxury.

Reward her now

with suffering and pain.

“Deep in her heart

Babylon said,

‘I am the queen!

Never will I be a widow

or know what it means

to be sad.’

8And so, in a single day

she will suffer the pain

of sorrow, hunger, and death.

Fire will destroy

her dead body,

because her judge

is the powerful Lord God.”

9 Every king on earth who slept with her and shared in her luxury will mourn. They will weep, when they see the smoke from that fire. 10Her sufferings will frighten them, and they will stand at a distance and say,

“Pity that great

and powerful city!

Pity Babylon!

In a single hour

her judgment has come.”

11 Every merchant on earth will mourn, because there is no one to buy their goods. 12 There won't be anyone to buy their gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, sweet-smelling wood, fancy carvings of ivory and wood, as well as things made of bronze, iron, or marble. 13No one will buy their cinnamon, spices, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, slaves, and other humans.

14Babylon, the things

your heart desired

have all escaped

from you.

Every luxury

and all your glory

will be lost forever.

You will never

get them back.

15 The merchants had become rich because of her. But when they saw her sufferings, they were terrified. They stood at a distance, crying and mourning. 16Then they shouted,

“Pity the great city

of Babylon!

She dressed in fine linen

and wore purple

and scarlet cloth.

She had jewelry

made of gold

and precious stones

and pearls.

17 Yet in a single hour

her riches disappeared.”

Every ship captain and passenger and sailor stood at a distance, together with everyone who does business by traveling on the sea. 18 When they saw the smoke from her fire, they shouted, “This was the greatest city ever!”

19 They cried loudly, and in their sorrow they threw dust on their heads, as they said,

“Pity the great city

of Babylon!

Everyone who sailed the seas

became rich

from her treasures.

But in a single hour

the city was destroyed.

20 The heavens should be happy

with God's people

and apostles and prophets.

God has punished her

for them.”

21 A powerful angel then picked up a huge stone and threw it into the sea. The angel said,

“This is how the great city

of Babylon

will be thrown down,

never to rise again.

22 The music of harps and singers

and of flutes and trumpets

will no longer be heard.

No workers will ever

set up shop in that city,

and the sound

of grinding grain

will be silenced forever.

23Lamps will no longer shine

anywhere in Babylon,

and couples will never again

say wedding vows there.

Her merchants ruled

the earth,

and by her witchcraft

she fooled all nations.

24 On the streets of Babylon

is found the blood

of God's people

and of his prophets,

and everyone else.”