The Merchant of the Earth Weeping and Mourning Revelation 18:11

An “angel” from heaven showed John the apostle many things which will occur in the tribulation time on the earth, and John continued, “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 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. 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. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she has filled fill to her double. How much she has glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she says in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judges her. And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning. Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.” In chapter eighteen and verse eleven of Revelation the “kings” are “standing afar off for the fear of her torment” the city of Babylon where we read:

And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her;

for no man buys their merchandise any more:

The verse reads, “And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her;” John began with the words, “and the merchants” which means “the wholesale tradesmen” “of the earth” or “belonging to the arable land, country, territory and region” “shall weep” which means “will lament, mourn and bewail” “and mourn” or “grieve and wail” “over her” which means “before and at Babylon”. John saw how the “wholesale tradesmen” “grieved and wept” over the destruction of Babylon.

The verse goes on to say, “for no man buys their merchandise any more.” John added the words “for” which means “because, since and on account that” “no man” or “no person whether male or female” “buys” or “does business, attends to, purchases or redeems” “their merchandise” which means “Babylon's cargo and wares” “any more” which means “no further or any time after”. No one will do business within Babylon from that day forward.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we see how many people were affected financially and economically by the destruction of Babylon. Many weep today over the loss of their finances, but this shall be a termination of the commercial system of business. God almighty is “our economy”, and those who are wise shall engage in an eternal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ.

Next time we learn how “Babylon” will be filled with “the merchandise of gold, and silver and precious stones, and of pearls” and more, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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