Casting Dust, Crying, Weeping and Wailing Revelation 18:19

An “angel” from heaven showed John the apostle many things which will occur in the tribulation time on the earth and how commercial “Babylon” had “fallen”, and John wrote, “ 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. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buys their merchandise any more: The merchandise 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 vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble. And cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, 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. And the fruits that your soul lusted after are departed from you, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from you, and you shall find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nothing. And every ship-master, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off. And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!” In chapter eighteen and verse nineteen of Revelation we learn of more of the wares of the city of “Babylon” where we read:

And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

The verse reads, “And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, ...” John began with the words, “and they cast” which means “and the merchants threw, scattered and poured out” “dust” or “loose dirt and rubbish” “on their heads” or “upon the tops of their heads”, “and cried” which means “and vociferated, spoke with a loud voice, shrieked, entreated and screamed”, “weeping” or “mourning, lamenting and bewailing” “and wailing” which refers to “grieving”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “Alas, alas” which means “woe, woe”. John shared how these “merchantmen” showed their woeful grief through “dust, crying, weeping and wailing”.

The verse goes on to say, “... that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness!” John continued with the words “that great city” which means “the massive, abundant and large dwelling place, abode and habitation of “Babylon””, “wherein” or “by and with” “were made rich” or “had abundance, outward possessions and affluence” “all” which means “each, every, the whole and everyone” “that had ships” or “who owned, held and possessed sailing vessels” “in the sea” which means “the sea in general such as the Mediterranean or the Red Sea” “by reason of her costliness” which refers to “the city of Babylon's preciousness, worth, excellence and abundance of costly things”. John heard the “merchants” wailing over the city of “Babylon” because the city made many people very wealthy.

Finally the verse says, “for in one hour is she made desolate.” John finished this verse with the word, “for” or “because, since and on account of” “in one hour” which refers to “one hour's time in a day” “is she made desolate” or “is the city of Babylon laid waste, ruined, spoiled and stripped of her treasures”. It only took “one hour” for all the treasures within the city of Babylon to disappear.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we see how temporal are the “riches” of this world. Psalms sixty-two and verse ten says, “...if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.” The “merchants” who “wailed and grieved” over the loss of their wealth obviously did not comply with David the Psalmist. All their “wealth” vanished, and they were in misery because of it. God Almighty desires to provide people with “true riches” which last eternally, and this comes through a relationship with His Son Jesus Christ. May all who read these words consider the demonstration of grief expressed by these “merchants” of Babylon, and remember, there is no greater treasure than a relationship with God.

Next time the “voice from heaven” exhorts, “rejoice over her, you heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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