Revelation – Chapter 18

New Testament24 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 18 of Revelation begins: "And after these things, I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power: and the earth was enlightened with his glory." Across its 24 verses, two threads run through the text: sin and divine judgment and holiness. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1And after these things, I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power: and the earth was enlightened with his glory.

2And he cried out with a strong voice, saying: Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen: and is become the habitation of devils and the hold of every unclean spirit and the hold of every unclean and hateful bird:

3Because all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication: and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her; And the merchants of the earth have been made rich by the power of her delicacies.

4And I heard another voice from heaven, saying: Go out from her, my people; that you be not partakers of her sins and that you receive not of her plagues.

5For her sins have reached unto heaven: and the Lord hath remembered her iniquities.

6Render to her as she also hath rendered to you: and double unto her double, according to her works. In the cup wherein she hath mingled, mingle ye double unto her.

7As much as she hath glorified herself and lived in delicacies, so much torment and sorrow give ye to her. Because she saith in her heart: I sit a queen and am no widow: and sorrow I shall not see.

8Therefore, shall her plagues come in one day, death and mourning and famine. And she shall be burnt with the fire: because God is strong, who shall judge her.

9And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived in delicacies with her, shall weep and bewail themselves over her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning:

10Standing afar off for fear of her torments, saying: Alas! alas! that great city, Babylon, that mighty city: for in one hour is thy judgment come.

11And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her: for no man shall buy their merchandise any more.

12Merchandise of gold and silver and precious stones: and of pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet: and all thyine wood: and all manner of vessels of ivory: and all manner of vessels of precious stone and of brass and of iron and of marble:

13And cinnamon and odours and ointment and frankincense and wine and oil and fine flour and wheat and beasts and sheep and horses and chariots: and slaves and souls of men.

14And the fruits of the desire of thy soul are departed from thee: and all fat and goodly things are perished from thee. And they shall find them no more at all.

15The merchants of these things, who were made rich, shall stand afar off from her, for fear of her torments, weeping and mourning,

16And saying: Alas! alas! that great city, which was clothed with fine linen and purple and scarlet and was gilt with gold and precious stones and pearls.

17For in one hour are so great riches come to nought. And every shipmaster and all that sail into the lake, and mariners, and as many as work in the sea, stood afar off,

18And cried, seeing the place of her burning, saying: What city is like to this great city?

19And they cast dust upon their heads and cried, weeping and mourning, saying: Alas! alas! that great city, wherein all were made rich, that had ships at sea, by reason of her prices. For, in one hour she is made desolate.

20Rejoice over her, thou heaven and ye holy apostles and prophets. For God hath judged your judgment on her.

21And a mighty angel took up a stone, as it were a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying: With such violence as this, shall Babylon, that great city, be thrown down and shall be found no more at all.

22And the voice of harpers and of musicians and of them that play on the pipe and on the trumpet shall no more be heard at all in thee: and no craftsman of any art whatsoever shall be found any more at all in thee: and the sound of the mill shall be heard no more at all in thee:

23And the light of the lamp shall shine no more at all in thee: and the voice of the bridegroom and the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee. For thy merchants were the great men of the earth: for all nations have been deceived by thy enchantments.

24And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Important Verses in Revelation 18

And after these things, I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power: and the earth was enlightened with his glory.

Revelation 18:1

For her sins have reached unto heaven: and the Lord hath remembered her iniquities.

Revelation 18:5

Therefore, shall her plagues come in one day, death and mourning and famine. And she shall be burnt with the fire: because God is strong, who shall judge her.

Revelation 18:8

Rejoice over her, thou heaven and ye holy apostles and prophets. For God hath judged your judgment on her.

Revelation 18:20

Historical Context

Revelation belongs to the New Testament and was composed for persecuted churches, lifted to see Christ's final victory. Chapter 18 of 22 moves toward the climax of the book as earlier promises and conflicts converge. It is a apocalyptic vision revealing God's ultimate victory over evil with 24 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. It opens with the line: "And after these things, I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power: and the earth was enlightened…" It concludes: "And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all that were slain upon the earth. " In terms of historical background, Written to seven churches of Asia suffering under Rome's demand for emperor worship, Revelation unveils history's hidden meaning through visions of heavenly liturgy: the Lamb who was slain stands victorious, and every… Catholic tradition dates the book to the period described in its introduction: About AD 95, under the persecution of Emperor Domitian.

Who Wrote It

John, exiled on the island of Patmos; tradition identifies him with the Apostle

When It Was Written

About AD 95, under the persecution of Emperor Domitian

Catholic Commentary

This chapter uses symbolic imagery to reveal God's sovereignty over history and the final triumph of good. A pivotal line is verse 1: "And after these things, I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power: and the earth was enlightened with his glory." The passage repeatedly touches on sin and divine judgment.

According to Catholic interpretation, this chapter contributes to the book's portrait of Christ's victory and the new creation. Revelation reveals the Church's ultimate destiny (CIC 1042-1050). The Catechism and the liturgy frequently draw on such passages to nourish faith and moral life (CIC 791).

For Christians today, the chapter's lesson is clear: Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.. The Church invites us to receive this word not as antiquarian information but as living Scripture proclaimed at Mass and prayed in lectio divina.

Main Teachings

  • Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.
  • 'Be holy, for I am holy': God calls His people to be set apart for Him in every area of life.
  • Suffering, united to Christ, becomes a path of purification and deeper trust in God.

Reflection for Today

Catholic exegesis approaches Revelation Chapter 18 with reverence, seeking both the literal sense and the spiritual meaning ordered to Christ.

Catholic theology recognizes that Christ's victory and the new creation is not an abstract idea but a reality encountered in prayer, sacraments, and charity. This chapter contributes to that vision by stressing justice, charity, and the common good.

Let Revelation Chapter 18 deepen your love for the Eucharist, where the Word made flesh continues to feed His people. The same Christ who speaks in Scripture offers Himself sacramentally on the altar.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Revelation Chapter 18 about?

Revelation 18 contains 24 verses. It opens with "And after these things, I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power: and the earth was enlightened…" and closes with "And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all that were slain upon the earth. ". The book as a whole is apocalyptic prophecy and epistle.

What is a key verse in Revelation 18?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "And after these things, I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power: and the earth was enlightened with his glory." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who wrote Revelation and when?

John, exiled on the island of Patmos; tradition identifies him with the Apostle. About AD 95, under the persecution of Emperor Domitian.

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