What does Revelation 18:21 mean?

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. Revelation 18:21

Explanation

Revelation 18:21 describes a symbolic action performed by a “mighty angel” as a prophetic gesture signifying the final and complete destruction of Babylon, which in the context of the Book of Revelation represents a city emblematic of sin and opposition to God. The act of throwing a stone “like a great millstone” into the sea symbolizes the suddenness, violence, and irreversibility of Babylon’s downfall. The “millstone” imagery suggests a weightiness and decisiveness, as a millstone is heavy and once cast into the sea, it sinks rapidly and cannot be retrieved. The sea is often symbolic of chaos and disorder, and casting something into it indicates an utter removal from the realms of human experience. The phrase “and shall be found no more at all” reinforces the idea that the destruction will be so complete that not a trace of the city will remain.

Historical Context

The Book of Revelation was likely written during a period of Roman persecution of Christians, roughly around the end of the first century A.D. Babylon was an ancient Mesopotamian city with a long history, including periods when it was one of the greatest cities of its time. In the context of the Hebrew Bible, the historical Babylon was known for the conquest of Judah and the subsequent Babylonian Exile. By the time Revelation was written, “Babylon” had become a code word within Christian apocalyptic literature for Rome, the prevailing world power at the time, known for its idolatry, materialism, and persecution of Christians. The depiction of Babylon’s destruction reflects an anticipation of God’s final judgment against oppressive and corrupt powers.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, Revelation 18:21 serves as a reassurance to believers that divine justice will prevail over all forms of evil and human corruption. Different theological perspectives may interpret the symbolism of Babylon and its destruction in various ways:

• Preterism: Preterists hold that the events described in Revelation relate specifically to the author’s contemporary historical circumstances, and in this case, that Babylon’s fall symbolized the eventual downfall of the Roman Empire.
• Futurism: Futurists believe that the events described in Revelation are predictions of what is yet to come in the end times, suggesting that Babylon represents a future global system of economic and political power opposed to God.
• Historicism: Historicists interpret Revelation as describing a long series of events throughout the history of the church, with the fall of Babylon corresponding to a particular significant historical demise of a corrupt power.
• Idealism (or Symbolism): Idealists view the images in Revelation as timeless symbols representing the ongoing struggle between good and evil.

Practical Applications

The message of Revelation 18:21 can be applied in daily life by considering the impermanence of earthly power and wealth. It warns against placing trust and security in material success and reminds believers of the importance of remaining faithful to God’s principles, even when faced with corrupt or unjust systems. It also offers hope that no matter how powerful or established such systems may seem, they will ultimately fall and justice will be established.

Cross-References

• Jeremiah 51:63-64: “And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates: And thou shalt say, ‘Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary.’ Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.”
• Revelation 18:10: “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.”
• Revelation 17:18: “And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.”

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek language of Revelation 18:21 include:

• “Mighty” (ischuros): This word implies strength and power, indicating that the angel has the authority to carry out the act.
• “Stone” (lithos): Typically means a stone of various sizes, but here associated with “great millstone,” indicating something very large and heavy.
• “Millstone” (mulos): Likely a reference to a stone used in grinding grain, which were large and heavy, symbolizing substantial and crushing weight.
• “Cast” (ballo): This verb denotes a forceful throw, emphasizing the violent action of discarding something unwanted.
• “Violence” (hormema): Refers to impetus or a forcible action, underlining the sudden and forceful nature of Babylon’s end.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The imagery of a city being cast down or destroyed in religious texts can be found in various other cultures and religious traditions. For example, in the Epic of Gilgamesh, the city of Uruk faces immensity and subsequent decline. Similar themes of the fall of great cities due to moral failure or divine judgment are also present in Greek and Roman mythology, as well as in Hinduism and Buddhism, where such narratives often serve to highlight the transient nature of the material world and the eternal aspect of the divine or spiritual.

Scientific Perspectives

While Revelation 18:21 is symbolic and apocalyptic in nature, it can intersect with modern scientific understandings in a metaphorical way. The “millstone” thrown into the sea could be seen as analogous to the impact events in Earth’s history, such as asteroid impacts that cause significant and irreversible changes in the environment. Additionally, the finality of the city’s destruction could be paralleled with the concept of ecological collapse, which happens when an ecosystem undergoes a drastic change from which it cannot recover.

Commentaries

Commentators offer various interpretations of Revelation 18:21:

• John Walvoord emphasizes the complete annihilation of Babylon as depicted in this verse, symbolizing God’s judgment upon the world systems that have opposed Him.
• Matthew Henry sees it as representing the certainty and severity of Babylon’s destruction and a warning to all of the suddenness with which God’s judgments can fall upon the wicked.
• Robert H. Mounce suggests that the use of a millstone denotes the grinding to powder of any form of opposition to God’s kingdom, emphasizing the totality of the defeat.
• G.K. Beale views the destruction of Babylon as both a historical event and a prophetic symbol of the final destruction of all worldly powers opposed to God.

The commentary by these experts aligns with the broader notion that Revelation 18:21 is a potent symbol of divine judgment and the ultimate fall of human institutions that defy God.