Babylon the Great
“2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
3 For 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 are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.” (Rev 18:2-3 KJV)
Babylon has become a great commercial power, and all the nations of the world have followed this system because of their greed. Some believe this is a literal city, while others believe it is a representation of the world system that the antichrist rules over. Either way, it does represent the political, commercial, and religious system that the antichrist controls. God judges each of the systems separately. This chapter is referring to its commercial and political systems. The political systems will be judged in the next chapter.
Merchants – 1713 ἔμπορος emporos {em’-por-os}
Meaning: 1) one on a journey, whether by sea or by land, esp. for trade 2) a merchant as opposed to a retailer or petty tradesman
Origin: from 1722 and the base of 4198;; n m
Usage: AV – merchant 5; 5
Notes:
1 abundance: or, power
Abundance – 1411 δύναμις dunamis {doo’-nam-is}
Meaning: 1) strength power, ability 1a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth 1b) power for performing miracles 1c) moral power and excellence of soul 1d) the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth 1e) power and resources arising from numbers 1f) power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts
Origin: from 1410; TDNT – 2:284,186; n f
Usage: AV – power 77, mighty work 11, strength 7, miracle 7, might 4, virtue 3, mighty 2, misc 9; 120
Misc: For Synonyms see entry 5820
Notes:
1 abundance: or, power
Delicacies – 4764 στρῆνος strenos {stray’-nos}
Meaning: 1) excessive strength which longs to break forth, over strength 2) luxury 3) eager desire
Origin: akin to 4731;; n n
Usage: AV – delicacy 1; 1
Notes:
1 abundance: or, power