The Revelation of John 18

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.

Babylon: Identity, Role, and Distinctions

Religious Babylon, Economic Babylon, and Totalitarian Babylon

The Book of Revelation presents three distinct forms of Babylon, each with a specific role in the unfolding of the final events:

• Religious Babylon (Revelation 17)– The corrupt spiritual power, represented by papal Rome, which dominated the world through its religious influence. It was destroyed through the French Revolution (1798–1804), when two popes were captured and the Catholic Church lost its absolute authority. Its downfall marked the end of direct religious control and the beginning of a new era dominated by democracy, capitalism, and secular states – the era of Economic Babylon.

• Economic Babylon (Revelation 18)– The global system of financial and commercial influence that ruled the world after the fall of Religious Babylon. It is characterized by wealth, international trade, and the world’s dependence on the global economy. This Babylon will be destroyed suddenly and completely “in one day” (Revelation 18:8), by fire, suggesting a major catastrophe, most likely orchestrated by the beast and the world’s leaders to justify the establishment of a new system.

• Totalitarian Babylon (Revelation 16:19)– The final system of governance imposed by the beast after the destruction of Economic Babylon. While Economic Babylon controlled the world through financial dependence, Totalitarian Babylon will impose total control through the image of the beast and the Mark of the Beast. This is no longer a Babylon based on trade and wealth, but an absolutist religious and political regime, in which every individual is forced to conform to the power of the beast. This final Babylon is the one that will be ultimately destroyed by God during the seventh plague (Revelation 16:19).

Babylon’s Relationship with the Beast and the Kings of the Earth

Babylon does not remain a fixed entity but transforms throughout history, being destroyed and replaced by a new form of governance:

1. Religious Babylon is destroyed by the beast and the ten kings (Revelation 17:16). This is a political and ideological act that ends direct religious control.

2. Economic Babylon takes over and becomes the new dominant force. It is a system based on wealth, commerce, and global financial dependence.

3. Economic Babylon is destroyed through a rapid collapse, orchestrated by the beast, to justify the rise of the new totalitarian system.

4. Totalitarian Babylon becomes the final form of global domination. This is the period when the beast enforces the image of the beast and total control, until God’s final intervention in the seventh plague.

How and Why Babylon Must Be Destroyed

Each form of Babylon is destroyed in a different way and at a specific time:

• Religious Babylon is destroyed by the beast and the ten kings, in order to eliminate the church’s influence over the world and to make way for a system based on secular ideologies and a global economy.

• Economic Babylon is destroyed by fire, in a rapid and devastating act (Revelation 18:8). This is not a direct divine intervention, but a calculated action by the beast, who uses this collapse as a pretext to impose a new system.

• Totalitarian Babylon is destroyed by God in the seventh plague, as it represents the peak of corruption and absolute control by the beast. This final system is completely eradicated at the end of prophetic history.

The Connection with the Call to “Come Out of Babylon”

The call from Revelation 18:4 – “Come out of her, My people” – must be understood in a clear practical and prophetic context. If Economic Babylon is about to be destroyed suddenly, God’s people must be prepared in advance, so as not to be caught in the collapse of the global financial system.

However, with the establishment of Totalitarian Babylon, the call to “Come out of Babylon” takes on a new dimension: not just an economic separation, but also a spiritual and existential separation from the beast’s new system. Those who remain dependent on Totalitarian Babylon will be forced to accept the Mark of the Beast.

Thus, the call to come out of Babylon is not just a spiritual metaphor, but a concrete warning to prepare for the destruction of the old system and the imposition of the beast’s dictatorship.

Conclusion

Babylon is not a singular entity, but a system that evolves through three distinct phases: Religious Babylon (Catholic Rome, destroyed in 1798), Economic Babylon (global capitalism, destroyed in a single day), and Totalitarian Babylon (the beast’s dictatorship, destroyed at the end of the plagues). This model explains why Revelation 16:19 still mentions Babylon during the seventh plague: it is not referring to Economic Babylon, but to its final form – the totalitarian rule imposed by the beast.

Totalitarian Babylon

Revelation 16:19 and Its Impact on the Entire Interpretation

Revelation 16:19 states:
"The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of His wrath."

This mention of Babylon during the seventh plague is not a contradiction of the destruction of Economic Babylon in Revelation 18, but rather refers to another form of Babylon – Totalitarian Babylon, established after the fall of the global economic system.
If Economic Babylon is completely destroyed in Revelation 18, and yet Revelation 16:19 still mentions an active Babylon during the seventh plague, then the only clear conclusion is that the Babylon mentioned during this final plague is a different system – the absolute rule of the beast with lamb-like horns, i.e., Totalitarian Babylon.

The Transition from Economic Babylon to Totalitarian Babylon

1. Religious Babylon (Revelation 17)– Destroyed by the beast and the ten kings, marking the end of papal Rome’s domination.

2. Economic Babylon (Revelation 18)– Driven by global trade and wealth, but suddenly destroyed through a collapse orchestrated by the beast.

3. Totalitarian Babylon (Revelation 16:19)– The final system of the beast’s absolute control, where humanity is forced to worship and accept the Mark of the Beast.

Revelation 16:19 is not describing Economic Babylon, but rather the definitive destruction of Totalitarian Babylon, which is the last form of world governance before God’s final intervention.

Why Does Revelation 16:19 Refer to Totalitarian Babylon?

1. There is no mention that Economic Babylon “returns” after its destruction in Revelation 18. If it had been rebuilt, Revelation would have clearly stated this.

2. Totalitarian Babylon is the final stage of the global system. If the beast destroyed Economic Babylon in order to impose the image of the beast, then this new system is what we encounter in Revelation 16:19.

3. The destruction of Babylon in Revelation 16:19 is a final divine act. And it only makes sense if we understand Babylon as the system belonging to the beast – which is why it is judged directly by God.

How Does Revelation 16:19 Fit in the Sequence of Events?

1. Religious Babylon is destroyed→ French Revolution and the fall of papal domination.

2. Economic Babylon is destroyed→ The beast orchestrates a global economic collapse to introduce a new system of control.

3. Totalitarian Babylon is established→ The Mark of the Beast becomes mandatory, and humanity falls under absolute control.

4. Totalitarian Babylon is destroyed in the seventh plague→ God intervenes to eliminate this final oppressive global system.

Thus, Revelation 16:19 is not a repetition of the destruction of Economic Babylon, but the final judgmentof the last global regime of the beast. This interpretation resolves any contradictions and makes the progression of events logically and chronologically sound.

Parallels with the Pandemic – How Totalitarian Babylon Could Be Established

A recent example that demonstrates how a global crisis can accelerate the establishment of a total control system is the pandemic. During that time, we saw how governments around the world were able to impose extreme restrictions on individual freedoms with little resistance. People accepted unprecedented measures, including full lockdowns, curfews, vaccination certificates, and digital surveillance. These actions were justified by urgency, the need to protect public health, and the desire to “save humanity.”

The same mechanism will be used to establish Totalitarian Babylon:

• A major economic collapsewill cause panic and demand for an immediate global solution.

• The beast will propose a new world order, based on submission and absolute loyalty to the system.

• The Mark of the Beastwill be introduced as a "necessary" solution for social and economic stability.

People will have no real choice: either they conform and accept this system, or they are completely excluded from society. Just as during the pandemic those who refused vaccination or government-imposed measures were seen as public threats, likewise, those who reject the Mark of the Beast will be viewed as enemies of global order.

Control Mechanisms Used During the Pandemic That May Be Reused

The pandemic proved that global society can be radically reshaped within just a few months. Here are some concrete examples:

• Travel restrictions– Worldwide, billions of people were forced to stay home under threat of fines or legal consequences.

• Restricted access to public spaces– Without a health pass, many were barred from entering malls, restaurants, or using public transport.

• Digital tracking and surveillance– Many countries implemented apps to monitor the movements of infected individuals and their contacts.

• Pushing digital payments and removing cash– The pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital currencies, paving the way for future total economic control.

• Demonizing non-compliant individuals– Those who opposed official measures were mocked in the media, censored on social platforms, and excluded from communities.

These tactics will be essential in establishing Totalitarian Babylon. A sudden global crisis will be used to justify the introduction of measures that will become permanent, all under the guise of “collective safety.”

Why the Call to “Come Out of Babylon” Is So Important

The call to “Come out of Babylon” is not just a spiritual warning but a call for concrete preparation. If Economic Babylon is suddenly destroyed and humanity is forced to accept the new system, those who are unprepared will be trapped.

Just as in the pandemic, those who depended entirely on the system were the most vulnerable to imposed changes, so too, when Totalitarian Babylon is established, those who have not secured their economic and existential independence will be forced to choose between accepting the Mark of the Beast or facing total exclusion.

This is the essential lesson: Coming out of Babylon must be a real process, not merely a symbolic one. Those who remain tied to the system will suffer directly from its collapse, while those who have understood the warning will be able to avoid the direct consequences of this forced transition.

Additional Clarifications

1. The Transition from Economic Babylon to Totalitarian Babylon

A fundamental aspect of my interpretation is that Economic Babylon does not disappear completely as an entity, but it loses all authority over the world, just as the Catholic Church did after the French Revolution. It was not abolished but became politically irrelevant, being forced to submit to a new system based on the principles of rationalist philosophy and secularism.

The Parallel with Economic Babylon

• Until now, the global economy has been the driving force behind world politics.

• After the planned economic collapse, the world’s priority will shift from economic control to absolute submission to the new system.

• Just as the Catholic Church continued to exist without political relevance, Economic Babylon will remain as infrastructure, but no longer as a global decision-making power.

• This transition marks the fundamental difference between a world based on economy and one based on totalitarian control.

2. Why Is the Destruction of Economic Babylon Before the Plagues?

Many interpret the destruction of Economic Babylon as part of the divine plagues. This view introduces an obvious contradiction, because:

• If God Himself destroyed Economic Babylon, He would become the "moral author" of the Mark of the Beast system.

• Revelation 17:17 clearly shows that God merely allowsthe beast to carry out this plan, but He does not intervene directlyto destroy Babylon.

• Totalitarian Babylon cannot exist as long as Economic Babylon is still dominant.

Thus, Economic Babylon must be destroyedto allow the beast to impose the new world system. This is not a direct act of God, but a strategic move by the beastto consolidate absolute control.

3. The Fire That Destroys Economic Babylon – Divine or Orchestrated by the Beast?

Revelation 18:8 mentions that Economic Babylon is "burned with fire."At the same time, Revelation 17:16–17 says that the beast and the ten kingsare the ones who burn her.

To avoid interpretive conflict, let us clarify:

• God permitsthe destruction of Economic Babylon, but does not act directly.

• The beast is the one who orchestratesthis event as part of its plan to consolidate power.

• This is a repetition of history: Religious Babylon was burned, and power passed to a new system (secularism). Now, Economic Babylon is burnedin order to transfer power to a new totalitarian system.

Thus, the fire mentioned in Revelation 18 is not God's final judgment, but an act orchestrated by the beast to justify the transition to a system of absolute control.

4. The Essential Difference Between This and Previous Economic Crises

Many will say that we’ve had major economic crises in the past (the Great Depression, the 2008 crisis, etc.), but none of them led to the establishment of Totalitarian Babylon. What makes this collapse different?

• Past economic crises were aimed at saving the economic system– they were followed by recovery measures.

• This time, the goal is the total elimination of the current system– the global economy will no longer be "saved," but replaced with a new model based on absolute control.

• Historical proof: The French Revolution was not just another Catholic religious crisis – it permanently changed the system of power.

Conclusion: This will not be “just another economic crisis.” It will be the destruction of the global economic system as we know it, and its replacement by Totalitarian Babylon, where economy will no longer be the priority, but absolute submission.

Final Conclusion

With these clarifications, the interpretation becomes 100% clear, biblically coherent, and realistic:

✔ Economic Babylon does not disappear completely, but permanently loses its power.
✔ The beast orchestrates the destructionof Economic Babylon to impose the new regime.
✔ God allows it, but does not intervene directly– the beast is the active agent.
✔ This is not just another economic crisis, but a planned collapseto establish a new global regime.

Thus, Revelation 16:19, 17, and 18 align perfectly, and the scenario presented is 100% faithful to the biblical narrative.