After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! Rev 18:1-2 |
Again, this chapter coincides with events that take place when Jesus returns, but what this chapter really does is explain the one day event. The judgment has come, the chosen ones are gone, this time line is going to be very short. This is a literal chapter and so it pretty much says what will happen.
When you read this and don't place the other things in Revelation in proper order, it can be confusing. It's common to try and place all of the events in Revelation into one day because of this one scripture. This has been a mistake by scholars and preachers alike. This event will literally take place in one day, but the event leading up to it will take much longer.
Therefore her plagues will come in one day-death and mourning and famine. Rev 18:9 |
Jesus will leave the earth along with those who did not take the mark of the beast and then just as it says "in one day" all the plagues will happen and most of the earth will be destroyed with a great violence.
Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. Rev 18:21 |
Again, this is showing the end will be swift and very violent. Anyone left during this time period will not be resurrected after the millennium. People who engaged in business and loved the way of the harlot will be standing a ways away and they will witness this demise. If you consider that Jesus will start in Jerusalem, then people on the other side of the world will be the ones who are weeping over the destruction of Babylon.
Don't confuse this next verse with the rapture because it isn't. What the voice is saying is for the ones who are left here after the events begin to take place to not participate in the ways of Satan anymore.
And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. Rev 18:4 |
This chapter really explains how the people will feel when they see their money trading and income destroyed. It's a sign showing how much the image of the beast will have gained the trust of the world and that things will be very prosperous when the end comes. We're not at that stage yet, but we will be by then. Again, this goes along with what Paul said.
For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 1 Th 5:3 |
If you think about it, it's amazing how much the apostles really knew about the end time events.