An angel announces that Babylon has fallen. A voice from heaven calls God's people to come out of her. Kings, merchants and sailors mourn her destruction, but heaven rejoices.
1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven , having great power ; and the earth was lightened with his glory .
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 .
4 And I heard another voice from heaven , saying , Come out of her , my people , that ye be not partakers of her sins , and that ye receive not of her plagues .
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven , and God hath remembered her iniquities .
6 Reward her even as she rewarded you , and double unto her double according to her works : in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double .
7 How much she hath glorified herself , and lived deliciously , so much torment and sorrow give her : for she saith in her heart , I sit a queen , and am no widow , and shall see no sorrow .
8 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 judgeth her .
9 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 ,
10 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 .
11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her ; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more :
12 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 ,
13 And cinnamon , and odours , 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 .
14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee , and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee , and thou shalt find them no more at all .
15 The merchants of these things , which were made rich by her , shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment , weeping and wailing ,
16 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 !
17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought . And every shipmaster , and all the company in ships , and sailors , and as many as trade by sea , stood afar off ,
18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning , saying , What city is like unto this great city !
19 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 .
20 Rejoice over her , thou heaven , and ye holy apostles and prophets ; for God hath avenged you on her .
21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone , and cast it into the sea , saying , Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down , and shall be found no more at all .
22 And the voice of harpers , and musicians , and of pipers , and trumpeters , shall be heard no more at all in thee ; and no craftsman , of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee ; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee ;
23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee ; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee : for thy merchants were the great men of the earth ; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived .
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets , and of saints , and of all that were slain upon the earth .