Revelation 18:21

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.

And {G2532} a {G1520} mighty {G2478} angel {G32} took up {G142} a stone {G3037} like {G5613} a great {G3173} millstone {G3458}, and {G2532} cast {G906} it into {G1519} the sea {G2281}, saying {G3004}, Thus {G3779} with violence {G3731} shall {G906} that great {G3173} city {G4172} Babylon {G897} be thrown down {G906}, and {G2532} shall be found {G2147} no more {G3364} at all {G2089}.

Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a great millstone, and hurled it into the sea, saying,

“With violence like this
will the great city Bavel
be hurled down,
never to be found again!

Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be cast down, never to be seen again.

And a strong angel took up a stone as it were a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with a mighty fall shall Babylon, the great city, be cast down, and shall be found no more at all.

Commentary

Revelation 18:21 vividly portrays the dramatic and absolute destruction of "Babylon the Great," a powerful symbolic entity representing systems of rebellion against God and all that opposes His righteous rule.

Context

This verse marks a climactic moment in the prophecies concerning the judgment of Babylon, detailed extensively in Revelation chapters 17 and 18. Following lamentations from various worldly powers over its fall, a mighty angel performs a symbolic act that seals its doom. This act is not merely a prediction but a visual, dramatic declaration of certainty, emphasizing the finality of God's judgment upon a system characterized by spiritual idolatry, immorality, and economic oppression.

Key Themes

  • Irreversible Judgment: The central theme is the complete and permanent overthrow of Babylon. The act of casting a great millstone into the sea signifies that just as the stone will never rise again, so too will Babylon never recover or be found.
  • Divine Authority: The judgment is executed by a "mighty angel," underscoring that this destruction is not random or accidental but a direct, powerful act orchestrated by God Himself.
  • Symbolic Violence: The phrase "with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down" highlights the swift, forceful, and decisive nature of its demise, contrasting with its prior perceived stability and power.

Linguistic Insights

The image of the "great millstone" (Greek: lithos mylikos megas) is profoundly significant. Such stones were enormous, typically requiring an animal, like a donkey, to turn them for grinding grain. Their immense weight ensured anything tied to them would sink irretrievably. This imagery is also used in other biblical contexts to denote severe and inescapable judgment, as seen in Matthew 18:6 concerning those who cause others to stumble.

The word translated "violence" (Greek: hormēma) conveys a sense of impetuous force, a sudden and powerful rush, underscoring the decisive and overwhelming nature of Babylon's downfall.

Practical Application

For believers today, Revelation 18:21 offers several profound insights:

  • It serves as a powerful warning against aligning with or participating in worldly systems that oppose God's righteousness, exploit the vulnerable, or promote spiritual idolatry.
  • It provides immense reassurance that God is sovereign and ultimately, justice will prevail. No matter how powerful or entrenched evil systems appear, their end is certain and divinely ordained.
  • It calls for discernment, encouraging followers of Christ to separate themselves from the corrupting influences of the world, much like the call to "Come out of her, my people" found earlier in the chapter.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 51:63 (8 votes)

    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:

  • Jeremiah 51:64 (8 votes)

    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.

  • Ezekiel 26:21 (7 votes)

    I will make thee a terror, and thou [shalt be] no [more]: though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou never be found again, saith the Lord GOD.

  • Revelation 5:2 (4 votes)

    And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

  • Daniel 11:19 (3 votes)

    Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.

  • Revelation 12:8 (3 votes)

    And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

  • Revelation 16:20 (3 votes)

    And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.